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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:
Thread gallery
16
Original poster
Twoweekcruise · 02/02/2018 23:12

dustarr I remember the Nick Caymen ad, didn't he become a singer after?

OP posts:
Original poster
Twoweekcruise · 02/02/2018 23:13

Loved a prawn cocktail especially if it was served in one of those little stainless steel bowls!

OP posts:
CanIBuffalo · 02/02/2018 23:18

Can I please also be the same weight I was in the 80s?

Dizzybintess · 02/02/2018 23:22

I have my glitter gel and scrunchie , pink boiler suit and waspy belt had copy of hi magazine all ready

dustarr73 · 02/02/2018 23:23

@Twoweekcruise

Written by Madonna,shes also backing vocals

dustarr73 · 02/02/2018 23:25

Can we nominate this for classics, i have

boatyardblues · 02/02/2018 23:25

I miss the 99p singles bin at Woolies. When everyone else was loving Bros, Madonna and Wham, I was enjoying Lionel Ritchie, Culture Club, Steve Winwood, Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen. I can’t help it. I like what I like and that’s that. I liked the 80s because you were allowed to enjoy them in your own way.

FlyMaybe · 02/02/2018 23:30

Ooohhh sorry I'm late. My mum made me eat a whole box of Findus pancakes for tea, then we had Vienetta. Took me ages to crimp my henna'ed hair! Dragged on my blue and white Benetton rugby shirt and I thought I was going to split my skin tight Snow-wash jeans. Had to lie on the floor and get the zip up with a coat-hanger. I love them. They came from Stolen From Ivor in the Arndale. Can't decide between my pixie boots and my pointy ballerina flats. What do you think?

Ohhhh they're playing Wham on the jukebox ...

feral · 02/02/2018 23:31

I want to come too. I'm your age OP.

This is both lovely and sad. If we were back in the 80s my dad would still be alive, as would my grandparents. I'd have some puppy fat and think I was huge (oh to be hat huge now!)

I want to listen to my Duran Duran Arena tape on my Walkman, whilst wearing my pixie boots.

storynanny · 02/02/2018 23:35

I want to come becauseI seem to have missed out the 80's altogether. I was either pregnant or dealing with toddlers and can remember having about 3 dresses which I wore in rotation for years.

gillybeanz · 02/02/2018 23:42

the 80's were brilliant, but saw the return of puff ball skirts in H&M so am feeling rather old atm Sad
Came out of there and into another shop, forget which one now, but they were playing "The Only Way is up" Yazz, so I cheered up.
Nothing's going to stop us now Starship Enterprise , just sums up the 80's for me.
Oh, and the chicken song and Spitting Image.

GrockleBocs · 02/02/2018 23:46

Sorry. Would stay but CURFEW!
Got to get home and the Capri's a bit temperamental.

PrincessIsAUnicorn · 03/02/2018 00:03

Oh dear looks like I'm grounded! Up WAY past bedtime! See you all in about a fortnights time SadWink

donniemurdo · 03/02/2018 00:07

Top of the Pops 1985 now on BBC4!!! I'll just pop on my iced champink lipstick from Avon and liberally spray some dewberry around. And imagine my parents tutting in the background about the state of music nowadays Grin

Globetrotter100 · 03/02/2018 00:14

Ha I'm watching it too!

longtompot · 03/02/2018 00:18

Yes please OP! I would love all that and not my approaching 47 years :( I am still 15 at heart and dancing to fivestar, madonna, and the like despite being a closet raver and goth :) I remember the roller ball lipglosses in the glass bottle.

Globetrotter100 · 03/02/2018 00:32

Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson are still number one! All.The.Shoulder.Pads! Mega hair!

Excellent live performance of Run To You by Bryan Adams tho..

donniemurdo · 03/02/2018 00:34

The dancing to Shaft was well dodgy though!!! Grin

KateAdiesEarrings · 03/02/2018 00:47

Oh hope I'm not too late. It took a while to tie some black scarves round my high piny tail so I look just like Madonna and I couldn't decide whether to wear my purple leggings with oversized purple jumper or my new beige peplum skirt with black top. Either way I'll still be wearing my blue eyeshadow and mascara.
Just let me hide my copy of Q magazine. That cost most of my pocket money.

LiveLifeWithPassion · 03/02/2018 00:50

Is it sad that I still find men in suits with the arms shoved up, revealing their forearms, sexy? Blush

PhylisMcFee · 03/02/2018 00:51

Sorry I’m late, my df forgot to tell me you rang! Luckily my hair always looks great now it’s permed, and I’m wearing a pencil skirt and a batwing top with cool big shoulder pads. My cocoon coat over the top, loads of blue eyeshadow and shimmery lipstick in pale pink, and I’m ready to go. I’ll drive myself there in my fiesta, as I expect you’re all there already, in the wine bar:)

I remember everyone always being so smartly dressed, and I don’t remember ever wearing jeans to go out.

crumpet · 03/02/2018 01:10

Right, will pop on “Zoom, just one look and then my heart went boom” as it’s so late.

And I am still keeping my Duran Duran poster.

Graphista · 03/02/2018 02:14

I'm wearing skinny stone washed jeans (cos I'm a size 6 again) leg warmers and pixie boots, batwing jumper, fingerless gloves (that dad says make me look like a 'pauper' as he eyerolls), denim jacket (which doesn't sit right due to the batwing jumper) which is covered in badges saying things like "I'm sorry did I roll my eyes out loud" or wham! Lyrics.

Hair is either in a bubble perm which I've styled with mousse and Afro comb. Pink AND purple eyeshadow with electric blue mascara, shocking pink blusher in stripes and matching lippy.

My friends and I are going to town to browse garish jewellery at the market and get pick n mix and cassingles from woolies, proper crusha milkshakes at the cafe, and neon tights from chelsea girl. Then I'm going home for tea and will watch airwolf while I eat it. But I'll meet you later wearing a rara skirt, one sleeved top, White stilletoes with the neon tights (one leg yellow one leg pink) at the prearranged point for the school disco cos they're a BIG DEAL and we'll have been planning it for MONTHS. (Also cos we can't phone/text to rearrange)

My drink was vodka and orange juice - no wonder I always had the shits the next day 😂😂 probably not helped by the primary colours bedding, Pierrot doll accessories and walls covered in wham! And george Michael posters

And we'll do the right moves to black lace songs, Tiffany "I think we're alone now" and star trekkin.

Yay! Deeley boppers in denial that I'll have a headache the next day from the teeth digging in

I misread the anais anais as anals anals 😂

Filledsoda I have heather shimmer lippy NOW ☺️

Oooo no! Op you broke the machine! Pretty woman and sleeping with the enemy are NINETIES

Downhillatfifty - absolute 80's is my go to radio station now and what I first thought of on reading op

Dustarr - BTTF full trilogy now on Netflix

TossDaily · 03/02/2018 03:00

What a bittersweet thread. The 80s were such an innocent time, looking back.

Cleanerswin · 03/02/2018 07:54

Heather shimmer lipstick. That had me in tears. Can you still get it?