About Alex (cont.)

I don't smoke. I would encourage everyone to stop. I used to be a two pack a day smoker, and gave it up overnight. At midnight on the 31st December 1994, I made a resolution 'never again'. So far it's worked out OK. I cannot say that I have not missed it. I really do miss the social side of a smoke and a coffee.  I drink occasionally, mostly on social occasions. I like good wines, preferably with a good cheese and good lively conversation. As I am a Scot, my favourite tipple is a good and aged single malt whisky, preferably 'Laphroaig' or 'Talisker'.

My hobbies are writing, reading, and cooking.

I am a pensioner, so I have a lot of spare time. I use this time in helping handicapped people. I am deeply interested in handicapped people obtaining their proper civil rights.

I enjoy watching most sports. I am fascinated with the Chinese exercises 'Ta'i Chi', but I have never tried it. Where I live it is very difficult to receive instruction. When I was last in Hong Kong, many years ago, I saw, literally thousands of people of all ages and from all walks of life taking part in these exercises in open places everywhere.

I am a chronic arthritic and feel that the gentle movements of Ta'i Chi would be beneficial to many who suffer with limited ability for movement.

I have played golf and squash and loved both, especially Golf. I can think of nothing that is more relaxing and enjoyable than to be out on the Golf course, battling with Mother Nature and your own sense of honesty.

To relax I like to watch a good film, my all time favourite film is 'From Here to Eternity'. Frank Sinatra's performance was one of his best, and I feel that his part in that film made his flagging career take off again.
My favourite authors are Tom Clancy, Wilbur Smith, John Grisham and James Clavell, James M.Michener… there are so many.  I enjoy the classics, Shakespeare, Dickens, Bronte, in fact I enjoy most books.

My favourite types of music are Country, Classical, Pop, Dance, Latin, Tango and Salsa. I enjoy any music that has a good rhythm and soul. I even enjoy watching 'Texas Line Dancing'. It looks fascinating.  In Oslo our capital city, there are clubs that specialise in tango, salsa and Texas line dancing.  I like Julio Inglesias, Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, nearly all the present Country singers, Chico and the Gypsies, Elton John and the one and only 'RIVERDANCE'. I have been fortunate to see 'Riverdance' three times…Dublin, London and Oslo. Each time has been better than the last…the rhythm…the precise and co-ordinated choreography…is thrilling to see. I admit that it takes very little for me to move to the rhythm, whatever the type of music or whenever the music starts. I am not usually the first on the dance floor, but I am not far behind, and believe me that is a laugh, to see me trying to tango or salsa.

I like to travel. I have been to most places in the world through my earlier work, so holiday travel has to be a little bit different. I Once had fourteen days holiday, on a camel's back, touring with Bedouin Arabs in the Sahara, a fantastic experience, never to be forgotten.  To see the sun come up in the east so early in the morning was magnificent.

My favourite places to travel to are Madeira, Turkey, Tunisia, France and Spain.

I like most foods. Especially a typical English Sunday lunch. Roast beef, and roast potatoes with Yorkshire pudding.

I like gourmet food and good wines. I enjoy cooking for friends, sitting in the kitchen and serving the food straight from the stove. I enjoy nothing better than good wine and good conversation.

I would just like to mention "TUBFRIM". Check the 'Links Page' for a link to Tubfrim, an organisation in Nesbyen. They collect used postage stamps, sort and pack them. The finished product is then sold; the money acquired is distributed for the benefit of handicapped children. Owing to the spread of modern technology, Fax, e-mail etc, fewer stamps are being used, consequently fewer are being sent to Tubfrim. The ultimate sufferers are the children. . Even with fewer stamps being sent in Tubfrim enjoyed record sales in 1999.  All the work is done on a voluntary basis. In 1998 Tubfrim was able to distribute to handicapped children's organisations in Norway the sum of 475,000Nk (approx $60,000), not bad for an organisation that has four unpaid helpers and a manager. Save every stamp that you can, together with used telephone cards that are fast becoming collectors items.
Send to - Tubfrim, 3540 Nesbyen, Norway.
Or you can send to your local 'Sons of Norway'…they have an arrangement where they can forward packages to ' TUBFRIM *

I live in a small town called Nesbyen in Hallingdal in the County of Buskerud. The town lies on one of the main roads between Oslo and Bergen, the RV7.

We have beautiful countryside around us. Fine mountains and good skiing in the winter. There are several good ski-ing areas around Nesbyen, just to mention a couple, Natten where there is extensive expansion of winter facilities, and Myking that is an established and favourite area for local skiers, with many miles of prepared cross-country runs.
Our town lies in Hallingdal. A river runs through the centre. Halling is the name of the river. Dal means valley. We have very little industry. Farming and lumber are the two most important sources for employment. We have two other employers in the private market, namely DEFA and PROTAN. DEFA produces various versions of security systems, mainly for cars. PROTAN is in the forefront of technology. They make the huge plastic bags and pipes that are used to transport Oil and Water.