Caterwauling

Couple of stories from yesterday's main page BBC caught the attention.

The first related to Jerusalem, not the place but rather the anthem based on William Blake's, And did these feet, poem, which hinted that perhaps Jesus had visited Great Britain  in the company of his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea. It's something we have touched on here relatively often recently in regard to the London Olympics, given Danny Boyle's Green and Pleasant opening ceremony which, apparently,  takes it to heart. That's not forgetting the "bouncy" Stonehenge.

There was no mention of the forthcoming Olympics, or of Boyle's ceremony in the  BBC article, rather it was being suggested by a musicologist, Professor Jeremy Dibble, that Jerusalem is being sung in the wrong manner - basically, the first verse should be solo. The article goes on to mention Prince William and Kate along with an interpretation that Blake's implication was "that a visit of Jesus would briefly create heaven in England, in contrast to the "dark Satanic Mills" of the Industrial Revolution". 

The second story relates that 3 Scottish Universities have joined ranks to let us know that at one time the United Kingdom was much bigger than it is today, and that vast expanses of what are now sea, used to be land. The original article title mentioned Atlantis, although this has now been removed. What we can glean though is that the boffins are calling this "new discovery", Doggerland (BBC).  This is not new news, however for those interested in the subject it is worth checking Jeff Nisbet's, The Pyramids of Scotland, where he compares three islands in the Firth of Forth - Fidra, Lamb, and Craigleith - with the pyramids of Egypt. For those sceptics, add into the equation that, surely dodgy, double eleven infatuated, Uri Geller, is now the owner of Lamb Island, where he claims to believe returning Egyptian princess, Scota, stashed her loot. 

Then today, another story popped up re Danny Boyle's Green and Pleasant opening ceremony. Danny is not happy about "spoilers" appearing in the media regarding the show, urging the "surprise to be saved". One can only assume given the lack of background information that he is making reference to articles like the one I wrote about here, where mention is made of a giant wand wielding Prospero overseeing proceedings - which include visual references to Blake's "Satanic Mills". However, he does mention the animals which will be involved and assures "animal rights campaigners" that "no harm will come to them" (BBC). Just for the record there is to be "a menagerie of 70 sheep, 12 horses, three cows, two goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, nine geese and three sheepdogs" (BBC), a grand total of 119; a number which might ring some bells.

cheers

Note also re 119, that 29th April is 119th day of year. Date of Wills/Kate wedding.