07/11/2009 by admin.

We’re delighted to report that the British heavyweight boxer David Haye has enjoyed an incredible ‘against the odds’ truimph over the 7ft plus Russian giant, Nikolai Valuev.  The Londoner was 11 inches shorter and 7 stone lighter than his opponent. The bout went the full 12 rounds with David winning on points. He becomes the first British heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003.  The victorious boxer described his victory as a ‘dream come true’.

We see this as a message of hope in the run up to the climate change conference in Copenhagen. Why? As mentioned in an earlier posting, the boxer is nicknamed The Hayemaker!  Well our story records how the black boxer Bill Richmond, the unofficial world champion from the 18th century, participated in the Blakesware Set and was dubbed ‘The Haymaker’ by the Duke of Wellington.  Bill had a symbolic role in the direction of the Blakesware Set - take a look at the rear of our journal extract. http://www.thehaymakerssurvey.com/Journal.php  proclaiming ‘Now is the time for action, set Mother Nature free’. 

World leaders at COP 15 take note - this is Haymaker magic! As William Wordsworth says in the video, “Don’t throw away this chance” - search for the specific video  http://www.youtube.com/cop15 

Posted in Q80a Do you keep a diary?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

23/06/2009 by admin.

Early today a fire broke out in the historic Wellington Inn, Welwyn, Hertfordshire.  The blaze took hold on the top floor of the three-storey building.  Fortunately no one appears to have been injured, but we very much hope the building isn’t too badly damaged. The Wellington has its orgins as an inn dating back to the 13th century and was once visited by the famous writer and diarist Samuel Pepys. 

We feel rather unsettled by the fire. Our readers will recall the mysterious blaze on the Cutty Sark - at Greenwich the home of time - which we recorded in our Watch.  Now we have a fire at another venue linked to our story - afterall did not the Duke of Wellington chair the Blakesware Set?  It’s unsettling given the venue is so close to home.  Given global temperatures are predicted to rise unless carbon emissions are brought under control we wonder - is this a clear sign to us all that the mercury is set to soar? 

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q80a Do you keep a diary?, Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Q47 Do you know your history? | No Comments »

13/09/2008 by admin.

Sir Cliff Richard has celebrated 50 years in showbusiness by publishing an auto-biography. Sir Cliff used to live in a council house at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire. The house was tiny and he had to share a room with one of his sisters. It was in 1958 that he burst on to the music scene with the song, ‘Move It’ with a style initially based on Elvis.  Sir Cliff has has number one’s in each of the four previous decades. The relevance of the anniversary to to our story is simple - for early in our tale Sarah asks Julia about Peter Pan and Netherland! Sir Cliff seems to defy his years, so was fondly dubbed, the Peter Pan of Pop!  He was also the front singer of ‘Cliff Richard and the Shadows!’

A devout Christian, Sir Cliff has remained a Bacholor Boy throughout his career. What can we say, other than Congratulations!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iArJm9gBvg

Posted in Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q80a Do you keep a diary?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q62 Have you ever helped the poor?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q31 Are you a charitable neighbour? | No Comments »

26/04/2008 by admin.

Our readers will know that Sarah deeply admired the young diarist, Anne Frank, and that our account includes a couple of postcards inserted by the Curator’s Assistant.

Well, a teacher from Holland has discovered a postcard signed by Anne Frank. Paul van den Heuvel found the card inside a box whilst going through some books in his father’s antiques shop.  The Anne Frank museum has authenticated the card. A spokeswoman said,”We have seen similar cards sent by Anne and this one fits within the series,. This is an original written by Anne and we don’t have much of that.”

Anne sent the postcard to her friend Sanne Ledeman in December 1937 when Anne was staying with her grandmother during a visit to Germany’s Aachen.  It shows a Christmas bell and clover and the words “Viel Glueck im neuen Jahr,” or “Much Luck in the New Year” and was signed Anne Frank.

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q80a Do you keep a diary?, Q59 Do you like surprises?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

19/01/2008 by admin.

Capital of Culture is such a wonderful accolade. Culture isn’t culture unless it’s shared, so as part of the project, the people of Liverpool have been invited to create their own treasure boxes in which to store items of special value to them - things with a cultural meaning to them.   Curious this given Ben Whittenbury’s little habit of storing all the Haymaker discoveries, our treasures, in his wooden rider box!  The city is also set to host the UK tribute for the International National Holocaust Day witha dramatic multimedia exhibition  that sees a life-size replica of Anne Frank’s bedroom assembled in the Anglican Church. Another coincidence, given that Sarah was inspired by Anne’s words, wisdome and values.  

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q80a Do you keep a diary?, Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q11 Do you believe in justice? | No Comments »

16/11/2007 by admin.

London’s Royal College of Art are displaying over 2,000 postcard sized artworks made by professionals and artists.   This is curious as ‘The Haymakers Survey’ includes an art postcard collection of it’s own too!  

In Holland, campaigners are trying to save a diseased chestnut tree - one of the few things the World War II diarist, Anne Frank, was able to see from her attic hiding place.   Strange that, as in ‘The Haymakers Survey’ Sarah was inspired by Anne’s thoughts about nature and our choice to include commentary on her by her father in our video collection.  

Posted in Q80a Do you keep a diary?, Q21 Have you ever hugged a tree?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »