Bert Millinger and Daughter Susi

Bert Millinger with Susi - Photo by Nigel A. JAMES

Between Songs

Bert Millinger is a well known singer in Vienna. I took this picture last night at a concert he was giving in Vienna at Rodaun. The concert was held in a tent, and so, because of the cold (it is now almost November!!), the action was accordingly fast.

There were excellent singers, fantastic bands, authors and story tellers, and there was Susi. Susi is Bert Millinger's daughter, and, together with her dad, she sang a few songs. Her singing has come a long way since first I saw her on stage more than five years ago!

The photo above shows Bert Millínger with an ear for Susi, they are agreeing on what to sing next. I can't remeber what they sang; but I do know it was good! Everything that they sang was good!

my e-mail address is,- njmailboy@gmail.com

A Leafy Ride

Photo by Nigel A. JAMES

Turning Over Another Leaf

Autumn is here. I took this photo yesterday. A tram is making its way through, what appears to be, a tunnel of colour! St. Stephen's cathedral - the very centre of town -is just two minutes walk from here.

my e-mail address is, njmailboy@gmail.com

Jozsef Cser

Jozsef Cser - photo by Nigel A. JAMES

Jozsef Cser


Living - Room Sounds - an Obituary


It is how we remember people that counts; and the one thing that I will never forget about Jozsef Cser, whom we sadly lost just two weeks ago, is his collection of radios.
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Jozsef Cser didn’t collect radios in the same way that people save stamps; his collection had a reason for being, and the purpose behind it was his finely tuned love and devotion to very fine music. For him, each type of music needed its own appropriate speakers; and that’s why his living room was full of all kinds of radios.

His radio for jazz had no fewer than four very large loud speakers; his receiver for his native Hungarian folk was somewhat smaller; and his wireless for pop was the size of a match-box. His taste in classic demanded only two medium sized boxes, while his love for Schubert’s religious works needed but one; and, the New Year’s Concert from Vienna recquired all his receivers at once – a celebration of all-round sound in the truest sense of the word!.

Living is enjoyment and enjoyment of life means health. Jozsef Cser, who was not far away from his nineties, enjoyed his music very much; and he, in all his long years, was never seriously ill.

Maybe, the harmony that some of us need is lying hidden in the beautiful music that we never have time for! Could it be that a collection of radios would be good for collecting our thoughts? Melody, after all, is harmony!

My e-mail address is, njmailboy@gmail.com

Birds of a Feather

Pigeon Feed - photo by Nigel A. James

This little boy could be anywhere and everywhere. He is, in fact, in the centre of Vienna. He is about to start chasing the pigeons; a thing that little people do everywhere!

I took this picture exactly one week ago.

My address, njmailboy@gmail.com

Mrs.Kastner

The Crowning Moment


Mrs. Kastner, a very dear lady with many years to her credit, told us an amusing story about Queen Elizabeth the second’s visit to Austria.

It all happened about 40 years ago. The queen was on a state visit to Austria, and, of course, in true alpine style, everything went according to plan. The banquets and the receptions came off as expected; and the people turned out in their thousands to cheer Her Majesty on. A feeling of deep and moving historical happening lay in the air - but, that was not all!

Storm clouds were gathering, and, with great speed were moving in on Vienna. They arrived with all of their force just as the Queen was arriving at the airport to leave!

The Queen’s aircraft was unable to land – the storm was too fierce; and so, there she was, stuck fast at the airport - but not alone!

There was the Austrian president, the prime minister, the mayor of Vienna and his wife, the British ambassador, and countless other dignitaries as well; and, all in the thankless position of having to think of something to talk about!

And then, just as it seemed that the small talk was about to run out, a gap in the weather appeared, and the plane, despite the continuing storm, was able to land – a visible sigh of relief arose from the highest of the high – soon the Queen would be on her way; but that’s not the end of the story, the final salute was about to conclude this occasion of magnitude.

Seeing the Queen coming out of the VIP lounge, and holding her hat, the general in-charge of the now almost frozen, soaking, and totally fed up with waiting company of guards ordered his men to come to attention.

This was easier said than done!

The soldiers were unable to hear the commands! The wind was too loud! “Salute” cried the general. Chaos! Only those nearest to him were able to understand the command and saluted, then those who hadn’t saluted, seeing what was happening, saluted, too; but not at the same time as those who had done it to begin with. The result, a confusing array of lots of different arms moving up and down according to who had just done what; then those who had saluted first, seeing the others still saluting, saluted again. Up and down went the arms!

Holding her hat, the Queen boarded her plane and off she flew. I wonder if the Queen ever thinks of the day in Vienna when she nearly lost her hat. Mrs. Kastner will never forget it; she can remember every minute of it; she saw it all on TV. Her son was one of the soldiers in the guard of honour! A great honour, indeed, for the family.

My e-mail address: njmailboy@gmail.com