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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
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SuburbanCrofter · 04/02/2018 11:48

I will meet you all in town to go shopping, but only after Saturday Superstore finishes and the Grandstand music tells me its time to get up and go out Grin

I will be wearing my Pepe stonewashed jeans with a red batwing top (With taffeta inserts), and electric blue fingerless gloves. My bangles will be clattering on my wrists, and I have rolled up a silk scarf and tied it in my hair like a hairband for that Desperately Seeking Susan look. Smile

Oh and as a final touch, I am doused in Impulse from the purple can (is a previous poster on glue suggesting the gold one was cool?? That was the musk scented one, it was minging!)

mummyrabbitpeppapig · 04/02/2018 12:18

I use the red impulse or exclamation - soooo cool. And am.going tip my head upside down and blow dry my hair just like Kim Wilde

alotalotalot · 04/02/2018 12:27

I'll squirt on a bit of anais anais and grab a bottle of thunderbird to share with everyone. Is anyone watching that Fab new soap - neighbours? Cor Jason Donavan

Graphista · 04/02/2018 13:20

So jealous of tv with remote. Mine (ours sis and I have to share a room) is parents old black and white "portable" (means it's small but still weighs a bloody ton!) which has a wire coathanger for an aerial so every time we change channel we don't only have to get up and tune the dial but also get small shocks as we reposition the coathanger Grin

Original poster
Twoweekcruise · 04/02/2018 14:46

Bless you all for joining me aboard the 80’s time machine this weekend. It has left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling but at the same time quite teary and emotional.

OP posts:
Globetrotter100 · 04/02/2018 18:32

It's been a pleasure. I particularly enjoyed a glass of Taboo / Mirage with the later pages Wine. And here's a little game from the Dominic Sandbrook 80's series...

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/39MThXKZpzGnjHX7vVT61gf/try-the-quiz

LidlAngel · 04/02/2018 18:45

I'm coming with you all!! I shall be wearing my big yellow shirt from top shop with the big chunky belt, black mini skirt and black tights and I'll stink of Miss Selfridge perfume so if you can bear the smell......

dustarr73 · 04/02/2018 19:36

All teh lovely great theme tunes

dustarr73 · 04/02/2018 19:37
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

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

YesitsJacqueline · 04/02/2018 20:40

HOOKED ON DRUGS that should read.
Poor Zammo

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!

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:
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 😭

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.

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

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:
Notthesoap · 05/02/2018 13:10

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

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😢

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

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

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.

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.

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.