An Irish Storm - Picture by Nigel A. JAMES
Storm
Clouds Gathering
Hilde Blaschek
It
was August 1962. Hilde Blaschek and her best friend Monika Rauscher
were on a hiking holiday in the deep south of Ireland and heading for
the small town of Cork. And, being the last but one day of
their holiday their feelings were jumping between wanting to stay and
wanting to go. The weather had been friendly to them, the Irish had
been kind to them, and many memories for life had been made and were
ready and packed to take home to Vienna. But, then came the cloud!
It
started as a speck on the horizon and grew bigger and bigger
until it had become dark, frightening, dangerous and enormous. And,
there they were, Monika and Hilde, bang in the middle
of it all. And then the rain, the lightning, the
thunder, and the wind started with force. This was weather at
its worst. The two girls had never experienced anything like it.
And, the hostel was still a long way-a-way in the distance, and,
there was no real shelter!
But,
they made it. And, when Hilde and Monika arrived at the hostel they
were happy and relieved. They had survived and come in from
the storm. And, what better than two evening meals and two
comfortable beds. But, then came
the second shock of the day. The hostel was full! Everyone, it
seemed had wanted a bed for the night. And so, what was going to
happen to them?
They
were not only cold, but dripping wet as well. But, not to
worry. The warden was not only a man with a heart, he was an
Angel as well. His hostel was full, but, if they were prepared to
sleep on the table then there would be no problem at all. And, so it
was, that after a wonderful meal of delicious roast lamb, the table
was cleared and made ready for the night. But, it was to be no
normal night.
It
was the most uncomfortable night that Hilde had ever experienced.
When she woke up in the morning she was freezing. The blankets were
all in a heap on the floor. But then came the breakfast and her woes
and her pains disappeared.
And
it was great and it was Irish. Bacon and eggs, black pudding,
toast and strong tea. Peter Dunn - (Hilde still remembers his name)
- did everything possible to make sure that his two Austrian guests
enjoyed a perfect finish to their holiday in Ireland. And, he
succeeded! And, on their way home to Austria they thought of their
many new friends. And they were happy. And, even now, all these
years later, when they think back to their holiday in Ireland, it is
still Peter Dunn who comes first to their minds!
Every
dark cloud has its silver lining. And, Peter Dunn was much brighter
than silver. He was the one who gave them
a table to sleep on! And, this the two girls have never
forgotten. Their last day in August in the deep south of Ireland!
Selected
Vocabulary
all
of a sudden - ganz plötzlich
black
pudding – Blutwurst
dripping
wet – total nass
last
but one – Vorletzter
lightning
– Blitz
relieved
- erleichternd
saving
graces - rettenden Gnaden
speck
on the horizon
– kleine Fleck am Horizont
thunder
– Donner
warden
– Aufseher
woe
– Kummer
worse
still – noch schlimmer
Saying Goodbye to Ireland - Photo - Hilde Blashek 1962
Diarikom
is sponsored by Mag. Karl Brieber
Wirtschaftstreuhänder
– Steuerberater – Unternehmensberater
..
