Tuesday, November 12, 2002

This is just an introduction of sorts, giving a short picture of where I am coming from. so to speak.

I am a resident British subject in Australia, and will continue as such until this great nation becomes a Republic. A member of the Australian Labor Party in the Karingal Branch, currently actively assisting in the State Election Campaign of re-electing the incumbant Bracks Government with an increase representation in both houses, particularly a majority in the Legislative Assembly, a majority in the Legislative Council is unlikely in this term or the next.

I live in Frankston, a great place to live, the only claim to fame I can think of at this time is the site for the film of Neville Schute's book "On The Beach" with Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck and Fred Astaire. Gardner is reputed to have said about Frankston, or was it Melbourne, "What a nice place to make a movie about the end of the world", in a dead pan look. I have lived here most of my life, my family is here and the seaside atmosphere is pleasant and cool, which you can appreciate when the summer is at its height.

I have six children and a talented wife Claire, and enjoy watching them grow and teaching and talking to them when they need an answer from the old man, who is touted by the wife as being a "walking, talking, encyclopaedia", which only leads to some disappointment when the children grow older and discover I don't kow everything, and never have. Sigh!!

I love reading and do so a lot, according to my wife. My interests lie in the areas of Politics, Foreign Affairs, Science Fiction, Archaeology and Natural History, Aviation and Space Flight. Sometimes other subjects catch my eye, like biographies of exceptional minds and literary geniuses. I also enjoy a certain amount of TV, especially Star Trek, currently in its Enterprise iteration, I enjoyed X-Files, Heart Beat, and some National Geographic specials,especially those on Ancient History and Archaeology. I am subscribed to a number of e-mail lists on subjects as diverse as Paleantology and LDS Politics (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) which is a group og Mormons discussing politics. I have a deep interest in my Genealogy and Family History, so if we have any lines in common, let me know and I can invite you to my MyFamily.com website.

That will do for now, except I should explain, I always endeavor to look at things is rational way, sceptically at time, especially with extraordinary claims, which can be irritating for some.