Martina Feistritzer - Looking back

Martina Feistritzer - photo by Nigel A JAMES


Steamy Feelings!

Listening to music reveals the vagueness of times that have past; and, the beauty of photos is the people they show. But, it is the sense of smell that goes straight to the point and takes us instantly back to the moments in life that were special. And, for Martina Feistritzer, the strongest of all is the smell of great power!

As a little girl in Vienna, she used to look forward to the long summer holidays. And, they were wonderful times. Amongst other things, she used to spend part of her time at her uncle’s and aunt’s in the Burgenland, a small and beautiful corner where time takes its time and Austria turns into Hungary! And, it is from there that her wonderful memories come, for she was a part of a fairytale world, and, it all took place in a forest.

And the forest, which was near the small town of Großpetersdorf, was no normal forest. It was enchanted! And it was there, amongst the trees, that Martina, and other kids, too, used to put on the guises of fairy tale characters and wait for the fairytale special. And the magic of the train was the same every time.

Out of the tunnel it would smokingly come. Steaming and whistling and chuffing and spluttering its way into this corner of spells; and loaded, as usual, with its cargo of passengers all happily enjoying their trip to where stories come true - and all put on by the children.

But, that was then and now is now, and, sadly the train is no more, and the forest is silent except the sounds of the mice and the rabbits and the birds. But, Martina, too, has moved on.

She, now, has two little boys of her own, and, every single time she reads them a fairytale she is there, once again, in the fairytale forest of then. And, on the very odd occasion when she sees a grand old lady of steam, she is trapped, just like then, by the smell of the feeling of power. The most magical memory of all!

Why not enjoy this article on AUDIO!  http://audioboo.fm/boos/733374-martina-feistritzer



Nigel A JAMES  njjmailboy@gmail.com

Malcom Bradley - A Pleasant Encounter

Malcom Bradley - photo by Nigel A JAMES

In Other’s Shoes!

Just ten days ago, I had the great pleasure of meeting the English poet and author Malcom Bradley who is now living in Austria. And his work is really quite special. He has the unique gift of being able to assume the identity of characters from history and write from their perspectives. And, one of those whose eyes he has written through is Charles Darwin.

Charles to Emma
By Malcom Bradley

A letter which Darwin wrote to his future wife, Emma.


My Dear Emma,

The house is almost ready;
everything in place except
a few drawers of shells.
The garden, you will agree,
is worth its weight in gold.

I often wonder why solitude
suites me: on my voyage
all pleasure came from thought –
in desert, forest, or at night
pacing the deck of the Beagle.

You may humanise me yet –
even in this ferocious passion
for accumulating facts,
analysing, theorising,
leaving me completely

without boundaries.

Christian Rinder - Before Lunch

Christian Rinder - photo by Nigel A.  JAMES

Only Young Once!

The minute one Stops being interested in life is the moment that one starts being old, and, with 86 years to his credit, Christian Rinder is still very young! He isn’t interested in nothing and he simply hasn’t the time!

And, doing nothing was never part of his life, for he has had all of the moments in life that make up the mosaic of fullness and happiness. He built a fine house for his family and worked hard at providing. He has climbed the steepest of mountains and gone to the top of the world. He felt the heat of an Argentine sun on his face, and, while sleeping to the rhythm of the ocean as he shipped his way homeward, he dreamt of all he had done.

But, very often, it is the most fleeting of seconds that provide us with the most moving and deepest memories of all. And, for Christian Rinder, it was his arriving home from war that gave him his moment.

His mother was down on her knees and washing the floor when he knocked on the door. She looked up, and what followed was an indescribable out-pouring of emotional gratitude for the coming true of that which no-one had dared to believe in! They had had no contact for a very long time, and, his guardian Angel - the one that had protected him throughout the atrocities of combat - had brought him once more safely home!

And home is where he is now, and, his present has all to do with his past, for he is busy putting it all down on paper. His autobiography is set to become an example to us all of how life can be lived just by keeping up with one’s interests and not taking the easy way out. We are, it is said, only young once, and, Christian Rinder, without any doubt at all, has been so all of his life!

Oleg Prodeus - After Work

Oleg Prodeus - photo Nigel A JAMES

One Plus One Makes One!

If you take one very deep way of life, live it, and then combine it with another of equal strengths and achievements, you will get something new, dynamic and exciting. And this is the story of Oleg Prodeus.

Now living in Vienna, this multi-media artist and musician has just brought out his latest work, an album called 13. And 13, in this sense, can only mean good. This album is not only a work that clearly spans the life and the times of this very gifted person, it is also a tribute to Oleg’s unique way of living two distinct cultures as one.

He was born and grew up in the former Soviet Union, and, it was there that he started his life on the path of music and art. Music, for him, was everything, and, as his accomplishments increased so did his work. But, the west was wanting him, too!

And so, after an odyssey of adventure and cunning, Oleg, and his then new wife, Ire, arrived at where they are now. And, the intervening years have been kind. Oleg has become a well established figure in world of multi-media art, and his work has won him the international recognition that he deserves.

And what he does is good! And the future? Of course, this is only an extension of now, but, I’m sure, that together with Ire, and their son, Denis, things will always be right for the moving on to and the creation of brand-new projects and ideas.

And our ideas only come from where we have been. Oleg has proved that his understanding of the past has always moulded his thinking of now!

Why not see for yourself?

http://www.olegprodeus.com/
www.facebook.com/olegprodeusmusic



nj/m/2012