Eudemonia

For some years now, David and I have lived life with mindfulness of a concept derived from Aristotelian philosophy. This mindset goes by the name "Eudemonia" (or in slightly more Greek spelling: Eudaemonia or Eudaimonia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudaimonia  Essentially, it is about "human flourishing", living a good life, where "good" encompasses ideas of rationality, health, ethics, being active and a whole lot of good stuff.

So eudemonia informs our response to these recent life challenges, which have come in the form of David's health issues, and living in a new place, and building a new house and lifestyle, and sharing our lives with our elder rather than our children. In other words, we are really trying to make the best of things. But I won't say any of it is easy.

David's surgery for his thyroid cancer has been put off until the end of June, because the surgeon himself is unwell! Poor man has pneumonia.  Must be working too hard. So we are using the extra time to get a few things sorted out such as all our address changes, new driver's licences, car rego etc etc. I am due to start work part-time on 23 June, so will have to have some time off just after that to go to Sydney with David and Marjory for his treatment.  Hope the new employers are understanding!

Meanwhile, the house plans are progressing.  Various of our suggested changes have been cheerfully incorporated. We expect to meet with our architect and go through the 3D model on computer, next week. It was to have been today, but guess what? This poor man is also sick. Am I somehow causing this, I start to ask myself? Do I emit some kind of malevolent aura that brings people down? Silly, irrational ideas, I'm a disgrace to my Science degree.

 Let's get our importance in the general scheme of things back in perspective by gazing at this magnificent eucalypt.

This is at Rosie's lookout, the highest point on the golf course. It's so good that Marjory is now fit and strong enough to walk up to here with ease.

And this is the view from Rosie's lookout, from the tee of the 16th hole looking all the way to the sea and Hallidays Point beyond. Our house is to the right in the distance, near that tallest tree sticking up.

Our garden will definitely have banksias.

Marjory and David have joined a local group of artists. Here is the latest work under construction, a still life of glassware.

This little fellow was hiding under the sun umbrella when it was moved by our landlord Reg who has just been next door for the weekend to do some work on the two properties. Reg has been very responsive to our requests, just loves an excuse to get back here from Gunnedah and mess about fixing things. We keep him supplied with tea, coffee, food and company and give him a hand, so it's all working well. The lillipilli hedge that was formerly blocking our northerly sun has been lopped in half, so now we have lots of sun!