Maggy Steiner

 

Maggy Steiner had a wonderful childhood.  She went to school in Vienna, and spent her summers with her uncle and aunt and her two cousins in the mountains of Austria.

And, Maggy Steiner's summers were perfect.

Uncle Sepp, aunty Helen, and cousins Josef and Franz lived in Klein Edelschrott in the Austrian province of Styria.

And, Klein Edelschrott consisted of only a handful of houses and a very small chapel that was only used for special occasions.  One of which being a chapel of rest for when someone had died. And, that was it.  The shop came once a week in a van, and the nearest gasthaus was 4 kilometres away.

But, there was plenty to do for Maggy and her cousins.  There were mountains to climb, forests to hide in and play, and an icy cold river to swim in in the heat of the summer, and, most importantly, complete freedom to do whatever they wanted. And, because the three cousins were more or less the same age, they made perfect playmates.

But, then one day, Franz and Josef played a very mean prank on Maggy.  

Josef and Franz persuaded Maggy to ring the bell at chapel at exactly 11 o'clock.  Maggy had readily agreed.  Such a chance didn't come every day.

The three children ran to the chapel.  Josef unlocked the door and in went the children.  Getting the key to the chapel had been easy. It was aunty Helen's job to look after the chapel, and the very big key to this very little chapel lived hanging up on a hook in the kitchen.  

And, so, they were ready.  Franz and Josef showed Maggy what to do.  Where to stand and how to pull the rope.  Very slowly and counting to ten between every pull.  

And, then, on the dot of eleven, Maggy Steiner started ringing the bell.  Very, very slowly and counting to ten between every pull.

And, Maggy was happy.  What a great way to have fun.  And, the bell Maggy was ringing could be heard far and wide.  

But, then came the people.  They had stopped what they were doing and had hurried to the chapel. And, there they found Maggy happily ringing the bell.  But, the people weren't happy.  They looked anxious and sad. Who had died, they wanted to know.

And, then, in came aunty Helen. And, aunty Helen was furious!  why was Maggy ringing the bell?

It turned out that the bell Maggy was ringing was the death knell.  The bell  to let everyone know when someone had died.

Maggy was very embarrassed.  She was old enough to understand she'd been tricked in a very nasty way.

But, where were the twins?  They were hiding, of course.

But, when they got home there was trouble.  Very big trouble.  Franz and Josef were sent to bed without supper, and they weren't allowed to go out the next day.

But, time goes by very quickly.  And, soon the bell ringing prank had become something to laugh at.  But, this prank has never been forgotten.  The day that Maggy stood in the chapel, rang the bell, and called the people to come.

Maggie Steiner.  She had a wonderful childhood.

Listen here  Test

The Elephants of Laxenburg

  

This very short story goes back many year to a very small village to the south of Vienna.  The village of laxenburg.  And, this little picturesque village has a story. Its very own very unusual story.  And, I discovered this story early one morning.

The institute in Laxenbxurg where I was working at the time was holding its annual conference. A very big event with guests from all over the world. And, I had been given the job of helping out with  preparations.  And so,  there I was, driving into Laxenburg at a quarter to six one fine summer morning. And, it was then, whilst driving along,  that I not only got one very big surprise, but three enormous surprises as well. And, these three enormous surprises were walking tail to trunk at the side of the road.   

And, what I was seeing was real.  Three very big very well trained Indian elephants.  But, where had they come from?  I found out later that day.

Many years before, a circus had come to the village. An annual event.  Many people had bought tickets.  The circus was very quickly sold out.  Very many people were all looking forward to the magic of the circus.

The opening night was brilliant.  Everything had worked as it should have. And, everyone left with a  smile.  And, the next afternoon was going to be better. A special performance for children. 

But, the next afternoon's show never happened.

In the middle of the night the circus packed up and disappeared into thin air. It took all that it had. That is to say, everything except the three highly trained Indian elephants. And, they were chained to a tree. 

The people of Laxenburg were very, very angry and the children especially upset. The circus had left leaving very bad feelings behind.

But, what was to be done with the elephants?

To cut a long story short, the village of Laxenburg adopted the elephants.  Suitable quarters were very quickly found in the old imperial stables of the old imperial palace of Laxenburg.  And, there the elephants stayed in majestic imperial surroundings for very many years. The circus had gone.  The elephants had stayed. And, elephants make very good neighbours and very good neighbours make very good friends. 

This very short tale comes from a long time ago. The day I was driving to work one fine summer morning.  Three Indian elephants, tail to trunk, taking a walk with their keeper.  I was very surprised.

The Elephants of Laxenburg

 

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I have been writing the Diaikom since 2009.  Regular short stories, interviews, essays, recordings and more. All taken from life.  I have met many people, listened to many people, and held countless interviews.  Here, complete with faults, extracts from my collection so far.  Some articles come with audio support, some without. Please enjoy that which I offer.  New posts as of now.

Thank you for your interest.  Nigel A.  JAMES

Welcome to Diarikom

I have been writing the Diaikom since 2009.  Regular short stories, interviews, essays, recordings and more. All taken from life.  I have met many people, listened to many people, and held countless interviews.  Here, complete with faults, my collection so far.  Some articles come with audio support, some without. Please enjoy that which I offer.  New posts as of now.

Thank you for your interest.  Nigel A.  JAMES

Bruce Duncan - What is a good sermon?

 

Bruce Duncan

Sometime ago, I spoke to Bruce Duncan. A priest and a very good friend. We spoke about sermons. What is a good sermon? Why are sermons different?

A very good sermon is different. Sermons are unique. And, sermons are unique because they are totally unlike all other forms of address. Sermons must speak to everyone listening. And, the word listening is important. Listening is the only option there is.

Sermons employ no visual aids. No flip charts, no over-heads, and certainly no coloured slides. All the priest has are his words. And, words must be chosen and used with great care. Words must motivate, paint pictures, show feelings, and, most importantly, words must inspire. So, who is the priest addressing?

A church congregation is a very mixed bag. Many different levels of thinking and understanding, different ages, and, lots of different opinions. A priest must speak to them all. And, all those who listen must understand. This is not easy. Preaching a good serman requires great understanding and skill. The skill to stay simple in a very high way, and the understanding of language.

Language is very important. Everyone understands simple language. Most people not only enjoy it, they appreciate it, too. Simple language leaves very little space for misunderstanding. But, without good delivery, a sermon is no serman at all.

Delivery is voice. The priest must be well practiced and trained. Voice training is essential. Sermons are delivered in churches, and churches are normally big. The priest must be heard at the back in a very clear way. And, congregations hear all. Especially bad preperation.

Good preperation's a must. A good congregation deserves it. And, a good sermon is usually no more than 10 minutes. Length is important. 15 minutes at the outside.

The key to a very good sermon is a powerful message delivered in a very simple, very powerful way. Not too short and not too long.

Good congregations follow good priests.

Planning

Jan de Cock - A Life Behind Bars

 

Jan de Cock – A Life Behind Bars

Jan de Cock of Belgium has spent much if his life behind bars. He has gone from prison to prison. Not because of crimes he's committed, but, instead, because of his passion for good. Jan de Cock has done very much good for prisoners world wide.

Jan de Cock's involvement in prisons started more than 30 years ago. He was in Chile. Jan de Cock was working with street kids. And, getting to know street kids meant getting to know their backgrounds. These backgrounds were pittiful and hard, and, more often than not, directly or indirerectly involved prison. And so, Jan de Cock started visiting prisons. There he got to know inmates. Many were crying for help. Conditions were dire, usually inhuman. Jan de Cock had to do something.

Soon, Jan de Cock's prison visits turned into stays. Not just in Chile, but all over the world. And, Getting into prisons was not always hard. Usually a phone call, a contact, or a letter. There were places, however, where it was simply impossible. China was one case in point.

Jan de Cock was standing in the middle of Tian'anmen Square in Peking. He had an idea. Flowers. Jan de Cock started giving each guard a flower. Attached to each one was a note. Each with the same simple message. Freedom and peace. Things happened quickly. Jan de Cock was arrested, beaten up, and thrown into prison. But, Jan de Cock's success was only short lived. In fact, only 2 days. Jan de Cockwas thrown out of prison and Kicked out of China. Jan de Cock hadn't even said hi to prisoner.

Jan de Cock made many good friends behind bars. One of them was Diego. Diego had murdered a taxi driver. And, what Jan de Cock witnessed was truly amazing. Diego's victim's family visited Diego each Sunday. Diego had donated a kidney to his victim's sister. Diego had saved his victim's sister's life. A strange twist of fate.

Over the years, Jan de Cock has done very much for prisoners world wide. He has raised money for buildings and facilities, and through his books and lectures, Jan de Cock has raised international awareness for prisoner's needs and rights. And, Jan de Cock is still travelling the world.

There is good in us all. Circumstances destroy. Some of us need more help than others.

Jan de Cock – A Life Behind Bars

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Listen to Jan de Cock talking to Nigel A. JAMES

Dada

 

 Dada – A very brief history

Dada was an intellectual movement that started in Zurich in 1916. The world was at war, and neutral Switzerland had become a refuge for artists opposed to the war. And, Zurich, with its colony of foreign free thinking intellectuals, was perfect for Dada. In the summer of 1916, Hugo Ball read his Dada manifesto in the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich. Simply put, Dada was against everything to do with the war and against everything bourgeoisie that had led to the start of the war. And, Dada was exciting and always scurile. Dada included poetry, painting,writing, theatre and everything else imaginable, too. And, Dada hit the right note. Dada quickly spread from Zurich to the rest of the world. There were Dada movements everywhere. And, the people involved were impressive. Amongst them, Francis Picabra, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Kurt Schwitters, Hannah Höch, and very many other fine individualists, too. But, Dada, in its original form, only lasted until 1922. Its reason for being had run out of steam. No war and nothing to object to. And, nowadays, Dada still lives on as a living Dada museum. There are still many Dada groups throughout the world. And, they faithfully continue to put on, perform and recite original Dada. And, the Cabaret Voltaire has become a shrine to the sacred memory of Dada and Hugo Ball. And, why not? Dada, after all, was a movement that burned with a passion of white hot feeling. Dada questioned, rejected and questioned again. Nothing was sacred, not even Dada itself. Dada's demise was due to its attempts at self-regulation and the making of rules. And, that wasn't Dada! Dada was a child of its time that sadly never grew up! And that, in a way, was Dada as well. Nj – 2016

Little Emily Clark

 

Little Emily Clark

I heard the following story a long time ago. It's a story of miracle, luck, and good chance. A story that moved me. Something I've never forgotten.

Vienna, the summer of 1973. I was having tea with the Clarks. I was a family friend. And, the Clarks had 4 very nice children. Nicola and Roger who were 18 and 19, and Emily and Peter who were twins. And, they were still very young. In fact, only 6. And, the following story was all about Emily and Peter.

The Clarks had recently moved back to Europe from Africa. Noel Clark, the father, had worked there as foreign correspondent and was now doing the same in Vienna. And, this story I'm about to relate had taken place 4 years previously whilst the Clarks were still living in Africa.

It was a hot afternoon down in Africa. An old friend of the Clarks had dropped in for tea. A doctor from London. He was passing through on his way down to the Cape. An international medical conference in Cape Town. The doctor and the Clarks had been friends for a very many years. In fact, they had even been to school together. And, now it was afternoon teatime in Africa. Marion Clark made the tea and everyone sat down for tea. That is to say, everyone except little Emily.

Little Emily was up in her room. She was not feeling well. And, then, when the doctor enquired how little Emily was, it was Peter, Emily's twin, who spoke.

“Little Emily cries very much, she's tired all the time, she never wants to play, and, she never eats supper. And, there's one other thing, my sister looks kind of blue”. The doctor stopped eating. He was taken to Emily.

The very next morning, Emily and her mother were on the plane back to London. And, it was all thanks to Peter. In his innocent way he had accurately described the symptoms of Emily's condition. A hole in the heart. And, there at the airport in London and waiting for them was an ambulance. There wasn't much time. Speed was important.

The operation took place that very same night. It lasted more than 8 hours. And, 3 days later Emily woke up. She had come through.

And, 6 other little children were treated for the very same thing that week. Only 2 survived. Emily and one other child. Emily had been very, very lucky. She'd had a Guardian Angel. And, Emily's Guardian Angel was Peter her twin. It was Peter's innocent words that had saved Emily's life.

This is a story I've never forgotten.  A doctor on his way to a conference, little Peter's innocent remarks, and a plane that was leaving. Good chance, good luck, and very good timing. All three at the very same time.  A coincidence?  Who knows?  But, I believe there was something more. Something much higher.

And, I often wonder what happened to Emily. It was, after all,  a long time ago. The afternoon we had tea in Vienna.

Alexandra Lanz - Her Story A wonderful life that nearly stopped still

 

Alexandra Lanz -  Life is the Sweetest of All

This story goes back a very long way. It's all about Alexandra Lanz. And, this is her story. Alexandra was fourteen. She was, as usual, at school. About mid morning she began feeling unwell. She got worse. And, all of a sudden she collapsed. Her liver had completely stopped working. Her condition was critical. She was taken to hospital. She was to stay there for 5 very long years.

Alexandra's stay in hospital was pain, suffering and despair. And, worst of all, time that never moved forward. Her youth was draining away. There was nothing she could do. She was stuck where she was. But, where there is life there is hope. And, where there is hope there is faith. And, Alexandra had both in great plenty. She knew she'd recover one day.

Then, one day, a light came on at the end of the tunnel. A liver transplant was agreed. The first ever in Vienna. The operation was a total success. And, from that moment on, Alexandra's life began coming back. But, it was during her operation that Alexandra Lanz experienced something not only unique, but very special, too. An out-of-body experience.

Alexandra was floating gently above and watching the surgeons below. And, this out-of-body experience was the most wonderful thing Alexandra had ever experienced. It was powerful and soft. She knew the worst was behind her. Her hope had not been in vain.

And, coming back to life meant other challenges, too. Alexandra had lost 5 years of school. There was much to catch up on. But, her hard work paid off. Alexandra finished her schooling and went on to medicine. And, then she met Harry and married.

But, another miracle was waiting for her. After her liver transplant, Alexandra was told that becoming a mother would never be possible. Again, Alexandra never lost hope. Then the impossible happened. Alexandra became the first ever liver transplantee to give birth. A wonderful son. In her darkest of times, Alexandra discovered there was a life after life, and, now she knew, too, there was a life before death.

And now, with husband and two healthy sons, she's living every minute to its full. Life is the sweetest of all.

Alexandra Lanz. She lost a few years, but never lost hope. Stronger then ever, she came back again. Dreams can sometimes come true, but faith can even move mountains. Alexandra Lanz – a woman of faith and great courage. A woman who never gave up.

Alexandra Lanz - Life is the sweetest of all.

Diarikom Listen and Read - Michael and Judith Basch - The Pendulum

 

Just last week, I had the very great pleasure of meeting Michael and Judith Basch once again. And, they told of their trip to Mongolia. And, there in Monngolia, was very much to see and admire.

There were the vast empty plains that went to horizons, there was the flora with its strength to survive the hardest of winters, there were the rivers that flowed from the mountains, and there was the uniqueness of its wonderful people as well. They understood fully the balance of nature in connection with everyday life. But, this beauty had its dark sides as well.

There were the post-communist ruins of industrial plants, the huge blocks of flats that should never have been, and, and this was the saddest of all, the many ruins of fine Buddhist temples. Communism had had no time for religion. But, then came the surprise!

And, the surprise was in the middle of nowhere and all alone on a plain. It was a beautiful Buddhist temple that miraculously had not been destroyed. And, being open, Michael and Judith Basch entered in. And, there in front of their eyes was the pendulum of time! A grandmother, her daughter, and her daughter's daughter. Three generations. And, what they were doing was not only telling, but moving as well.

The grandmother was carefully wrapping sacred books in fine silk, and, whilst doing so, gentlypatting each one and saying a prayer. Her daughter was very clearly nervous and wanted to leave. She was still feeling the terrible oppression of times that had gone. But, the granddaughter was doing exactly the same as her grandmother. Gently patting each book and saying a prayer. It was as if communism had never existed. This was the magic of belief. The pendulum had swung back again.

It was Spring when Michael and Judith Basch visited Mongolia. And, it wasn't only the flowers that were coming out again, the Mongolian soul was blossoming, too. Believing was once again free. And, that was a wonderful thing.

 

 

Listen and Read - Christian Rinder - Coming Home

 

Christian Rinder - listen here.

Coming-homes are possibly the shortest and sweetest moments of all. Coming-homes are things to look forward to, moments to dream of, and things to hope and pray for as well. And, coming-homes are seldom forgotten. But, there are special coming-homes that happen only once. And, Christian Rinder never forgot his coming-home from war.

It was a hot summer day as Christian Rinder came up the road. It was a long road. And, being back where he was was something he'd never imagined. For him, and millions of others as well, still being alive was a question of chance. And, Christian Rinder had had a very hard war. He had survived Holland, Belgium, and Stalingrad, too. And now, all that mattered was home. And, when he got home the door was wide open. And, there was his mother. She was down on her knees and washing the floor.

And, Christian Rinder just stopped. And, then his mother looked up. And, she froze. This was a moment she had never expected. But, before she could reach him, she fainted. And, he caught her. And, then she fainted again. And, when she came round she was in her son's arms. This was a moment she had never dared dream of. A dream had come true without being a dream.

Coming-homes are beautiful moments. But, the ones that come out of the blue are the nicest and sweetest of all, and, when Christian's girlfriend Lucy arrived it made the moment complete. Coming home is all about those who are waiting. Coming home is the nicest of all!

The Sweetest Moments of All – Christian Rinder

 

Posted 4 hours ago by Unknown

Read and Listen - Hansi Seiler

One day, Hansi Seiler, a good friend of mine, decided to move. He'd had enough of the view and fancied a change. And, then, after some looking, Hansi Seiler found a nice flat in a nice part of town, Vienna's 3rd district.

And so, Hansi Seiler moved flat. And, 3 months later decided to have a house-warming party. A select dinner for close drinking friends and his mother. And, the invitations went out. Now, dinner parties involve organization. Hansi made lists, borrowed chairs from his brother, and the Gasthaus where he went everyday lent him the glasses and plates. And, then the great day arrived. Hansi got up and went shopping, and his afternoon was spent making salads, peeling potatoes, putting beer and wine in the bath tub to cool, and generally doing what had to be done. And, then at 8 on the dot, we arrived. But, there was no smell of cooking and no drink to say welcome. Hansi told us to keep our coats on. We were all going out! Why, we all wanted to know! The reason was simple. The time had arrived for Hansi to put the meat in the oven and the rice on to cook. So far – so good. But, then came the surprise. It was then, 3 months after moving in, that Hansi discovered his stove didn't work. A tragedy? Not really. Hansi gave the food to his mother to freeze and off we all went to the Gasthaus. And there we stayed and had fun for the rest of the evening. Full circle again! There are places one can't get away from. But, of course, Hansi bought a new stove and was happy. But, Hansi still hasn't used it. Cooking was never for Him. But, who knows? Celebrations can sometimes come out of the blue, and, maybe, one day, Hansi will need his new stove. But, there will be a difference. Hansi's stove definitely works! But, will he know how? Which knob for this and which knob for that? And, the oven? The Gasthaus will always be better. We are, after all, creatures of habit! Hansi Seiler, a man of good heart who moved flat and tried to cook a nice meal. But, never again. The Gasthaus will always be better! Hansi and his party - An evening that was never meant to be!

----

Collecting Time - Andrew J Roberts

Listen and Read

 Listen to Andrew J.  Roberts

Time is something that never stops still. Sometimes it crawls and sometimes it races. But, for Andrew J. Roberts, time is a wonderful hobby. His collection of clocks is the finest I've seen.

In his collection, which numbers almost 1000, Andrew J. Roberts has many interesting chronometers. He has grandfather clocks, grandmother clocks, mantelpiece clocks, kitchen clocks, and many other fascinating clocks from all over the world. And, all together, they're worth a small fortune. But, Andrew J. Roberts's favourite time keeping device has neither hands nor a digital display. Andrew J. Roberts's favourite time keeping device is something he couldn't do with out. It's an egg-timer. An hourglass from Egypt with Saharian sand.

When Andrew J. Roberts moved into his very first house, his granny was the first to come calling. And, being a sensible woman, the egg-timer was the present she gave him. And, Andrew J. Roberts found it easy to use. He soon got the hang of it. No winding up and no batteries to change. All very simple. Just a flick of the wrist, that's all. And, after 35 years, this wonderful very old device still keeps perfect time. And, thanks to advanced Egyptian technology, Andrew J. Roberts's soft boiled eggs are always delicious. Never too hard and never too soft. Just perfect.

Andrew J. Roberts is a collector of clocks. He has much time on his hands. But, most people say he has a bit of a tick! He gets wound up very quickly. Just like his clocks. But, just like his egg timer,

Andrew J. Roberts keeps perfect time. He never comes late. And, just like his eggs, he's neither too soft nor too hard. Just right for cracking. And, a pinch of salt is all that is needed.

And, do you have a tick, too? Do you collect stamps?

Collecting's a wonderful way of passing one's time. Just ask Andrew J. Roberts, he has time on his hands and, of course, on his walls. And, time never stands still.

-

Paris Maderna

  

 

Paris Maderna

Paris Maderna - In those days, Paris Maderna was a young inventor - or reinventor of things that had already been invented. He was a colourful character. And, when I got to know him, he was busy reinventing the bike. And, one of his ideas was not only brilliant, but rather unusual as well. Paris Maderna's new bike looked more like a bed with three wheels than a bike. And, to ride it, one had to lie in it, not sit on it, and the pedals were up at the front and coupled to the front single wheel. And, riding it, Paris Maderna promised, was not only simple, but comfortable, too. And, I remember quite clearly the day that I saw it in action. To begin with, Paris Maderna explained how it worked. To steer to the right, one had to lean to the right, and vice-versa for left. There was no other way. The bike had neither steering wheel nor handlebars and to stop, one had to simply stop pedalling. It was all very simple. And, then with a smile and a grin Paris Maderna lowered himself into his bike and got ready for action. And soon, Paris Maderna and his bike were moving at speed. And then, at just the right distance from the fast approaching concrete wall, Paris Maderna leaned to the right. Nothing. The bike kept on going. Paris Maderna then leaned to the left. Again nothing. And then, with one last desperate effort, Paris Maderna leaned again to the right. And, the bike started turning. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But, the wall had been quicker than Paris Maderna, and the sound of the crash told it all. All we could do was help Paris Maderna out of the wreckage and take him next door for a beer. But, of course, Paris Maderna didn't give up and soon he was back on the road. This time with steering and brakes. And now, all these years later, his range of products is not only exciting, but varied as well. The new age of cycling is here, and the hard work and peddling has been done by Paris Maderna! Persistence pays off and Paris Maderna peddled to the top in a painfully colourful way. Paris Maderna – a colourful person with a range of colourful products. Vocabulary age - Zeitalter approaching - annähend comforts – Bequemlichkeiten concrete wall – Betonmauer desperate - verzweifelt distance - Entfernung handlebars - Lenkstange inventor – Erfinder leaned – (lean/leaned/leaned) - lehnen neither nor – weder noch pedalling – treten relief - Erleichterung shades - Schattierungen sigh - Seufzen steering - lenken vice-versa – Gegenteil

 

The Pendulum of Time

 

Just last week, I had the very great pleasure of meeting Michael and Judith Basch once again. And, they told of their trip to Mongolia. And, there was very much to see and admire.

There were the vast empty plains that went to horizons, there was the flora with its strength to survive the hardest of winters, there were the rivers that flowed from the mountains, and there was the uniqueness of its wonderful people as well. They understood fully the balance of nature in connection with everyday life. But, this beauty had its dark sides as well.

There were the post-communist ruins of industrial plants, the huge blocks of flats that should never have been, and, and this was the saddest of all, the many ruins of fine Buddhist temples. Communism had had no time for religion. But, then came the surprise!

