Sunday, 12 October 2025

Hilde Blaschek

An Irish Horse


Storm Clouds Gathering
Hilde Blaschek Remebers - A true long ago story.


It was August 1962. Hilde Blaschek and her best friend Monika   were on a hiking holiday in Ireland and heading for the small town of Cork. And, being the last but one day of their holiday their feelings were mixed.  Looking forward to home and   sad to be saying goodbye to such a wondereful country. They'd had a wonderful time.

The weather had been friendly, the Irish too.  Friends had been made.  The two girls were happy as they went on their way.  Not a care in the world.  But, then came the cloud!

First as a dot far away, then bigger and bigger, then  menacingly black with thunder and lightning. And, of course very heavy rain.  This was a storm that had come with great force.The two girls were scared.   And the hostel was still far away.  The two girls found shelter under a bridge.  It helped, but not much.  And, there in an Irish storm they stayed for a very long time.

And then, the storm suddenly stopped, and, out came the sun.  Hilde and Monika went on their way.


And, when Hilde and Monika arrived at the hostel they were happy and relieved. They had survived a terrible 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.  What was going to happen to Hilde and Monika?

They were not only cold, but very wet as well. They were soaked through to the skin.  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 Hide and Monika were prepared to sleep on the table  there'd be no problem at all. The two girls happily agreed.  Then after a wonderful meal of delicious roast lamb, the table was cleared and made ready for the night. It was to be no normal night.

It was the most uncomfortable night 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, things could only get better. It was the breakfast that saved them. A breakfast fit for an Irish king.

Irish bacon and eggs, black pudding, toast and strong tea. Peter Dunn - (Hilde still remembers his name) - did everything possible to make sure his two Austrian guests had a perfect finish to their holiday.   And, he succeeded! And, on their way home to Austria they thought of their many new friends; and were happy. And, even now, all these years later, when they think back to their holiday in Ireland, it is still Peter Dunn they think of the most!

Every dark cloud has its own silver lining. And, Peter Dunn was much brighter than even the brightest silver there was. He not only gave them a table to sleep on,  but  a wonderful breakfast as well! And, this the two girls have never forgotten. Their last day in August in the deep south of Ireland!


Hilde Blaschak Remebers - Written and read by Nigel A. JAMES 

 

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Sturmwolken ziehen auf

Hilde Blaschak erinnert sich – Eine wahre Geschichte aus längst vergangenen Zeiten.

Es war August 1962. Hilde Blaschak und ihre beste Freundin Monika   waren auf Wanderurlaub in Irland und machten sich auf den Weg in die kleine Stadt Cork. Da es der vorletzte Tag ihres Urlaubs war, hatten sie gemischte Gefühle.  Sie freuten sich auf zu Hause, waren aber auch traurig, sich von diesem wunderschönen Land verabschieden zu müssen. Sie hatten eine wundervolle Zeit verbracht.

Das Wetter war freundlich gewesen, die Iren auch.  Sie hatten Freunde gefunden.  Die beiden Mädchen waren glücklich, als sie sich auf den Weg machten.  Sie hatten keine Sorgen.  Aber dann kam die Wolke!

Zuerst, wie ein kleiner Punkt in der Ferne dann immer größer, dann  bedrohlich schwarz mit Donner und Blitz. Und natürlich sehr starkem Regen.  Es war ein Sturm, der mit großer Wucht kam. Die beiden Mädchen hatten Angst.   Und die Herberge war noch weit entfernt. Die beiden Mädchen fanden Unterschlupf unter einer Brücke. Das half, aber nicht viel. Und dort, in einem irischen Sturm, blieben sie sehr lange.

Dann hörte der Sturm plötzlich auf und die Sonne kam heraus. Hilde und Monika gingen weiter.


