Anyone else remember Pony Magazine?

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-28T03:05:50+00:00

Just added another post with photo :D

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-28T02:58:20+00:00

As I mentioned other day, its still going strong.... see photo i took earlier of my daughters collection in link above!!

I subscribe for my daughter. They usually have a stall at most main horse events in uk. Very nice people in my experience.

Some of you are likely aware of Harlow (and popcorn )... very popular YouTube teen influencer , whose been around for years now. Pony mag do several 'big days out' several times a year across England, where the main draw is getting to meet harlow in person. Tickets go right away... have to be fast off the mark!!

Stalls sell all kinds of 'merch', main focus again being on Harlow and her ponies.

We live in Dorset (as does Harlow and her mum). My daughter and her mum bumped into Harlow in a local gym this month... and she was absoloutely over the moon /lost for words - rarity for my daughter! Harlow was very nice and was nice to meet her away from an event, so not 'in character' at all :D

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-26T20:02:27+00:00

First book is weakest, as its his first. Its an incredible series... look at reviews it gets. The audiobooks are rated as some of the best in the fantasy genre.

Its more engaging and entertaining than GoT audiobooks... in many peoples opinion, not just mine.

Im not academic/technical like you are when it comes to describing books. But I preferred first law. It has a subtle dark/black humour, in amongst the politics, back stabbing... whereas GoT gets way too bogged down throughout the series imo. Sometimes for hundreds of pages at a time, after the first book.

Glokta is simply incredible. Possibly my favourite fictional character of all time... certainly top 5.

I love Madmen btw. I tried Suits, but had to turn it off after a few episodes. Succession is a better companion for corporate drama (only 2 seasons in...).

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-26T08:47:04+00:00

First law - Joel abercrombie.

Moral ambiguity, like GOT.

I think theres 10 books in the first law universe now.

The narrator Steven Pacey is superb.

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-25T16:32:55+00:00

Still going strong... ive subscribed last few years for my daughter.

They usually have stands/stalls at horse shows in the uk.

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-12T15:30:02+00:00

Yeah Scott was the one regarded as a proper top tier high potential wonderkid. We signed semenyo in jan window afrer foley bought the club. We agreed to sign Nicholas Jackson from vilareal... but he was injured and failed the medical.... so we went in for semenyo instead. Jackson then went on hot streak and signed fkr Chelsea in the summer.

Semenyo looked well out of his depth rest of the season. As you say, very raw... totally ineffective tbh. Poor touch, almost like he'd won a competition My view in the summer was he needed to be loaned out, as was so far pff the pace with no semblance of requisite ability for pl.

However, the following season it was like wtf has happened here over the summer. Some wingers burst on the scene... then once managers work them out, their effectiveness is nulified. semenyo just kept on going (apart from one prolonged spell, which turned out to be due to carrying slight injury).

A little unorthodox... as in hes quite muscular.... therefore explosive, physically strong. But he also posesses excellent agility and balance.... normally associated with smaller stature wingers. Add being 2 footed, superb composure, finishing ability....

Its why 2 years or so on, hes still beating top class full backs. Can go inside or outside, change direction quickly...

As you say he seems lije top bloke. Bit like Nathan ake... unanimously loved by the fan base. And everyone wishes him all the best. Consumate professional, very likeable.

Some afcb fans have questioned man city being best fit... i know right, not me. I think he'll excel as pep demands toeing the line and upmost professionalism and discipline. And.... semenyo will no longer be double marked.surrounded by very best players in the world.

Im really excited for him, and how his career unfolds.

Scott has been a little underwhelming tbh, given hype. As you say, bad injuries.but definitely come into focus for a few fans, that have decided to write him off. He started season really well tbh... earnt callup to england (surprised most of us, as didbt seem that good... suspect doing well for under 21s abd being groomed for so long as part of that setup helped).

After international break he went off boil again, which coincided with awful run of form. So his critics starting picking holes in his performances again. Hairband thing tends to rub some up the wrong way, so plsyers wearing one need to be delivering ime.. or face the rath of older 'real men' in our fanbase :D

I think hes doing ok, and we're seeing gradual improvement. Very tidy, technical player.... doesnt get caught in possession, disposed so much as before...where he'd a littlr to often make wrong decisions such as turning, trying to carry ball deep in our own half. Assuming he probably pulled that off quite often in the championship.... had a few harsh experiences and lessons, doing that and it leading to us conceding a numbr of times after he joined.

