Diarikom
Read - Listen - Enjoy - by Nigel A. JAMES
Monday, 8 August 2022
The War of the Worlds - A Nation in Fear
Thursday, 30 June 2022
Rebecca Hughes
Paradise Back
One summer morning, Rebecca walked into her garden. It was a beautiful day. Sunshine, blue skies, colours and song. But, something was wrong. Paradise was hurting. No buzzing to be heard. 12 bees were all Rebecca could find. A tragedy. Something had to be done.
So shocked was Rebecca that she set about becoming a bee keeper. She would bring back the bees.
Rebecca started reading books, going on courses, watching videos, and, most importantly, getting to know other liked minded people. Rebecca found no shortage of help. Bee keepers are passionate people.
And, then, one day, came Rebecca's first hive and her very first swarm. This was a very special day. Friends in their thousands moved into her garden. And, these thousands of friends very quickly took over.
And, now, all these years later, there's a very big buzz in the air. And, the bees are happy as well. Rebecca has turned a very large part of her garden into a bed of wild flower beauty. Wild flowers make wonderful honey.
And, Rebecca has not only honey, she has wax and propolis, too. All wonderful natural gifts. Gifts that give light, heal, and keep hunger away. And, what could be better than a nice honey sandwich and a nice glass of mead?
And, at the end of each day, Rebecca goes into her garden and says thank you. Her very many very little friends do a wonderful job. Paradise is no longer hurting. Rebecca has brought back the bees. The days of only 12 bees are long, long ago.
Rebecca Hughes – Paradise Back.
Listen to this article in YouTube
Opera - Kyrenia Opera
Zsuzi
The City of Veszprem and Zsuzsi
Sunday, 26 June 2022
Wednesday, 22 June 2022
A Patchwork Present
A Patchwork Present
Peter Rosegger and Old Kramer Teresa - A Mountain Childhood Story
Peter Rosegger and Old Kramer Teresa - A Mountain Childhood Story
People enjoy looking forward to things that are special. Birthdays, Christmas, and other meaningful days. And, these moments of joy always involve other people. People who are special. And, in his book, *As I was still a Forest Farmer's Son, Peter Rosegger, the Austrian author, thinks kindly back to old Kramer Teresa. She was a very kind old lady and her visits to the Rosseger's farm in the mountains of Austria were moments that were never forgotten.
Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Black and White Shooting
Frohnleichnam Vienna 2014
Thursday, 9 June 2022
Andrew J. Roberts - Time
Collecting Time
Tuesday, 7 June 2022
Thursday, 26 May 2022
Hansi and His Party
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.
Hansi and his party - An evening that was never meant to be!
Sunday, 22 May 2022
Andrew J. Roberts
Andrew J Roberts was a man I knew well. He was very successful. A one man show. Self employed with an obsession for money. The more money the better. And, Andrew had plenty of money. He was a very rich man.
Now, Andrew and family lived in a very small village in the middle of England. The village of Beehigh. Jane, his wife was a teacher, and Emma their daughter went to the primary school in the village. And, Beehigh had an event that everyone went to. Its annual sale. A flea market. And, one year, in a moment of great inspiration, Andrew had an idea. Toys! He would rent out a table and sell beautiful toys at the Beehigh annual sale. And, it worked.
Andrew was busy selling toys on his stand. Business was great. Far better than expected. Then, just before 12, Sally, one of Andrew's assistants, took over and Andrew went over the road to the pub. The Queen's Head. A great place for meals. Shortly afterwards, Jane and Emma arrived. A family lunch. But, Emma wasn't hungry. The solution was simple. Pocket money. Enough to spend on one or two things at the annual Beehigh sale. While Andrew and Jane were enjoying their lunch, Emma was having fun spending money. And, it was Andrew's toys that Emma found first.
A toy soldier in his very smart red and blue uniform caught Emma's eye. It would look perfect standing guard on her father's very full desk. A wonderful present. This little toy soldier wasn't very cheap, but, nevertheless, Emma bought it. She could afford it, her father had given her plenty of money. Then, just to be fair, a plastic flower for her mother. Then, hiding her secret, Emma went back to the pub. Jane and Andrew were finishing lunch. A little later, Jane and Emma went home and Andrew went back to selling his toys.
Andrew was tired. He'd had a very good day. He'd made a nice little pile. Emma was happy as well. She told Andrew to close his eyes and hold out his hands. Andrew opened his eyes. There was the little toy soldier. An irony! Andrew had bought the little toy soldier, had sold it, and, got it back as present – and – in a very funny way, had got back his money in a round about way!
But, Andrew was happy. Little Emma was thinking of him when she purchsed the little toy soldier. She had known what he liked. And now, all these years later, the little toy soldier is still there and still smiling where Emma had put him. Money well spent that came back as a soldier.
Andrew J. Roberts. He not only made very much money, he made luck as well.
Saturday, 21 May 2022
Jan De Cock - A Life Behind Bars
Listen to this interesting discussion. Jan De Cock of Belgium. His prison work and his efforts at helping people across the world. And, very often, from the inside out.
