Susan E Barsby
@susanebarsby.bsky.social
Writer, reader, runner, mum, knitter. I like coffee, cake and conkers. I miss the sea.
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
I find it difficult to trust anyone who doesn’t consider The Princess Bride to be one of the greatest films of all-time.
November 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I find it difficult to trust anyone who doesn’t consider The Princess Bride to be one of the greatest films of all-time.
Started the morning reading yesterday's party advice supplement in The Guardian. The woman who suggests 'table sculpting' by adding half shaved aubergines to your table displays is an acquired taste. 🙄 Clearly they're just trying to see what bollocks they can get away with.
a purple eggplant with a mustache on it
Alt: An aubergine with a mustache on it
media.tenor.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Started the morning reading yesterday's party advice supplement in The Guardian. The woman who suggests 'table sculpting' by adding half shaved aubergines to your table displays is an acquired taste. 🙄 Clearly they're just trying to see what bollocks they can get away with.
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
Cricket's great isn't it?
November 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Cricket's great isn't it?
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
Oh God, so much this. So much.
i actually really really hate the "there are too few positive male role models for boys" thing for one banal reason and it is that it literally just isn't true
November 18, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Oh God, so much this. So much.
Well I'm sure they'll be fined a pissingly small amount and continue to do it, like they do with the baby milk scandal.
Nestlé accused of ’risking health of babies for profit’ over added sugar in cereals sold in African countries
Nestlé accused of ’risking health of babies for profit’ over added sugar in cereals sold in African countries
Campaigners say the company is contributing to rising rates of childhood obesity, while the firm says it is helping to combat malnutrition
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Well I'm sure they'll be fined a pissingly small amount and continue to do it, like they do with the baby milk scandal.
Get to know your mutuals. List ten random things you like.
Conkers
Tiramasu
The beach in winter
Crossing Delancey
Toast with a scraping of Bovril
Craft markets
Book shopping
Hotel breakfasts
Kate Bush
Libraries
Conkers
Tiramasu
The beach in winter
Crossing Delancey
Toast with a scraping of Bovril
Craft markets
Book shopping
Hotel breakfasts
Kate Bush
Libraries
Get to know your mutuals. List ten random things you like
Border collies
The Fall (band)
Long walks
The Gower peninsula
Local Hero
Lemon drizzle cake
Drinks with pals
Short stories
Naps
Pub quizzes
Border collies
The Fall (band)
Long walks
The Gower peninsula
Local Hero
Lemon drizzle cake
Drinks with pals
Short stories
Naps
Pub quizzes
get to know your mutuals! list ten random things you like
꩜ snowboarding 🏂
꩜ cats 🐈⬛
꩜ crows 🐦⬛
꩜ punk/emo/metalcore 🎸
꩜ chocolate peanut butter shakes 🥤
꩜ thunderstorms ⚡️
꩜ skateboarding 🛹
꩜ mountains 🏔️
꩜ science fiction 🛸
꩜ hello kitty ™️
꩜ snowboarding 🏂
꩜ cats 🐈⬛
꩜ crows 🐦⬛
꩜ punk/emo/metalcore 🎸
꩜ chocolate peanut butter shakes 🥤
꩜ thunderstorms ⚡️
꩜ skateboarding 🛹
꩜ mountains 🏔️
꩜ science fiction 🛸
꩜ hello kitty ™️
November 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Get to know your mutuals. List ten random things you like.
Conkers
Tiramasu
The beach in winter
Crossing Delancey
Toast with a scraping of Bovril
Craft markets
Book shopping
Hotel breakfasts
Kate Bush
Libraries
Conkers
Tiramasu
The beach in winter
Crossing Delancey
Toast with a scraping of Bovril
Craft markets
Book shopping
Hotel breakfasts
Kate Bush
Libraries
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
English councils are planning to sell social clubs, sports centres and shopping arcades as they bet on a fire sale of assets to balance the books, according to a survey of local authorities.
The key cities group of councils, which represents second-tier cities in England, said 60% of councils were planning to sell assets to meet the escalating costs of adult and children’s social care. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Well I was going to ask for the bookworm cushion for Christmas but what's the point of waiting? And got some Christmas cards too!
