Post from Tim:
The Castle Story as it came to be known should begin with the "Once Upon a Time" start of fairy tales, as it involves all of the classic ingredients of a good story - love, castles, and a princess (of sorts).
The prince, my Slovenian friend Greg, related the story to me on the side of a winding country road within view of a real castle, an enormous stone building nestled among tress on the side of a mountain. The story goes a little like this...
Prince Greg worked hard and provided well for the princess Simona as a successful businessman. But all was not well in the kingdom, as the princess felt neglected by the prince who spent far to many hours at work focusing on his career.
Discussions came and went, yet prince Greg still focused on work over Simona. So the princess left in despair and forced the prince to re-evaluate his priorities more seriously.
He soon understood that his life was unbalanced. But how could the prince make amends?
He started by enlisting the help of his friends and in just five short days, carried out his plan to win the princess back.
First, he needed a castle for his kingdom, which after much negotiation he rented from a private owner. Then he crafted an excuse to lure the princess away from the city and to his new palatial home.
As it turns out, Simona occasionally worked as an event hostess to supplement her income while attending university. So Greg had the general manager of a marketing agency call her with the job of hosting a five year anniversary party of a fictitious company. A company secretary followed up with details and a project manager delivered the princess to the castle on the appointed day, requesting her to report upstairs to start setting up.
A rose greeted the princess on the stairs with a note quoting the first line of a poem by the famous Slovenian poet France Preseren. A few stairs later, another rose appeared with the next line of the poem. Farther up, two more notes completed the stanza, which loosely translated reads:
Petals from 36 roses lay sprinkled around the floor at the top of the stairs around a single large rose with a note explaining to the princess the real reason she had been summoned to the castle. The note explained that their relationship had been good and could be good again, if only Simona would look over the wall and make a wish. If she did so, whatever she believed at that moment would come true.
But sadly the princess didn't make her wish, she looked instead for the prince who watched her from above. They talked at length, but Simona left the castle and Prince Greg unconvinced - she decided to stay away from the kingdom.
Thought this story should have a happy ending? Me too, and if I wasn't travelling I'd add a "Vote for Greg" button so that we could all have a say. But the tale may not be over yet and if you have any good ideas for Greg to help him reunite with his princess, you can send him a note!
It has been six months since I wrote this story and I am now home, more or less settled and planning new adventures. But all this time the prince has been working hard for his princess. And who should write me this morning but the prince himself, bearing good news from Slovenia. The princess is back in the kingdom and read this web entry for the first time just the other day.
Simona herself finished the story with its only appropriate ending. She added, "and they lived happily to the end of their days."
- Jan 29, 2002
The prince, my Slovenian friend Greg, related the story to me on the side of a winding country road within view of a real castle, an enormous stone building nestled among tress on the side of a mountain. The story goes a little like this...
Prince Greg worked hard and provided well for the princess Simona as a successful businessman. But all was not well in the kingdom, as the princess felt neglected by the prince who spent far to many hours at work focusing on his career.
Discussions came and went, yet prince Greg still focused on work over Simona. So the princess left in despair and forced the prince to re-evaluate his priorities more seriously.
He soon understood that his life was unbalanced. But how could the prince make amends?
He started by enlisting the help of his friends and in just five short days, carried out his plan to win the princess back.
First, he needed a castle for his kingdom, which after much negotiation he rented from a private owner. Then he crafted an excuse to lure the princess away from the city and to his new palatial home.As it turns out, Simona occasionally worked as an event hostess to supplement her income while attending university. So Greg had the general manager of a marketing agency call her with the job of hosting a five year anniversary party of a fictitious company. A company secretary followed up with details and a project manager delivered the princess to the castle on the appointed day, requesting her to report upstairs to start setting up.
A rose greeted the princess on the stairs with a note quoting the first line of a poem by the famous Slovenian poet France Preseren. A few stairs later, another rose appeared with the next line of the poem. Farther up, two more notes completed the stanza, which loosely translated reads:
I hoped and waited for a long time,
then said good-bye to hope and fear.
My heart is empty, there is no luck.
I want my hope and fear back.
Petals from 36 roses lay sprinkled around the floor at the top of the stairs around a single large rose with a note explaining to the princess the real reason she had been summoned to the castle. The note explained that their relationship had been good and could be good again, if only Simona would look over the wall and make a wish. If she did so, whatever she believed at that moment would come true.
But sadly the princess didn't make her wish, she looked instead for the prince who watched her from above. They talked at length, but Simona left the castle and Prince Greg unconvinced - she decided to stay away from the kingdom.
Thought this story should have a happy ending? Me too, and if I wasn't travelling I'd add a "Vote for Greg" button so that we could all have a say. But the tale may not be over yet and if you have any good ideas for Greg to help him reunite with his princess, you can send him a note!
It has been six months since I wrote this story and I am now home, more or less settled and planning new adventures. But all this time the prince has been working hard for his princess. And who should write me this morning but the prince himself, bearing good news from Slovenia. The princess is back in the kingdom and read this web entry for the first time just the other day.
Simona herself finished the story with its only appropriate ending. She added, "and they lived happily to the end of their days."
- Jan 29, 2002