Margaret Felder

Margaret Felder - photo by Nigel A  JAMES

Arnica

Once upon a time, Arnica used to be the most important mainstay in everyone's first aid box. There was no ailment, however minor or serious, that this miraculous liquid wonder was unable to tackle. It was an indispensable component of everyone's everyday life. But, that was then!

Now, there are very few people who either know it or use it! But, one of the few is a lady I had tea with last week.

Margaret Felder grew up before the last war in Poland, and, because of the ways of those times, she saw very much of her grandmother. And her grandmother was in medicine. And, in those days there was no difference between homeopathy and mainstream medicine, and, so it was that Margaret understood and experienced the healing powers of Arnica.

Arnica was not only the perfect remedy for the scratches and scrapes of everyday childhood life, but also the internal sore throats and stomach aches of adult excess! It was good for everything, and, when rubbed in, was an instant relief for all sorts of assorted aches and nasty complaints!

So, where is it now? The good news is that it hasn't completely passed into the past! It is still widely available, and Margaret Felder and her children are amongst those who wouldn't be without it! So what about you? Why not check it out? This flora based marvel could, too, become part of your first aid box!

Poem for February

Moving Points to Catch - by Nigel A JAMES

Leisure

by William Henry Davies

listen to ‘Leisure - A short poem by William Henry Davies’ on Audioboo

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies wrote this poem in1890.

His words are as true now, as they were then!

nj.

Christine Prokupeki

 Christine Prokupeki by Nigel A  JAMES

Equal Equality

Sexual molesters, it seems, have no regard for the common sense understanding of normal behaviour, and, there is something about them that most people find totally disgusting. But, there is often nothing that can be done about it. For, more often than not, these practisers of evil intent are in positions of power and authority. But, even they can be beaten, and, when things got too much for Christine Prokupeki and her co-workers, she was the one who stepped out of the crowd!

It was 1987. Christine was well on her way up the ladder at the large Austrian organization where she worked, but, being a woman, things weren't as easy and smooth as they should have been. There were the usual batterings of loaded double meaning comments, there were the advances – both mental and physical -, there were the promotional blockings, and so on, and so on. And, so it was, that, together with 10 of her colleagues, the group of 87 was born, and, from that day on, things started changing.

At first, the differences were small, but, as word spread to the company's other branches the subtle pressure that was growing began to show teeth. And, gradually, a following on an unthought of scale began to emerge, and, within the space of just under a year, an active network of more than 2000 women had begun to make itself heard! And, it wasn't only the management who woke up.

Everyone else, too, stretched and opened their eyes. Soon, more and more people begun to understand the fact that bad behaviour was not only a thing of the past, but, also a matter of consequence. Thanks to Christine's Group of 87, the promise of disciplinary hearings became a reality. New rules were the rule, and they were to be reckoned with, and, funnily enough, the first person to be officially disciplined at Christine's company was a woman! Female section heads can also be bad! Equality, too, has to be equal.

And then Christine's ideas went national! Because of the fact that her company was politically connected, word about the Group of 87 soon spread to the Austrian law makers, and, when new anti-sexist legislation was passed into law, it had with it some of these fine ladies principles.

And now, thanks to Christine Prokupek's group of 87, life at work in Austria has changed for the better!

Riza Algül

Riza Algül by Nigel A JAMES

Lord of the Dance!

There is one thing about the Alevitan religion that says very much! It has, so far, survived more than 3000 years. And surviving has not always been easy.

Like every other religious group, the Alevitans suffered periods of uncertainty, rejection, and persecution, and, they too, were almost brought to the brink of extinction! But not quite. For despite all of this, there have always been people prepared to carry the torch forward. And, so it is, that, thanks to people like Riza Algül, this nature religion which started on the banks of the Euphrites is now present all over the world. And, it is set to continue.

Being a nature religion, the Alevitan belief, which puts each and everyone of us in the centre, has no dogma, and, therefore, of course, no book. It is celebrated by means of music and singing, and dancing and poetry!

And this is Riza Algül As he travels the world holding lectures about the Alevitans, he is able to illustrate his theme with dances and songs that go literally back to days long, long ago! But, Riza Algül is not only an excellent musician, singer and dancer, he is an author and historian, too.

From his home, which is now in Vienna, Riza Algül has completed two excellent histories of the Alevitans in his native Turkish. A third is on its way! And, who knows, in 3000 years time, the Alevitans of then will still be reading and taking inspiration from his books!