Tough time for freelance artists and the amazingly talented @gailmyerscough.co.uk is having a tough week sales wise. Have a look at her wonderful site! I’d be very grateful (as would she!). Please share! Thank you!
www.gailmyerscough.co.uk
www.gailmyerscough.co.uk
Gail Myerscough | Surface Pattern Designer & Illustrator | Manchester
Discover a world of bold and colourful prints, homewares and stationery by Gail Myerscough, a surface pattern designer and illustrator. Designed in Manchester, made in the UK.
www.gailmyerscough.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Well I was going to ask for the bookworm cushion for Christmas but what's the point of waiting? And got some Christmas cards too!
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
Let my gravestone read "PUNCTUATION GOES INSIDE THE QUOTATION MARKS."
November 10, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Let my gravestone read "PUNCTUATION GOES INSIDE THE QUOTATION MARKS."
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
This is an excellent idea. When I worked for Big Lottery Fund, even the easiest application forms needed proven outcomes etc.
Look at this great fund. £200 for really small charities to spend on boring things. Easy, quick to apply.
Link below.
Please share :)
Link below.
Please share :)
Boring Fund | Christina Poulton
Applications now open!
£200 grants available for small charities, CICs and voluntary groups towards some of those boring but hard-to-fund costs.
www.christinapoultoncreative.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
This is an excellent idea. When I worked for Big Lottery Fund, even the easiest application forms needed proven outcomes etc.
Christ. He must be absolutely insufferable.
Loving today's news that the mysterious "fedora man" outside the Louvre heist was actually a 15-year-old museum visitor who dresses like a 1940s French detective all the time, just because. apnews.com/article/louv...
Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo
Fifteen-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux has become an internet sensation after an Associated Press photo captured him outside the Louvre on the day of a crown jewels heist.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Christ. He must be absolutely insufferable.
Do donate if you can. #MagicOfBooks
Christmas should feel magical for all children.
And every child deserves to experience the joy of stories.
Will you help to share the #MagicOfBooks with the children who need it most? ✨
https://bit.ly/3LxZycG
And every child deserves to experience the joy of stories.
Will you help to share the #MagicOfBooks with the children who need it most? ✨
https://bit.ly/3LxZycG
November 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Do donate if you can. #MagicOfBooks
I served him once in Waterstones. He asked about his own book, the publication of which had been delayed and no one from his publishers had told him the new date. So he asked if we knew it.
This is a rubbish story all round.
This is a rubbish story all round.
Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68
Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68
Motoring journalist created and fronted shows including Fifth Gear, Britain’s Worst Driver and The Car’s the Star
The former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson has died after a short illness, his family said on Saturday. He was 68.
The television presenter and motoring journalist died “peacefully surrounded by his family”, a statement said. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I served him once in Waterstones. He asked about his own book, the publication of which had been delayed and no one from his publishers had told him the new date. So he asked if we knew it.
This is a rubbish story all round.
This is a rubbish story all round.
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
November 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
This sounds splendid. I'm going for Holkham or Whitstable or ideally the Hartland peninsula.
Elizabeth Olsen believes she will die old and alone in a foggy English coastal town. Here are her options
Elizabeth Olsen believes she will die old and alone in a foggy English coastal town. Here are her options
While promoting new film Eternity, the actor outlined a specific end-of-life scenario that should be cold, wet and include one cheese shop
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
This sounds splendid. I'm going for Holkham or Whitstable or ideally the Hartland peninsula.
Oooh lovely! Chesil Beach is an amazing place.
October's episodes in one place.
Transport yourself to three special places through sound.
283 - Night trees of Boggle Hole (51mins)
> bit.ly/LenBog
284 - The wind of Long Mynd (32mins)
> bit.ly/LenMynd
285 - Late October on Chesil Beach (32mins)
> bit.ly/LenChesil3
Transport yourself to three special places through sound.
