The Toorington Bells – Steven Jordan And A Very Wet Landing
Steven Jordan used to be the school bully. And, he got his comeuppance one afternoon in the afternoon break. It had just finished raining and the children were outside in the playground and having lots of good fun. And there, standing by an enormous puddle at the edge of the playing field was Robin Hall, a very small boy. Just right for a bullying attack. And, Steven Jordan went into action. This was going to be fun.
But, Robin Hall wasn't stupid. He saw Steven Jordan approaching at speed and quite rightly guessed his bully-boy intentions. And, at just the right moment, Robin Hall dodged out of the way and Steven Jordan went flying through nothing and into the puddle. And, everyone laughed. That is to say, everyone except Steven Jordan. He was dirty and wet. He had just met his match. And, that was the end of his bullying career.
And, from that moment on, Steven Jordan never again did anything wrong. He'd been beaten by a much smaller boy. And, that's how life is. Small can be clever and strong and big can be clumsy and daft.
Steven Jordan used to be the school bully. And, he got his comeuppance at the edge of a very big puddle. He tried to push someone in, but ended up getting wet and dirty himself. Not only an embarrassing end of his time as school bully, but a moment of fun for everyone else.
The Toorington Bells – Steven Jordan And A Very Wet Landing
Hussein is a
boy from Baghdad. He's from a very big family. 6 brothers and 6
sisters. And, Baghdad life, despite all the hardships, used to be
fun. Family Sundays with wonderful meals, swimming, cycling, and
Computer games, too, and very short nights. And, of course, lots of
fun friends. Hussein – a boy from Baghdad who is going where life
takes him.
There are very many people who travel through life without a care in the world. Every thing's fine. So, how does this work?
Firstly, these people have no problems at all. They have none because they don't look at problems as problems! Situations is all that they have. And, situations require action, attention, or nothing. If action is needed - it is taken; and, likewise, if nothing is needed, the whatever it is, is left to cool off and disappear on its own. People with problems always exaggerate. Many so-called problems have no importance at all.
Secondly, people without problems have no principals either. They have rules. Principles are nothing other than excuses – usually weak - to hide behind when trying to avoid things that are not very nice. Bernard Shaw, the great Irish writer, said that only people with no arguments had principles! He was right.
Thirdly, and most importantly, people who never have problems know how to talk to and listen to others. There is no situation that doesn't involve other people. Mostly, a simple expression of understanding is all that's required.
So, what can be done, and what can be learned from those who always come up with smiles on their faces? What sort of people are they?
In the main, they are people who very much like themselves. They are happy with that what they do. They're content.
So, the answer is happiness. Be fun and be happy. This is the meaning of life! If you don't like your job – get a new one. If you're arrogant – change. We only live once. And, so does everyone else. Bad vibes are contagious. They are always upsetting and can also make people ill.
And, this, too, is important. Happy people are not only not often ill, they live much longer as well! Happiness is a very good thing! So, what can be done for those who are permanently miserable?
Leave them alone. To ignore them is clearly the right thing to do. Avoidance! And, if this doesn't work, then invite them out to go dancing. They will have a wonderful time. And, they, too, will be happy like you.
There are very many people who travel through life without a care in the world. Every thing's fine. So, how does this work? And, what sort of person are you?
Alaa grew up in Baghdad. Now he's living in Vienna. And, Baghdad Sundays were special for him. Sundays were family. Chicken soup and rice. His parents, his five brothers and sisters, and, of course, on occasions, his grandparents as well. The magic of family. Peace, good fun and family music together. And, Alaa and his friends loved football as well. A match every day after school. Alaa's heart is still in Baghdad. Baghdad is still home. Family and friends. And, the future? Who knows!
Alsoors is a small Balaton village in Hungary. And, down by the lake is a palace of glass. And, in this palace of glass, countless young people used to dance and have fun. But, sadly no more. This once popular disco is now shuttered and barred, and the youngsters have all disappeared. But, this huge building of glass was not always a disco, it was something else, too. And. Aranka Acs, who grew up nearby, told me the following story.
