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Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006

JOHN TWEDDELL DOWNES 1925-2006



Requiem

by Robert Louis Stevenson

UNDER the wide and starry sky
Dig the grave and let me lie:
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he long'd to be;
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.


My father died at just after six thirty this morning. Richard - my brother - and I were at the bedside. I held his hand whilst Richard - an army Padre - said the prayers for the dying. It was a very beautiful and spiritual moment, and it will take both of us a considerable time before we can put it all in perspective.

My brother and I would like to thank ALL the staff on the Intensive Care Unit at the North Devon District Hospital, especially Dad's alloted nurse Michelle, who was affectionate, kind beyond belief, and both compassionate and professional. Thank you my dear - we both owe you a debt that can never be repaid.

The funeral arrangements will be made in the next day or so and we shall post them here.

My brother and I want to thank everyone who has given us messages of support over the last weeks.

God Bless you all

Jon and Richard Downes

News Update

Graham has confirmed that Jon's brother, Richard has arrived.

Mark North

Monday, February 13, 2006

Latest News

We have recently be informed by Graham, who is with Jonathan at his fathers bedside that he is "unlikely to last the night" at Barnstaple Hospital.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them

Mark North

APPROACHING THE END

Graham and I went to the hospital this afternoon. Dad is in intensive care, and in a semi-comatose state. On top of everything else he now has a punctured bowel, and acute renal failure. He is unlikely to last more than a few more days. I would rather that he be visited only by close family. My brother is on Compassionate Leave from the Army and is flying back to England tonight.

I will, of course, keep everyone posted about his progress.

Thank you all for your support and kindness.

UPDATE

I have just spoken to the hospital. They have asked me to come there now. My brother is flying back from Germany this evening. I have to say that it does not look good.

Keep us in your prayers...

MONDAY MORNING

I have just had a telephone call from the hospital. Dad is in considerable pain with a strangulated hernia and will be going in to surgery shortly. How serious this is I don't know, but I will keep you updated. Your thoughts and prayers are neded at this time more than ever.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

SUNDAY EVENING

i sat with Dad for about three hours this evening just holding his hand. He is very weak and can hardly talk. It is very difficult to know what else to say. He was asleep most of the time so I just sat there with him. Hopefully tomorrow there will be more nes but I cannot truthfully see that he can be released in the next few days unless he perks up remarkably.