28/02/2009 by admin.

A lost mobile phone has been found in the belly of a massive cod.  The phone slipped from the pocket of Andrew Cheatle into the sea but was found a week later by fisherman Glen Kerley who rang Rita Smith 33, Andrew’s girlfriend.  The fisherman had been gutting the cod that morning at his stall and found the mobile inside.   The phone was a bit smelly but he was happy to return it.  Andrew had to change the circuit board but the phone now works fine. He said’ I know it sounds a fishy tale but its 100% true.”

All very intriguing given the role of a mobile phone in Charles Lamb’s journal and Bill Richmond’s comments about the world being a far stranger place than we realise supported by his words about fish falling from the sky.  Its also fun that the names of the 3 people involved in the story include letters that spell out HAYMAKERS! Perhaps this is really a reminder about the need to guard against overfishing.  

Posted in Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

17/02/2009 by admin.

The ghostly encounter recorded at the start of our story (see opening sample in left hand column) records how a distraught and runaway black horse is a clear sign of Mother Nature in serious jeopardy.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwN_CXi41s4 

So, we look on with interest as Lloyds Bank TSB - known for its black horse symbol - quivers under the strain of the global financial crisis - with a £10bn loss last year due to bad debts inherited following a merger with HSBC.  The bank’s share price has plummeted and the prospect of a government bail out looms.  

Amongst other victims of the crisis are car workers at the BMW plant in Oxford where 850 people helping to manufacture the Mini have lost their jobs.  It comes as no suprise given that new car sales have plummeted across the industry in recent months.  Did we foretell the struggles of the car industry at this time too given Ben’s initials are BMW - Ben Michael Whittenbury? We use the acronym several times in our story!

Minis were a key part of the Italian Job movie - let’s here from Michael Caine and others on the need for a ‘Self Preservation Society’ to tackle the challenge of caring for our planet! “Get your skates on mate.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy3BdoWaYxY

Certainly a Lamb or two isn’t wasting any time in getting tough! A new report on bird wildlife by the Scottish Heritage Fund records how a lamb was seen head-butting a golden eagle - one of Scotland’s largest birds of prey.  The incident was recorded at Baile Ailean on the Western Isles of the Outer Hebrides.  Apparently older ewes, especially pregnant ones, have resorted to such action from time to time.   Perhaps this is a reference to Charles Lamb’s quest as recorded in his journal to toughen up through sparring under the guidance of Bill Richmond so as to prepare for the challenges ahead.  Take a look at these little fellas…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoDirD2hw1w

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

16/01/2009 by admin.

Boy George, the former controversial frontman to the 1980’s band Culture Club, has been given a 15 month prison sentence for false imprisonment and gratuitous violence.  A barrister in the case said that, “At the heart of the matter was a descent into self destructive behaviour.”  The singer’s solicitor later claimed, “George is on the way to recovery, I sincerely hope this sentence doesn’t knock him back.” 

This is George in his hey-day! An artist known for wearing a ribbon or two in his hair and an ambassador for diversity in our world.

So, what does this have to do with the environment, we hear you ask? Simple really - in response to Ben Whittenbury’s decision to draw up ‘The Haymakers Survey’ our Magician invited the climate change sceptics to say no to climate chaos and join the Culture Change Club.  The implication is that Boy George’s troubles are a reflection of the unwillingness of many on our planet to take the environment seriously or see any real threat.  The culture change required remains a distant vision. 

Allow George to take you back to 1870 …

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YqeTpbV9nt0

Posted in Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

14/12/2008 by admin.

As pantomine season approaches the outgoing Amercian President has been subject to an attack by a journalist throwing a shoe.  Its not our place to comment on the merits or otherwise of the gesture, but its interesting as we believe this is an indirect reminder to the most powerful individual in the world about the human footprint on this beloved Earth.  We’re also curious as Charles Lamb chose to remove his boots just prior to his first encounter with Malachi, the messenger dog… before he had to fend off the attention of those ants. Now, wasn’t there a recent story about Britain being invaded by a giant ant species?

Here’s the incident…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VFX-dKpcDz8

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

02/12/2008 by admin.

Happy 27th Birthday Britney Spears. Let’s celebrate - in the last year, Britney Spears was the most searched for term on Yahoo.com.  There are billions of searches each year and the troubled pop artist drew more hits than Barack Obama.  He was third on the list, behind Britney and ‘World Wrestling Entertainment’. 

This is all very interesting as some recent buyers of our novel initially mistook it to be by Britney Spears, not Billie Shears.  This was simply an ‘at a glance’ problem, but their names are very similar and rhyme.

Then we realise that Britney’s breakthrough song was, ‘Baby one more time’ with the lyrics, ‘Give me a sign, hit me…” She still believes. Do you? Here’s the video, complete with the clock ringing at 3.00.

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

Curious as a definition of ‘Haymaker’ includes one able to deliver a good punch. Which leads us on to the ‘World Wrestling Entertainment’. Interesting as ‘throwing a haymaker’ is a wrestling move.

Perhaps this all explains why Britney Spears made an appearance on the show, ‘The X Factor’?  Does not our novel ask whether we - the human race - have the X factor? Are we equipped to care for our planet and its eco-systems? Why Britney even chose to wear a top hat, just like the mysterious man in the shadows - the character orchastraing our story is clearly making a big impression.

