Sunday, August 09, 2009
GENEROUS NEW WW SPONSOR
I am off to Barnstaple with David in about fifteen minutes. I am hoping against hope that we shall be able to restore the data from the broken disk. However, some good stuff happened yesterday, and I would like to take this opportunity to say how pleased we are to welcome the Kingsley School Music Department on board as a sponsor. They have very generously lent us some much needed equipment, which will put an added zing into the show as a whole.
UPDATE
The dog and I are the only ones awake. Graham was up most of the night and has managed to get my system limited connectivity, so I can still just about get online with the office computer. I can't print, I can only access my emails online, (and I seem to have lost an enormous trenche of them), and I am still discovering stuff that I have lost (if that isn't too much of an oxymoron).
I feel completely numb. Most of the work I have done for the last eight months is lost, and only time will tell whether I shall be able to replace it. David and I are going to PC World later on this morning to see if they can recover the data from the buggered drive.
I have my doubts.
I feel completely numb. Most of the work I have done for the last eight months is lost, and only time will tell whether I shall be able to replace it. David and I are going to PC World later on this morning to see if they can recover the data from the buggered drive.
I have my doubts.
MANY APOLOGIES - A BREAK IN TRANSMISSION
There are unlikely to be any regular blog postings for a few days. We have had a massive computer failure and lost an enormous amount of data; basically most of the work I have done since December, including the masters of ten books, and all the Russia video. I have also lost most of my WW material.
The Weird Weekend will take place, but it is unlikely to be as slick as usual. Please remember us in your thoughts as we try to deal with this complete disaster.
If you have written me a blog post that has not yet been posted, please resend it. I know I have unissued material from Neil, and Richard Freeman, but I think that Glen, Mike H, Dale, Lizzy, and Richard Muirhead have sent me things. Please resend.
The same goes for submissions for Animals & Men or the yearbook. If anyone has contact details for the chap on the Frontiers of Zoology list who wrote the major paper on Steller's Sea Ape, please send them to me.
I have lost a large amount of personal stuff too, and am very upset about the whole thing. Give us a couple of days and we shall be back....
The Weird Weekend will take place, but it is unlikely to be as slick as usual. Please remember us in your thoughts as we try to deal with this complete disaster.
If you have written me a blog post that has not yet been posted, please resend it. I know I have unissued material from Neil, and Richard Freeman, but I think that Glen, Mike H, Dale, Lizzy, and Richard Muirhead have sent me things. Please resend.
The same goes for submissions for Animals & Men or the yearbook. If anyone has contact details for the chap on the Frontiers of Zoology list who wrote the major paper on Steller's Sea Ape, please send them to me.
I have lost a large amount of personal stuff too, and am very upset about the whole thing. Give us a couple of days and we shall be back....
Saturday, August 08, 2009
DAVE SADLER WRITES: Big Cats in South Cheshire
Greetings from southeast Cheshire! I’ve been asked to write a blog by a certain Mr Freeman, and to be honest, this is my first blog entry outside that of the Unknown Phenomena Investigation Association.
My name is Dave Sadler. I formed the UPIA in 1998 after several years learning the basics and observing what I believe was the incorrect manner to deal with odd reports in the northwest of the UK. Most of the work covered by the organisation deals with the paranormal and UFOs. We do, however, research and actively investigate other areas within the paranormal sphere; one area in particular and one very close to myself, is the world of cryptozoology, and within the area I reside, in particular that of the Big Cat.
Now I could go in all manner of directions here but save teaching old granny to suck eggs, I won’t cover the last 40 years; instead I'll briefly offer a synopsis of reports and sightings from these here parts.
For them there beasties here lies some of the best countryside for the secretive felids to exist. I won’t suggest my thoughts and theories are perfect, but from the potential evidence gathered and collated my own views will be difficult to shift.
In January 2006 I decided to begin a programme of gathering testimonies to collate and cross-reference Big Cat sightings, after receiving ten reports from the Staffordshire moorlands via the UPIA website. Not expecting much in the way of witness reports I contacted all local media outlets who each ran similar editorials - The Stoke Evening Sentinel, BBC Radio Stoke, Signal Radio, The Leek Times and Post, the Cheadle Times and Post, the Uttoxeter Times and Post, as well as several other weekly columns - asking for information. The reply was phenomenal and having continued to advertise for additional tales (pardon the pun...), at this point the UPIA have received in excess of 300 separate incident reports via email, telephone and letter. Approximately 70% have been either explained or discounted due to lack of information. This leaves us with 95 reports of credible information.
