Werner Wiesler

Starting a business can sometimes be full of surprises. But, the surprise   Werner Wiesler got when starting his workshop was something unusual. The surprise was squeaking, moving, and fast. Rats!  Hundreds of Rats.

But, the rats were no problem for Werner. In fact, Werner even found them amusing. Werner remembers each morning.   The first thing he heard whilst unlocking the door was the sound of the rats running for cover! And, during the day the rats were no problem at all. Werner and his workers soon got used to the rats watching them working. And, when the rats became too over cheeky, all that was needed was a strong clap of the hands.

But, of course, not everyone thinks that rats are very good friends. Living in one of the flats just above Werner's workshop was a mother with 2 very small children. And, one day she came to see Werner. She needed his help. There was a rat in her kitchen!  No problem for Werner. He stood in her kitchen, clapped, and the rat ran out of the door. All very simple.

 

And, Werner, too, had to be careful. One day, he discovered  the rats had eaten his lunch. And, on another occasion, a rat even jumped into the car which belonged to his wife! And, that was a very big problem. But, bye and bye, the rats were no trouble at all. And, Werner, his workers, and the rats lived happily together for very many years. Rats aren't as bad as everyone thinks. And now, many years later and retired, Werner often thinks back to the rats. And, he's missing them.

Werner Wiesler started a business and got a surprise. A surprise that was sqeaky, moving, and fast.  Rats.  Not only one, but hundreds.

Werner Wiesler and the rats. 

Audio coming

 

Die Gründung eines Unternehmens kann manchmal voller Überraschungen sein. Aber die Überraschung, die Werner Wiesler bei der Gründung seiner Werkstatt erlebte, war etwas Ungewöhnliches. Die Überraschung war quietschend, beweglich und schnell. Ratten!  Hunderte von Ratten.

Aber die Ratten waren kein Problem für Werner. Im Gegenteil, Werner fand sie sogar amüsant. Werner erinnert sich an jeden Morgen.   Das erste, was er hörte, wenn er die Tür aufschloss, war das Geräusch der Ratten als sie in Deckung liefe! Und tagsüber waren die Ratten überhaupt kein Problem. Werner und seine Arbeiter gewöhnten sich schnell daran, dass die Ratten sie bei der Arbeit beobachteten. Und wenn die Ratten zu frech wurden, genügte ein kräftiges Klatschen.

Aber natürlich hält nicht jeder die Ratten für gute Freunde. In einer der Wohnungen direkt über Werners Werkstatt wohnte eine Mutter mit zwei sehr kleinen Kindern. Und eines Tages kam sie zu Werner. Sie brauchte seine Hilfe. In ihrer Küche war eine Ratte!  Kein Problem für Werner. Er stellte sich in ihre Küche, klatschte und die Ratte rannte schnell weg.  Alles ganz einfach.

 

Und auch Werner musste vorsichtig sein. Eines Tages entdeckte er, dass die Ratten sein Mittagessen aufgefressen hatten. Und ein anderes Mal sprang eine Ratte sogar in das Auto seines Frau.  Und das war ein sehr großes Problem. Aber die Ratten machten keine Probleme. Und Werner, seine Arbeiter und die Ratten lebten viele Jahre lang glücklich zusammen. Ratten sind nicht so schlimm, wie alle denken. Und jetzt, viele Jahre später und im Ruhestand, denkt Werner oft an die Ratten zurück. Und, er vermisst sie.

Werner Wiesler hat ein Unternehmen gegründet und eine Überraschung erlebt. Eine Überraschung, die  quietschend, beweglich und schnell war.  Ratten.  Nicht nur eine, sondern Hunderte.

Werner Wiesler und die Ratten.

 

A. J. Cronin - The man who gave up giving up

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 A. J. Cronin was one of Britain's most popular writers and his best known book was The Citadel. A story of medicine, poverty and riches. But, The Citadel nearly didn't happen at all. It was saved by a walk in the rain.

At the time, A. J. Cronin was 33 and working in London. He was a general practioner and worked very hard. His days began early and sometimes lasted all night. Burning the candle at both ends. But, despite his very heavy work load, A. J. Cronin always found time for studying and keeping up with medical developments. He was not only a popular doctor, he was dedicated, too. But, his private life was completely the opposite.

A. J. Cronin could never find himself. He was always looking for other things to do. A balance in life. A hobby. He was never short of ideas, but none ever worked. He simply lost interest and stopped. Being a doctor was all he could do. He worked harder and harder and longer and longer. But, was always too busy to see what was happening.

One morning, A. J. Cronin woke up with a terrible pain in his stomach. He tried to ignore it but it got worse. The next day, he called on a colleague to examine him. A.J. Cronin didn't like what he heard. He had an ulcer. He was seriously ill. His choice was simple. A dangerous operation or 6 months off doing nothing at all. A. J. Cronin went to the far north of Scotland.

The fresh sea air and going for walks did him good. His health began coming back. But, very, very slowly. He would need time. But, what else could he do except nothing? Then, whilst down on the beach, he had an idea. Something he'd always wanted to do. Write a good book. There was nothing to stop him. Now he had time. On his way home he stopped and bought pencils and paper. Then, after dinner, he sat down and started.