Als Hilde und Monika in der Herberge ankamen, waren sie glücklich und erleichtert. Sie hatten einen schrecklichen Sturm überstanden. Und was gab es Besseres als  Abendessen und zwei  Betten? Doch dann kam der  Schock.  Die Herberge war voll! Anscheinend wollten alle ein Bett. Was würde nun mit Hilde und Monika geschehen?

Ihnen war nicht nur sehr kalt, aber sie waren auch nass. Sie waren bis auf die Haut durchnässt.  Aber keine Sorge. Der Wirt war nicht nur ein Mann mit Herz, er war auch ein Engel. Seine Herberge war zwar voll, aber wenn Hilde und Monika bereit waren, auf dem Tisch zu schlafen, wäre das überhaupt kein Problem. Die beiden Mädchen willigten freudig ein. Nach einem wunderbaren Essen mit köstlichem Lammbraten wurde der Tisch abgeräumt und für die Nacht vorbereitet. 

Es sollte keine normale Nacht werden.

Es war die unangenehmste Nacht, die Hilde je erlebt hatte. Es war sehr kalt als sie am Morgen aufwachte.  Die Decken lagen alle auf einem Haufen auf dem Boden. Aber es konnte nur besser werden.  Es war das Frühstück.  

Irischer Speck und Eier, Blutwurst, Toast und starker Tee. Peter Dunn – (Hilde erinnert sich noch immer an seinen Namen) – tat alles, um seinen beiden österreichischen Gästen einen perfekten Abschluss ihres Urlaubs zu bereiten. Und das gelang ihm auch! Auf ihrer Heimreise nach Österreich dachten sie an ihre vielen neuen Freunde und waren glücklich. Und selbst heute,  wenn sie an ihren Urlaub in Irland zurückdenken, ist es immer noch Peter Dunn, an den sie am meisten denken!

Jede dunkle Wolke hat ihren Silberstreifen. Und Peter Dunn glänzte sehr hell.  Er gab ihnen nicht nur ein Bett, sondern auch ein wunderbares Frühstück! Und das haben die beiden Mädchen nie vergessen. 

Ihr letzter Tag im August im tiefen Süden Irlands!

Sturmwolken ziehen auf

Hilde Blaschak erinnert sich – geschrieben und gelesen 
von Nigel A. JAMES
 




Saturday, 4 October 2025

School Party

 



All Singing from the Same Song Sheet -


Last night, a story stepped out of the back of my mind. It was all about one of those amusing little corners of life which took place just a little over 4 years ago. And this is what happened.

At the time, my son  was at primary school in Vienna, and it was holding its number 1 party of the year; its carnival party. And, the biggest pull of all at this party of parties was the talent competition. And 32 kids had decided to take part in this chance of all chances to show off and win a good prize.

The hall was packed with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and all other forms of other imaginable relatives; and, judging by the nervous looks on their faces, one would have been forgiven for believing that it was they who were about to stand in the spot light, and not the bunch of assorted little darlings who were giggling impatiently behind a curtain which was about to go up.

Little Susie came first, her song was as good as could be expected, and she performed it in a well practiced little school girl way. But then came little Martin from 2b, then after him Sarah from 3e, then after her came Marlene of 4a, and so-on and so-on . . . . . . . and all of them had chosen to sing the very same song!

Before too long, the general mood of the audience was beginning to wither; their little darlings were, more-or-less, all the same; and, on the scale of monotony, all pretty well near to the bottom. But then came entrant number 26, Christine from 4d. She had chosen something different to sing. A visible sigh of relief spread like a magical wave across the sea of bored-to-tears faces.

The audience woke up, and, for a while, it looked as though enthusiasm was about to break out. But the dawn that had dawned had been a false one. After Christina of 4d had finished, the show went on as before! When would it end?

But, everything that starts must have an end, and everyone who took part were given a book as a prize, and, Christina got two for originality.

All of the kids were happy. They had taken their chance to show off, had done it well, and only one had been different. And that’s what talent shows are all about; they belong to the moments in life which are fun!