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Original poster

I’m building a time machine, to go back to the 80’s.

433 replies

Twoweekcruise · 02/02/2018 14:03

Just for the weekend.
They’ve just played ‘Together in electrics dreams’ on the radio and it’s left me aching for my youth.
So, for just this weekend only, I don’t want to be almost 45, I don’t want to keep hearing my kids squabbling with each other, I don’t want any responsibilities or to worry about the state of the world.
No, what I want is to go to the school disco tonight, I want to spend hours perfecting my gaudy sparkly make up, I want to wear my new ra-ra skirt or my batwinged jumpsuit, I want to hot brush my hair into an 80’s flick (with the help of a whole can of ozone-unfriendly hairspray!) and I want to smear my lips with that spearmint flavoured lip gloss from that little glass bottle with the roller ball and dance the (earl Your) evening away to Wham!, Whitney Houston, Duran Duran, Madonna and the like.
When I get up on Saturday morning (about 10am, I want to watch kids morning tv, for breakfast, I want my dad to cook his famous French toast (eggy bread really but French toast sounded posh), I want to go into town with my mates and buy the No.1 single from Our Price, I want to go to Top Shop and look at the posters in Athena and have a knickerbocker glory at The Wimpy. I want to spend the afternoon watching Knight Rider, Chips, The Fall Guy, Murder She Wrote, Hart to Hart and The Golden Girls.
On Sunday, I want to help dad wash the car in the morning (never did that in real life but my nostalgic brain tells me I did!), I want to eat my mum’s lovely Sunday roast and not worry how many calories, saturated fats, gluten or other nasties are in it. I want to see my much loved and missed grand parents and hug our lovely beloved family dog.
But most of all, I want to tape the Top 40, being careful not to get Bruno Brooke’s voice in at the end of each song ( that took great skill and judgement!)
So, does anyone fancy joining me for a trip back to the 80’s this weekend?
Refreshments on the journey will include, Panda cola, Clearly Canadian, Lilt and Quatro to drink and Spangles, Marathon bars (NOT snickers!), fruit salads and black jacks and 54321 bars ( E numbers included, yum!) to snack on.

OP posts:
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MsMarshaKlein · 28/10/2018 13:12

Twoweekcruise. Shaders and Toners. So much more trendy than Harmony Hair Colour in those little trangular boxes. I'm going to wash my hair in original Vidal Sassoon shampoo (god, that stuff smelt good) wash my face with Body Shop's original Oatmeal face wash and dig out my seventeen eyeshadow and the Mary Quant lipstick that I got from a sales rep. . As I was later teens come the 80's I won't be joining you with Bruno Brookes, I'll be listening to one of my Marillion albums and pulling on my stretch jeans (size 8, which is a bit big for 17 year old me)and my Dunlop Green Flash trainers. I won't be joining you at the school disco, if you need me I'll be up at the Charles Dickens in Broadstairs drinking cheap cider

Original poster
Twoweekcruise · 08/02/2018 15:38

Me too Smile I have thoroughly enjoyed reading every bit.

OP posts:
intheairthatnightfernando · 08/02/2018 06:56

I think this is one of my favourite threads ever. I have laughed out loud about five times. Takes you right back there!

CraftyGin · 06/02/2018 19:30

Tainted Love was in the charts when my grandfather died. That would have been Easter around Easter of 1980.

dustarr73 · 06/02/2018 07:47

Horrifying fact - Tainted Love was released closer to WW2 than to today shock

Yes by a year

BestIsWest · 05/02/2018 22:14

If Tainted Love is playing then it must be Freshers week at university for me. More Yugoslavian Laski Riesling anyone?

CanIBuffalo · 05/02/2018 22:11

No way!!!!!!!
ShockShockShock

Backingvocals · 05/02/2018 20:35

Horrifying fact - Tainted Love was released closer to WW2 than to today Shock

Anasnake · 05/02/2018 17:27

1988 and I can't decide who I fancy more, Matt from Bros or Nathan from Brother Beyond. I'm only chewing orbit gum because Bros do.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 05/02/2018 14:40

It's 1987. For some inexplicable reason, brightly coloured CORDS are in fashion. Everyone is wearing a pair on wear what u like day. I also have a bright green BHS sweater with XTRA written in bug diagonal letters down the front. And a hairstyle that looks like Neil Tennant circa 1986, with an oversized bow. Shame my glasses are bigger than Deirdre Barlow's.