Sightings are continuing to emanate from north Staffordshire, south Cheshire and the Peak District, of a panther-like animal, a lynx, puma and in one case, a lioness, which was found to be a rather large domestic cat, a Maine Coon.
My belief is that the animal is in existence in the wilds of the UK. I do not believe that there are a multitude of the beasts in our countryside; in fact probably very few are actually about. I also consider many sightings are misidentification; some may be domestic cats introduced into the wilderness and larger than the average size of their breeds. I have also found and logged a high volume of watercourses. Lakes, reservoirs, rivers, canals, streams and many tributaries exist. These offer a perfect area of travel, away from prying eyes and with large areas of dense foliage and forestry, areas we know but may not expect for animals to hide away from public view – the reason for my theory? Of the 95 reports, 67 occur within a short distance from these watercourses. Each have similar distinctive attributes; bigger than a large dog, with powerful hind quarters. Several of the sightings suggest a cat-like animal to be stalking deer; this in particular around the herd at Trentham gardens.
We have made contact and continue communications with the RSPCA, Staffs and Cheshire police, including both forces' wildlife liaison teams; this as well as Mark Fraser of Scottish Big Cats and Steve Mera of Manchester’s Association of Paranormal Investigation and Training, whose input have been invaluable.
One of the best reports was received on 05/03/07 by a witness in the Cheadle area of Staffordshire. After witnessing the hind quarters of an animal he was able to find tracks and photograph each. These are with the UPIA for any future use. The print was taken with 2 3-inch shot gun cartridges for scale. The witness, a vermin controller on land in the Totmonslow area, also reports the finding of 6 rabbit carcasses, ripped in half.
REPORTS VIA EMAIL
Regarding your recent investigations to large black cats in Staffordshire.
My experience was 4 and half years ago, whilst walking my dog (a border collie) on Hanley Forest Park, it was summertime and around 1800hrs. I was on a normal regular run with my dog when I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw about 50metres away in front of me a large black cat like animal which was about 4ft in length and 3ft in height with a large tail. I thought that ain't no normal cat. My dog didn't see it (thank god) and I shouted him to come to me which he did. The cat walked out of the grass at a slow pace, stopped, looked towards me for about 10 - 15 seconds then carried on walking into some longer grass. I made a hasty retreat back to my parked car.
On returning home I didn't report it as my partner took the mick and said I was seeing things.
Hope this has added some information to your enquiries.
A.S
Dave,
I have seen your letter posted in the sentinel and can tell you off two big cat sightings believed to be of a panther.
The first sighting occurred about June 2006 where a colleague whilst on duty as a Police Officer saw what he believed to be a panther or something similar in size run across the main road at Wetley Rocks near Cheddleton.
This happened at about 0430am and he caught the cat in his main beam and it appeared to glide across the road before jumping a wall and going into a field. He is absolutely adamant about what he saw but did not call it in over his radio as he at first couldn't believe what he had seen and thought he would be laughed at. (Interestingly this is relatively close, as in a few miles, to the Leek cattle market sightings)
The second occurred in 2005 where a Special Constable observed what he thought was a big cat similar to a panther on the edge of the Alton Towers Estate. He was off duty at the time and did not report it as he did not think he would be believed.
I won’t disclose their details to you until I have obtained their permission but they are very certain about what they saw and have no doubts at all.
Please let me know if this is of interest to you and how I could help further.
Regards
J.P.
Myself and the UPIA are continuing to monitor the environment with the hope of finding evidence of the events, and assist in the protection of the animal(s) and public. We have a database in operation, with details of sightings incorporated. As yet it is incomplete due to additional work both private and media-related.
Well, I think that’s a blog. At least I’ve attempted to offer background, first-hand accounts and theories behind some of the events. I hope I haven’t performed overkill, and thank CFZ for offering me the opportunity to write some of my thoughts for peer review.
