Thursday Thoughts : Coffee Shop Chat

“Our work coffee shop is an interesting place with ever changing customers which you would expect from a building housing the full range of medical specialists.

Today I chatted to a charming couple, John and Alice who grow macadamias in a picturesque setting outside Lismore, where they have lived on 160 acres for the past 23 years. John was on one of his regular visits to his Brisbane dermatologist to have his skin checked.

John and Alice are British South Africans by derivation migrating to Australia from the Transvaal in 1980. John said his grandfather fought alongside the Australians at Passchendale.

As we chatted John and Alice said they had been together for 60 years with three sons, a daughter and nine grandchildren.

Thinking they seemed very happy in each other’s company, it was inevitable that I would ask them what was their secret for a long and happy relationship. Without a moment’s hesitation they had me jotting down “respect, compromise, preseverance and being good friends.” One of them, I think it was John said that common interests were important as were common values but “more common values than common interests.” Alice added that whilst a couple might have different views it was vital that they were of one mind on matters of importance.

We continued to chat for a while about growing macadamias, Lismore and surrounds, South Africa and other issues.

As I left them, I reflected on what they had said about relationships and thought the proof was in the pudding so far as John and Alice were concerned as their relationship had clearly withstood the test of time.”

Mike Emerson