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
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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
It’s Not An Exact Art
Dear Pogue, You know how I like to cook and experiment with food? It's a creative art to me. Well, someone gave me a day at a cookery school learning how to bake bread. So yesterday I set off early, into the city on my bike, and spent the day getting covered in dough and … Continue reading It’s Not An Exact Art
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?
Monday Musing
Morning Pogue, Remember how we talked and expressed our amazement over the narrative that the Russian people were being told about the war in Ukraine? How the invasion of a sovereign nation was being passed off as an act of defence. Then seeing TV interviews with everyday Russians who wholeheartedly believed what they were being … Continue reading Monday Musing
Thinking Habits
Depending what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do.Sean Covey The only proper way to eliminate bad habits is to replace them with good ones.Jerome Hines Most people don’t have that willingness to break bad habits. They have a lot of excuses and they talk … Continue reading Thinking Habits
Monday Musing
Well Pogue, It finally happened. Two and a half years in I catch Covid, just when life’s returning to normal! Gone are my own personal beliefs in my invincibility, my being bulletproof. And here I sit, miserable and feeling like I have a heavy cold. Hence no letters from me this week. Such is life. … Continue reading Monday Musing
Monday Musing
Hey Pogue, You’re probably just going to bed when this drops through the letter box, you having pulled a stint of nights🥴 I’ll not expect your thoughts today. Maybe tomorrow. And talking sleep, I’m just back from my travels and living in that zone where the time that is on the outside isn’t the same … Continue reading Monday Musing
It starts with one.
Dear Pogue, There’s a poem written by W.B.Yeats that starts: Come away, human childTo the waterCome away, human childTo the water and the wildWith a faery, hand in handFor the world's more full of weeping than you can understand It’s a sort of haunting piece with its observation “the world's more full of weeping than … Continue reading It starts with one.
Mondays Musings
Dear Pogue, As you are obviously aware, I’m holidaying in exotic climes. Days spent reading, writing and thinking, besides swimming and catching up on my share of the sunshine. This has given me time and opportunity to read more widely than normal and listen to podcasts I might not listen to at home because they … Continue reading Mondays Musings
Tie Your Camel – An Afterthought, Or Three.
If someone tells you you hurt them, you don’t get to decide you didn’t.Louis C.K. Even the strongest feelings expire when ignored and taken for granted.Anon When you’re always there for people they stop appreciating you because your favours are now an expectationAnon If you find yourself asking: “Was it me?”, it probably was. Don’t … Continue reading Tie Your Camel – An Afterthought, Or Three.
Monday Musing
Pogue! Wic is in the house! I say, WIC IS IN THE HOUSE! A bit dramatic you think? Well after 6 months of spare rooms, sofa beds, and rented accommodation I have finally moved in. And I’m sleeping in my own bed and it’s…a great feeling! But today is Monday and it’s a Musing moment … Continue reading Monday Musing
It’s A New Year
Pogue, Remember, we’re thinking about what we’d do if we only had this year and no more. How we’d live. Carry on thinking about it. Wic
Was it a good swap?
Monday Musings
Dearest Pogue, Have you ever taken note of just how influential your surroundings can be to your mood and the way you think? The Danish, aware of the affects of their overly long winters on peoples mental health have addressed lifestyle and have a word for what they perceive as the best of styles. That … Continue reading Monday Musings
Monday Musings
Dear Pogue, Have you ever tried to be kind to someone and it hasn’t been received? There you were, out on the day, and you spotted a need, a gap, and having the means to fill it, you did. You did it quietly with no attempt to attract attention and you’d have thought that you’d … Continue reading Monday Musings
Monday Musings
Pogue, Good morning. I’ve been listening to James Taylor this week. James who? Pogue, was your upbringing so negligently performed? James Taylor is one of the great singer song writers of recent times having written such classics as Fire and Rain and You’ve Got A Friend. I’ll send you a song of his this week … Continue reading Monday Musings
Monday Musings
Dear Pogue, I’ve been writing to you about simplifying life. About cleansing the space around and about us. Minimising. I’ve told you how, surprisingly, I’ve found a liberty I haven’t known for a long time as I unattached from possessions. Happy Days! Now this theme seems to have resonated with a number of others and … Continue reading Monday Musings
Monday Musing
Dear Pogue, Last Monday I wrote you about my forth coming move, how I’ve got rid of a lot of possessions and the fact that, to my surprise, I’m finding this sort of liberating. Well that letter has provoked a number of comments and, thankfully, they have all been positive😊 It appears that a lot … Continue reading Monday Musing
Songs to Pogue…What I’m Listening To
Hey Pogue, Just been sitting in my favourite coffee shop and enjoying a flat white (2 actually) and some of that excellent cake that they always seem to have. And as always, while I sipped, I listened to the cool sounds that filled the air. What a great way to spend the morning. To top … Continue reading Songs to Pogue…What I’m Listening To
Sometimes You Have To Make The Magic
Dear Pogue, Sometimes all the magic there is is all the magic you make. Like, you’re responsible for how the world functions. Not necessarily the events because in life things can happen to us. You must have had occasions when you’ve just stopped and had to take a breath whilst thinking, “Didn’t see that one … Continue reading Sometimes You Have To Make The Magic
Monday Musings.
Pogue, A new week starts. I’m back on a road trip…at last and, as the norm for road trips we started our day in a coffee shop, this time in Bamburgh. Yes I’m in Northumberland where I’ve never been and it’s only 260 miles from home but that’s a long way for an Englishman😎. So … Continue reading Monday Musings.
Just Because I like it…
Hey Pogue Saw this and, well, as said, ‘No judgement here’ and that feels 😊. Sometimes other people say it so well.
Is it right or is it left?
Dear Pogue, I woke this morning with a writing head on! You know that one? When there are so many thoughts spinning around and knowing where to start is an issue in itself. Plus, despite my best intentions I am not very disciplined and often, having the very best ideas, fail to write them down … Continue reading Is it right or is it left?
Monday Musings
Morning Pogue, There’s a story told about the artist Picasso. Apparently one day whilst having coffee at a cafe he took out his pen and doodled on a napkin. This he did for a few minutes and then, he finished his coffee and made to leave. He was about to throw away the napkin with … Continue reading Monday Musings
Monday Musings
Pogue, Do you ever say “I haven’t got the time”? I have this app on my phone 📲 that will view a piece of text in a foreign language and offer up a translation. Great for menu’s when traveling. I don’t get unpleasant surprises any more when the plate arrives. That aside I’m suspecting that … Continue reading Monday Musings
Monday Musings
Morning Pogue, Last week was a bit of an up and down week. Something happened in the middle of the week that upset me and I woke on Thursday morning feeling, well, a little sad. Like I didn’t see the point in getting out from under the duvet, plus it was cold so that didn’t … Continue reading Monday Musings
Monday Musings
Hey Pogue, It's Monday morning. So, humour me while I take you back a few years. It's to something that you probably have no interest in. It's to a football match, a Champions League Cup Final way back in 2005, between AC Milan and Liverpool. Hang on in there with me, I know you are … Continue reading Monday Musings
You’re Better Than That
Dear Pogue, Have you ever been in a situation and found yourself thinking, “You’re better than that”? Maybe about someone else, maybe about yourself? Think about it for a moment. It can be a surprisingly powerful thing to say, simple as it is. Some would tell you “That was no good” or “That was hopeless” … Continue reading You’re Better Than That
Monday Musings
Good week Pogue, That’s sort of a longer version of Good Day. In case we don’t connect again this week. I watch people, as you know. Nothing stranger than people. I regularly come across people who want to tell you they have lived so many years. Any number of years will do. I look at … Continue reading Monday Musings
Letters To Pogue 
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