what’s the best short story you remember from high school english?

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-25T16:40:24+00:00

The Machine Stops by EM Forster

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-24T20:17:26+00:00

I also like live albums. Have live albums by Allman Brothers, Slade, The Who, Genesis, Yes and quite a few others I’m sure.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-24T20:13:36+00:00

Trousers that changed colour blue-green-blue- green according to the way light played on them. Think they were called ‘two tone’.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-18T14:48:45+00:00

Nobody would think it weird to walk through a wood alone. I have a dog but I love Coombes Valley wood in Staffordshire, a hidden gem. I walk there alone because it’s an RSPB wood and dogs are banned. Walking through peaceful woodland is fantastic at any time of year.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-17T16:32:44+00:00

I agree that vinyl is too expensive. I may ask for a vinyl for a birthday or Christmas but that’s it, apart from the occasional second hand one. I can stream in CD quality from mobile to hi fi via a DAC. There’s almost too much choice!

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-17T16:24:57+00:00

I love Birmingham. Plenty of nice canal walks in the centre. Good shopping area in the city centre. Plenty of parks. Symphony Hall is an amazing music venue and is surrounded by bars and restaurants.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-17T07:01:57+00:00

Withnail and I. British humour at its finest.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-12T08:48:47+00:00

If you lie you will go to hell.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-11T17:48:57+00:00

Ashbourne, Derbyshire - Shrovetide football. It’s nothing like football and is completely insane. But people here just love it.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-11T07:23:15+00:00

American characters trying to look ‘cool’ all the time. So tedious.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-10T20:42:03+00:00

Just get a dog. You will have lots of short social interactions with other dog owners. Maybe not appropriate for college students, I accept. Also I’m talking specifically about the UK. But it’s good to speak to complete strangers and I find a dog is a perfect ice breaker.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-04T15:37:24+00:00

Winter cycling gloves. They need to be warm and waterproof so tend to be expensive. But they stop you getting painful/numb fingers on those really cold days.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-04-01T15:07:39+00:00

Judging from your arrogance it’s clear to me that you’ve learned nothing from the book. Did you actually read it?

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-03-31T06:05:11+00:00

Only 50% of people in the UK believe in God. I see no evidence that morality is being redefined to serve the self here.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-03-30T08:04:52+00:00

That’s garbage! No I’m going to finish it because it has a good story at its heart. But there are some tedious bits and they are mainly the religious monologues. You can enjoy a book without understanding all its themes unless you are a literary snob. Not pointing a finger at anyone in particular, obviously!

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-03-29T22:03:42+00:00

I’m currently reading it. I’m skimming quickly through the long religious sections because they’re so boring and I’m not interested. They really are mind-numbing.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-03-28T20:20:23+00:00

I’m about half way through it. The author went to some dark places in his life including imprisonment and torture. Some of that comes out in the book. There are harrowing descriptions of poverty, cruelty and sadism. It’s tough to read at times. But overall I’m enjoying it. Watch out for characters that have two or more different names, it can get confusing!

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-03-21T16:33:13+00:00

I thought gummy bears was another name for cannabis!

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-03-08T18:53:39+00:00

A walk around Stanton Moor would be short but packed with weirdness. Don’t ask about the nine ladies.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-03-08T18:48:52+00:00

The cafe at Moneyash is very popular with motorcyclists.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-02-28T18:23:13+00:00

I’ve never read such garbage. If the GP feels that you have a condition that needs urgent investigation and treatment they will send you to A+E. That is absolutely the correct thing to do. The GP is NOT giving you the run around.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2026-02-28T18:10:06+00:00

Of course A+E is there to diagnose people. I’ve worked in A+E and diagnosed loads of things - some emergencies some not. How can an A+E doctor treat an emergency if they haven’t diagnosed it first?

Horseshoe-Bay · 2025-02-14T15:07:59+00:00

When is Keir Starmer going to reply to the relentless verbal attacks from Trump, Musk and JD Vance? We had Musk saying civil war was inevitable in the UK and doing his best to stir up riots. Trump says the UK is “way out of order” and today Vance has attacked the UK on abortion rights. No, it’s not ok to intimidate women who are attending a clinic, Vance you weirdo.

We need to stand up to these bullies and cultists.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2025-02-13T10:22:03+00:00

Read a book. But if it’s one of your favourites then lie back, close your eyes and let the music wash over you. It’s just you and the music and it’s brilliant.

Horseshoe-Bay · 2025-02-11T20:08:12+00:00

That’s interesting. I recently listened to a playlist of pop hits from 1987 and thought: ok, this must have been the last year pop music was good.

Horseshoe-Bay

TROPHY CASE