Richard J. Pacey † was born in Middlesbrough, Teesside, in 1972, the only child of Malcolm and Patricia Pacey. They moved to St Merryn in Cornwall when Richard was six years old. He attended the village school and enjoyed the Cubs in Padstow.

Aged thirteen, he moved with his family to Plymouth, Devon, where he studied Latin and Greek at DHS Boys' Grammar, passing the entrance exam for St John's College, University of Oxford, to read English Literature, then moving on to Reading University to read Ancient History.

He passed his Civil Service exam, worked in various departments, then British Gas, and finally in estate agency work.

Richard died in St Luke's Hospice, Plymouth, in 2014.

He always carried around a book to read and a pen to scribble his thoughts down.

This collection has been put together, not in any order, as a memory of his being, in the hope that his daughter, Alexandra Louise Pacey, will enjoy it.

Apologies for any wrong words in the book, as they have been taken from his handwriting on various bits of paper.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of Richard's therefore Patricia disclaims any responsibility for them.