Pogue, I am shortly going to be left on my own for a while at home. I have most things covered off. Cooking, tick, tick. House cleaning, tick. Tiding up after myself, tick. Shopping, tick. BUT, there’s this machine in the utility room that remains a mystery to me. I don’t do the laundry. Apparently … Continue reading Monday Musing
Freedom, Responsibility, Life
Monday Musing
Dear Pogue, This Monday I find myself in need of help. Having been away for the best part of a month has allowed me to stand outside of my day-to-day situation. This has been enhanced by being part of an unfamiliar culture which has aided my reflections, giving a varried perspective. Here’s my question. Is … Continue reading Monday Musing
Feeling A Little Cheated
As is my habit, I often have several nights of broken sleep when I travel long haul. 15 hours to Japan was enough to ensure I practiced my habit and have found myself reading in the early hours of the morning when the rest of the world slumbered. Such is life. So imagine my delight … Continue reading Feeling A Little Cheated
Monday Musing
Pogue, If I say that sometimes life just surges up and over you I’m sure you would understand. Like a tsunami, coming with minimal warning and leaving a trail of devastation once the moment has passed. And us, we’re left bemused, questioning, trying to take stock, trying to see a way out of our predicament. … Continue reading Monday Musing
Monday Musing
Morning Pogue, This week I’ve been answering the question “Do you trust me?” in my head as it would relate to other people. I think I’m a pretty trusting soul and perhaps have a tendency to overlook the faults and failings of others. I’m also willing to disregard my history with the person to enable … Continue reading Monday Musing
Monday Musing
Morning Pogue, I’m feeling a little despondent this morning. I’ve just had a few days in Amsterdam and that may have added to my state of mind. I don’t know but listen. While I was there I came across the Embassy of the Free Mind, a library and an exhibit celebrating the free thinkers, heretics, … Continue reading Monday Musing
Amsterdam
Amsterdam,First impressions,The pungent aroma of smoked weed,The heady vapor, The suicide cyclistsIn kamikaze formations,The apparent abscence of brasTrying not to notice,Perhaps this is freedom? Perhaps.
The Past
Dear Pogue, I’ve come across something three times in the last two weeks and on each occasion I’ve found myself troubled and thinking “No!”. What is it? Well, it is the propagation of a belief that says that the past is something we should not be affected by or, probably more accurately, it is something … Continue reading The Past
The perfect blossom is a rare thing.
Dear Pogue, Have you ever thought that certain artist get to present their art over and over, such as a musician? They write a great song and people call out to hear it played at concerts. The artist enjoys the achievement again and again, as they should. But other artist don’t get to share that … Continue reading The perfect blossom is a rare thing.
This is the Poem
This is the poem that changed the world,This is the poem that made men thinkAnd questioned all they could possibly do,These are the words that laid bare the truthThen the truth did what only it doesAnd the cracks began to appearMaking wise men smile for the time has come,When all will be laid bareAnd all … Continue reading This is the Poem
I Just Dropped By
I just dropped by to sayFuck You!I’ve been meaning to do soFor quite a whileAnd because you know I’m not given to swearI hope you’ll feel the passionI hope you’ll know you’ve gone too farWay beyond the boundsAnd me?I grow in strength day by day,I’ve seen a better world,I’m practicing colouringBetween the lines,So my world … Continue reading I Just Dropped By
Monday Musing
Hi Pogue, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this last week or two, mainly spurred on by being with you and your two children. Their world, the world you create and try to protect, is nothing like the world of my childhood. They have Lego, but I had Lego. Difference is, I use to … Continue reading Monday Musing
Monday Musing
Morning Pogue, Another letter on your door mat from me. Make coffee, find a comfy seat and sit down to read. It’s Monday. Do you ever come face-to-face with your shortcomings? I have been this week and it has made me realise that I’m not the person that I’d like to think I am. I … Continue reading Monday Musing
Monday Musing
Morning Pogue, A few years ago I went on a tour of the World War 1 battlefields travelling throughout France and Belgium. One evening I found myself in a restaurant on the town square in Ypres, Belgium. As I sat my attention was drawn to a group of English school children who were noisily passing … Continue reading Monday Musing
No Fear Here
We will lose everything we love, including our lives — so we might as well love without fear, for to fear a certainty is wasted energy that syphons life of aliveness. Maria Popova, Resolutions for a Life Worth Living: Attainable Aspirations Inspired by Great Humans of the Past in the The Marginalian
Beautiful Mind