Dave Sadler
http://www.upia.co.uk/
My name is Dave Sadler. I formed the UPIA in 1998 after several years learning the basics and observing what I believe was the incorrect manner to deal with odd reports in the northwest of the UK. Most of the work covered by the organisation deals with the paranormal and UFOs. We do, however, research and actively investigate other areas within the paranormal sphere; one area in particular and one very close to myself, is the world of cryptozoology, and within the area I reside, in particular that of the Big Cat.
Now I could go in all manner of directions here but save teaching old granny to suck eggs, I won’t cover the last 40 years; instead I'll briefly offer a synopsis of reports and sightings from these here parts.
For them there beasties here lies some of the best countryside for the secretive felids to exist. I won’t suggest my thoughts and theories are perfect, but from the potential evidence gathered and collated my own views will be difficult to shift.
In January 2006 I decided to begin a programme of gathering testimonies to collate and cross-reference Big Cat sightings, after receiving ten reports from the Staffordshire moorlands via the UPIA website. Not expecting much in the way of witness reports I contacted all local media outlets who each ran similar editorials - The Stoke Evening Sentinel, BBC Radio Stoke, Signal Radio, The Leek Times and Post, the Cheadle Times and Post, the Uttoxeter Times and Post, as well as several other weekly columns - asking for information. The reply was phenomenal and having continued to advertise for additional tales (pardon the pun...), at this point the UPIA have received in excess of 300 separate incident reports via email, telephone and letter. Approximately 70% have been either explained or discounted due to lack of information. This leaves us with 95 reports of credible information.
Sightings are continuing to emanate from north Staffordshire, south Cheshire and the Peak District, of a panther-like animal, a lynx, puma and in one case, a lioness, which was found to be a rather large domestic cat, a Maine Coon.
My belief is that the animal is in existence in the wilds of the UK. I do not believe that there are a multitude of the beasts in our countryside; in fact probably very few are actually about. I also consider many sightings are misidentification; some may be domestic cats introduced into the wilderness and larger than the average size of their breeds. I have also found and logged a high volume of watercourses. Lakes, reservoirs, rivers, canals, streams and many tributaries exist. These offer a perfect area of travel, away from prying eyes and with large areas of dense foliage and forestry, areas we know but may not expect for animals to hide away from public view – the reason for my theory? Of the 95 reports, 67 occur within a short distance from these watercourses. Each have similar distinctive attributes; bigger than a large dog, with powerful hind quarters. Several of the sightings suggest a cat-like animal to be stalking deer; this in particular around the herd at Trentham gardens.
We have made contact and continue communications with the RSPCA, Staffs and Cheshire police, including both forces' wildlife liaison teams; this as well as Mark Fraser of Scottish Big Cats and Steve Mera of Manchester’s Association of Paranormal Investigation and Training, whose input have been invaluable.
One of the best reports was received on 05/03/07 by a witness in the Cheadle area of Staffordshire. After witnessing the hind quarters of an animal he was able to find tracks and photograph each. These are with the UPIA for any future use. The print was taken with 2 3-inch shot gun cartridges for scale. The witness, a vermin controller on land in the Totmonslow area, also reports the finding of 6 rabbit carcasses, ripped in half.
REPORTS VIA EMAIL
Regarding your recent investigations to large black cats in Staffordshire.
My experience was 4 and half years ago, whilst walking my dog (a border collie) on Hanley Forest Park, it was summertime and around 1800hrs. I was on a normal regular run with my dog when I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw about 50metres away in front of me a large black cat like animal which was about 4ft in length and 3ft in height with a large tail. I thought that ain't no normal cat. My dog didn't see it (thank god) and I shouted him to come to me which he did. The cat walked out of the grass at a slow pace, stopped, looked towards me for about 10 - 15 seconds then carried on walking into some longer grass. I made a hasty retreat back to my parked car.
On returning home I didn't report it as my partner took the mick and said I was seeing things.
Hope this has added some information to your enquiries.
A.S
Dave,
I have seen your letter posted in the sentinel and can tell you off two big cat sightings believed to be of a panther.