283 - Night trees of Boggle Hole (51mins)
> bit.ly/LenBog
284 - The wind of Long Mynd (32mins)
> bit.ly/LenMynd
285 - Late October on Chesil Beach (32mins)
> bit.ly/LenChesil3
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Oooh lovely! Chesil Beach is an amazing place.
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
If I had a gun to my head I could whittle my collection of Kate Bush records down to three albums... just... and Aerial would be one of them.
Happy 20th birthday to Aerial... which only came out yesterday not 20 years ago. Surely.
thequietus.com/opinion-and-...
Happy 20th birthday to Aerial... which only came out yesterday not 20 years ago. Surely.
thequietus.com/opinion-and-...
What kind of Language is this? Kate Bush's Aerial At 20 | The Quietus
Matthew Barton looks back twenty years to the Kate Bush album Aerial that seemed to take forever to arrive but was worth the wait
thequietus.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:59 AM
If I had a gun to my head I could whittle my collection of Kate Bush records down to three albums... just... and Aerial would be one of them.
Happy 20th birthday to Aerial... which only came out yesterday not 20 years ago. Surely.
thequietus.com/opinion-and-...
Happy 20th birthday to Aerial... which only came out yesterday not 20 years ago. Surely.
thequietus.com/opinion-and-...
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
I, for the love of dog, do not know why I've had to listen to fireworks for the last 2 weeks going continuously until past 1 or 2 in the morning.
I feel so bad for our furry friends.
I feel so bad for our furry friends.
Since this is STILL going on where we live, I’m sharing this again.
Contact your MP if you’ve had enough of this bullshit firework nonsense going on for over a WEEK! 😡😡😡
action.dogstrust.org.uk/page/178980/...
#dogs #fireworks #fireworksfuckoff #dogsky
Contact your MP if you’ve had enough of this bullshit firework nonsense going on for over a WEEK! 😡😡😡
action.dogstrust.org.uk/page/178980/...
#dogs #fireworks #fireworksfuckoff #dogsky
Help Protect Dogs from Firework Fear | Dogs Trust
action.dogstrust.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I, for the love of dog, do not know why I've had to listen to fireworks for the last 2 weeks going continuously until past 1 or 2 in the morning.
I feel so bad for our furry friends.
I feel so bad for our furry friends.
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
The "why do you care so much about the NY mayoral election" takes strike me as pretty obtuse. The world's sole superpower is being taken over by fascists, and this was part of the struggle to define what the opposition to that will look like. That obviously has major implications for all of us?
November 5, 2025 at 10:06 AM
The "why do you care so much about the NY mayoral election" takes strike me as pretty obtuse. The world's sole superpower is being taken over by fascists, and this was part of the struggle to define what the opposition to that will look like. That obviously has major implications for all of us?
Reposted by Susan E Barsby
Mamdani: "New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant."
November 5, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Mamdani: "New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant."
Loved this book when I read it - great review here.
New on the blog today, I've written about SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA by Lidija Hilje.
A sultry, sun-drenched, emotionally involving story of first love, the ongoing yearning that follows and the agonising sacrifices we sometimes make for those around us. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/s...
A sultry, sun-drenched, emotionally involving story of first love, the ongoing yearning that follows and the agonising sacrifices we sometimes make for those around us. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/s...
Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje
Written in English (the author’s second language), Slanting Towards the Sea is the debut novel by the Croatian writer Lidija Hilje – a new name to me, but one I will be looking out for again in the…
jacquiwine.wordpress.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Loved this book when I read it - great review here.
Good news! I loved Should We Fall Behind.
We're delighted to be publishing Sharon Duggal's new novel.
LIGHT ON THE PLAIN - September - 2026.
Her 3rd with Bluemoose.
Should We Fall Behind, her second novel was short listed for @rsliterature.bsky.social Encore Prize and selected for BBC Two - Between The Covers.
@thebookseller.com
LIGHT ON THE PLAIN - September - 2026.
Her 3rd with Bluemoose.
Should We Fall Behind, her second novel was short listed for @rsliterature.bsky.social Encore Prize and selected for BBC Two - Between The Covers.
@thebookseller.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Good news! I loved Should We Fall Behind.