And, the surprise was in the middle of nowhere and all alone on a plain. It was a beautiful Buddhist temple that miraculously had not been destroyed. And, being open, Michael and Judith Basch entered in. And, there in front of their eyes was the pendulum of time! A grandmother, her daughter, and her daughter's daughter. Three generations. And, what they were doing was not only telling, but moving as well.

The grandmother was carefully wrapping sacred books in fine silk, and, whilst doing so, gently patting each one and saying a prayer. Her daughter was very clearly nervous and wanted to leave. She was still feeling the terribleoppression of times that had gone. But, the granddaughter was doing exactly the same as her grandmother. Gently patting each book and saying a prayer. It was as if communism had never existed. She was living the magic of belief. The pendulum had swung back again.

It was Spring when Michael and Judith Basch visited Mongolia. And, it wasn't only the flowers that were coming out again, the Mongolian soul was blossoming, too. And, that was a wonderful thing.

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Talk 49

A Fence Too Far - An Icelandic Tale

Christian and Christa had just arrived at their hotel near the sea. Their first trip to Iceland. It was early spring, and, with the weather just right for an afternoon walk, Christian and Christa went down to beach.

But, nearing the beach, Christian and Christa found their way blocked by a fence. Why the fence? There was nothing between them, the beach, and the sea except long grass and dunes. No reason not to go on. And, with no one to stop them, Christian and Christa climbed over the fence and carried on on their way to the sea. A very short walk. But, Christian and Christa never made it. For, out of the grass came the birds. The Terns.

Aggressively crying, the Terns rose out of the grass in their thousands. Then, having reached height, turned, and diving at speed came in for the kill. The Terns were attacking in force. They were using their all, Very sharp bills and dangerously hard beating wings. Christian and Christa were where they shouldn't have been. It was time for a hasty retreat.

It was not easy. The running through sand was impossible and the Terns were relentless. Then, after protecting themselves the best that they could, Christian and Christa made it back to the fence. But, the fence meant nothing to the Terns. Rising and diving and attacking, the birds kept coming in perfect formation. And, Christian and Christa still had a fair way to go.  It wasn't until Christian and Christa had almost reached their hotel that the Terns stopped attacking. But, the birds didn't retreat. They stayed. Circling above. Just to be sure.

Christian and Christa had had a very hard lesson in nature. The Terns had been brooding. And, the fence had been there there to keep people away. Terns, when brooding, are not friendly birds! The next morning, Christian and Christa went out for an Icelandic walk, But, this time, not over fences and not down to the sea.

Fences are there for two reasons. Keeping things in and keeping things out. So, don't climb fences while walking on Iceland. If, you're out, stay out, and, if you're then in stay in.

A Fence Too Far - Christian and Christa

A fence too far. Christian and Christa.

Full Stop Number 3 - 30 Mins of Short Stories and Thinking

 Written and read by Nigel A. JAMES

Advent in Vienna - Click Here

  

Father Christmas - by Nigel A. JAMES

Advent is a wonderful time and the Viennese love it. The city is dotted with small Advent markets, and all, more-or-less, exactly the same. A beautifully decorated tree, hot spicy wine, Christmassy things one can buy, a wonderful Advent feeling, and, of course, Advently seasonal music. And, about ten years ago, I was at just such a market, and this is what happened.

I was having a wonderful time. Everything was great and everything Advently perfect. But, it was the choir that provided the spirit of the evening. And, singing mainly in English, they were very, very good. But, the evening went quicker than expected and soon came the very last song.

The conductor turned to the people, thanked them, and wished them a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. And then, after turning back to the choir, closed his eyes, and started conducting the very last number. And, the choir started singing, and the crowd started humming and singing along. It was all very magic.

And, then came the the very last line of this very last song. And, just like a half dying swan in great pain, the conductor, with still tightly closed eyes, raised his arms in an arch, paused for a second, then flutteringly and dramatically brought them back down again for the expected well practised majestic conclusion. But, the choir didn't stop. They simply carried on singing! The last line had not been the last line at all. The singers had been singing from their song sheets and not even looking at the conductor. And, the conductor, because of his tightly closed eyes, had not even noticed he was being ignored.

But, all's well that ends well. With a very red face, the conductor conducted hard to catch up, and, of course, brought the concert to a triumphant conclusion. And, the applause was fantastic. The audience had had a wonderful evening.

