09/01/2012 by admin.

Another example of an iconic animal making a point on behalf of The Haymakers Survey. The latest involves a gorilla  at a zoo in France adopting a pose similar to Rodin’s The Thinker. 

The images were captured by the photographer Sophie Narses and shows the majestic ape appearing to be deep in thought.  A curious coincidence as in our novel Rodin’s The Thinker prompted Ben Whittenbury to first put together the questions in The Haymakers Survey.

Following on the heals of Sofia’s experience with Malik the lion (see 7 January post) we seem to be directed to the Norwegian philosophical novel Sophie’s World, which posed a series of questions designed to provoke thought about our place in this world - sound familiar?  This clip has a message for all the sceptics who humbug this project…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpvKzodPg3k

Posted in Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q74 Do you like puzzles?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics? | No Comments »

22/12/2010 by admin.

On page 316 of our story dated 21 December 1822 Charles Lamb describes the winter solstice as “an unnerving and foreboding date” whilst introducing the arrival of many of his distinguished guests to Blakesware Hall, including William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge. He mentions how Blakesware’s foundations shake with glee at their arrival. Adding, “Bring the Doubting Thomases to the door - those who said it would never happen”.  They talk about releasing a deep magic on the world.

Curious then that on yesterday’s winter solstice at about eleven in the evening an earthquake measuring 3.6 hit Cumbria, The epi-centre was the Lake District home for many years to William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge.  Nobody was injured but it was an alarming experience for many with Christmas trees shaking in their tubs.

There’s more! Page 186 of our story recounts Ben Whittenbury’s errie walk home in the snow on a 21st century winter solstice. Its a starlit night with a full moon. He carried an empty peanuts bag wrapper and was singing “Blue Moon”.  He checks his watch - it reads almost midnight (before GMT time adjusted it would be about eleven).  A disturbing supernatural encounter with Charles Lamb and Queen Caroline - they bring a clear WARNING left on a Peanut wrapper for humanity that time is nearly past to save Lucy Ebbs, Mother Nature personified. We are on a path of self-destruction.

So, with some trepidation we report the first total lunar eclipse to occur on the winter solstice in nearly 400 years. Not a blue moon but a one in coppery shadow, beautifully caught on camera.

Now the sting in the tale, which we report relunctantly - Bill Darvill pointed out that a ghastly inhuman individual who we refuse to name once described himself as ‘Peanut’ to an acquaintance. The person was rightly sentenced to life imprisonment for his henious crimes yesterday.  

Combined do these events amount to a WARNING?

Posted in Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | No Comments »

13/10/2010 by admin.

‘Mision cumplida Chile’ was the sign held up by the rescue workers after they returned 33 trapped miners to the surface. ‘ means in English ‘Mission accomplished Chile!’

The world watched in joyful awe and wonder amid suspense and jubiliance the miners returned to life to be greeted by loved ones. Each had their own stories to tell and reacted in their own personal way to being rescued.  The miners survived underground for a record 68 to 69 days.  As one story put it the miners claimed, “A deep religious faith powered this rescue; miners, rescuers and families alike believe their prayers were answered.”  The Chilean president declared the rescue a miracle.

Our previous item on the event captured the links with The Haymakers Survey - essentially about living in a cave and the biblical conclusion ‘ out of the depths I cried unto the’.  There are some other coincidences…

The second miner to be rescued brought rocks to the surface as momentoes: our novel refers to the magical stones and the biblical reference ‘I tell you with these stones I can raise children’.

Whilst another miner asked when he got to the surface, ”how the’s dog?’” we wonder if this was in reality a testament to Malachi -our messenger.  

It leads us to conclude that the whole episode is a message to humanity - that we can achieve great things together against all odds and that there’s a task to be done - to take proper care of this fragile Earth!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGecqHnN2gQ

Posted in Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q69 Do you put off to tomorrow what you could do today?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q50 Do you miss someone you love?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

03/09/2010 by admin.

A unique Roman lantern made of bronze has been discovered in a field in Sudbury, Suffolk by Danny Mills - a young metal detector enthusiast. The lantern’s believed to be the only one of its kind in Britain. Dating from around the 3rd century AD the object’s been restored to its former glory by Emma Hogarth, Conservator at Colchester and Ipswich museums. Emma was amazed that the chains that suspend the lantern showed no sign of corrosion and move like any modern chain.

