MR AND MRS CARL PORTMAN WRITE...

My dear Jon and Corinna,

Whilst on our honeymoon in the good old county of Norfolk earlier this month we came across a cute village name. It reminded us a little of Woolfardisworthy. It’s not quite as nice but we wanted to share it with you.

Lots of love xx

Carl and Sue

CARL PORTMAN: Dead fox in a graveyard

Liebe Jon,

Whilst out walking the hounds yesterday I happened across this unfortunate fox lying dead in the local graveyard (appropriate?). I had my camera with me as usual and took the three photographs above. I am sending them to you with the following comments and observations.

* The full length photograph merely depicts the size, colour and position of the animal.
* Then I noticed the injury on the hind leg, which I took a close-up of. What caused this? Surely it is not a shotgun would? Maybe another fox? A dog? Something bigger? I am no expert but could such an injury alone have killed the animal? I did not tip it over to look for other injuries but there seemed to be none. Maybe it died of a heart attack through fright.
* A bigger animal (if it killed it for a meal) would have surely eaten some of it.

The other one of the close-up of the teeth was taken for record purposes – but why? I was fascinated and not a little astonished to see what good condition the teeth were in; hardly yellowed at all. Now, my domestic quadrupeds have yellower teeth than that and we occasionally clean them with doggy toothpaste. I wonder how the foxes keep theirs so clean? Anyway – it is just an observation.

I feel for the poor animal – I do love foxes despite all the hullabaloo about the destruction they are meant to cause. They were here first…

Love from the Topographic Oceans.


Website: www.carlsplanet.co.uk

P.S. Actually, I just noticed a huge puncture mark on the fox – just above its left foreleg – and another towards the middle of its body. No blood, though – can’t be a shotgun.

CARL PORTMAN: Blue dog snippets

Jon,

I write a blog every week for a heart forum. It goes worldwide of course and has some Texans as well as many other folks on it. I thought I would just ask the question ‘has anyone ever heard of the Texas Blue Dog’ just on the spur of the moment. I cut and pasted the replies and they are attached.

Of course, you will know much of it, if not all of it but there may be a snippet or two of use.

See how I think of you Jon – you bloody great bear.

Carlos J

Website: http://www.carlsplanet.co.uk/

































I have seen some specials on the TV, I think the Discovery channel about such a dog, but have not seen one live. They were trying to expel the myth of the Chupacabra, and were linking the sightings of this dog to sightings of Chupacabra. I believe they have done some DNA work to try and figure out where it has come from, but I cannot remember exactly what they have found since the dog does seem to be hairless but have some incredible teeth. Good luck in actually finding a picture of one.Eric, Utah

Carl, a quick look online revealed the state dog of Texas as a Blue Lacy. Looks very much like the dog on your site. A few months ago, workers, at a local hospital here in Maryland, took pictures of a strange animal in the woods that was described as a cross between a kangeroo and a dog. Looked alien. Turned out to be a red fox with a very bad case of mange.
Annette (Maryland)

Carl, I personally know someone who saw a Tasmanian Tiger. She was a fellow Northern Territory Policewoman and she was camping in the outback, in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. She got up one morning early to go to the river that they were camping on and looked across the river and saw the animal on the opposite bank. She went back and got her camera, and yes you could see the distinctive stripes on the back of the animal. It truly was a Tasmanian Tiger, or some other weird animal that had evolved in the isolated area that she was in. To make this incident even more believable, she didn't go to the media with her photo or other agencies. Her belief was that if the animal had survived out there all this time, then it deserved to be left in peace. She was a born and bred outback woman, and did spend a lot of time travelling and camping in remote areas, enjoying the environment. I often wonder if she did eventually report it and show the photo, but as the Kimberleys are not being inundated with camera crews and media or hunters, then I presume she didn't. This was in the 1980's that I saw the photo, and it was taken about 5 years previously. So hopefully, or at least I like to think so, there is a thriving community of Tasmanian tigers in the outback Kimberley area. It is a very isolated and rugged area, so hopefully this will ensure that they do stay protected. This is mainland Australia and very isolated. Almost the opposite end of the continent from Tasmania.
Chrissy (Australia)