And, that's how it was. An evening of magic with with more than one or two glasses of hot spicy wine, and, of course, some Christmassy songs sung by a very fine choir.

Advent. A wonderful time that the Viennese love – and, I love it as well.

Vocabulary

attention - Aufmerksamkeit

conclusion - Schluss

embarrassing – peinlich

expectantly - erwartungsvoll

goes without saying – (go/went/has gone...) selbstverständlich

imitating - nachahmen

spirit – Geist

Susanne Amberg Schneeweis

The Power of Voice - Susanne Amberg Schneeweis

The first thing we see when meeting a person is sound! Speech is more visible than anything else. It not only has powers which are far greater than looks, but, is a way to our characters, too. The way that we speak is the one first impression that counts! And, when meeting Susanne Amberg Schneeweis in person, I was happy. For, she was just as I thought her to be! My first impressions had been right. They had come from the radio and they were her voice. And, the way she spoke had the quality of magic.

And, her life has been magic as well. Realizing her destiny, she followed a path of singing and speaking, but, as time went on, it was teaching that took centre stage. Voice, she says, is one of the things we all have in common, and by training it we can alter our lives. A clear strong voice not only provides for clarity of understanding, but, makes for happiness, too.

But, the secret of voice lies in our breathing. The second thing which we all have in common. Breathing is life. And, it is from there that all energy flows. And correct breathing, says Susanne Amberg Schneeweis, is something that everyone can not only master, but should! And, she knows what she's talking about. She has been passing on the magic of sound for a very long time, and, having just passed 70, has no intention of stopping. And her schedule is not only full, but impressive as well.

Not only does Susanne Amberg Schneeweis teach at the VHS in Vienna, she also provides tuition in her very own studio. And, there is more. She has also written some very amazing books. One of them being, Singing Makes Happy.

But, all in all, it's her passing on of her gifts that's impressive. And, her greatest talent of all is the showing that these talents of breathing speaking and singing rest in us all! All we have to do is open our eyes, enjoy the sounds we are seeing, and learn how to breath as we should! And then, whatever you do, your life will take off! Happiness is then guaranteed!

For full info, please google Susanne Amberg Schneeweis!

Why We are Better than Everyone Else!

 

Holding up the Weight - by Nigel A JAMES

Why We are Better than Everyone Else!

Some thoughts on comparison by Nigel A JAMES

There are many things that most people have in common, and, at the top of the list is the conviction that they know better than everyone else. 99% of the entire world population is convinced that it is their way of life that is better than everyone else's.

And then, at the same time, nearly everyone everywhere believes that everywhere else is better than where they are presently at! If they are at home, then everything abroad is better; and then, when in foreign fields, there is no place like home! This is what people are like. So far, two very self-canceling contradictory sides to the same animal. And the questions are many!

To begin with, do people actually understand the depth and the joy that this life has to offer? Seemingly no! The hidden truth lies in the very visible differences that surround us! Every way is the right way and acceptance is the key to discovery! And the only way to discover is to go behind the way of one's very own thinking! And this, too, is a process of questioning!

First of all, if our way is the only way, then why is this so? What have we got to offer that is simply much better than “theirs”? Let us examine ourselves!

Firstly, one could easily assume that everyone from all over the world would enjoy dressing in the same old boring way that we do! After-all, who needs exciting clothes, anyway?

What we eat could be the second thing which we look at. If we work hard enough, we could assure that everyone everywhere would soon end up as unhealthy as we are!

Our taste in music would be a good thing to put third on our list. Soon everyone from Africa would be queuing up to get tickets for Wagner, and sales of Strauss waltzes would hit heights of never before dreamt of dimensions!

Then what about our pets? Why not encourage everyone to buy a dog? It's great fun! Just imagine the fun that everyone would have whilst waling their dogs in the winter!

Of course, the list of the things which we are better at is much longer than just these two or things, but, on the other hand, which things from elsewhere would we like to adopt as our own? We could start with music and go on to religion and everything in between! And, maybe, this is beginning to happen already! Who knows what life will be like in just twenty years time?