Dancergirl · 05/02/2018 14:13

sharonmott Patty’s World was in Girl comic, best comic ever!

Yes to the huge shirt with low slung belt. I could never get the belt right.

AuraofDora · 05/02/2018 13:25

Amazing Grace

I saw that happen once in the queue for a club, a spectacular, pwooof!

Yep I'm in. Got my hair shaved on one side and crimped on the other, frock coat and teenage attitude Grin

middleclasstwat · 05/02/2018 13:16

i hated the 80s crap secondery school men with dodgy make up and terrible music. i much prefer the nineties

rosie39forever · 05/02/2018 13:13

I might be a bit late, it takes me an hour to crimp and backcomb my heavily highlighted hair and then there’s the stripes of pink blusher, electric blue eyeliner and mascara to apply. I will be going to The Dome in Birmingham wearing my cerise pink jumpsuit 4inch heel black slouchy boots and thick black pleather belt slung around my hips.
I will be the one seductively dancing round my handbag to Soft Cells Tainted Love whilst smoking a pink cocktail cigarette... I am sooo cool.

God I really don’t want to be 50 anymore😢

Notthesoap · 05/02/2018 13:10

This thread makes me smile so much and I wasn't born til mid 80s

Original poster
Twoweekcruise · 05/02/2018 12:42

I know, it’s really made me wish I could build a time machine for real!
I think MN should have a special 80’s section just for us all to spend our time reminiscing Wink

OP posts:
AristotlesTrousers · 05/02/2018 12:17

Aw, this thread is just the best. Loved the 80s and 90s. You've really captured something poignant for a lot of people, OP.

Wish there was a real way to recapture our youths. I think we all need to agree to live in this thread forever. Smile

Only1scoop · 04/02/2018 23:05

Just got back from my friends, loving driving my Vauxhall Nova the snatch plate stereo plays my tapes LOUD and I look so cool carrying it around.

Sometimes if I'm off to the Gym I'll pop it in my Pink leatherette 'Head' Bag. Love doing my 'heavy hands' Aerobics class

Love watching Jamie Lee Curtis in Perfect. Love her leotards.

Got to be up early in the morning for college. Want to scrunch dry my hair with my Clairol big shot. Also want to paint my nails with my new Constance Carroll nail polish it's a great shade of burgundy.

Teutonic · 04/02/2018 21:41

Just give me a minute to get out of my carrot top jeans that I topped off with a pink batwing jumper, and into my purple ladder back dress that I shall wear with my white stiletto shoes.
I will be right with you as soon as I've afro combed my poodle perm.

Shall I bring my wham album? Also got Depeche Mode, Human League and Soft Cell if you fancy those as well.

( unsticks lipglossed lips from Morton Harkets )

Disclaimer Unfortunately Morton Harket was on a poster on my bedroom wall, rather than the man himself in my room 😭

Original poster
Twoweekcruise · 04/02/2018 21:29

Just watching a bit of Bully. “ Look at what you could have won!” A lovely red metro - with no headrests [big grin]

OP posts:
Awks · 04/02/2018 20:46

I'm putting my Lemon Drench perfume on, slicking my lips with gay geranium and running out of the door in my jeans that I'd sewed feathers down the side a la antmusic. Off to the wine bar for a blue bols and lemonade. Simple times - how much fun they were and I had no idea at the time!

YesitsJacqueline · 04/02/2018 20:40

HOOKED ON DRUGS that should read.
Poor Zammo

YesitsJacqueline · 04/02/2018 20:39

I'm sorry I'm busy tonight I'm watching grange hill and zammo us booked on drugs . I don't have any spare tapes either or i would set my video to timer record

Solly76 · 04/02/2018 20:33

Pure nostalgia. No idea how I got to be 42. Loving this thread. Bringing back memories of childhood and early teens.

Loved Smash Hits and cutting out every picture of Bros to put on my Bros wall. Can't believe I'm admitting this.

Recording the top 40 every week and hoping not to get any Bruno Brooks. Did David Jensen do the charts too, I'm sure I remember him doing them.

School disco, hairspray, the spray colours for hair, back combing, Madonna, Nik Kershaw, Duran Duran, Wham.

I had forgotten about that cherry lip gloss, now I can taste it.

Just Seventeen... I remember being scandalised by a response in the problem pages, about blow jobs. I was horrified at the thought of a willy in my mouth 😂😂

Awesome thread

dustarr73 · 04/02/2018 19:37