Erch Kreutzer - The Balcony Roles of the Roles - A Beauty in Stone!

Erich Kreutzer

Erich Kreutzer - by Nigel A  JAMES

The Harm in the Promise of Strength!

Life for Erich Kreutzer had reached an incredible high! He was running an international shipping line and was moving and soaring at speed. But, the higher he got, the more energy he needed, and the place that he found it was the worst place of all! Energy drinks.

And, he drank them and drank them and drank them! So much so, that the more he consumed, the more that he needed, until soon, the drinks with their poisonous punches had taken him over completely. And, much worse, the power promising brews had done him more harm than ever thought possible.

He had become a highly explosive walking container of enough chemical concoction to blow up the world. And the doctors were worried. Unless these levels weren't brought down, and that was impossible, his chances were nil. The medics had written him off, there was nothing they could do. But then something did happen!

Erich discovered that there were other alternatives, and one of them was the ancient Polynesian healing philosophy of Ho'oponopono. And, the more he got into it, the more it helped, and soon, his once hectic life had been replaced by a much calmer pace! And the impossible came true, he had managed to free himself from his poisonous baggage! A miracle. His levels were nil!

And, he had energy in plenty. And, so it was, that at an age when most people start taking it easy, he started studying for a degree in Life Sciences. And, he succeeded. Just 10 days ago he graduated with honours. A true feather in his cap! And not only that, the next feather is on its way, too.

Erich is well and truly into a book that he's writing. A philosophical work that is specifically examining and questioning all aspects of southern Pacific thinking and tradition. A monument to personal strength and a book to look forward to!

But, in a way, Erich owes all of his present strength to the demons he once drank. If he had never gone down the way that he did, he would have never have come back – and there would be no help that Erich is now providing for others in serious need! Everything is meant to be!

Congratulations Erich.

More info on Erich's practice, www.e-j-k.at


Balcony Parts

Loo rolls play an important roll on Aranka's balcony.  She learned from her friend Anita that loo rolls are the perfect things for planting seeds in. As soon as the plants are big enough, they can be planted, loo rolls and all,  into a larger pot.  The loo rolls then disintegrate with time!  A great idea!

Beauty in Stone!

There is an old people's home in the south of Vienna and it is on a peice of land that once belonged to a palace.  Builders, whilst carrying out excavation  work for a new nursing wing discovered  a beautifully and perfectly preserved stone flower girl.  Apparently, the count who owned the palace had many of these life-size ornaments.  Now there is only one. And this flower girl stands once again where she belongs, in the garden like long, long ago!

A Welsh Lady with Passion - A Rolling Field of Clover and A Bird and A Worm!

Saying Hello to Donna McCarthy

Donna McCarthy by Nigel A JAMES

Knitting Needles and Wool

Sometimes life reaches a point above boiling, and, when the handle gets too hot for holding the best thing to do is to take yourself off of the fire and discover the you that's been hiding within you!

And, Donna McCarthy did exactly just that! She was brave! She stood back, took a look, and said a definite goodbye to a life that was bringing her down. And, as she stepped over the line she found herself once again in a world that was hers. And the life that she left with its stress and its dangers is now best where it is, in her past.

And what does this once lawyer now do with all that is hers? The answer is simple! She has allowed her creativity to take wing and fly! And, it isn't only flying, it is soaring as well! Her knitted welsh cardigans in their fine pastel shades have become quite the thing and are now being worn all over the world. But, her life is much more than just needles and wool. This little Welsh dragon is breathing more than one flame!

Donna’s other side is paper. Not only does she write and illustrate children's books, her first full length and life size shockingly blood thirsty book with teeth is about to appear! A must for all lovers of vampires!

And, so it is, that Donna has taken her life from being dangerously hot to a speed that's just bubbling along at just the right pace, and, because she is being herself, there is never too much. Burnout's a thing of the past! Life is now made up of the mountains of Wales, creativity, and a bowl of leek soup every Sunday!

