To Warm-up with before we start -
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In the Stadtpark in Vienna
Saluting Giraffes
This summer, whilst taking an evening tour of Vienna's zoo in Schönbrunn, I got to know something of interest. A story of three very old African ladies. 3 stunning giraffes. And, briefly, this is their story.
Down at the zoo in Schönbrunn in Vienna, the old giraffe house was falling to pieces. A new one was urgently needed. Something much bigger and better. Comfort and luxury for the tallest animals on earth. But, what about the giraffes that were there? A new temporary home was urgently needed.
The solution was easy. It was over the fence in the barracks next door. And all very close.
The army, having lots of spare space on their ground, very nicely offered to put up a new temporary home for the soon to be homeless giraffes. An enclosure. New quarters for three very tall ladies with very long legs. And, there the giraffes were very, very happy.
And, down in the zoo the building began. A new home for giraffes; the ladies wouldn't have to stay long in the barracks. But, the building took longer than planned. In fact, very much longer than expected. Good things take very much time and Rome, too, wasn't built in a day.
And, then, one day it was finished. The new giraffe house. Shining and bright and luxury pure. A comfortable home for giraffes.
But, there was one little problem. A challenge. The giraffes had grown old in the barracks. They were now three very old ladies and too frail to go back to the zoo. What was to be done? No problem. This is a story with a very happy ending.
Four young giraffes came up on the train from Trieste. And, these four young giraffes from Trieste soon settled wonderfully in in their new home in the zoo in Vienna at Schönbrunn. Austrian food is much better than Italian! And, not far away, just over the hill, our three dear old ladies still sleep very well in their permanent temporary military quarters. And, belonging to the army, these three very old giraffes have military ranks. The highest of all. All three are generals. Three General Giraffes. So, salutes at sun-up and salutes at sundown. And, of course, long leather boots and a little red beret to wear on parade.
Life is full of surprises. And, saluting giraffes is very unusual.
Saluting Giraffes – A true summer story written by Nigel A. JAMES
Very Hard Quiz
If it takes two hours to fly from Vienna to Dublin, how long does it take to fly there and back?
Was the stone age before the bronze age?
Was Shakespeare French, German, or Italian?
Was Goethe a cook in a Chinese restaurant or a captain of a ship?
What is an astronaut?
What is a Cosmonaut?
Who was the first man in space?
What is the moon made of?
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