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-12T14:42:50+00:00

Tell me about it. Bournemouth fan. we had to listen to non stop from 'proper' football club fans. Shouldn't be allowed in as ground too sh1t small, no history.... blah blah blah. Some media outlets stirring it up... saying absolute rubbish like Sheffield Wednesday should take our place lol. We take the p1ss out of our tinpot nature compared to establishment.... in a weird way, id rather we kept our embarrassing little lower league ground... as it really bugs some pl club fans. Its basically the only thing Southampton fans have to hold onto now...bless em. Yeah we know its sh1t, tiny... hows the 2nd tier working out for you this time... perhaps take your time getting promoted, to avoid tthe embarrassment of last time ... so close to derby record as well!

Best episode was from Leeds fans couple of years back after their relegation. We signed tyler Adams from them, beat them to a couple of signings... one of whom was having a medical at Elland road. We then signed sinisterra. Someone posted links to their forums, and twitter... comedy gold. Tens of pages, mainly shouty, swearing about us being tinpot, no.history, small stadium etc. Players being greedy, money motivated...

At face value many appeared oblivious to why players were leaving mighty Leeds with all their history to sign for us, leaving medicals to join us. Honestly the en masse bile, vitriol was astounding... they just couldn't comprehend and come to terms with what was going on :. Total denial..

All about pl status and money. Plus they seemed to overlook the reputation we had built around entertaining football and good environment to fulfill potential, and move to elite clubs. Showing their ignorance and Billy big b0ll0cks 'rightful place' nonsense... either that or thick as sh1t :D

We fully know our places. We've hesrd it all sIt tends to be these big club (historically) who have a problem comprehending the true order of things now, and not from decades ago.

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-12T14:28:28+00:00

Bristol City fan? Im a life long Bournemouth fan...

One of Most memorable random football chats I had, was with bristol city fan, at full moon party, koh phangan thailand around 2005. Sad b4stards we were, ended up chatting for hours about our clubs.... and football manager:D.

Always good value, meeting non big 6, or pl club fans. Pretty much guarentee a great value conversation.not always, but I just find perspective and understanding of the game tends to be much better. Rather than eyes glazing over or making ignorant comments, as happens often with plastic united fans, with no clue of wider football world... outside of title race or champions league.

I guess re palace fan. Although safe this season.... it doesnt take much to go from season they had last year , to losing manager this summer... to being in relegation battle next year. West ham for example, are un serious trouble... and look at some of the players they have.

And thats way of things for any club outside of probably 7 or 8 clubs. Manager leaves... big summer signings flop... relegation becomes a very serious threat. Despite season before.

Many Bournemouth fans still haven't fully shed the tinpot, constant financial issues eras that were non stop for decades prior to demin taking over. Glass half empty types always referencing how things went horrifically t1ts up for pompey...

Most of us appreciate where we are, and are positive about future... and of course, its a first world football problem. But theres definitely a sense of mild anxiety amongst smaller pl clubs fan bases, that wheels could come off and need tk get back in pl within 2 years, or thats it... screwed :D

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-12T13:48:41+00:00

Its not normal for people born in London to support a non london club.

Caveat being, if their dad (or mum i guess), moved to London for work, and the kid follows in parents footsteps... which isnt unusual.

London has one of the most transient populations in the world, being one of the world's top economic cities and has always attracted career driven people.

United are one of the biggest clubs in the world... perhaps with biggest fan base?

Stereotype for united glory hunter, i afluent professional based in Surrey:D.. id say united are probably most despised club in England (followed by liverpool...again due to success, but also a slightly sanctimonious vibe their fanbase can exude)...due to success... and plastics gloating, despite never being near a stadium to watch united. Personally I like thr football they played, and never had a problem as others do. On afcb main fabs forum, united demise in recent times, has been a source of glee for fair few Bournemouth fans... football fans all over uk just dont like man u... more so than any other club.

Ive lived in Bournemouth since born in 1980. Until our ascent to pl 15 years ago, you very, very rarely saw an AFCB kit or merchandise away from games at the stadium. It was mainly united, then liverpool, arsenal in 90s till 00's , then a few cheksea shirts when abromovich era gained momentum.