Thursday, 12 May 2022
Alexandra Lainz
Please click here to listen on YouTube - with full text
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This story goes back a very long way. It's all about Alexandra Lanz. 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 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.
Simply translate into English and scroll down for suggested solutions.
Gestern war ein toller Tag.
Wir hatten sehr viel Spaß.
Es war Michis Geburtstagsfeier.
Michi wohnt in Retz.
Sie hat ihr Fest in einem Heurigen gefeiert.
Die Windmühle in Retz.
Die Windmühle ist 20 Minuten zu Fuß von Michi's Haus entfernt.
Michi hat 80 Gäste eingeladen.
Viele sind mit dem Auto und viele mit dem Zug gekommen.
Wir haben den 10.15 Uhr Zug vom Wiener Hauptbahnhof genommen.
Wir hatten eine sehr angenehme Reise.
Wir wurden mit dem Bus vom Bahnhof abgeholt.
Das Essen auf der Party war fantastisch.
Der Wein war auch sehr gut.
Michi hat eine sehr schöne Rede gehalten.
Sie hat sogar mich erwähnt.
Nach dem Fest haben wir einen Spaziergang durch Retz gemacht.
Wir sind kurz nach 19 Uhr wieder in Wien angekommen.
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Very Hard Quiz
Do Italians come from Spain or Canada?
Is New Zealand to the north or the east of America?
Which country is known as Le Grand Nation?
Was Walt Disney a teacher or a film producer?
Who is the head of state of Canada? The Pope or the Queen?
Does Radio Vatican come from England or Australia?
Who is the bishop of London?
Which special day was celebrated on March the 8th? World Dog Day or World Goldfish Day?
Is the capital of Egypt Cairo or Beirut?
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Suggested Solutions - Yesterday was a brilliant day. We had very much fun. It was Michi's birthday party. Michi lives in Retz. She held her party in a Heuriger. The Windmill in Retz. The windmill is 20 minutes walk from Michi's. Michi had invited 80 guests. Many drove and many came by train. we took the 10.15 from Vienna's Hauptbahnhof. We had a very pleasant journey. We were picked up by bus from the station. The food at the party was fantastic. The wine was very good, too. Michi held a very nice speech. She even mentioned me. After the party we took a walk through Retz. We got back to Vienna just after 7.
Wednesday, 4 May 2022
The NYMR - The Train That Comes In From The Sea
In the north of England is a train that comes in from the coast. It's the NYMR and it runs from Whitby to Pickering. And, its first whistle blew a long time ago!
Vocabulary
Sunday, 24 April 2022
A Shimmering Guest
There was always someone behind me. Following me from morning till night. But, whenever I turned round to look, he was gone. He was always quicker than me. Our home was his home. And, he and I got on very well.
My mother, too, felt his presence. He was always watching her cooking. Standing behind her. Maybe, he was laughing at her. My mother's cooking was never any good.
And, then, one night it happened. I have never forgotten it. I was at home all alone and in bed. It was about 2 in the morning. The middle of the small hours. Suddenly, I woke up. There was something very strong in my room. Standing at the bottom of my bed was a soft shimmering form. I sat up. I looked. This shimmering form had the guise of a monk. It was sparkling and looking at me. A very deep very black void was where his face should have been. I felt amazingly good. At last, I had seen him. Our ghost. For a couple of seconds, I said nothing. I then said hello. I waited. Enchanted. The ghost lingered a while. Then, very slowly he faded away. He was gone. I stayed awake for a very long time. Thinking. Wondering if the ghost would ever come again. I hoped so. I liked him.
But, I never saw the ghost again. He never came back. But, he was always present in our thinking. Then, one day, my aunty came calling. A nice occasion. And, over dinner, she told us her story. About 3 years before on a previous visit, My aunty was standing in our front garden. All of a sudden, a very strong feeling made her look up. There was the ghost. In my bedroom window. A shimmering form. A monk. My aunty had seen him as well. She, too, had been enchanted.
Ghosts are real. My aunty saw him, I saw him, and my mother definately felt him. Seeing my ghost did make a difference. I now know that ghosts do exist. I have seen. I can believe. That which was following me, as it turned out, was very much more than a feeling. My ghost from a long time before.
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Listen here to this story on YouTube
Talk 49 World
Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Lucy Abel - A Bus and a Test
Click here for English Warm-ups - A good fun translation exercise.
It was the middle of winter a long time ago. The world was covered in snow and the world was at war. Lucy Abel who was 11 and her little sister of 8 had been evacuated from their home in Vienna to the far north of Austria. The Waldviertel. A very big forested region. And life in the Waldviertel was fine. Enough to eat and far away from the bombs. But, there was only one thing. The school bus.
Very Hard Quiz
Where does the President of Austria work?
Who invented dynamite?
Was Bill Clinton president of the United States or prime minister of Australia?
Is Amsterdam the capital of Bulgaria or Spain?