Her’s was a beautiful mindA place where the spring flowers growWhere autumnal leaves aboundAnd colours are awashYet as only nature canAll was held in harmonyShe had a beautiful mindGentle but self assuredQuietly constant without doubtLike the beach when only small waves lapFilled with purposeUndeterredAnd on days when the wind blewHer hair breaking looseThe waves would … Continue reading Beautiful Mind
Be Your Weird
YOU ARE NOT EVERYONE'S CUP OF TEAThe world is filled with people who, no matterwhat vou do, no matter what you try, will simplynot like you. But the world is also filled with thosewho will love you fiercely. The ones who love you:they are Your People. Don't waste your finite time and heart trying toconvince … Continue reading Be Your Weird
Your Priest
I will be your be your priestAnd I will bring rest for your soul,In a confessional of light.You will give up your desiresWith hands held forthBearing your scars.The pain, I will release you from your pain,You will know that there is lightWhen the darkness fadesAnd in the light there will be absolution,Your heart will be … Continue reading Your Priest
Monday Musing
Hi Pogue, Remember last Monday we talked about embracing your weird? Well today I’ve been listening to the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, on the TV, five days before his first budget statement. And it was refreshing to listen to him because he told it as it is. We’ve some hard times ahead as a country and … Continue reading Monday Musing
In The Eye
If you were to look God in the eye,Could you hold that gaze for long?Even for a moment?Find your smile to wearAnd pretend not to feel brazen?In a wild momentWould you dare to ask the questionThat steals your sleeping hours?The question you ask as ‘Why’?Adorned in tones of accusationFire smouldering in your eyesBearing testimony to … Continue reading In The Eye
Monday Musings
Dear Pogue, Do you ever read something and ask yourself: “How does that woman think?” or “What’s gone on in his life that he can write that?” I find myself doing it more and more these days. In fact instead of considering that I’m increasing my knowledge I continually find myself realising how small my … Continue reading Monday Musings
Monday Musing
Dear Pogue, A week from now we will be going to a wedding and I will be giving the address🥺 I’ve been given 5 minutes. Like I can say anything meaningful in 6 minutes. Some may be able to but me…? Dream on! So I’ve worked hard to keep it down to 10 minutes. But … Continue reading Monday Musing
Monday Musing
Pogue, It’s Monday and I’m back. Just for you. Feel the love! I’ve written a few letter and poems in the last few weeks which some have seen as an expression of darker emotions. Darker? Rawer would be a more accurate description. And people have come along and asked: “Was that me?” Well firstly, these … Continue reading Monday Musing
Law 1.One
Dear Pogue, I have spent much time with things spiritual and during that time I have come to recognise certain constants in the world. They are not things that people usually consider or even realise exist. I thought I’d like to share with you the things I have found over a series of short letters … Continue reading Law 1.One
Kindness Declined
Dear Pogue, Have you ever had your bank card declined? Stood at the till about to pay for your intended purchase and…your card is declined? I did yesterday. You see I have a card I use when travelling, a card that you have to put money onto first and then you can spend up to … Continue reading Kindness Declined
You’re All Right
Pogue, Let me start this letter with a quote: Show a little faith, there’s magic in the nightYou ain’t a beauty, but hey you’re all rightOh, and that’s alright with me.Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen Yes, the wisdom of Bruce. Not a bad way to start a letter and it fits right in with letters I’ve … Continue reading You’re All Right
Every day is a day nearer.
Iceland calling Pogue, Hi, from the land of fire and ice, and here I am in my Airbnb, looking out the window. There across the fields, about 10km away is an active volcano! No one warned us of this and the locals quite calmly tell you about it because it’s a tourist attraction. So we … Continue reading Every day is a day nearer.
Imperfect Or Free?
Pogue, I think we are now agreed that imperfection is a form of freedom, freedom from the pressure to become something that we are not. Freedom from the pressure to modify our lives in an attempt to achieve a goal that has often been put on us by others. What is perfection anyway? Perfection is … Continue reading Imperfect Or Free?
Mental Boundaries – Tie Your Camel.
Pogue, You know I’ve been writing to you recently about my mental health. Two or three letters. That I’ve been taking a step back and becoming the observer of my thoughts and feelings which, lately, has led to me becoming a little fed up with people around me. However, standing back and taking a long … Continue reading Mental Boundaries – Tie Your Camel.
Monday Musing
How you doing Pogue? Listen. The other day I was asked for an opinion. I listened as the situation was described to me and then asked what I believed was the correct thing to do. I added what I was told to what I already knew, weighed the information and offered my opinion. At the … Continue reading Monday Musing
Letters To Pogue 
You must be logged in to post a comment.