Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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
AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 03/02/2018 08:11

I was a bit young to come with you all for the disco, even circa 1989, but enjoyed putting on my Dash batwing rollneck dress (oh how I LOVED that dress), reading Hi! and watching Family Fortunes. Ice-cream in a plastic tub from Bejam with Ice Magic - the orange flavour was the best.

Can we go to the mid-90s next week?

pinkhousesarebest · 03/02/2018 08:51

Reading this and actually being transported back. Laughing and almost crying at the same time. The best of times.

Twoweekcruise · 03/02/2018 09:20

Yay, it's Saturday morning. Oh no my electric blue mascara has smudged down my face and my flick has flopped! The disco was good danced loads in my new white stilettos with my neon pink leg warmers. Can't believe Sharon got off with Mark, what a bitch she knows I've fancied him for ages!!
Never mind mum is popping to the post office to get her woman's weekly and my smash hits, hope there's a poster of Morten Harley in it, I've just enough room on my wall.
I'm getting the 11.45 bus into town, shall we meet outside Chelsea Girl at 12? I want to get a stack of neon rubber bracelet s from the market and a new pair of leg warmers.
I'll just watch some Saturday Superstore first then get dressed (stonewashed jeans and a yellow batwinged jumper with rainbow stripes of one arm).

OP posts:
AndromedaPerseus · 03/02/2018 09:34

I'm ready to go now that I've washed my hair with Sunsilk Shampoo Parfum and it smells divine and got my new Monty Don earrings on. Must remember the fingerless lace gloves, love the Desperately Seeking Susan look

I’m building a time machine, to go back to the 80’s.
I’m building a time machine, to go back to the 80’s.
I’m building a time machine, to go back to the 80’s.
Janeways · 03/02/2018 09:38

I'm off to Boots to treat myself to a twilight teaser lipstick and I may pop into the market for a browse at the constance carroll. I think I'm going to wear my maxi pencil skirt with fall down socks. Walking is a bit tricky because I can't really take much of a step without ripping the split.I could take my photos to get them developed while I'm there.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 03/02/2018 09:46

I'm watching Dangermouse in my Fraggle Rock pj'sGrin

boatyardblues · 03/02/2018 09:47

Is there a strand of this thread where we can consign things to room 1.01? I’d send spearmint Pacers (vom) and Spangles (underwhelming).

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 03/02/2018 09:50

I loved Pacers! With you on the Spangles though. Yuk.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 03/02/2018 09:53

Pacers tasted of soap.

Shouldnotwouldnot · 03/02/2018 09:56

I’m gonna head down to Our Price and then browse some clip on earrings. Might pop into body shop too for some lip balm

Janeways · 03/02/2018 09:56

I've also pinched some of my older sister's flex shampoo and I feel like Victoria Principal, albeit in the Midlands.

But I can't find my flat white daisy punched mary janes? Anyone seen them? Actually does anyone remember these because I can't find a picture of them anywhere on Google?

TossDaily · 03/02/2018 10:01

I'm in my Garfield 'jamas watching Going Live and getting palpitations over the gorgeous Phillip Schofield. I love his gorgeous dark hair.

Then I'm going to have a shower using the last of the Body Shop Pink Grapefruit shower gel and Banana Conditioner my sister bought me for Christmas. Afterwards I'll spray myself in Limara (my mum works in the factory so there's loads of it knocking about) and Panache by Lentheric.

I think I'll wear my bottle green elephant cords, white crinkly shirt and green and cerise mohair jumper my mum knitted me when I go into town with my mate. I'll have a browse in Miss Selfridge, but at the moment I'm more of a Chelsea Girl fan - especially the Charlotte Halton range.

We'll probably have a Wimpy, and have a look at the records in WH Smith and Boots. I might buy some cassettes so I can do some taping tomorrow when the charts are on - and I have a WH Smith £5 gift token so I might buy myself a couple of new Sweet Dreams books and a Marilyn Monroe postcard for my collection.

I'm looking forward to tonight because my mum and dad are off out and my best friend is sleeping over. We usually watch An American Werewolf in London while eating toast and popcorn. But first it's Sainsbury's Deep Dish pizza for tea with ham, sweetcorn, mushrooms, three cheeses, the works.

I love Saturdays.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 03/02/2018 10:04

Anyone remember Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel advertising Soft Mints? Mr Softy in his soft world. It gave me the creeps. Blush

TossDaily · 03/02/2018 10:34

I definitely do. I may even do impressions of Mr Soft from time to time Blush

mypoosmellsofroses · 03/02/2018 10:57

Great thread, I'm normally 46 but today I am going to put half a bottle of Studio Line wet look gel through my perm and wear my new yellow stilettoes with a gold band around the heel. Whilst hanging out in a provincial Midlands town looking the mutts nutts, this man will see me and instantly want to marry me.
Alternatively I may end up going home and re-reading the rude bits in Mums Jilly Cooper books and eating one of the elevnty million "slight seconds" choc ices that Mum and Dad bought from the new freezer centre to justify having bought a chest freezer that could double as a spare room :)

I’m building a time machine, to go back to the 80’s.
Chocolatecake12 · 03/02/2018 11:07

I’m still waiting for my mum to finish knitting my bat winged jumper!!
While waiting I’ll try to decide on which dessert I’d like for after dinner, it might be artic roll or tinned fruit salad.....

Doublevodka · 03/02/2018 11:11

This thread has made me emotional. The 80s were the best time ever. Fact.

Twoweekcruise · 03/02/2018 11:39

double you are so right there, the VERY best!

OP posts:
VioletCharlotte · 03/02/2018 11:50

I'm in my drainpipe jeans and bat wing jumper, and smelling of LuLu, the classy new perfume I got for my birthday. I'm off to catch the bus into town. Meet you outside the Wimpey at 12, we can wander round the market and maybe buy some new Bros badges, then to Chelsea Girl, Miss Selfridge and Snob to try stuff on. Later we could go to the cinema (which has two screens and you can smoke inside). We could watch Kylie Minogue in The Delinquents and chuck pop corn at boys. Then we can go to the chippie for chips wrapped in newspaper, before getting the bus home.

Twoweekcruise · 03/02/2018 11:54

In homage to my nostalgic weekend, I shall be listening to this all day and having a little teary moment now and then.

OP posts:
Twoweekcruise · 03/02/2018 11:55

Oh poop, it didn’t upload. 80’s album on YouTube.

OP posts:
Only1scoop · 03/02/2018 11:56

Saturday!! I'm watching multicoloured Swapshop waiting for the phone in with Duran Duran

VioletCharlotte · 03/02/2018 11:59

I'm listening to Duran Duran right now in Spotify! I suddenly miss magazines.. why don't we buy magazines anymore? I want to read Jackie, 19 and Smash Hits.

Only1scoop · 03/02/2018 12:01

Oh yes
blue Jeans
Girl and Dreamer mags

Loved em'

KateAdiesEarrings · 03/02/2018 12:02

We can't go to the cinema on a Saturday! That's the day the grumpy woman works who can always tell when you're lying about your age. She got one of my friends down from 15 to 12 with one steely look. Now we can't ever get into a 15 in that cinema Shock