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“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!” Job 31:35 | |
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Officially, I am Ellen Mary Alexander, spinster (only just!) of this Parish - but known to everyone as Elma and to my Net friends I’m Elly. I have been severely disabled by arthritis for most of my life, which confines me to lying on my back all the time and with hardly any movement. This means I depend on other people to do virtually everything for me - including feeding me. I can however grip a cane in one hand and with it I operate my computer keyboard, which is fixed vertically below the monitor. Most other things are operated by remote control. Although not normal physically, I have always regarded myself as being a normal person in all other ways and it is extremely important to me to be treated as such. I have written a little bit titled ‘As If’ Is Not The Same As ‘Is’ and if you read it, it may help you to understand more about me - and other physically disabled people.
I am a partner of the East Neuk Community Trust which became a registered Charity in 1997. We cover various projects, which included the local Community Radio Station, ‘Eastsound’ - so far this had been run with RSL’s (temporary 28-day licences) until the advent of Access Radio, for which we hoped to be granted a permanent licence, but have not so far. However, our most rapidly growing project is ENDA (East Neuk Digital Archive) - click on it for details. It’s quite exciting to have been involved as one of the original three partners and see it grow from the start. I am a born-again Christian, but don’t let that put you off - I’m not going to preach on here and I am still human, with all the attending failings and probably crazier than most! I am a member and joint Treasurer of Anstruther Baptist Church and was fortunate(?) to be chosen for an interview on ‘Songs of Praise’ when it was televised from Crail in the mid-80s and my testimony has also led to various other TV, Radio and Press interviews over the years. It’s the only time in my life I have had to ask “why me?”! I have friends at Barratt Ministries who have a very helpful and enjoyable Websitee - including music! Why not give it a visit?
Also, I am a member of the Scottish Fellowship of Christian Writers and manage their Website. I enjoy writing articles and poetry, when I get the inspiration - but confess I’ve done very little since joining the Internet in April 1997. However, shortly before that, I did put together a little book of my poems and quotes, to raise money for charity - and it’s still selling! For a few examples and details of the booklet, go to my poems link.
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I next got an Acorn A5000 and got into DTP, doing mail and a Newsletter for my Church, various things for local Charities and developing Sound-Aid - the fore-runner to Eastsound Radio. For a time we handled the Scottish Country Music Association and, as I organised the Concerts, the DTP was a boon for doing Posters, tickets, etc.
At the beginning of 1997 I got my present RiscPC with StrongArm and it was soon after that I joined the Internet. I now wonder how I ever managed without e-mails!
Since constructing this website in 1998, initially with a lot of help from Foggy (I can tell you he’s an excellent Tutor) I’ve constructed several more for other people - including singers George Hamilton IV and Charlie Landsborough’s Fan Club. In September 1999, my RPC was upgraded to RO4.
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Before you rush off to another Site, please note the absence of the word ‘Western’ - I’m not keen on it either, only ‘Country’ which is vastly different.
I’ve been privileged to meet many Country artistes in person and am happy to now include some among my personal friends. This pic shows me with Charlie Landsborough. To learn a bit more about them and me, and some Country Music connections, go to my Country Friends page - and for some snippets of news from the Country scene, take a look at Miss Elly’s page.
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My very earliest favourite singer was Jo Stafford and instrumentally,
the Orchestra of her husband Paul Weston. I’ll always remember
meeting them, my first personal contact with ‘real’ American stars!
It would be impossible to mention the many artistes and music I’ve
enjoyed since then - maybe at a later date I’ll put a separate page in
to cover it!
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The garden at the back is very small, but being a lover of wildlife, especially birds, I encourage all I can. There are varied feeders around it and I get birdseed, corn and peanuts in 50k bags from C J Wildbirdfood - which last a couple of months or so, if I’m lucky!
I’m a member of the RSPB, WWF, IFAW, and SSPCA.
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, |
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Until recently (summer 2003) most Saturday afternoons my friend, Marion, and I played Scrabble - and when I get
time (rarely) I enjoy doing a Crossword or other Word games. Sadly, Marion died suddenly, so Saturday afternoons are not quite the same anymore. I also
enjoy fund-raising quiz sheets - especially making them up! I often
do this for local Charities, but for the last ‘Telethon’ I did a
Country Music Quiz which raised over £700, probably due to the number
of prizes to be given - Country Music artistes and Record Companies I
contacted, donated over 100 records and videos, plus loads of
autographed photos.
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“You are my friends...” John 15:14
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If you have read this far, including the Links, you will have realised I’m completely mad, but I do love people and I hope to keep popping snippets into my Latest Bits page of what’s going on from my window. I hope my page has not been too painful, but at least it’s unique - the most boring Home Page in Argo! I don’t even know why I’ve done it, except it’s all Foggy’s fault for getting me started and sticking with me to the bitter end. |
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ABOUT ME (The boring bit!)
I live in Crail, a rural fishing village in the East Neuk of Fife, which is a popular tourist area of Scotland. The famous home of golf, St Andrews, is only ten miles away. Right is a pic of Crail’s very old Kirk.
I first got a computer in 1984, a BBC B+ and then on to a BBC
Master. Having gained certificates in BASIC programming, I used my
spare time along with a friend who was a headmistress, to write
programs for some local schools - she got the ideas of what she wanted
the programs to do, I developed them to make the ideas reality. When she
retired, I drifted away from programming - I doubt if I’d remember how to do it these days!
Although it’s mostly Country Concerts I go to whenever I get the
chance, my musical tastes are very wide and I have lots of CD’s which
are not Country and include a bit of about everything.
