Mrs Stych

Land-lady  pencil drawing by Nigel A JAMES

.



The Sweetness of Forgotten Moments

It is then, with memories of war-time suffering receding, that the sweetness of forgotten moments begin to stand out, and, these are the feelings of pleasure which used to brighten and lighten the darkness of hardship. And, Mrs Stych of Vienna has one such short story that she would like to relate.

    It was  the second world war.  After having been evacuated from Vienna for the safety of her children, Mrs Stych found herself amongst the fields and the forests of the peaceful countryside between Vienna and Prague. And there she lived - and there her children played.

    And life, in this paradise on earth was miles away from the falling of the bombs, the stalking of the hunger, the shortages, and, much, much worse, the fifty-fifty chance of ever waking up again in the morning!

    And, so it was, that summer became winter, and, with it, their first fall of countryside snow - and the story that Mrs Stych often looks back to.

    Her son had come home with very wet shoes, he had been sledging and snowball fighting, and, as was usual in those days, Mrs Stych took his wet shoes and put them in the wood oven to dry; so far so good. But then, as the evening advanced into the shadows of night, the family’s thoughts were on the fun they were having - and Mrs Stych completely forgot the shoes in the oven!

    But the shoes were ever present. Soon, from the stove came the smell of what was just like a joint of roasting beef - and it was making everyone hungry! It was just like being back home in Vienna!

    But still the playing continued.

    And then, all of a sudden, the penny dropped. Rushing over to the stove, Mrs Stych was just in time to rescue the shoes. But, she then had to put them into a bucket of water to cool down and loosen up again. Wet shoes! Back again to square one!

    Things, however, turned out just fine. Her son was able to carry on wearing his almost roasted shoes, and Mrs Stych was able to carry on collecting her stories. The family survived their war, and, all of them are still living happily in Vienna.

But, they no longer roast their shoes for their lunch!







diarikom@gmail.com

Mimin Voll

Mimin Voll - photo by Nigel A JAMES

.

Chains of Colours Unchained

It is so, that, when people go in search of new and distant shores, they take with them, deep within their hearts, part of the soul of the land of their birth. And, when she left to follow her dreams, Mimin Voll took with her the colours of her native Indonesia. And that was more than twenty years ago.

And now, here in Vienna, with her new life no longer new, these colours of her far away and far-past land are still just as strong - and just as deep – and just as true - as they have ever been. And, within the course of time, the dream that she dreamt has now taken-wing - and flown in the splendour of the jewellery she makes.

And, Mimin’s latest collection is really something quite special.

Her creations read entirely the people who wear them. Bearing all of the features of fire, wind, water and air, they amazingly pick out each individuals strengths, and enhance them in a volcanic, and yet very peaceful, magical way!

And, the magic is set to continue. Mimin is now working on her autumn collection, which, thanks to the fullness of her creative depths and her far-away ideas, promises to be just as powerful - and just as colourful as her Indonesian soul – a soul which is melting into ours!

NJ



diarikom@gmail.com

School Concerts

School Band - pencil drawing by Nigel A JAMES

.

High School Notes!

School musical events are famous for their unusual “interpretations” of famous works, and, last week, my son’s school, which is in Vienna, didn’t only come up with all of the regular (as if planned) surprises, it also provided for a gem of a moment that will stay for a very long time!

The evening performed according to plan, and, according to tradition, this now annual event gained a few more degrees of excellence, making it even better than those which had gone before. And, with its super mix of performing scholars and staff, it was much more than talent that was waiting to happen.

And, as the programme progressed, so, too, did the standard of singing and playing.

But, as always, it’s the very small things that provide for the memories that people go home with, and, this year’s surprise came after the music had finished.

We had just been treated to some magical soulful moments of Viennese music when it happened. Still in its trance and with tears of joy in their eyes, it took the audience a moment or two to come-to and realize that the music had actually finished and that it was time to applaud. But they didn’t because they couldn’t!

The scene had been taken over by a drama that was holding us all in its grip!

Whilst standing up to bow, one of the violinists, a girl of 15, discovered that her violin wouldn’t let her go. It had become entangled in her left ear-ring – and - it wasn’t about to release her!

Ignoring the audience, the other members of this small group of musicians, a girl on the piano, another girl on the second violin, and two gentlemen maths teachers with many years to their credit, began seriously trying to liberate this young girl of music from her now vicious and biting 4 stringed toothless normally beautiful instrument.

Of course, it only took them about 90 seconds to free this poor girl, and then, all being well, the audience, myself included, erupted into a body of unified thanks! The musicians, too, were thankful, and so, in order to show it, they sat down again and treated us all to a perfect conclusion, a wonderful encore, one I will never forget!

And, that’s what this evening was. A night of fulfilled expectations – an evening of beauty, and the experiencing of something so rare, that it connected - so fully - the souls and the hearts of everyone present!

nj.

diarikom@gmail.com

Mountain Life!

Afternoon Coffee - photo by Nigel A JAMES

.

Sip With a View

The best views of all are not only the ones at the top. This one’s at lake level! I wonder if this man is really appreciating the magnificent view that he’s missing whilst sipping his afternoon coffee.

I took this photo at a really nice little coffee-house in Gmunden, a small town amongst the mountains of Upper Austria. The view is one of Traunsee and its famous Schloss.

contact - diarikom@gmail.com