Coincidentally, our novel reveals how a metal detector leads to the discovery of buried treasure. More exciting perhaps is how Charles Lamb’s journal tells how they use a lantern when first entering mystical Royston cave. Here’s the extract from page 397

“Stukeley hung his perforaed lantern on a swivelling hook. Before it settled its light settled like a pendulum casting shadows that danced about the cave. As the carvings flickered in the unnatural light I wondered about the invisible people from days gone by whose feet had traversed the floor of the cave, whose hands had carved the figures into the stone. What would they make of us?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZhY7fD1d4c&feature=related

Posted in Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q60 Have you ever experienced deja vu?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

17/12/2009 by admin.

A first edition of Lewis Carroll’s classic book “Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There”,  dedicated to the real life Alice who inspired the story has sold at a U.S. auction for $115,000.

Southern California-based Profiles in History said the book, the sequel to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland“, was the highlight of its children’s literature sale. “Through the Looking Glass“, published in 1871, includes the nonsense poem “Jabberwocky.” Both works were inspired by 10 year-old Alice Liddell, the daughter of an academic friend of Carroll’s. The edition is inscribed in ink “Alice Pleasance Liddell”, and was described as having been presented to her by Carroll.

Okay - we need to offer another explanation on how this links to our novel. Our very own Eath Detective - Sarah Whittenbury - examines a magic circle drawn in the soil before the ’Web of Life’ through her looking glass (pages 162 - 164).  She discovers a frozen tear! Is this a reminder to humanity - a message to let us know what’s really going on. That a state of emergency is being declared for the web of life is in peril!  

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

12/12/2009 by admin.

We may have just witnessed the most startling event linked to The Haymakers Survey on our 3 year Whittenbury Watch! Our readers will be able to vouch for this.

On 9 December near Tromso, Norway on the edge of the Arctic Circle a strange giant helical spiral of light span in the sky for some 12 minutes. It was accompanied by twisted beams of blue light from the centre of the spiral to the ground resembling MayPole ribbon.  After the sprial stopped spinning it went into itself and a black aperture appeared - like a black hole.  The diplay could be seen all over Northern Norway so it must have been very high up in the sky. Here’s one the videos that captured the event…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hrWjkn_DHs

A popular explanation given is that it was a Russian missile fired from a submarine in the White Sea that went spiralling out of control.  However, there’s very many people who doubt this on the internet including some scientists. 

We have our own version of events and this is where things get really interesting. In our novel Charles Lamb’s journal features helical spirals. Pages 401- 403 tells how a spiral of light appears in Royston Cave, Herfordshire after the Samoyed messenger, Malachi, forces his way into the cave.  Here’s the extract,

“Then Gaia it happened exactly as I describe. A miracle emerged from the chaos! The stones clustered at the centre of the cave and began to speed in a dynamic spiral - a helical twist. The stones gave out a luminous glow as they span…. How long did they spin? It was hard to tell. The stones were hypnotic, seeming to suspend time and space. It was a moment when the ideal and the practical collided. A fushion of time and space.

Stukley [the cave guide] broke our collective silence. “What are those things?” “I brought then home… in search of meaning… of truth, ” was all Reverend North could muster.  “It reminds me of a whirlpool,” claimed Mary [Shelley].  The Reverend’s eyes widened, “As water washes away stones and torrents wash away the soul, so you destory man’s hope” [Christian Bible Job 14-19], he said, prophetically as the stones settled at the cave’s core.  Mary Shelley was the first gather up a stone. “De profundis clamavi”, [Out of the depths i have cried unto the] [Psalms 130].  Stukely says.. “What force is this to defy the laws of gravity… ” … Captain Lwein says, “… that was a force for sure… the Force of nature - a warning to mankind to mend our ways.”

Pages 408-409 also tell of a spiral - this time in water in which Lucy Ebbs [Mother Nature] allows her blue ribbon to fall into it when, with Malachi beside her, she reveals to Charles Lamb an insight into the magic of creation [see October 8 posting] “I shared the truth with you as I’m afraid for the future. I am in grave danger.  There are so many demands on me. I’ve only so much to offer.”

