No. 78, Saturday, 21st. February 2026

It may be dark and grey out there, with a moderate breeze and the ever-present likelihood of rain, but I am feeling quite positive. I am fairly sure that my outbreak of optimism is not related to the weather, although mild temperatures will have a less detrimental effect on my wallet than the cold of late.

Last night in the pub was one of those occasions where conversation flowed freely and meandered as if with a will of its own, breaking off in unexpected directions and revealing fascinating and engrossing snippets about seemingly ordinary people. Everyone has a story to tell but they are rarely given an opportunity to tell it. My own thoughts veered from my desire to be a bass player to an equally unlikely desire to want to live in New York. These thoughts triggered conversation.

I learned that the bar person once took a graphic design course and spent time in New York, visiting all the great art galleries. She has heart failure and, some years ago, ‘died’ before being revived. She is a very good bar person and, it seemed to me, had adapted very well to her medical condition. Whilst being acutely aware of the limitations placed on her, her attitude seemed to be to grab it by the throat and to say “I am not going to let you stop me enjoying myself”.

At the mention of ‘bass’ I was astonished to learn that a chap of about my age at the bar knew of Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke and Danny Thompson. He knew a great deal about the music scene in general, and a great conversation ensued, which invariably spilled over to others.

So, my conclusion was this: Thoughts From A Devon Pub may not always be as dull or disagreeable as you might think. And perhaps that explains my outbreak of optimism.