When One Door Opens Another One Shuts - A true story from Hungary.

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Picture - Not Jenö's Latest Front Door - By Nigel A. JAMES

When One Door Closes Another One Opens  

When one door closes another one opens is a popular saying in England. And, some time ago, I heard a true story from Hungary. It was all about Jenö and Marika. Jenö was a very good carpenter and Marika his wife was a brilliant cook.

But, both Jenö and Marika had one thing in common. Doors. And, this is Jenö's and Marika's story.

Once upon a time, Jenö's and Marika's house used to be a very nice little house. It had a back door, a front door, a garden in the front and a garden at the back. All very normal and all very pretty. Then, this nice little house became something unusual.

It became a confusion of doors. A house with many ways in and many ways out.

The first new front door was not long in coming. Jenö and Marika put it in the side of the house – which then became the new front of the house - because it was nearer to where they parked their car. Quite sensible when you think about it. So, now Jenö and Marika had one back of their house, and old front of their house, a new front of their house and one side instead of two! And the dog, which used to be tied up at the back of the house, was then, without being moved, tied up at the front!

Meanwhile, Jenö's business became very successful and Jenö and Marika, because of deliveries of timber, were having to park their car at the last remaining side of the house which didn't have a door. And, this was not very convenient. And so, so as to make life easier still, a new front door was built into this side of the house which was until then neither the front nor the back, but, after the new door had arrived, this side of the house then became another front of the house. Now, three fronts and one back. But, that wasn't all!

In order to make life more comfortable, Jenö and Marika then put a door in the first floor – directly above the original front door - which - by then - had become the latest back door - so, in the mornings, when everyone was rushing to get ready, they didn't have so far to go to get to the kitchen and were able to save one or two seconds by using the new flight of steps which took them down the outside of the house to where the new back door had appeared. That, of course, worked perfectly well provided the back door wasn't looked, which it usually was, so nobody used it!

But, the biggest challenge of all was the bell! Jenö, being creative, had connected all of the doors to the very same bell, so, that when people came calling, Marika had no idea at all as to where her guests actually were, so, she had to run around from one door to the next until she finally found them. And, because people were, on the whole, generally impatient, they started going around and ringing on all of the other doors, too, and, so the confusion continued. When one door closes another one opens, or, at Jenö's and Marika's, there's always a new door to open and shut!  

 Not Jenö's Latest Front Door!

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(B) - A Thrilling Kind of Peace - Music high up in the Alps!

Licci Czuba

A Thrilling Kind of Peace

Picture - 2 Little Listeners - by Nigel A JAMES

This is a story that came in from the mountains. It's an unusual story of music - and it happened a few years ago. The Viennese violinist Licci Czuba and three of her friends were taking a break high up in the Austrian Alps. They were staying on a mountain farm.

And, these four Austrian ladies were not only good friends, they were world-class musicians as well. A string quartet of distinction. And, playing fine music means very much practice, and practising high up in the mountains was no problem at all.

The farmer and his wife were very understanding. Licci and friends were able to use the breakfast room for two hours after breakfast each day. Musical mornings high up in the mountains.

But, music can not be contained.

In the kitchen, which was next to the breakfast room, the farmer's daughter found great joy and peace whilst cutting, chopping, frying, and baking to music by Haydn and more. And, that was not all. Soon, people started gathering in the fields outside to simply just listen before going on their way. There was a thrilling kind of peace high up in the mountains. Licci and friends and their wonderful music.

But, being the way that things are, this fine string quartet was soon back in Vienna. Holidays, too, must come to an end. And, then came the surprise. A very nice surprise. A letter from the farmer's wife. Could Licci and friends come back once again? Another 2 weeks of fresh mountain air and fresh mountain music? Another beautiful time, maybe?

And, so it began. An annual tradition of joy. Fine music and peace with very good friends high up in the Austrian Alps. Music connects and music makes friends, and the Alps are special as well.

Licci Czuba. Notes that came in from the mountains.

(B) - Storm Clouds Above - Very, very wet and a very hard night!

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Picture - Paddling in the Atlantic - by Nigel A. JAMES

Storm Clouds Above

It's the small things in life that are often remembered for ever. And, what happened to Hilde and her best friend Monika will never be forgotten.

It was August, 1962. The two young Austrian girls were on a hiking holiday in the Republic 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 kind, the Irish had been kind, and many memories for life had also been made.

But then came the cloud!

It started as a speck on the horizon and quickly grew bigger and bigger and bigger. And then, all of a sudden, the rain started with force. It was torrential. It came down in torrents. And the youth hostel was more than an hour in the distance.

But hours pass, too. And, when Hilde and Monika arrived soaking wet at the hostel they could hardly contain their feelings of joy. What better than a heartening meal and two comfortable beds? But then came the shock. The hostel was full! Everyone, it seemed, had come in from the storm. What was to happen to Hilde and Monika?

The storm was growing in strength.

And, there Hilde and Monika stood. Dripping, wet, and cold! But not to worry, the warden was a man with a heart and the two girls were young. His hostel was full, but, if Hilde and Monika were prepared to sleep on the table, there would be no problem at all. And so, after a wonderful three course Irish meal the table was cleared and turned into a bed. And it was hard. It was the most uncomfortable night that Hilde had ever had. And, when she woke up in the morning she was freezing. The blankets, having all fallen off in the night, were all in a heap on the floor. But then came the breakfast.

And it was great and it was Irish. Rashers, eggs, black pudding, toast and strong tea. The warden did everything possible to make sure that his two Austrian guests enjoyed a good finish to their holiday in Ireland. And they did! And, on their way home on the ferry to France, Hilde and Monika thought of the people they'd met. And they were happy.

Every dark cloud does have its own silver lining. A storm, a great evening meal, a very hard bed, a big Irish breakfast, and a kind Irish man with a heart who made them so welcome. Peter Dunn was his name and he's never been forgotten.

Hilde and Monika got wet in a storm in the deep south of Ireland. But, the welcome they found was the best in the world. The Irish are happy making others feel great. And, Hilde and Monika arrived home in Vienna with smiles in their hearts. Walking in Ireland. A wonderful time.

Picture - Paddling in the Atlantic - by Nigel A JAMES

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