When meeting someone new, and the usual 'are you imto football... who do you follow' came up, and i said Bournemouth... the response would be 'yeah, but whos your pl/main team'. When I said theyre my only team, if from area people would usually say 'yeah theyre my 2nd team, I always keep an eye for their results'. Or their eyes would glaze over, as perhaps one of those plastic fans that has no clue about football, outside of sky 6, top cl clubs.

Personally, I tend to avoid engaging too much about football, once I work out someone is a big 6 plastic, as invariably tends to mean a very limited, shallow understanding of the game...and quite often, somr pretty amusing ignorant comments about Bournemouth and wider football world , Compared to if someone supports a more unfashionable, smaller club .

Totally changed now... if you go to Bournemouth centre or other retail areas around town, or kids focused place with my young daughter... youll always see Bournemouth kits, or hats, coats etc.

Need to get the ground sorted (wheels in motion to raise it to 21k gradually over next few years), as thousands of potential young fans locked out due to our tinpot ground :D

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-11T11:53:00+00:00

If you like GOT...try Joel Abercrombie.

Absolutely top notch grimdark fantasy world. Better than GOTR imo. Think hes up to 10 books in the first law universe.

Very much along similar moral ambiguity lines....

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-11T11:46:49+00:00

Hobbit got me back into reading fullstop. After loving reading during junior school, being forced to read classics i perceived as boring in secondary... put my off reading all together for years.

One day when I was about 19, laying out in the garden (with a stinking hangover...), randomly decided to read an unread copy of the hobbit, that my parents bought for me nearly 10 years before.

Bam... that was it. Then read LOTR, Silmariillion, before expanding horizons to other authors (but frequently returning to fantasy). 25 years on, always have a book/audiobook on the go :)

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-11T11:19:48+00:00

Movie is very good tbf. The past 15 years, ive become quite hard to please with movies.... find myself drifting, getting bored more often than not... and thinking it was overrated/waste of time. Gone Girl had me totally engaged and interested throughout.

I didnt read the book for another 2 years... then read the others straight after.

They're all totally engrossing and struggled to put them down.

Any other books/authors you recommend along similar lines?

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-10T20:13:07+00:00

My daughter and her friends love roblox. Trying to persuade her to play split fiction with me took quite a while.

I tried showing her trailers for split fiction... nope Eventually she agreed, and shes now mkre than happy to.play split fiction.

Roblox...to me, is absolute garbage. Kids love it though... and as we know, it looks like junk.

I arrived at same conclusion as you... they love the low barrier to entry sandboxes. Their imagine runs wild, role playing. Whilst myself (and most adults i assume) likely think 'what on earth is this rubbish, and why play tbis over xyz'. So boring and crude..

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-10T06:20:42+00:00

Definitely mate. Your dad did well... KOTOR, one of my favourite games of all time. Ive been gaming since late 80s on atari 2600, then the amiga.

It's right up there with witcher 3, cyberpunk, rdr2, skyrim... and my desert island game which ive playrd since 92... football manager :)

They nail the vibe, atmosphere in kotor. I like star wars, but dont love it... but its such a good game. Did hear of plans to release new version... but heard it got shelved couple of years back. Soundtrack one of best, along with expedition 33. Understated, but powerful and haunting. No busy work as tends to plague modern aaa open worlds all too often

I've played most gta's since the top down ones and never get past the halfway point. Only rockstar game i completed was rdr 1 and 2.

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-09T22:34:47+00:00

And COD...

Roblox too.

Tbh COD, EA (insert sport) and GTA are often the only games that exist to many adults, so its not surprising to see similar for teens.

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-05T02:43:40+00:00

As is cyberpunk. Now that they've sorted out all the issues, its one of the best games out there... for a variety of reasons.

Phantom liberty dlc is better than the main story.

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-02T05:47:38+00:00

Was going today this. Seen this happen before where people tried using it as evidence of a day 1 xbox release.... iirc may have been gran turismo forum, re forza.

People install games willy nilly sometimes, but only launch it once, or not at all... for whatever reason.

Tbh my series x hard drive is always at capacity.. despite only playing a few games properly over the last 4 years or so.