So, we have two examples of active sprials in our novel - one that glows and another with a blue trailer within it; just like the spiral in Norway.  Strange too that this phenomena should take place in Norway - given the significance of Yggdrasil and Nordic legend in our project and novel.  Tromso has been inhabited since the end of the ice-age and the Sami-culture - from which the Samoyed dog is linked - is the first known culture of the region.

A higher force is at work - we have faith.

Posted in Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

10/11/2009 by admin.

In Brazil some are blaming an intense concentration of lightening, rain and wind near Itaipu for triggering a huge blackout - possible the world’s worst ever - which covered half of the country. Some 800 cities were without power for around 3 hours, including Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo.  Power supplies have been a sensitive issue in Brazil since blackout in 2001 and 2002 affected large parts of the country - although nothing on this scale. In response Brazil has invested millions in improving the electricity infrastructure which has prompted many to seek answers about the blackout - with a potential cause being the failure of 3 high-tension transmission lines.

Well, how about our explanation for the massive and mysterious blackout - Mother Nature has intervened to warn us in the run up to COP 15 that we need to change our ways! Why are we so confident - simples! Our novel includes an account of how an intense storm caused a blackout at Keeper’s Cottage, which prompts Ben Whittenbury to ponder life prior to the industrial revolution and the value of a life lead in harmony with Nature, exemplified by The Haymakers painting by George stubbs.  And, what better place to host a blackout than in Brazil - home of the Amazon Rainforest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd7aWWTnrAc

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

09/08/2009 by admin.

Sarah was surfing YouTube when she came across an intriging video of a girl in Lebanon who cried frozen tears…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5_Rj2zKMy4&feature=related

The video describes the tears as crystals. Its from 1996 but has resurfaced in popularity recently partly through chain emails.  Some sites suggest the video is a hoax or a simple magic trick.

Truth or fiction the timing of the videos resurface is curious as one of the most important parts of our story is a poem called Shadows, which includes the verse:

“Ah, be ours the task to stop it, ours the task this Earth to keep. With imagination blot it, woe decry industrial creep. Woe decry that icy tear, “Forget me Not,” the time is Near.”

In our tale, the poem was passed to Julia by her Grandmother who advised her to, “Look out for the signs. You have the gift…”  Charles Lamb’s journal reveals how the poem came about and who wrote it - that it captures concerns about the impact of machines upon Mother Nature.

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q55 Do you believe in truth?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | No Comments »

22/07/2009 by admin.

Some 2 billion people across Asia have experienced the longest total eclipse of the sun in the 21st century. 

(Source: Lutfar Rahman Nirjhar - www.nirjhar.com )

The eclipse lasted 6.6 minutes and took place at 3.00am Greenwich meantime.  The exceptional duration was because the moon was just 3 hours away from its closest point to Earth in its orbit.  The length of the eclipse will not be surpassed until 30 years into the next century.  The clipse was the second of three to take place in a one month peiod. It was an amazing awe inspiring spectacle falling as it does within our 3 year Watch and taking place so close to the 40th anniversary of the first Apollo Lunar landing.  The moon is subject to much mythology and superstition in cultures the world over.  A full moon features prominiently in our tale at several key moments; at points of discovery and understanding.

The eclipse has also given scientists an opportunity to learn more about the sun.  For example, solar scientist Lucie Green, from University College London was aboard an Amercian cruise ship heading for the Japanese island of Iwo Jima to examine the waves in the corona. Well done Lucie! 

Jupiter also receives a mention in the novel - so its rather odd that almost to the day an amateur astronomer reported the discovery of a mysterious scar the size of the Earth near the pole of the gas giant. It has caught NASA scientists by surprise with an early conclusion that the planet was hit by a comet or asteroid. Such an event last took place 15 years ago when Shoemaker 59 crashed into the orb.  News of the impact has stunned the astronmy world. Jupiter also has its share of mythology with the Roman God Jupiter being in charge of cosmic justice. In Rome, in the courts of law people used to swear ‘By Jove’ to witness the oath. 

Posted in Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q14 Do you believe your stars?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q11 Do you believe in justice? | 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 »