Alexander Hemala is clear about raising license fees. I wouldn't even give that beer for an increase, he states.

Are we at the Czech-Slovak ball, do you come here every year?

Not every year, but I remember being here last year and it was nice. It is such a noble event, in a noble environment, so we were glad to have come this year again. 

What kind of dancer are you? 

I'm a panicked dancer, although I have been through StarDance, but that is some years ago. There was a bit more setup than dance teaching. My good wife Vlasta wants to dance at the ball, but there I had a professional dancer who led me, she said, "don't think about anything, just let yourself be led." When I have to lead, it's a bit worse.

I'm tone-deaf, if they played out of tune, I think I wouldn't even realize it. 

Prodej luxusního rodinného domu na Praze 6, Praha 6

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You've set me up a bit with that leadership thing. How is it at home? Who leads at your place? 

My wife leads about three to zero. We try to meet each other halfway. 

You've been with your wife all your life, can you tell how long it has been? 

(laughs) As chance would have it, it's been three days, we had an anniversary. As I am dyslexic and dysgraphic, I still don't remember if we got married on January 28th in 1977 or January 27th in 1978, but I pretend that I know and take it as an anniversary for the whole week.

How did you celebrate? 

We had dinner and our children congratulated us.

We don’t make such a big deal out of it but our golden wedding anniversary is coming up.

Do you have a recipe for a long-lasting relationship? Today's times probably don't allow for it much.

I don't understand it. I just saw two beautiful ladies at an event, we started talking and they were both divorced. I was looking at them and I don't understand. Both said their husbands divorced them, I just don't get it.

There must be something that I haven't understood in my long life.

So you don't have any advice?

No, I definitely wouldn't advise anyone.

You already have several grandchildren, what kind of grandfather are you?

I try to be practical, in the sense that I pick up, drop off, deliver, and when I try to say something about their upbringing, I'd rather bite my lip than say anything.

For many years I traveled with Dr. Plzák, who was an amazing man who knew everything so amazingly and could describe it beautifully and he always told me: "Mr. Hemalo, when you come to the young people, you must praise, only praise." "Oh, you have a green carpet, well, great, it's beautiful. And blue bedding to match? Well, that matches beautifully." I try, even though it is often difficult, to hammer his words into my head.

How old are your grandchildren?

There's a cute age difference from eighteen to two years, so it covers everything.

We are approaching graduation at the top and kindergarten at the bottom.

You say eighteen years, what about social networks? Do your grandchildren come to you about this, and how do you perceive it?

Yeah, that eighteen-year-old expressed himself in the sense that he's going to rap instead of graduating. I don't understand. I'm looking like a germ in a pharmacy.

Last year you renovated the house, do you think it's a good idea to invest in real estate these days? Where would you invest? What about cryptocurrencies, gold?

Yes, I say to a friend that we are not interested in money, when there are gold and stocks, but I don't really stick to it.

When you brought up the grandchildren, I have eight of them, so it is, I think a good investment.

What does luxury mean to you? 

Luxury is to be born in the morning. To get up from the bed without anything hurting you at that moment.

For years you have been associated with Czech Television, what do you think of increasing the license fees, is it a good idea?

License fees and their increase is a question. Yesterday I was in a pub and I think I wouldn't even give that beer for the increase.

Thank you for the interview.

Source: original article, own questioning