I think what you mean is a Texas Blue Lacy. Breeding info is here... http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bluelacy.htmThis is a dog that is common in the ranch and hunting areas of Texas and good breeders can fetch big money for well bred and trained pups. It is now a recognized breed of its own. These dogs are tough enough to use to hunt wild boar and I imagine if left to their own devices would hunt in local barns and cause havoc. This is not the Chubacabra that is much storied despite the look in the photos.
Kat (California)

I periodically see very similar pictures of animals found in our desert regions down near the border with Mexico. Sightings always bring up the mythical chupacabra which I believe comes from Mexican legends. Interestingly they never provide follow up information on what the animal really is, but coyote seems reasonable based on appearance, size, and areas they have been found. You might try using chupacabra as your reference when looking up additional information on the beast.
Robopop (Arizona)

Comment from Carl – someone also sent me this link. It’s a mad mad world.
http://www.txbluedogdems.org/

CARL PORTMAN Vs The White Squirrel

Jon,

Whilst going through some very old archive photographs on a CD I came across this. I recall taking it from distance on an old camera (pre-digital days) and it's a famed 'white squirrel' from Pevensey in Eastbourne.

I saw it with my own eyes and almost couldn't believe it.

Anyway - it's unusual for sure.

Carlos

CFZ PEOPLE: Carl and Sue

Congratulations to Carl Portman (star of last year's WW) and his new fiancee Sue on their engagement.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

CARL PORTMAN WRITES...

It’s not crypto but it CRUFTS!

Just thought me and Sue would share the happy day.

Here is the boy Darwin after winning his epic third at CRUFTS. Donna is the handler in the ring so she knows Darwin very well. He did superbly considering he went up three classes this year and was in a field of 22 of the world’s best in the same class. We are absolutely delighted.

Carl and Sue x

I am tempted to wonder what would have happened if dear departed Biggles had been entered in Crufts. He would probably have run around in circles barking joyously, crapped everywhere, and then bitten the judge!

GET WELL SOON, MATE

Carl Portman is very ill. The thoughts and prayers of everyone here at the CFZ are with him.

CARL PORTMAN: Breaking News

Santa spotted in Hanwell – what are the odds of that? It seems he was on his way to the other side of the world to start delivering when…

I was so lucky to get this shot. Yes, it’s sad but the snow has caught us all out and we need to eat what we can to survive. We shouldn’t blame Hylton at the Moon and Sixpence Public House. Santa is magic, though, isn’t he so he will undoubtedly find a way to deliver all the presents. The roads are not gritted, though, so it looks like a long week for the big man. Keep your ‘mince pies’ peeled folks, and remember to give thanks to the spirit of Christmas if you have venison at the Moon and Sixpence this year J


Merry Christmas,

Carl

CARL PORTMAN: Don't say I didn't warn you

Don’t say I didn’t warn you some time ago. Us chess players are weird, that’s true, but we are led by the chief of hyperbole – or is he in fact telling the truth?

Here you go…

The New York Times was approached by the President of the World Chess Federation, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who offered to answer readers’ questions. The result is a Q+A which deals with all aspects of Ilyumzhinov's career and work, including the perennial question about alien abduction and the galactic origin of chess. Turns out he will be publishing a book on the subject.

· What about his belief in alien abductions? "Many in this world believe in God although it would seem that no one has yet seen him. Many people also believe in the existence of extraterrestrials, and I am one of them. But my faith is underscored by the experience of humanity. It is no coincidence that every year NASA registers over 4,000 contacts with extraterrestrial civilizations. I have decided to write a book about my contact with extraterrestrials, and it will be published in the United States in 2011. In it, I will speak of my personal experience communicating with extraterrestrials and my view on the question of extraterrestrial civilizations."

