Welcome to Dave's website..............DASHK.COM 

Thought for the week. (21) a little piece of philosophy to mull on.  (For the complete list go to list)

Stars who debauch themselves, get addicted to drugs, then kick them get all the praise. Wouldn't you think that people who have never been addicted should be praised all the more?

This is a personal website, and this is the introductory page, the explanation. I do it to keep my brain active, to have a challenge. Challenge in life is all important. There is nothing worse than a boring life. A boring life is a travesty of opportunity given. I have always believed that 'projects' are necessary to make life interesting, challenging, fulfilling.

Sometimes those projects are found in one's job, sometimes in hobbies or sport. It matters not from where the challenge of a project comes, so long as it comes. There needs to be a reason to get up in the morning other than simply to get to work one does not enjoy. Far too many people complain and moan because they are bored - or life has thrown them a bum deal, or they can't do what they really want because! Well ..... as the Eagles say .."Get over it!"

So this site is a project for me now I don't "work full time for a salary" (ie I don't have job.) It highlights some of the things which are driving me at the moment - but by no means all, (eg I have started an art project at the moment to enter an exhibition in August).

Recent research done at UCLA, studying brain activity in a group aged between 55 and 76 found that surfing the net can stimulate the brain and that people familiar with the internet can engage in a much deeper level of brain activity than those not at ease with the 'net'. In the ageing brain, atrophy and reduced cell activity can take a toll on cognitive function. An active brain can preserve brain health and thinking ability. One needs constant challenges or life becomes merely survival. No matter how 'pleasant' that survival may be, without challenge it is essentially pointless.

 I took an (extended) break from full time paid employment in January 2004, reached the age of 60 in late 2007 and happily collected my long earned UK Teachers Superannuation. I moved to Thailand for a couple of years, and then on to Western Australia. My new career (in oz) is as a self employed building project manager and organic gardener. It is not likely to be financially profitable for some time ( but will end up in a super house and near self sufficiency in food.)..... it is a real challenge and a whole lot of fun. I intend to be reaping the benefits of this work well into the future. With a full time job this would not be possible. Some may say I have 'retired', I say not - the current project is designing and building a new house on our land in the small township of Gingin, Western Australia .... and the landscaping  of the block - 2.9 acres. This is going well, is the challenge it promised to be, and gets more exciting by the day.... and is all consuming!! This project could turn out to be the ultimate one ..... "Baan Sa-Wan" -  my Grand Design. (For information on Gingin, and for a link to the project, see below.) Influenced by "Grand Designs" and "The good life" - two of my favourite TV shows, I am building our house and plan to grow our food! 20 months on and it still calls me to arms. Three times a week I venture to Baan sa wan, and work, loving it more and more. I also write on issues of 'retirement' and personal development. See "www.createyourlife.info"

link to the project : Baan Sa Wan

Lastly,a quote : "If only youth knew; if only age could." Henri Estienne.

and George Burns - "Retirement at sixty five is ridiculous. When I was sixty five I still had pimples."

Ramblings on a range of personal life issues - retirement, midlife crises, life's transitions can be found on  www.createyourlife.info This is a sort of  forum for my thoughts about life, and the complexities of changes which accompany our journey through the years.

. and my photo gallery has moved to www.pbase.com/dallanhk

 
Gingin is 84 km north of Perth is the centre of a rich agricultural district, and is becoming increasingly important as a wine growing area. (check out www.ozwinetours.com/740prg.html)  The Gingin area was first explored by George Fletcher Moore in 1836, and Moore showed the Aboriginal name "Jinjin"on his exploration plan. Later when a property was surveyed here for W L Brockman in 1843 the name was shown as "Gingin Station". The major stream in the area was also recorded as Gingin Brook in 1848. Gingin is an Aboriginal name, the meaning of which is uncertain, but sometimes stated to mean "footprint". Another study states that the word Ginginup means the "place of many streams". Pictures and plans of the project can be found HERE .....Additionally there are images of Gingin in the Pbase galleries

 

 ...... and I would recommend that you check out my friend's blog - http://tliiytarasblog.blogspot.com

 

 

This site was last updated 06/15/10