23/09/2009 by admin.

Tate Britain has put on a new exhibition entitled ‘Turner and the Masters’ - an unforgettable show which places some of JMW Turner’s most dramatic paintings alongside beautiful masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt and Titian.  The exhibition shines a light on the British painter’s obsession to be as good as if not better than his contemparies. Turner’s working-class background and relentless ambition led him to proclaim, “I am the great lion of the day”. 

We’re intrigued at the timing of the exhibition given the prominent role in Charles Lamb’s jounral of William Turner’s painting ‘Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps’ which Lucy Ebbs suggests (page 289) is an analogy of the need to withdrawn when required to do so. 

 Are we to ignore the words of Mother Nature at this time?

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

22/09/2009 by admin.

In celebration of the Autumn Equinox - an event significant in our project - we’ve put together a promotional video, which is featured below.  

Sky TV and You Tube are running competitions for video entries to inspire and engage the world on the issues.  We could use the video as an entry but it may be judged a commercial activity (which it isn’t as we make no money from the project) or the mention of our website could disallow it.   These are fundamental parts of our project - we’re tempted to ‘break the rules’ but will have to tinker! Oh these things are so difficult sometimes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xbcG5bphlk

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

27/08/2009 by admin.

Although our project is concerned with the big picture on environmental and ecological challenges faced by the natural world, we’re happy to focus this week on climate chaos and activities at the Climate Camp, including the Climate Casino operating outside of the Stock Exchange - colourfully performed by a dozen or so campaigners in fancy dress, with props including the use of large playing cards to illustrate how humanity is gambling with the planet.

We love it as in our novel and Charles Lamb’s journal the Three of Hearts - representing Love, Art and Nature - is a symbol of life as it could be.

In the words of Bruce Forsyth, Play Your Cards Right, come on get involved at home. Your a lovely audience, so much better than last week!

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

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q38 Have you built a house of cards?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

17/08/2009 by admin.

Crasher the Squirrel has become an internet sensation recently after he popped up in a photo taken by Melissa Brandt and her husband at a National Park in Canada. Since then the curious fellow has gone global with his image superimposed in many famous pictures around the world. 

Here’s the original….

And here’s some of the follow ups…

It’s another delightful story involving grey squirrels whose antics have intrigued us given their role in our novel as a partner to Yggdrasil - the mythical ‘Tree of Life’. The squirrels are present to demonstrate that the time for talking on action to preserve the environment is over, so its fascinating that Crasher popped up in a National Park - a reserve of land declared or owned to protect it from human development and pollution. 

According to the World Conservation Union there are now over 6,500 such parks worldwide. The National Parks of England and Wales are relatively undeveloped and scenic landscapes. There are currently 12 in England and Wales - the same number as the mystical stones revealed in our story. The national parks include the Lake District, which William Wordsworth described in 1810 as a ’sort of national property in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy.“

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

08/08/2009 by admin.

Another symbolic anniversary relevant to THS; hundreds of Beatles fans have gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of the camera shot of the famous pedestrian (zebra) crossing cover of the Abbey Road album. 

A reconstruction took place with Beatles lookalikes - a tribute band known as St Pepper’s only Dartboard Band’ - wearing outfits the same as those worn on the day.  Billie Shears would be pleased! The original picture has been copied many times over by Beatles fans.  We’re especially taken by the iconic crossing - Malachi warns in our novel ‘We’re at the crossroads’. Perhaps that’s why Sir Paul chose to cross the road bare-footed as an unwitting reminder of the human ‘carbon’ footprint!

When visiting Abbey Road Beatles fans also like to leave personal messages on a wall by the roadside. Messages like these…

Abbey Road is also in St John’s Wood and St John’s Church is where Julia saw a ghostly figure wearing a replica ‘St Pepper’ jacket. Mmm. we do have fun don’t we?

Ben’s favourite song from the album is ‘Come Together’ which is what we need to do to address the ongoing environmental challenges. Here’s a video with rare footage of Abbey Road and the recording studios. Enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vAqekT-GuA

Posted in Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

20/07/2009 by admin.

Another anniversary! Forty years ago today Apollo 11 made history.  