· Was chess given to Earthlings from extraterrestrial visitors? "I do, indeed, consider chess a gift from extraterrestrial civilizations. Chess is one of the world’s oldest games. But where was it invented? In India? But an ancient set of figures was also found at excavations in the Bulgarian town of Plovdiv. And two years ago, the president of Mongolia showed me chessmen discovered when they were searching for the grave of Genghis Khan and excavated a kurgan. There have been similar finds in Latin America and other parts of the world. And in those times, of course, travel was almost impossible. But the rules of chess were almost identical everywhere. It is hard to imagine that people in different parts of the world many thousands of years ago simultaneously thought up an identical game with the same rules just by chance. But again, I will set forth my opinions in the book, and we can discuss my theses in greater detail”.

I will keep you posted,

Carl Portman

CARL PORTMAN: Norwegian strangeness

My dear Jon,

Here’s one. It IS genuine but a little weird to say the least. Take a look at the attached photograph. I took this on board a ship in Norway heading north for Trondheim. We sailed past a rather curious building and I thought I would photograph it just as the sun was going down, as did several other passengers. They had just photographed it, and I was last to arrive just in time to get a quick snap before we passed the building.

Just as I was about to press the shutter a beam of golden sunlight lit up the structure – nothing else, just that! Naturally I took the shot but when I looked again there was a strange golden ball to the left of the picture. Neither my pal nor anyone else around me had the same impression and I had this on the two shots I took. There was nothing wrong with the camera.

How curious that this shard of sunlight hit at the moment I took the shot and the golden ball, made up of several smaller balls appeared like some mass ball of energy hurtling through the air on my photograph.

It could be a glitch with my camera (doubtful) or I may have been lucky enough to have photographed something extraordinary – a ball of energy or something else emanating from the last but sudden warm rays of the sun in sub zero temperatures.

I don’t have the answer but I hope you find it interesting. The photograph is not doctored in any way.

Carl

GET WELL SOON CARL

Our old mate Carl Portman, star of this year's Weird Weekend has been very ill. God bless you mate, and get well soon....

CARL PORTMAN: Wot's that bird?

Corinna,

Okay – third attempt and you’ll get it this time. Isn’t it lovely?

Carl x

CARL PORTMAN: Carl's challenge to Corinna (3)

Corinna,

A bird of prey you say?
Perhaps a kite?
Alright...
It’s not
But you have got,
Another photo and another guess
I know you’ll do your very best
You’ll get that badge
But we know not where or when
So until that time Corinna Downes
You’ll simply have to guess again

And you should know I have much faith in you
The photo after this will give an even better clue.

This is SUCH fun!



Carl

CARL PORTMAN: Check mate?

Hello Jon,

Here’s one for the blog...

As a serious chess player since I was a kid I am never surprised at the machinations at FIDE. To you and me that’s the Fédération Internationale des Échecs the governing body of the game. There’s currently a huge battle for supremacy and the FIDE Precidency. The current and possibly outgoing incumbent is a man called Kirsan Ilyumzhinov from a faraway place called Kalmyk in the USSR. A strange man indeed, and a multi-millionaire to boot. No one really knows how he got his money or even much about the man himself. Trust me, this is a major political position in the chess world – THE position in fact.

So why are you interested? Well, he has gone on record as saying that he takes his advice from meetings with yellow-suited aliens who predict future developments for him on planet earth. You knew that chess was weird, didn’t you?

Mr Ilyumzhinov, 48, the head of the south-western Russian region of Kalmykia, appeared on a Russian talk show on April 26, and went over his evening with aliens.

He said he saw a "semi-transparent half tube" spaceship on his balcony. He then entered it and met "human-like creatures in yellow spacesuits", The Moscow Times reported.

