Anita Enichlmair - Historical Ifs!

 Anita Enichmaier - Photo by Nigel A JAMES

The Now Known Unknown Ifs of Then!

Mainly, we are how we are because of where we were born.  An Englishman is English through and through, and, a Frenchman can only be French!  But, what happens when the goal posts are moved?

Shortly after the First World War, a large area of Western Hungary voted to become part of Austria.  Overnight, millions of people became something other than that they were born as, they all became Austrians!  And, with this change came very many “ifs”. And, for very many people, these questions are just as important as ever. And, Anita Enichmaier has very many “ifs” in her life!

What if the vote had gone the other way?  Anita would have been Hungarian and not Austrian, and, she would have grown up speaking Hungarian, and, more than likely, fluent in Russian, as well.  And, there would have been other differences, too.  Instead of having her eyes to the west, she would have surely looked east.  Budapest, not Vienna, would have been the place to go shopping, and, maybe, even Moscow for school!  Who Knows?

Of course, not everyone voted to become Austrian, and, many families suddenly found themselves unhappily split. As well as a brand new system, there was also a brand new language.  Life wasn’t easy, German wasn’t easy to learn, and, for many the upheaval was very hard indeed.

And Anita?  What if the change had never taken place?  She would be just as happy in the little Hungarian village of Nagypeterfalva as she is in the Austrian village of Großpetersdorf.  They are, after-all, the very same place - and people - on the whole, never change.  We are, in reality, how we are because of ourselves - and not the flag we were born to!  Some people walk into change, whilst for others, it comes in the night!

Robert Streibel At Work

Robert Streibel at his desk - photo by Nigel A JAMES

Audio Visual Dynamite

There is something unique about Robert Streibel of Vienna. His kaleidoscopic world is one of revolving ideas that spin and emerge into unusual shapes of unexpected colours and design. Some are stimulating, some - it may be said - are just a little provocative; and many, if not most, are of simple deep interest. But, however and whichever, all are because of the way that he is.

As director of an adult education centre in Vienna, Robert Streibel has to be many things in one, and, in his case, this is no understatement. He has one foot in the past,  one in the preset; and, his eyes are firmly set to the future.

 As an historian, he specialized in the period of European and world history that unfolded in the 30s and 40s of last century. And, it is his knowledge and understanding of the atrocities and hardships of this period that not only clearly manifest themselves in many of his articles and the discussions that he hosts, but, also, in some of the exhibitions he puts on, as well.

 Drama, art and literature play a very important role in Robert’s life.  And this reflects on the life of the school. The most well frequented small rooms of necessity are all dedicated to world class authors, whilst the corridors of learning not only provide space for the art of the school’s own students, but, also a platform for many other artists, as well. But, Robert, too, is well known on the stage of creation.

 His short films which provide messages, entertainment, and philosophy have already attracted a very strong following on U-Tube, and his brand-new audio endeavours in the world of  internet radio have shown his potential for imaginative broadcasting!

 But, all in all, it is the thread of deep humour that provides the spirit of his work. And, the shapes that one sees not only change with the light, but, also, the kaleidoscope turning as well!  Where will the next turn take him?

Edith Lappel A Birthday Treat

Edith Lappel - Photo by Nigel A.  JAMES

The Best Show on Earth

Sometimes, when celebrations come knocking, a nervous kind of worry steps in.  And, this often happens when others are dealing with the subject of one’s very own life. So, when Edith Lappel found out that a power-point show of her life was intended for one of her birthdays of note, she had to take action. She took the whole thing into her hands, and, instead of a one-evening party, a weekend of fun and discovery took off!

With only close family and the very best of her friends, the tour began with a glass of champagne outside the place of her birth, Then came the house she grew up in – which – amazingly hadn’t changed in the slightest. Even the windows were still the same colour!  Dinner at her favourite Viennese restaurant followed, and then, early to bed, because action was coming.

The next day was the day of her schooling. Her kindergarten, her school and her college, and, of course, at each port of call a glass of the bubbly! And then, after lunch, the train down to Graz, her favourite Austrian city.

It was there that she first started working, and, it was there, amongst the narrow cobbled streets that the memories of the young-fun-that-just-has-to-be were planted! And, there she was, once again, having just the same hoot as those days long ago!  But, the party had still to crescendo!

And, it did in a theatre, her favourite cabaret stage from the past, and, there it was still, just as good and as cutting and as fresh as if time had stood still.  But, of course, time does carry on, and, lunch the next day was back in Baden, the small town just south of Vienna where the trip had begun.

 And the lunch that she made was her childhood, pure!  Her favourite dish that her mum used to make, Wiener Schnitzel with salad and served with a glass of nicely cooled wine. In many respects, our tastes never  grow up, and, nor does our love of good fun!

The three days of showing her past were far better than a second-hand show on the wall, and, everyone there went knowingly home, Edith had shown them herself as she is!

 

Poem for April

Alpine Village at Easter - pencil drawing by Nigel A.  JAMES

If – by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Herbert Depner - Over Coffee

Herbert Depner - Photo by Nigel  A.  JAMES

Fresh Orange for Breakfast

There is a certain magic of very good radio.  It can inform, it can entertain, and, above all,  it can stimulate the mind. And, the true art of excellent broadcasting lies in the understanding of listening, for, only those who can listen are able to hear themselves as others will receive them, and, one such person is Herbert Depner.

Herbert started his radio life in Vienna at a very special time. It was the age of radio liberation, and, Herbert and others succeeded in putting Radio 1234 on the air. A station that was so good that it not only survived until the end of the medium wave era, but also won the Radio Oscar - an award for the best that radio can be!

And, the best always moves onto the finest.  With 1234 a thing of the past, the present arrived with Radio Orange, a Viennese community station. And, it was there that Herbert found his home on the dial.  And, he is still there with his popular mix of news, music and items of interest at 6.30 AM every Friday.

But, the unexpected can happen as well.  With the Yugoslav war in full force, Herbert was called to the ORF, the Austrian broadcasting system to become one of the producers and broadcasters of a tri-lingual news programme that was transmitted to the heart of the war. Not only was this a great challenge for him, but, also, a personal highlight, too.

And now?  Herbert is currently organizing workshops for those who are interested in holding a mike’ in their hands. He is helping them with their dreams and the results are beginning to show. Not only has he been instrumental in the starting of Radio Hietzing, a small station run by the adult education centre in Hietzing in Vienna; he has also placed some of his students in mainstream radio, too!

And the future for radio, says Herbert, is safe. As long as there are people who enjoy being heard, there will always be stations to choose from!

Why Not listen in on Audio?

http://audioboo.fm/boos/738331-herbert-depner

 Diarikom - 1 -April - 2012 - Nigel A.  JAMES