Writing a book wasn't easy. Until then, A.J. Cronin had only written prescriptions. But, he had an idea and knew his direction. So far so good. But, the words were the problem. They just wouldn't come. It took him two weeks to write 800 words. He persisted. A month later, he was writing a thousand each day. His book was coming on well. He was happy. Then, the inevitable happened.

All of a sudden, A. J. Cronin lost interest. He stopped writing. He was frustrated and angry. Angry for starting something so silly. A book that no one would read. He was sour. In a fit of white rage, he threw everything into the the bucket. In to the rubbish went his work. Never again would he do such a thing. Then, he went for a walk in the rain. He had to cool off. And, there, not far away and working his field was Angus.

A. J. Cronin and Angus had become very good friends. Angus immediately knew. Something was wrong. A. J. Cronin explained. But, Angus showed neither compassion nor understanding. Angus was angry. Very angry. How could A. J. Cronin simply give up! If everyone gave up, nothing would happen. Giving up for old Angus was simply no option. A. J. Cronin was a big disappointment. A. J. Cronin was stunned. He was ashamed. He turned and went home.

The first thing he did was rescue his work from the bucket. He sat down and continued his writing. Now, very intensively.  Angus's words had struck home. Three months later, A. J. Cronin found a publisher in the phone book and sent in his manuscript.

A. J. Cronin recovered completely and time quickly came to go back to London. He had got to know the entire village and was now saying goodbye. Suddenly, he heard his name being called. It was the postmistress. A telegram was waiting for him. It had just arrived from London.

A. J. Cronin was to contact his publisher as soon as he got back to London. He and Angus went out for a drink.

A. J. Cronin's book, The Citadel, sold more than three million copies. A huge success. It was translated into nineteen languages and filmed as well. A.J. Cronin had made it. He had won. He had beaten himself. And, all because of a walk in the rain and some very straight words from old Angus, a very good friend.

A. J. Cronin never gave up again. He went on to write many good books. Amongst them, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, and, The Stars looked Down. A. J. Cronin was born in Scotland in 1896, and died in Switzerland in 1981.

A. J. Cronin – A man who gave up giving up.

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Katalin Rath

We are at our strongest when we are young, and, the visions we follow are pure. But, with the passing of years and the running of minutes, our dreams tend to slide and give way to the demands and realities of everyday life!

But life, as Katalin Rath knows, can include all possible spectrums. And, she never let go of her childhood fantasies. And, she is living them now!

Growing up in Budapest, art was always part of her life, and, living just two blocks away from the city's museum of modern art, Katalin spent much of her free time in the company of truly great works. And, so it was that she took art to her heart and learned it and studied it and practiced it as much as she could. And then, with only 14, she was awarded first prize in the then famous Budapest Pavement Art Competition. Art was her passion, but, life, too, had to be won!

After finishing medical school, Katalin moved to Vienna, and, it was there that she not only specialized in dental surgery, but founded a family as well. And, family life and work takes time. And, so it was that Katalin's art became tied up and moored away from the stream. But, still waters run deep!

And, deep below the surface the future was forming, and pieces were getting ready to appear, and, when Katalin floated her art back into view, a brand new acrylic style was ready and waiting!

And, it's waiting no more. Katalin is now regularly exhibiting her colorful large canvas dreams. And the interest is quietly and steadily growing; not only in Austria and Hungary, but elsewhere as well, and, all because she never let go of her dreams!

Dreams that come true and change with the light!  Katalin Rath

 

Gräfin Marion Dönhof - The Power of Attraction -

The Power of Attraction - Gräfin Marion Dönhof

There are people with very strong powers of attraction. They have very strong characters, they always stick to their plans, and they never give-up. Marion Gräfin Dönhof was just such a lady.

In 1945, Marion Gräfin Dönhof said goodbye to her family home, Schloss Friedrichstein in Prussia.  The 2^nd World War was nearing its end. The Russians were coming. Marion Gräfin Dönhof had to flee. Staying in Friedrichstein would have meant the end of her freedom and possibly even prison in Russia. And, worst of all, the winter was coming as well. And so, early one morning, Marion Gräfin Dönhof saddled her faithful horse Alarich and galloped into freedom. Hamburg was where she was going.

Once in Hamburg, Marion Gräfin Dönhof went to „Die Zeit“ where she got a job as journalist. Marion Gräfin Dönhof was a very good writer and specialised in political reporting. Marion Gräfin Dönhof became a very popular writer. And, journalism is all about people.

Marion Gräfin Dönhof was a people’s person. She understood human nature. Everyone she met was important.

Everyone loved her. She felt just as much at home in the company of kings and presidents as she did with the most humble of farmers. Her background and family certainly helped. Her father was the Kaiser’s best friend. and, because of her position in life, Marion Gräfin Dönhof had had the finest of educations. She was also the first ever woman to have studied at Basle university in Switzerland.

In the course of her life, Marion Gräfin Dönhof met lots of interesting people and wrote many interesting books. But, it was her escape on her faithful horse Alarich for which she's remembered the most. Marion Gräfin Dönhof loved horses. She was a brilliant horsewoman. But, after her escape on Alarich, Marion Gräfin Dönhof never rode again.  An unexpected twist to the end of this very short story.

Marion Gräfin Dönhof, a lady of steel.  She was born in December 1909 and died in March 2002.