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q62a Is life logical?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »

25/09/2008 by admin.

There’s no cause for a-Lamb, but there’s blue sheep roaming the fields of Tyneside! The blue sheep are the result of a farmer putting blue dye on them so he could check whether mating had taken place. Only trouble was that the rams chose to fight amongst themselves, spreading the dye over their bodies in the process.

All very quaint yet the curiosity for us is that in his diary the colour blue was especially precious between Charles Lamb and Lucy Ebbs! Time to celebrate with some animation …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C81NxEQW01U

And a song…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ejP-KZ_tk8

Meanwhile, further South, the former Beatles singer, Sir Paul McCartney has performed in concert in Israel.  The concert comes 43 years after The Beatles were banned from playing in the country for fear of corrupting the nation’s youth.   During his visit he went to Bethlehem. Outside of the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, Sir Paul said, “All we need is peace.” 

What’s remarkable about the visit is that in our tale, Caleb Hitch tells of the curious triangle surrrounding Keeper’s Cottage, with its lines leading east towards Stonehenge, north towards Royston Cave and south towards the Holy Land in Israel - which we suspected was too far to count, but clearly not!  The curious link between our story and The Beatles rolls on.  Here he is performing at the concert singing the Long and Winding Road!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS58AOGpLCQ&feature=related

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q73 Do you like nursery ryhmes?, Q66 Do you have a favourite flower?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

04/09/2008 by admin.

Our readers will know of the power of peanuts in our tale to stir up a discussion on environmental issues.  Elsewhere on our site you’ll find Sarah’s messages made from peanuts!  It’s therefore with strange co-incidence that we report the death at aged 91 of the animator Bill Melendez, who drew Charlie Brown, Snoopy and other Peanuts characters.  He was the only person given permission by the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, Charles Schulz, to animate his work.  He produced some 70 TV specials, including a Yuletide Charlie Brown Special in 1965.

Good grief! Here’s Sarah’s peanuts tribute to Bill … 

Charlie Brown is a loveable loser, a child possessed of endless hope and determination.  Curiously, one of the key characters is Lucy!  She first appeared on 3 March.  Lucy’s often mean and cynical and is famed for teasing and belittling Charlie Brown with cruel comments and acts. Here’s Lucy famously analysing Charlie Brown…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h38srxvt6qE&feature=related

Charlie was also famed for saying, “Why can’t I have a normal dog like everyone else?” which may amuse Malachi.

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q67 Have you ever decorated a tree?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

28/06/2008 by admin.

In a recent posting, we commented on the success and fame of the controversial and troubled pop artist, Amy Winehouse. We noted how an anagram of her name is HAY U WIN SOME.   Curiously our novel records that the term ‘Haymaker’ also means being capable of delivering a hard punch - a knockout blow.  So, should we be surprised to find that the infamous singer chose to strike a fan whilst on stage at Glastonbury?  By no means do we advocate violence, but the incident might be seen as a covert message to inspire those who care for our planet to ‘fight’ for the cause!  Take a look, if you wish…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IN7yJWi21E

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

28/03/2008 by admin.

A team of British animators has created a computer-generated model of a human heart so realistic it could transform surgical training. Every vessel and valve has been reproduced with remarkable accuracy.

The animators are following in the footsteps of Leonardo de Vinci, the Renaissance artist, whose depictions of the way the heart valves open and close, the muscles expand and contract and blood flows in and out remain so precise that his drawings influenced the operations are conducted by surgeons.

India’s Virender Sehwag has hit the fastest recorded triple-century in Test cricket history on day three of the first Test againt South Africa in Chennai. Sehwag reached 100 (for Art) before lunch and 200 (for Love) after, before reaching 300 (for Nature) from just 278 balls in the evening session.  he becomes only the third batsman to score 300 twice in Test cricket.  “You have to play your shots and maintain your run rate,” said the batsman, after a magnificent performance.

The oldest known recording of the human voice was aired on BBC Radio 4 and led to the presenter having a fit of giggles.  Apparently the 160 year old recording of Clair de Lune by Debussy was likened to a bee buzzing about in a bottle.  The amusing mishap by Charlotte Green was welcomed by many listeners…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7310000/newsid_7318200/7318249.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

Posted in Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q42 Do you enjoy drawing?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

28/09/2007 by admin.

George Stubbs - painter of the inspirational Haymakers - would be delighted to learn that his home town of Liverpool is to mark the return of the European Capital of Culture to British shores next year.   The year long celebrations will include the biggest public artwork deisplay ever commissioned by a British city.  Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will led the opening ceremony and also perform in June at Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC.    

A community nurse from Suffolk was amazed to find an egg within another egg!  She took the egg to work and shared it with her friends… they were astounded too. Here it is…

Another survey about workers failing to take a break or a holiday. One in five say they work too many hours, while half feel they do not get enough sleep. One in three complain of being stressed about work routine, with many fearing they do not get enough fresh air or exercise.  Senior managers are least likely to take breaks.  Just think of all those lost opportunities to enjoy art, love and nature!

Posted in Q59 Do you like surprises?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q24 Do you get enough time to yourself?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »