"We get so used to the gregarious nature of our towns and villages that we forget how crowded our existence has become."

"If I can't garden in it, then I won't wear it."

"Imagination is the real magic that exists in this world. Look inwards, to see outwards. And capture it in writing."

"Those with traditional sense will follow what their heart tells them is right."

"Savour a slow-paced contented life."

"I wish for a simple life."

"I like to start slowly, and then ease up as the day progresses."

"Angling is a sport, so sporting ethics should apply."

"Workdays are, I imagine, rather like learning to ice-skate Torvill and Dean's The Bolero. They start and end easily enough; it's the bit in the middle that causes the pain in the arse."

"I admit to being prone to deep thinking, which " given that I'm emerging from dark times " can take me to some very sombre or profound places. But this is no bad thing. I always resurface wiser and with a way of viewing things that is different to before."

"It is possible to be happy and successful by living on one's own terms."

"Be confident enough to show your true self to the world."

"Writers who copy or plagiarise others are dreaming in another man's sleep."

"The promise of adventure is often more exciting than the adventure itself."

"The past informs the present."

"A person has to be comfortable in his or her own skin."

"Never interrupt an author when he or she is 'in the zone', else you'll understand the real meaning of 'writer's nib'."

"If, like me, you suffer from lack of self-confidence you'll know that the term is made up of two conflicting words, and that confidence isn't easily found in the self."

"You can escape completely, seeking an alternative life, or you can play the game and go absent without leave. How you do it is up to you."

"I'll be off exploring, searching for those out-of-bounds places where dreams exist."

"Think about it: send SLASH receive. Email is the frenzied killer of proper communication."

"Catching fish is secondary to the immeasurable joys of the watery world."

"I like working among 'creative clutter'. It gives me a sense of activity and achievement."

"Choice and perception are closely linked. They are unique, personal and emotional."

"Be patient, persistent and above all, believe."

"To see more than a reflection requires us to filter what we see, to view the world with honest eyes."

"Putting pen to paper without first deciding the route and pace at which to scribe is like setting off on a bicycle without first checking the tyres."

"To not use a talent to the best of your ability is to stifle the thing that makes you most special. It is like plucking the wings off a butterfly."

"The young man only looks to the future because he has lived little, the old man looks to the past because he has little left to live."

"Being here is such a contrast to where I'd otherwise be."

"Writing ink is the magic that allows nothing to become something. It catches the fleeting idea and seeks out the glances of those who wish to see. Even a random ink splat will mean something to someone."

"Angling is just a way of relaxing and escaping in the countryside."

"We have a calling: a need to be close to Nature, where she may cleanse our souls and wash away the stresses of yesterday. It is emotional recompense for the cost of living."

"Things today 'sure ain't like they used to be'. They've changed, moved on, progressed."

"You have to feel the bite of the wind to appreciate the warmth of a winter coat."

"Be batty, be traditional, and be proud."

"Enjoy being you. Have fun. And be different."

"Listen to your heart, not your head."

"The greatest gifts are those that say, "I know you."

"If a pen can communicate our thoughts, dreams, and emotions and be the voice of our soul, then ink is the medium that carries the message."

"We seek not for forgiveness, but the freedom and time to do more than 'exist'."

"You gotta look backwards to go forwards."

"It is possible to escape the complexities, challenges and pace of modern life. All we have to do is close our eyes and picture a quiet world where time moves slowly."

"Enjoy the contented silence."

"Life is a wonderfully fine thing. Go live it."

"The pen that was once a gift has come to represent all that I hope to achieve."

"Seek and see beauty in the watery world."

"The bright light of brilliance keeps the darkness away, but it can be so very exhausting."

"Doing nothing can be as rewarding as doing something. And doing very little can be as productive, in a creative sense, as doing a lot."

"I keep on dreaming, but to find freedom, one must first search inwards."