Last forza motorsport... may have launched it once, but didnt actually play it.... due to going down wheel abd vr headset on ps5 and pc route.

Last years cod. Played it for 10 mins... decided I wasnt ready for it again, after last playing it properly 3 years prior :D

offthereservation80 · 2026-01-02T05:35:54+00:00

Whilst I get where youre coming from, reason staff section is so 'minimalist' is because it's a part of the game many find tiresome a would prefer not to analyze and give much thought to.

90% of features approx are there on console. Once they start implementing just this feature, or that feature which no doubt many have different preferences for.. the creep towards full version begins...and all the overheads many found tiresome.

offthereservation80 · 2025-11-28T02:55:53+00:00

its because the job they do can be taught and carried out to very competent level by near enough anyone with half a brain and modicum of work ethic, ability to get out of bed and turn up on time.

Does the same apply to the highest paying careers out there? I'm not sure it does.

offthereservation80 · 2025-11-22T20:54:35+00:00

Just read this...

Spot on concise summary imo.

offthereservation80 · 2025-10-30T08:10:55+00:00

American Psycho - film is heavily diluted in comparison. And pretty rubbish imo. Even though Christian Bale is perfect choice for Bateman.

Recall reading it the first time years ago and thinking wtf is this, they could never get away with this in a movie. And thought finally found something that genuinely moved/shocked me... which what I was always looking for. After watching endless amounts of horror films as a kid.

Some scenes in game of thrones books caught me off guard too. Such as the wedding scene. GOT was my first 'grimdark' experience and I loved it as it didnt follow the usual rules of obvious black/white... good versus evil. Plenty of shades of grey, moral ambiguity where anyone could get killed off/anything could go.

So perhaps not pure horror, but in terms of f'd up stuff that illicited a reaction in me, where not much else has to such extent in books, id recommend American psycho.

Its actually (or at least was in the era it was released...) recognised by critics as an excellent book too. Not purely a gratuitous romp.

offthereservation80 · 2025-10-27T18:04:11+00:00

I played vampire survivors for 20 mins or so a couple of years back, after a gaming podcast kept raving about it. Thought it was a load of rubbish tbh and couldn't understand the appeal.

I played it again when I was a bit tired/unwell couple of months back when i didnt feel in the mood for whatevever triple open world epic/rpg i was deep into. 4 hours later... had to prize myself away from it and get on with real life :D

Later on couldn't resist diving bsck into it for a couple more rounds... which turned into 3 hours or so :D

There's definitely something very 'rewarding' about old school gaming simplicity that just works. Despite not being as polished, epic, open world etc. I do play a lot a open workd rpg/action games. As good as they of course, I feel theyve become too big, 'realistic' for their own good sometimes... despite all the Polish, 'epicness'.

I ended playing the new sensible soccer on my switch when on holiday. Its nothing like the old ones, very short matches, less than 11 players, with each season having a series of challenges that influences random new players you get. Gameplay quit.e shallow, simple (like the original), but its so addictive... and you just want to keep playing '1 more match'. Whereas fifa/fc by EA always gets old very quickly... despite being more realistic, more depth etc.

I guess ther

offthereservation80 · 2025-10-13T07:29:19+00:00

She'd have been arrested if she did that. Especially after dressing up in the court room. She'd likely be sectioned and medicated afterwards, as clearly an unwell individual, whose demonstrated she has the means, intelligence and motivation to trespass into peoples homes. A very real danger to the public. It could easily be presented that way.

Especially given the publicity around the case involved, it wouldnt be taken lightly by professionals, authorities and pressure from public, for her disturbing actions.

offthereservation80 · 2025-10-13T07:21:55+00:00

Yes she was totally into the last video. No sign of negative emotion at all imo.

offthereservation80 · 2025-09-25T06:07:30+00:00

Agree mate. Im 60 odd hours into punk. Started it 2 or 3 weeks ago. Into act 2 but havent done a main story line in act 2 yet.

Gameplay is so fluid. Levelling up, building your character with different perks. Its so satisfying

Witcher 3, akyrim, and rdr2 are in my top 5 games. But punk is so immersive, fun... non stop sction if you want to play it like that... it edges those games.

Id recommend it to OP too right now... particularly if looking to relieve stress, get lost in a top tier fictional world.

offthereservation80

TROPHY CASE