On this day Neil Armstrong spoke the immortal words, ‘One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind’ as he became the first human to leave a footprint on another celestial body (as far as we know).  The mission fulfilled the vision of President John F. Kennedy made in 1961 to send a man to the moon and return him safely to the Earth before the decade was out.  The ghostly black and white images - viewed at the time by some 600m people - are now ingrained in human conscious, although some conspiracy theorists doubt whether the whole affair was a monumental elaborate hoax!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4

In our novel we refer to the remarkable vison, focus and determination demonstrated at that time as an example of what human endeavour can achieve, so the anniversary is a timely reminder in the run up to Copenhagen - when world leaders will come together to agree action on managing carbon emissions.   

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | No Comments »

17/07/2009 by admin.

Following Ben’s sighting of the runaway horseman and the ghostly lady in grey, our novel includes discussion on the exploits of highwaymen in Hertfordshire folklore, including the notorious Sixteen-String Jack - a character mentioned by Charles Lamb in his journal. 

Curious then that a photo E-fit of the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin has been released by North Yorkshire Police some 270 years since he was sent to the gallows for murder, robbery and cattle rustling. 

York Castle are displaying a wanted poster based on the E-fit drawn from descriptions from the 18th century.  Dick Turpin is legendary for riding 200 miles from London to York on his beloved Black Bess! Maybe he was the ghost rider Ben saw - all will be revealed!

Here’s the opening music to the TV series Dick Turpin. It reminds Ben of his ghostly encounter. You can read about his experience in our novel extract.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GrOcTAKboE&feature=related

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | No Comments »

10/07/2009 by admin.

At the heart of our novel and Charles Lamb’s journal is the role of the mysterious medieval carvings at Royston Cave.  On several occasions it’s described as a Wonderwall! Its purpose - to serve as a warning to humanity about the need to curb our runaway consumption of the world’s resources.

How curious then that during the performance by Oasis of Wonderwall at Wembley stadium the sound cut-out due to power problems! Odd too that we should have such a reminder of the Wonderwall so soon after the final video performance by the late Michael Jackson which ended with the hand signs engraved on the wall, perhaps as a reminder to stop!

Given that we remain largely unknown - has the time come for our voices to be heard?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hzrDeceEKc

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts? | No Comments »

18/01/2009 by admin.

Sadly, the much loved TV presenter, Tony Hart has died, aged 83.

For some 50 years, the presenter inspired children to paint and draw.  He designed the original Blue Peter badge and developed the delightful animated clay character, Morph.  His shows included Vision On, Smart and Hartbeat.  Fellow artist, Rolf Harris, described Hart as a, ‘talented and gentle man”.  In an interview last year, Tony said not being able to draw after suffering two strokes as, “The greatest cross I have to bear.”

We admire Tony so much as an ambassador of one of the three aspects of our project represented by hearts - Art! Thank you Tony for all the joy and fun you brought to so many.  Your creativity and vision lives on.  Lets celebrate…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iVR83ooN0gc&feature=PlayList&p=D1C0D633D6A90070&playnext=1&index=2

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UcCHRW8G9yY&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jSMRPKM1evk

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q42 Do you enjoy drawing?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

07/01/2009 by admin.

During our watch we’ve seen examples in Nature of delightful markings on animals each linked in some way to our tale, such as heart shapes.  Now we find a Smiley Cephalopod - a squid with wonderful markings etched on his skin pigmentation. The specimen below was collected by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium where director Mike Schaat managed to capture it on film.

Readers of our novel will know of the role of a smiley face in helping to spread our message and Ben’s wish to restore a pig farm to former glory - interesting!

RUNAWAY HORSE AT THE MOVIES

An escaped farm horse shocked film-goers when it ran through the automatic doors of Cineworld in Boldon, Sunderland, England. A witness said the horse, one of three to escape from a local farm, was scared by a little girl blowing a raspberry outside of the complex. The animal ran straight for the cinema entrance and took a brief tour of the foyer and a corridor, startling and surprising those inside.  Fortunately, the horse quickly fled and was soon recaptured. Nobody was hurt.  Tim Hamlyn a spokesperson for Cineworld said, “It’s certainly the first time I’ve heard of this happening and I’ve worked in cinemas for six years.”  Perhaps it wanted to see the mati-neigh!

Interesting from our perspective given the role of the runaway horse at sunset on the autumn equinox close to the start of our tale (see Novel extract).  After all, the bizarre incident occurred in Sunderland. Perhaps Mother Nature wants the movie makers to sit up and take notice of our little adventure?

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q59 Do you like surprises?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q17 Can you speak another language? | No Comments »