The first sighting occurred about June 2006 where a colleague whilst on duty as a Police Officer saw what he believed to be a panther or something similar in size run across the main road at Wetley Rocks near Cheddleton.
This happened at about 0430am and he caught the cat in his main beam and it appeared to glide across the road before jumping a wall and going into a field. He is absolutely adamant about what he saw but did not call it in over his radio as he at first couldn't believe what he had seen and thought he would be laughed at. (Interestingly this is relatively close, as in a few miles, to the Leek cattle market sightings)
The second occurred in 2005 where a Special Constable observed what he thought was a big cat similar to a panther on the edge of the Alton Towers Estate. He was off duty at the time and did not report it as he did not think he would be believed.
I won’t disclose their details to you until I have obtained their permission but they are very certain about what they saw and have no doubts at all.
Please let me know if this is of interest to you and how I could help further.
Regards
J.P.
Myself and the UPIA are continuing to monitor the environment with the hope of finding evidence of the events, and assist in the protection of the animal(s) and public. We have a database in operation, with details of sightings incorporated. As yet it is incomplete due to additional work both private and media-related.
Well, I think that’s a blog. At least I’ve attempted to offer background, first-hand accounts and theories behind some of the events. I hope I haven’t performed overkill, and thank CFZ for offering me the opportunity to write some of my thoughts for peer review.
Dave Sadler
http://www.upia.co.uk/
AUBREY: GIANT SNAKES (FOR GOODNESS SAKES)
How would you like to possibly earn $50,000? The Wildlife Conservation
Society, as far as I read, is still offering a $50,000 reward for any snake at least 30 feet long. It must be delivered alive and in good health,
accompanied by all necessary permits and paperwork, to the Bronx Zoo in New York City. Now, before you embark on the Great Snake Hunt, there's something you should know.
The reward was first offered in the early 1900s by President Theodore
Roosevelt, a close friend of William T. Hornaday, the Bronx Zoo's director
at the time. And the money--initially $1,000, then $10,000, and now
$50,000--is still unclaimed. Why? Because it's quite possible that snakes don't grow that large.
Throughout history explorers' tales abound of giant snakes measuring 30, 40, and even 50 feet in length. For example, in 1907 a British adventurer named Percy Fawcett claimed to have shot a giant anaconda (Eunectes murinus) measuring 62 feet. Since Fawcett didn't think to bring back the carcass, few people believed his claim.
Guiness Book of World Records credits a reticulated python (Python reticulatus) that was slain on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi in 1912 as the longest snake ever reliably measured. According to Guinness, this whopper was 39.4 feet in length. A close second, Guinness maintains, was a 38.3-foot African rock python (Python sebae) shot on the Ivory Coast in 1932.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Richard Freeman would love to see these citations, because the largest snake of which we were aware was indeed shot in Sulawesi, we think in 1912, but we believe that it was a mere 33ft.
While there are those that claim 40 foot Anacondas exist, scientific studies indicate otherwise. In a recent survey of more than 1,000 wild anacondas in Brazil, the largest was around 17 feet and 100 pounds. So to claim there are anacondas out there 50, 80, 100 or even 120 feet long, slithering around in Peru or anywhere else in South America, I find ridiculous. You stand as great a chance of finding a 100-foot snake as you would a 40 pound pigeon. Good luck with that.
Timbersbrook Nature Reserve
Timbersbrook Nature Reserve is based in the beautiful Cheshire countryside, at the base of Bosley Cloud. The Timbersbrook Project offers individuals, groups, schools and other organisations the opportunity to return to the wild.
However, someone has just written to me...
The council are going to place an enforcment notice on the project in three weeks and we need your help to stop us from closing down. If you would like to help please send your letter to timbersbrook@yahoo.com or post the letter to The Timbersbrook Project, Pedley Lane, CW12 3PYOn behalf of Leo Deen, Proprieter of Timbersbrook Nature Reserve
However, someone has just written to me...
The council are going to place an enforcment notice on the project in three weeks and we need your help to stop us from closing down. If you would like to help please send your letter to timbersbrook@yahoo.com or post the letter to The Timbersbrook Project, Pedley Lane, CW12 3PYOn behalf of Leo Deen, Proprieter of Timbersbrook Nature Reserve
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