Leafy Luck!

Balconies are life on a miniature scale. And, growing in a window box on Aranka's balcony is a field full of clover! And, not only does clover bring luck, it adds taste to our salads as well. But not only for us! Buzzing bumble bees like it as well!

Poetry

Ill Advised Advisor

A poem by Henry Wright

listen to ‘ILL ADVISED ADVISOR’ on Audioboo

“It’s good to eat,” observed the duck,

While seeking grass to munch,

“Whatever could we do instead

When time comes round for lunch?”

The dandelion with mournful look,

Replied a bit put out,

“I see your point, I do indeed,

But I can’t move about”.

The duck was taken by surprise

To hear a flower speak,

The place where one expects a mouth

Were petals but no beak.

“You won’t grow up a healthy duck”,

The weed went on to say,

“Unless you have your vitamins

And minerals each day”.

The duck was piqued to think a plant

As lowly as a weed,

Presumed to give advice to her

On what she ought to feed.

“What use are you?” she cried enraged,

“Stuck always in one spot?

You cannot fly or walk or swim

And talk such tommyrot”.

“I landed here by parachute,”

The weed replied with heat,

“And ever since produced the food

That you should daily eat”.

“Forgive me for my hasty words,”

The duck replied contrite,

“I’ll follow your advice at once

Because I’m sure you’re right.

“I’m sorry we must part this way

So that I may survive”.

With that she opened wide her beak

And ate the weed alive!

Blue Skys Away - Balcony Blues and Little Boy Blue!

Christine and Nadine

Christine and Nadine by Nigel A.  JAMES

Angels of the North

Way up in the north are two ladies. Christina and Nadine, and they are England's finest. Snow, hail, black-ice, thick English fog, storms and sunshine mean nothing to them, for they are out in them all. They are Home nurses, and their jobs are the hardest of all.

And their jobs are the people they care for. These are the ones who have stepped over a line and into a world in which they can no longer care for themselves. And for these people, Christine and Nadine are the same as two Angels on earth!

And it goes without saying that even Angels need breaks. And Christine and Nadine have a passion for travel. And, sometimes it's the thought of the next trip that's coming that keeps them on high through the extremes of their daily routine!

But of course, holidays cost money, especially the ones which they like. And when it comes to raising the extra, Christine and Nadine have plenty of ideas up their sleeves. They hold car boot sales, they bake cakes, they knit, and do much, much more, too. And each time it works. Where there's a holiday, there's a way! Christine and Nadine have never once missed a plane.

And this year they are going on a discovery holiday to Poland. And, not only did they raise enough to pay for it all, they did a course in basic Polish, too! They are well armed for that which will come.

And so, at the end of the day, they are not only Angels with wings for the people they care for, they also have their Angels, too! Through the fogs and the mists, through the rains and the snows, their next holiday will surely appear!

Balcony Blues

Akalei - photo by Aranka ACS

Akalei

Sewing seeds is sometimes the same as planting surprises! And, when Aranka Acs added Akalei to one of her balcony pots she was more than just happy with that which appeared. A beautiful shade of blue! This great little plant is biannual and is well worth the waiting to see!

Poetry

Little Tin Soldiers - by Nigel  A James

Little Boy Blue

by Eugene Field (1850 – 1895)

The little toy dog is covered with dust,

But sturdy and staunch he stands;

And the little toy soldier is red with rust,

And his musket moulds in his hands.

Time was when the little toy dog was new,

And the soldier was passing fair;

And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue

Kissed them and put them there.

“Now, don't you go till I come,” he said,

“And don't you make any noise!”

So, toddling off to his trundle bed,

He dreamt of the pretty toys;

And, as he was dreaming, an Angel song

Awakened out Little Boy Blue.

Oh! the years are many, the years are long,

But the little toy friends are true!

Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,

Each in the same old place

Awaiting the touch of a little hand,

The smile of a little face;

And they wonder, as waiting the long years through

In the dust of that little chair,

What has become of our Little Boy Blue,

Since he kissed them and put them there.

listen to ‘Little Boy Blue by Eugene Field’ on Audioboo

A Lady with Time - A Plant that's in Bloom - A Poem in Rhyme

Gabriela Meszarics

A Walk of Human Contact

This text is available with German assistance - click onto "Diaridu"  under PAGES 

Achieving that which one thinks is impossible is something that can be euphoric, and, just recently, Gabriela Meszarics of Vienna got more than expected when she walked herself free from her own self made shackles. And the footsteps she followed were those of St. James, and they were ready and waiting! The way of St. James was her way.

Gabriela had not been well. Burnout! Her world had caved in, there was darkness. There was no way forward and no way out. She had always a reason as to why nothing could work. This once bundle of fun who once loved darts, soccer, music and dance was set on a course that was spiralling out of control and downward at speed! She needed help.

And help came in the form of a friend. He had the answer, and the answer was simple, it was belief. “Believe in yourself and just do it!” And these seven short words were all that were needed. A light had come on and she was on her way back.

And, step by step she returned. Her life was happening again. But, there was still one thing left which she passionately needed to do, the St. James way; and, again, just do it were the words which were driving her on. And then, one bright summer day she was there! In Spain. She was ready to go and ready to climb. The Pirenese were waiting!

It was not easy! It took time. There were moments of deep doubt and high moments of joy, 750 kilometres, is, after all, a very long way! But, with every step she could feel the power of the route which was pulling her on. And, everyone else on the route felt exactly the same, and, it was this strength which enabled everyone to help and encourage each other. Discussions in depth at the close of each day provided the power for the morrow! This walk was all about close human feeling and contact.

And then she was there. There Gabriela stood in the middle of an early morning deserted square in front of the cathedral of Santiago. She had made it. Now she could do all. She was free! She was euphoric! She had not only arrived at this beautiful cathedral, she had also arrived at herself! She had come home! She had achieved the impossible!

Life is for living. Just do it!

Plants

There is no doubt at all that a small patch of green, however small, makes a very big difference. And balconies, if planted without the usual restraints of imagination can be very effective indeed. And, right now, it's the Anemone that are providing an explosion of wonderful poisonous beauty on Aranka Acs's Viennese balcony.

Poetry

William Allingham

1824 – 1889

listen to ‘The Fairies - by William Allingham’ on Audioboo

The Fairies

Up the airy mountain,

Down the rushy glen,

We daren't go a hunting

For fear of little men;

Wee folk, good folk,

Trooping altogether;

Green jacket, red cap,

And white owl's feather!

Down along the rocky shore

Some make their home,

They live on crispy pancakes

Of yellow tide-foam;

Some in the reeds

Of the black mountain lake,

With frogs for their watch-dogs,

All night awake.

High on the hill top

The old king sits;

He is now so old and grey

He's nigh lost his wits.

With a bridge of white mist

Columbkill he crosses,

On his stately journeys

From Slieveleague to Rosses;

Or going up with music

On cold starry nights

To sup with the Queen

Of the gay Northern Lights.

They stole little Bridget

For seven years long;

When she came down again

Her friends were all gone.

They took her lightly back,

Between the night and morrow,

They thought that she was fast asleep,

But she was dead with sorrow.

They have kept her ever since

Deep within the lake,

On a bed of flag-leaves,

Watching till she wake.

By the craggy hill-side,

Through the mosses bare,

They have planted thorn-trees

For pleasure here and there.

Is any man so daring

As dig them up in spite,

He shall find their sharpest thorns

In his bed at night.

Up the airy mountain,

Down the rushy glen,

We daren't go a hunting

For fear of little men;

Wee folk, good folk,

Trooping all together;

Green jacket, red cap,

And white owl's feather!