Invasion Days +88-89 There is a lot happening in this grindingly awful war. But the iron wall of Putin's hatred for humanity and his failing self is gradually being taken down, brick by bloody brick.
The biggest brick to go today is this letter, published below, from Boris Bondarev, the Russian diplomat who we take the liberty of imagining might like to write to us all through the Hoggy blog in this way?
Dear Hoggy,
'This bloody, witless and absolutely unnecessary ignominy'
There isn't any comment we could add to this to show the terrible state Russia is now in, a wall collapsing upon itself and woe betide Putin and his cronies when they are caught beneath it.
We acknowledge you Mr Bondarev for your courage, your sense, your leadership and your stand for peace, truth, justice and humanity. We sincerely hope your colleagues will follow you to safety and some sort of future.
Hoggy
We will write about reports of Putin's slow death situation from blood cancer tomorrow. The rumours, long circulated, now appear to have substance. Maybe this is the real reason for this war: a dying man hating himself and everyone else in his twisted bitterness lashing out in despair?
If you have a view please let us know?
Today's Letters
From Steve Weatherill, North Yorkshire
Dear Hoggy,
Well done, Hoggy, great work on this blog!
My wife, Susan's dad was Ukrainian, so it is personal for us.
All the best and keep in touch.
I attach some images for the blog and please feel able to post them as wished.
Slava Ukraini!
Steve
'Putin'
Dear Steve,
You are amongst the very many talented writers, artists and musicians who are appearing in this blog, over seventy are either submitting or supporting now, a blog we really need to see more widely spread such is the uprising of support for all in Ukraine and the injustice and barbarity they are suffering.
(It also takes two hours to produce each post so in our own justification Hoggy needs to be spread much wider I believe! We are having to look at social media, absolute anathema to all in the Hoggy office, but the cause is greater!)
Thank you for your work as ever and if you have family reminiscences about Ukraine as a contrast to the invasion and the war, we would love to hear them.
We will feature more of your images over the coming posts.
All wishes,
Hoggy
Steve Weatherill is a well-known author, illustrator, and cartoonist in the UK. He is a Literacy Champion for the National Literacy Trust, as several of our writers are, and he is the author of the ‘Baby Goz’ and ‘Lucy Goose’ series of children’s early learning books amongst many other works.
From SUFT the cartoonist himself in Scotland
Dear Hoggy,
Announcing the Fantastic Hoggy/SUFT Short Story Competition in June for Support to Ukraine!
Would you like the chance to win a personal caricature from SUFT?
If the answer is yes, then all you have to do is write a short story of no more than 500 words for the Hoggy blog on how the current situation in Ukraine is affecting you or someone you know.
You could write about your personal thoughts aims and aspirations for peace in the world?
Or a story based on an image or an event that has moved you.
Write to Hoggy with your stories, Ukraine needs you in its hour of greatest need.
Stories should be uplifting and aim to give hope in Ukraine.
It can be in any style or genre, the more creative the better (this is a creative writing blog for peace after all.) Short story, bio, fiction or non-fiction, meta fiction or heavy metal! Poems will be also included in the competition if they are a personal story about your own feelings about Ukraine.
The winner will receive a SUFT-style caricature, signed by the artist.
Best,
SUFT
Dear SUFT,
What a great idea, thank you: we look forward to the entries!
All entries will be posted over time and the winner as soon as the competition closes. We will run this throughout June.
Closing date for entries: 1st July 2022
Submissions in a Word document, 500 words any format!
Please do write! Ukraine needs you!
Thank you SUFT and thank you all!
Hoggy
From Eleni Cotton, Surrey.
Dear Hoggy,
I submit this video from Ukraine. It is very poignant, blessed with faith despite everything.
Love to you all as ever,
Eleni
Dear Eleni,
Thank you for sending us this beautiful choir from Ukraine. We hope our readers will link in. That they can come together and keep smiling in the face of such adversity is an inspiration in itself.
Our position in the Hoggy office on religion remains unchanged, but we appreciate the hope and the joy such belief brings to millions around the world of so many conflicting faiths.
With the exception of seeing God as only a male image as the writer then did, we are just about where Max Ehrmann, the American writer was in 1927 when he wrote his most famous poem, ‘Desiderata’. We have published this before but its worth us showing it again, however much of a cliché or trope many may see it as now:
‘Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.’
Perhaps the world is a long way from this ideal in Ukraine right now?
All wishes Eleni,
Hoggy
Eleni Cotton is the author of the excellent work, ‘Bertha: The Swiss Trader’s Daughter’ and other works available from all good book sources.
From Mark Thompson, author of ‘Dust’ and ‘Eternal City’ currently on a writing retreat in Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands. (So he says.)
Dear Hoggy,
I spotted this one for the blog whilst away.
‘Russian Diplomat Resigns: ‘Never have I been so ashamed of my country.’
Says it all really?
Love all,
Mark
Dear Mark,
Thanks for this: agreed. And we will be using it as today’s lead.
Take it easy writing in Little Cayman.
As if you wouldn’t?
We look forward to your return soon with more great writing.
Hoggy
And finally today, another cartoon from our resident cartoonist SUFT to lift a smile where we can…
Note to all our Hoggy supporters:
We have received a wonderful flow of mails since returning from the Cambodia interlude and thank you everyone for them. We are endeavouring to publish these as quickly as we can but please do keep writing, especially to us!
Hoggy
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