26/12/2010 by admin.

Today’s media are reporting a shopping frenzy in Britain with ‘phenomenal’ trading at shopping centres as people rush to grab their bargains. Here’s some of the headlines:

“It’s difficult to get into the shops because of the sheer number of people”

“People were screaming with relief when the doors opened”

“Millions of shoppers have spent hundreds of millions of pounds”

The hunt for bargains was driven by huge discounts and the prospect of a 2% increase in VAT.  The whole jamboree has been described as Good News by the press. 

But there’s another side to this coin. The Haymakers Survey is named thus partly because of the boxer Bill Richmond. He features in our story as the fighter who teaches Charles Lamb to toughen up to prepare for the challenges ahead. A Haymaker is another term for a boxer.  Our tale also has a scene of a traditional Boxing Day hunt. There is no fox. The target is Mother Nature and she reveals how the eco-system of planet earth is on the brink.  We cannot continue to live in this shallow unsustainable fashion - consuming mass produced throw away goods like there’s no tomorrow. Well people - as the Duke of Wellington states clearly at the Boxing Day hunt (page 356). “When Mother Nature calls I must answer.”

Are we ready to do the same?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3vTBiOsSGY

Posted in Q71 Is there something missing in your life?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

02/02/2010 by admin.

Our regulars will know of the significance in Charles Lamb’s journal of white/albino animals and the role of hearts in illustrating the value of Love, Art and Nature.  Well, surprise surprise there’s a white whale in Polar land China that has been trained to blow heart shaped bubbles.  Interesting…

Here’s a video of the whales blowing bubbles and doing other tricks…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCAUleX5h8A

But there’s a dark side to this. Should such majestic creatures be confined to a tank for human entertainment? You decide!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGkZSiENKIA&feature=related

Posted in Q77 Do you get bored easily?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q71 Is there something missing in your life?, Q17 Can you speak another language?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life? | No Comments »

30/09/2009 by admin.

Lucy’s in the headlines again -a sheep in her name is the matter of a legal custody battle.  Last December Bethan Parkinson from Buckley bought her nine year old daughter, Lauren, a pet sheep and called her Lucy. Initially Bethan kept her in stables with her pony but this proved troublesome so she chose to give her temporarily to an animal sanctuary whilst looking for land.  Five months later Bethan returned to claim Lucy but after a dispute which involved the police she produced a receipt and reclaimed the sheep.  However, the animal sanctuary have not given up and have taken the family to court over the pet sheep, under the Return of Goods Act. Next week, a judge will decide Lucy’s fate at a court in Mold.   

A curious tug-of-love for Lucy. From our perspective the ovine (Charles Lamb) link is obvious but the use of the Return of Goods Act stands out because humanity has exploited the Earth’s finite resources for many many years whilst feeding the material world that we live under. Its time to Return the Goods!  

Posted in Q71 Is there something missing in your life?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life? | No Comments »

11/08/2009 by admin.

At Maize Maze in Easingwold, North Yorkshire, a pig named Ginger has swallowed a diamond from a solitaire ring on the hand of Ann Moon. Farmer Paul Caygill runs the attraction believes Nature will take its course and the ring will turn up in the pig’s sty. Mrs Moon, from Sowerby near Thirsk, had put her hand into the enclosure to pet the animal but it put its mouth to her hand and nibbled at the ring.

Ok an amusing story but so what, you might reasonably ask? Well, our readers will know of Ben Whittenbury’s wish to restore the pig stys at ‘NoBling’ Green, whilst Malachi complains that, ‘It’s gone to pigs and whistles’ implying that we need to rediscover the right working relationship with Mother Nature.  Perhaps the pig is unwittingly reminding humanity to loose our obsession with wealth and other false riches! Go Ginger!

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q71 Is there something missing in your life?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q48 Have you ever played solitaire?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

07/05/2009 by admin.

The opening senes of our novel record how Ben Whittingbury seemingly witnessed an imaginary arrow as if fired by Cupid’s bow.  In a cruel twist of fate we have no pleasure in recording how a hunter became the first woman to kill an elephant with a bow and arrow.  The hunter apparently slayed the animal for a bet. She had spent some 8 months building the strength to fire the hi-tech bow before travelling to Zimbabwe to hunt down an elephant from 12 yards. 

No photo of this from us since our project is very much anti-poaching, but we include the story in our watch because we believe the Cupid link is a reminder to love our Earth and the animals we share our planet with.  

Posted in Q71 Is there something missing in your life?, Q48 Have you ever played solitaire?, Q44 Is there anything worse than a fly at night?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

25/07/2007 by admin.

We don’t really want to cover this for fear of being labeled as cranks but it would be remiss of us not to do so. Stratford-Upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare has experienced five unexplained flying objects. They were witnessed on 21July by 100 people – the number of questions Charles claimed was in the Survey. The objects formed a triangle, again symbolic to the survey. And the event took place at the home of the world’s greatest ever writers and poets. With an over-active imagination, it suggests a gathering to celebrate the imminent launch of the Survey on the world. Whatever the explanation, the source of the lights is currently a mystery. In 1969, 21 July was the day when a man first walked upon the moon. Question 79 applies.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3MJl-YTuYo8

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has issued warnings over sewage amid fears that contaminated floodwater could lead to a major outbreak of disease. The nursery rhyme about “ring-a-ring-o-roses” springs to mind. Again apologies to anyone directly affected by the floods, but we need to show this. Question 73 refers.

On a brighter note, Superheroes such as Spiderman have been honoured on a set of postage stamps. Released today through the US postal service, the 20 colourful stamps salute the many heroes of Marvel Comics. Question 71 on You Tube. 

Posted in Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q73 Do you like nursery ryhmes?, Q71 Is there something missing in your life? | No Comments »