Mailbox

In this week's Mailbox: A technical problem on our website, ways to help the flood-stricken areas in North Bohemia, Václav Havel directing his first movie. Listeners quoted: Stephen Hrebenach, Maria Golia, Christoph Preutenborbeck.

Hello and welcome to Mailbox. As every Sunday it is time to read from your e-mails.

Stephen Hrebenach from the United States sent us this comment:

“Just a quick note that the English language broadcast for August 12, 2010 is actually in Spanish. I have checked the 32kbps and 16kbps feed from ‘Latest programme in English’ as well as the broadcast archive from 16 UTC August 12. The 13 UTC broadcast is indeed in English.”

Thank you very much for telling us. I’ve alerted the internet department and we apologise for that technical fault that has now been fixed. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you spot any technical problem in our broadcasts or on our internet site.

Maria Golia sent us this question:

“I'm wondering who to contact about joining the flood clean-up effort. Perhaps Prague Radio listeners would like to join in or make a contribution.”

Foto: ČTK

Thank you very much for your kind interest. At the moment, the flood-stricken areas need volunteers to help with clean-up work as well as shovels, wellington boots, disinfectants, wheelbarrows and other tools. A financial contribution might be a more practical option for someone who is not living in this country. A number of Czech and international charities are raising money to help the affected regions, among them the NGO People in Need, the Diaconia of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, the Czech Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Adra foundation and others. Here is a link to a website listing all of them, including the links to the charities' respective websites www.darujspravne.cz/povodne so anyone wishing to contribute can choose according to their own preferences.

Jaakko Isokoski, a musician from Finland, has this question regarding a song:

“I found a very interesting song from the Tea Grass CD. It is called ‘Balvaj Phurdel’ and is sung by Natálie Velšmídová. Would you help me to find its translation into English? I have a fair idea that it is in the Czech-Gipsy language. Here are the first lines: ‘Balvaj phurdel pre oblaka durkinel, o pos’taris mange anel te ginel...’ Thank you in advance!”

No one in our office speaks the language, I’m afraid, but I found on the internet that its title means “The wind is blowing”. You may try to contact the artist herself; we have e-mailed you her contact details.

Václav Havel

And on the subject of art, Christoph Preutenborbeck from Germany, who listens to the German broadcasts of Radio Prague would like to wish good luck to the former Czech president Václav Havel who is now directing his first movie. It is a film adaptation of his drama “Leaving” and Radio Prague will, of course, inform you of its premiere next year.

And before I sign off, here is our monthly listeners’ quiz question: Regular listeners may remember that our mystery lady more than two years ago was Sophie Chotek, the wife of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who along with her husband perished in the Sarajevo assassination in 1914. They were shot while sitting in a car. There was another person of Czech origin in the car and he is our mystery man for this month.

You still have more than a week to send us his name to [email protected] or Radio Prague, 12099 Prague. In two weeks’ time we’ll read some of your correct answers and we’ll select the lucky winner who will get a Radio Prague present. Meanwhile, I’ll be looking forward to your answers, reception reports and questions. Until next week, happy listening.