When she was a child, Aranka Acs used to spend many long summer days down by the lake with her parents. Lake Balaton was the perfect place for summer days out. And, it was to this palace of glass - that was then the communal canteen - that the Acs's and most other people went for their lunch. And, it was this canteen that later became the disco. But, looking back to the canteen, Aranka Acs has no feelings of nostalgia. In fact the opposite.
Being built of glass, this building was unbearably hot, and people ate and left as quickly as possible. This palace of glass was not a nice place to linger. And, the food, too, was not very nice. The limited choice was always the same. But, then came the end of the socialist era and this daytime disaster became a night-timewonder of good fun and music. And, it stayed that way for 25 years. So, buildings, too, have more than one life.
But, what is the future of this now empty and silent palace of glass? The choices are many. But, I secretly hope that this magnificent lake-side palace of glass will once again become a palace of life. A place for the young. There is now a black hole where fun used to be and it's keeping the youngsters away. And, a place without youth is a place that's not living. The building's still there. Why not open it up and let it live once again?
It was the time of the first crusades. Many Europeans believed in Prester John, a Christian king from the east. And, Prester John's army was the most powerful of all. There was no one he couldn't defeat. No one could stand in his way.
And, just at that time, the retaking of Jerusalem was not going to plan, the infidels were proving hard to defeat. The Crusaders were not so good as believed. In fact, they were bad. An ally was needed. And so, a messenger was sent to the east with a letter from the Pope. Prester John, Pope Alexander the Third believed, would be a friend he could count on. Two Christians together and one common cause.
But, there was one very small problem. No one knew where Prester John lived. No one knew where to find him, and, he had never been seen. Prester John was a mystery. And, to make matters worse, the messenger never returned. And, the Crusaders had to do the job on their own. But, where was Prester John?
The answer was easy. If it wasn't the far-east, then India was next on the list. But, he wasn't there either and the search was taken to Africa. But, Prester John and his army were nowhere to be seen. And, to this day, they still haven't been found.
Prester John was one of the greatest myths of all times. Many people believed it. The truth is that Prester John was thought up by Bishop Otto of Freising in the 12th century. The story the bishop invented was that Prester John was a descendant of one of the three wise kings mentioned in the Nativity story in the Bible. The rest of the story, the army, power, and so-on, grew on its own.
People like stories, and the stronger and bigger the better. Prester John was – and still is - one of the best of all times!
Presents of Mind Some wrapped up thinking by Nigel A JAMES
With Christmas just past, there are very many people sitting on lots of “just what I always wanted” kinds of presents. These presents are nothing other than rubbish. And, as usual, much money has been spent in order to provide the pleasure of giving, in, what is, the traditional season of love and good cheer!
So, why do people give presents? There are a number of reasons for this, but, the majority do so because it's a ritual that has to be kept. An obligation. Some do it with pleasure and others not so. But, the actual choosing and buying is never that easy; and, the reason for this is that nobody knows what to buy. Nobody knows what other people really want. And, deciding what to give to those who are close is the hardest of all.
Of course, presents for kids are the easiest. Toys and more toys and more toys. The more that you give them the happier they are. But then, as soon as they are old enough to think for themselves and have ideas of their own (usually as of 10 for girls and 50 for boys), the pain of decision commences and the disappointment of receiving begins. So, why is this?
Basically, humanity can be divided into two major groups. Male and female. And, this is important. Little girls are women waiting to grow up, and men, in reality, are nothing other than little boys who never matured. And so, with this fact firmly in mind, the choice of the perfect gift should be as easy as buttering hot toast.
Women prefer sensible things and the more expensive the better! Jewellery, the best perfumes that exist and a Gucci handbag are perfect. Men, on the other hand, being humble, would much rather have items with no aesthetic value at all. Train sets or golf clubs are much better than pullovers or socks, and ties should never be bought (your taste, even if you think differently, is not his!).
Of course, there are two major occasions for the giving of presents, Christmas and birthdays; and each with its own set of rules and magic dynamic. It's your birthday. You're the only one getting a present. You are the centre of attention and it’s your special day. And, because you're the only one receiving, the presents tend to be better and sometimes even quite good! Christmas is different. Everyone is equal, and, unlike birthdays, it’s a two-way occasion. Everyone gives and everyone gets! But, who gets what is a matter of tradition as well.