In which African country is Harari?
Who is the president of Russia?
Who is the British prime minister?
How long does it take to fly from Vienna to London?
If it is Sunday in Vienna, which day is it in England?
What are the Russians doing at the moment?
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Thursday, 31 March 2022
Changes - The Cycle of Life
Translate into English - Scroll down for suggested solutions.
GOOD LUCK
Meine Frau lernt gerade Autofahren.
Das ist etwas, was sie schon immer tun wollte.
Sie macht sehr gute Fortschritte.
Zu Beginn hatte sie ein oder zwei Probleme.
Links abbiegen, rechts abbiegen und geradeaus fahren.
Und das Anhalten an roten Ampeln war gar nicht so einfach.
Meine Frau hat schnell gelernt, einzuparken.
Aber nicht ohne Probleme.
Sie krachte immer wieder in die Autos vor und hinter ihr.
Auch Gregors Frau lernte das Autofahren.
Eines Tages krachte sie gegen einen Baum.
Es war nicht ihre Schuld.
Der Baum lief mitten auf der Straße entlang!
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Changes
Changes are part of everyday life. And, as Martin Glossauer discovered, the Tour de France, was and still is the perfect example of change. He was watching a film.
The film Martin Glossauer was watching was made just after the Second World War. It was all about the Tour de France. And, Martin Glossauer noticed three interesting changes. Helmets, smoking, and wine. Nobody was wearing a helmet. The race was just as dangerous then as it is now. Then came the smoking. Most of the cyclists were not only smoking during the breaks, but, whilst cycling as well! And, refreshments have completely changed, too. The favourite refresher was a glass of red wine. During the cycling and resting as well. Then, Martin Glossauer started to think. There had been other changes, too.
There were no seat belts in cars when Martin Glossauer was young. And, very few motor-cyclists wore helmets. These were things that nobody thought of. And, smoking, too was widely accepted. Nowhere was free from the smell of old smoke. Buses, trains, aeroplanes, offices, cinemas, and homes. Everywhere was the same.
And, one last drink for the road was a common farewell. And, more often than not, one last drink became more.
We have seen many changes. Many positive things. So, remember the now, it won't last for ever. Things disappear all the time and are quickly forgotten. And, as Martin Glossauer believes, personal diaries are the best way of saving the past. Our presents will then be kept for the future. But, personal diaries are vanishing, too.
Changes are part of everyday life. Things come and go, and others remain and change with the times. And, as Martin Glossauer discovered whilst watching a film, the Tour d. France was and still is the perfect example of change. Go get a note book and start writing things down. We might be remembered, not completely forgotten. The future will say a very big thank you.
Changes - Simple -
One day, Martin Glossauer was watching a film. An interesting film. A film about the Tour de France. And, this was a film that showed many changes.
In this interesting film, which was shot just after the end of the Second World War, Martin Glossauer learned about some interesting changes. The first big change was helmets. None of the cyclists in the Tour de France were wearing helmets! The second big change was the wine. While taking breaks, the riders had wine not water. And, the third and last change that Martin Glossauer saw were the cigarettes. The cyclists were smoking during the race. This would never happen now!
Then, Martin Glossauer remembered other changes as well. When he was young, there were no seat belts in cars, and no motor cyclists wore helmets. Smoking, too, was very, very common. Most people did it. In those days, smoking was allowed on busses, trains, planes, and in cinemas and theatres as well. Smoking was a very big part of everyday life.
Changes are part of our lives. Who knows what changes the future will bring!
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Very Hard Quiz
Where does the Prime minister of Austria work?
Who invented hammers?
Was Brunno Kreisky president of the United States or prime minister of Australia?
Is Sofia the capital of Bulgaria or Spain?
In which African country is Cape Town?
Who is the president of Japan?
Who is the British prime minister?
How long does it take to fly from Vienna to Los Angeles?
If it is Sunday in Vienna, which day is it in America?
What do Chinese people enjoy having for lunch?
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My wife is learning to drive. It's something she has always wanted to do. She is making very good progress. She had one or two problems to begin with. Turn left, turn right, and go straight ahead. And, stopping at red lights was not easy at all. My wife quickly learned to park. But, not without problems. She kept crashing into the cars in front and behind. Gregor's wife also learned to drive. One day, she crashed into a tree. It wasn't her fault. The tree was walking along in the middle of the road!
Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Saluting Giraffes
Saluting Giraffes
The War of the Worlds - A Nation in Fear
A Martian looking at Schönbrunn On October the 30th, 1938, Radio broadcasts on the east coast of America were interrupted with an urgen...
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Please click onto picture or text for full audio/text page! Walls - a short essay designed to keep thinking in place - by Nigel A JAM...
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Alexandra with Aramis - photo by Nigel A. JAMES Deadlines To the north of Lake Balaton in Hungary lies the little village of Alsöörs,...
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Please click onto text or picture for full AUDIO/VISUAL page! Albert Gunter - Photo thanks to the Daily Mail of 1952 Albert Gunte...