"I am often asked which language I used to talk to them. Perhaps it was on a level of the exchange of the ideas," he told the television programme host.

He had told The Guardian the aliens took him to "some kind of star".

"They put a spacesuit on me, told me many things and showed me around. They wanted to demonstrate that UFOs do exist."

His autobiography including chapter titles such as ‘without me the people are incomplete’ and ‘It only takes two weeks to have a man killed’.

Chess is the oldest war game but nasty things happen away from the board too. Watch this space....

CARL PORTMAN: Challenge to Corinna

Corinna,

This is the very poorest of a set of photographs I have of a bird growing in several stages of development. You are a ‘bird expert’ so I am going to see how long before you identify it. So, give it your first punt...

Only ONE guess each time...

Carl

Dear Carl,

As I sit here stroking my chin looking at the photo, with a look of intent concentration etched across my face, methinks this could be a tricky one. Another slurp from my coffee mug and I would have to ask, however - from a scientific point of view you understand - what is the box behind the bird (for scaling purposes) and was this photo taken chez vous or at a ‘bird kindergarten’ in a zoo?

Two quite important questions perhaps, but even if those questions were answered it would probably still leave that furrowed look upon my brow for I have to admit that I have absolutely no idea whatsoever what sort of bird this little creature would grow up to be once it donned a suitable set of feathers and proper wings. But for the record, I don’t reckon it is a wren.

One guess a day eh? You are a hard taskmaster...erm, uhm, a bird born without down...hmm ...my guess for today is...a jay. I am right aren’t I! I get a badge for extreme cleverness don’t I?

love as always

Corinna

CARL PORTMAN WRITES...

Jon,

Before I met Sue, I used to sport a rather marvellous 'lip weasel' but alas, she is not a fan. What terrific news then to find that such creations are attractive to the fairer sex, as demonstrated by this rather marvellous fish.

I consider this important enough to share with the wider CFZ fraternity so that next year everyone - excluding the ladies - can sport something for the Weird Weekend. (Link below) I feel good today - not least because of the support of people like you....

Carl

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8767000/8767973.stm

CFZ PEOPLE: Carl Portman

I have known Carl for a couple of years, but it was his bravura performance at the WW this year that won the hearts of a large chunk of the CFZ family. His new friends will, like I was, be seriously concerned to hear that Carl has been seriously ill and even spent a spell in hospital last week.

Get well soon buddy. You are in our thoughts and our prayers.

WEIRD WEEKEND SCRAPBOOK: Max reports

Last night saw the opening of this year’s Weird Weekend with the traditional cocktail party. Margaritas and wine were the order of the night and these did indeed add an intended air of sophistication to the occasion. It was a quiet night, far removed from last years bustling get-together, but regardless, it was a great night that offered ample opportunity to chat to friends new and old about a range of esoteric subjects including spiders, expeditions, prog music, lesser known cryptids and whiskey.

Anyway, it was great to chat to some new people such as Carl and Susan Portman (who, by the way, have a book out now by CFZ Press), and Patrick Noble, all of whom will certainly enjoy the rest of the weekend. Anyway, excuse the brief posting, but it is very nearly time to start showing people around the CFZ grounds….

CARL PORTMAN WRITES

My dear Jon,

Take a look at this little beauty. I photographed it at the British Tarantula Society Exhibition yesterday. It sure ain’t no spider but it’s gorgeous in the extreme – and WEIRD too.

You might like to upload it for all to see on your website. Many people won’t have seen anything like it, I am sure.

I have kept one of these in the past – voracious eaters and diggers and bloody fast too.

Love to you and the team.

Carl

BATTLE OF THE BRUMMIES: Nick Redfern reviews Carl Portman

If, like me, you're into entertaining road-trip-style books that take you to far-off places, and encounters with exotic creatures, captivating landscapes, and much more, then Carl Portman's A Daintree Diary is the book for you!

http://forteanreviews.blogspot.com/2010/05/daintree-diary.html