Time spent pursuing hope

/ Su Leslie

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. — J. R. R. Tolkien

For this guy, who fishes most days off our local wharf, the decision seems to have been made.

I love fish, and quite like the idea of catching it, but I can see that for a lot of people, fishing is so much more than procuring dinner.

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. — John Buchan

Shared to Debbie’s weekly quotation-inspired challenge at Travel with Intent

43 thoughts on “Time spent pursuing hope”

  6. First of all thank you, Su, for sharing this great photo! Many people go fishing to relax and to have a good time. For the same reason, people have dogs to walk them every day. It is part of our culture that still frowns on idleness in a work-driven society. Have a great day, Su!

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    • Thanks so much Peter. I’m reading a book at the moment called Utopia for Realists, which talks about how we are working ourselves to death, and how it actually makes us less productive — not to mention much less healthy!

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  9. That brings back memories Su. My parents used to take my brother and I fishing when were young. I, being a girl, got the branch with the string and hook. My brother and father had the nice fishing rods. I was usually the one who caught the fish. Go figure ….
    Leslie

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  14. This is one of my favorite J.R.R Tolkien quotes. Thanks so much for reminding me of it, Su. Right now I’m feeling like everything in the States is hopeless and we will never return to civility, reasonableness, and a leader who tells the truth and works for the common good. Mired in this mess of lies and corruption it’s difficult to believe that the ship of state will right itself.

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  15. What a stunning photo.

    Fishing? Well I’ve never eaten fish or meat but can sort of see the appeal of fishing.

    Chuck & Di’s Royal wedding day in 1981 my father and I took a boat out 5 miles into the Irish sea for the day to avoid the fuss!

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    • Brilliant!!! That has to be one of the best sycophantic-media-circus avoidance stories I’ve ever heard.

      I can see the appeal of fishing too. I do eat fish, but for most people I know, catching it is secondary to the enjoyment. I get the “zen” part of fishing from wharves, river banks, etc , but would absolutely hate being on one of those organised fishing boat trips which seem to be all about booze and “hunting.”

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      • Well this is the guy that avoided his own 18th birthday party. My parents never did find out it was me that got the cops to shut it down at 2am because I was upstairs trying to sleep!
        I was always fascinated by fly fishing simply because of the artistry in fly-tying. Totally agree about the macho-bonding type of fishing trip!

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        • That is so funny!!!
          I haven’t had a birthday party since I was a kid; it’s my idea of purgatory to have loads of people in my house that I can’t get rid of. But you’ve given my a way out, so I might have to reconsider.
          The last big party we had was T’s 40th. He got drunk and fell asleep and in the end I resorted to giving the stragglers all the left-over booze on condition they’d bugger off and leave me in peace.

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