The best and the most expensive presents are for very close family. Good friends are next on the list with vouchers, and, last but not least, are colleagues or classmates who have to make do with very cheap chocolate or unwanted bottles of wine.
But, is the real joy of presents just in the giving? A lot of people believe this! But, of course, this is a chicken and egg situation. If everyone gives and no one receives, then there would be no presents at all. Presents involve both giving and taking, and I, for one, take a great deal of pleasure in unwrapping surprises. Real presents are mysteries, and the more thinking the better, and, things that are actually wanted are the best gifts of all!
So, let's look forward to next year's shopping. More thinking is all that is needed. Don't give rubbish and don't make it last minute. Keep your eyes and ears open – the ideas will come on their own. And, by-the-way, very small packets are sometimes the very best of all. And, don't forget – saucepans and ties are the worst presents of all! Happy new year, and I hope you'll do better next year.
It's been two years since Behruz left his native Iran. In his hometown of Bandar-Anzali, Behruz was a member of the local swimming club. And, he was good. His greatest achievements were gold and silver medals in national competitions. And now, here in Vienna, Behruz goes swimming as often as he can. But, things are different. It's his friends. They are now scattered all over the world. The fun in the pool and the being with friends are now things of a time that has gone.
When Behruz thinks back to Bandar-Anzali, it's his friends that he thinks of the most. Life is now a long way from home.
Please CLICK HERE for full audio/visual article - An Unusual Farewell - Charley Steidl
Farewells belong to the rhythm of life. And, sometimes these farewells are best understood when viewed through the distance of years. And this is how Charley Steidl remembers a day from long, long ago.
It was 1939, late summer, still hot and the second Sunday in September. And, Charley Steidl, although still only three at the time, remembers this day as if only last week.
Because of the wonderful weather, his mother and father and aunty and uncle and three of his cousins had decided to spend the day at the Viennese Prata, an amusement park just close to the centre of town. And, the Prata with its rides, swings and roundabouts was not only a wonderful place for kids, but perfect for grownups, too. And, Charlie Steidl even won a toy African elephant. Charlie Steidl and his cousins were happy. Their world was in order! But, this magical day, Charlie recalls, was not only for having lots of good fun, there was the eating. And, they ate!
Lunch was spent at Emminger's, a restaurant very close to the Prata. Charley remembers that the meal was good, but, of course, no longer recalls what it was. And, then after finishing lunch, the party moved on to the Hauswirth, another nearby restaurant for afternoon coffee and cakes. And, then with evening coming on, Charley's father ordered another main meal of roast goose, dumplings, and red cabbage. And, the fun and the eating carried on until late.
And, of course, it was only much later in life that Charley Steidl understood the meaning of this wonderful day. His family weren't being greedy, they were simply saying goodbye to the good times of having enough. And they were right! Within just a short space of time, the world was at war and there was no longer enough food to go round. There were to be no more days out at the Prata and no more big meals for a very long time.
Farewells belong to the rhythm of life. And, Charlie Steidl has happily had only one farewell to food. And, that was the day he was taken to the fare and won a little grey elephant from Africa.
Charlie Steidl. He said goodbye with a meal and a day full of fun. A day he's never forgotten - and a day that only came once.
Billen and Kehlo are sisters. Billeen is 10 and Kehlo is 8. They come from Damascus and have been living in Vienna for just over two very short years. Both attend regular Viennese schools and are happy in Vienna. But, there is one thing they miss when thinking of home. The Sugar Festival. This takes place at the end of the summer holidays and involves every child in Damascus. Simply put, it's the day that is specially for children. Dressed in their very best clothes, the children go knocking on doors, and, because they're expected, everyone has small bags of sweets ready and waiting. No child leaves empty handed.
And, the Sugar Festival is a family occasion as well. The whole family joins in with the making and baking of homemade sweets for this special occasion. And, as every child from Damascus will happily tell you, the preparation is just as much fun as the knocking on doors. And, then, of course, there's the eating. And, this takes a very long time. At least, two or three weeks. And, this is all part of the fun.
The Sugar Festival marks the end of the summer and the start of a new year at school. And, what a sweet way to do it. The Sugar Festival. Sweet memories of home for Billen and Kehlo.
