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Original poster

What do you remember about what you were doing at previous election times?

59 replies

sethstarkaddersmum · 05/05/2010 16:34

I remember being glad Thatcher got in cos she was a woman.
I remember that election Kinnock lost that we expected him to win - soooo depressing.
And 1997 I fell down the stairs after coming back from voting and knocked myself out and spent the day at A&E . But oh the euphoria
Then when Blair was re-elected the first time I cut my finger with the breadknife the next morning and it bled all over the photo of him and Cherie in the Guardian. Symbolic, in retrospect.
Can't remember the last one, must have been pregnant.

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helyg · 05/05/2010 16:38

I don't remember Thatcher getting in as I was only 1 at the time!

When Blair got in I was a 1st year student and it was the first time that I could vote. I remember it feeling as though we had changed the world... The day after the election was beautifully sunny and everyone (I was living in the swing seat of Edgbaston) seemed over the moon.

Oh the naivety of youth

NoahAndTheWhale · 05/05/2010 16:41

Was fairly pregnant in 2005. Can't remember a thing about 2001; was probably studying for accountancy exams. In 1997 I was studying for finals at university and remember studying in the Museum Gardens in York and hearing election things blaring out through the air.

In 1979 I was nearly 4 so don't remember much .

Do remember the 1990 leadership battles - got surprisingly into it.

Original poster
sethstarkaddersmum · 05/05/2010 16:46

Thatcher resigning was as exciting as any election.

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MrsJamin · 05/05/2010 19:32

helyg, we must be the same age as I have the exact same memory of 1997 - it felt very exciting at the time. I remember a student friend whose dad was a millionaire literally crying when labour got in.

posey · 05/05/2010 20:35

I guess the one I remember most clearly is the 1997 one.
Had been married a year, just bought our first home, was expecting 1st child any day and getting really really excited that she wouldn't be born under a Tory government.

Remember the 1992 one because I was on nights as a nurse. We had a load of young, quite well patients and they all sat up all night with us watching the results come in.

Although I was 11 when Thatcher came to power, I have completely blocked out any memory of it from my mind.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 05/05/2010 20:41

I thankfully was not alive when Thatcher got into power.

I vaguely remember her resigning to Norman Major (was it?) - must have been 1992 and I was 10 years old. I remember being allowed to eat my dinner in front of the tv . It was spaghetti bolognese if you are interested.

1997 - not sure, was too young to really get it at 15.

2001 - seemed a non event but I did vote. 2005 again, pre DC's it didnt seem that important.

Now I am terrified and truly aware of it all.

Original poster
sethstarkaddersmum · 05/05/2010 20:45

rofl@Norman Major.
John Major, his wife was Norma, and his chancellor was Norman Lamont. Private Eye used to have him referring to his wife Norman.

v interested in the spaghetti bolognaise. That is exactly the kind of detail I wanted. was it nice?

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Original poster
sethstarkaddersmum · 05/05/2010 20:45

rofl@Norman Major.
John Major, his wife was Norma, and his chancellor was Norman Lamont. Private Eye used to have him referring to his wife Norman.

v interested in the spaghetti bolognaise. That is exactly the kind of detail I wanted. was it nice?

OP posts:
Original poster
sethstarkaddersmum · 05/05/2010 20:46

oops

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Takver · 05/05/2010 20:47

1979 - was 9 - remember being excited about having a woman PM and my Mum explaining that it wasn't really that good . . .

Don't have any real memories of 1983 or 1987.

1992 - being by the town hall in Cambridge, and general depression - going into work next day and everyone being totally miserable (then buggering off to the pub early to drown our sorrows)

1997 - at a friends house - totally overwhelming the scale of it all (and yes, we were still up for Portillo)

2001 - out of the country
2005 - didn't feel like there was going to be any real change

posey · 05/05/2010 20:55

Love the Norman Major comment - just goes to show how memorable he was! Cool for remembering you had spag bol .

bluejeans · 05/05/2010 21:16

1979 - was the same age DD is now and definitely more interested than she is! Remember mock elections at school and of course everyone talking about the first woman PM

1987 - was gutted that I was only just too young to vote, esp as living in a very marginal seat that went from Tory to Labour and most of my friends claimed responsibility for that!

1997 - had flu so got to watch it all on tv instead of being at work - downside was I couldn't actually vote!

The ones in between I barely remember

snickersnack · 05/05/2010 21:25

1979 - had the day off school, mum explained democracy to me, and we went to the park and had a Mini Milk. (I was 5)

No recollection of any elections between then and 1992, though I do remember Thatcher resigning.

1992 - voted Labour in an incredibly safe Tory seat, went to the pub with mates and got drunk, woke up the next morning and was pretty depressed.

1997 - wasn't that exciting? We had a huge party, by the end of which (at 3am) my very drunk mate was at the Town Hall trying to persuade the returning officer to let him change his vote (he'd voted Conservative and felt the weight of public opinion was not on his side). And the next day was glorious, and everyone at work was smiling and no-one did any work.

2001 - I have absolutely no memory of this at all. Which is a bit strange. Assume I voted Labour, but who knows?

2005 - I voted Labour with a heavy heart, as couldn't really see who else to vote for, went to bed early (3 month old dd) and things carried on as normal.

I still have absolutely no idea who to vote for tomorrow. Which is strange, as I am usually fairly decisive.

deaddei · 05/05/2010 21:27

1979 -only person at uni to vote Tory (well I didn't shout about it)

Does anyone remember Cyril Smith- the huge Liberal MP?

Nymphadora · 06/05/2010 16:32

1997 my first vote & I felt so powerful. Stayed up all night and watched the red sweep over the country.

Stayed up for the next two but can't remember much. Not going to manage tonight

sallyJayGorce · 06/05/2010 16:40

1979 - very impressed to have a woman PM.

1992 - SNP (lived in Scotland)

1997 - Labour - oh the mood of joy - how naive we were.

2001 - can't remember but I think labour

2005 - Can't remember who I voted for but I remember it being the first election when I took my children with me to the polling station, being cross DH was away on business and lost his vote and being in a mini-cab with a very jolly Afghan driver who said he couldn't vote because the Government would find him and he wasn't supposed to be here. Maybe Nick Clegg can find him.

specialmagiclady · 06/05/2010 16:40

1979 - was my birthday, school was shut as polling station. Made up this fine poem: "3rd of May, My birthday, And Election Day". I was 7.

Thatcher resignation - in my 1st year uni, doing drama with lots of very left wing people very very jubilant. I'm just thinking "yes, but who's DRIVING THE COUNTRY???? Are we going to crash?"

1997 - Stayed up late on my own in flat shared with then boyfriend (Where was he??? Suspect out with new girlfriend...) I had a gram of coke I was splitting into two for 2 parties coming up*. Never quite got the 2 halves even so had to do rather a lot of "tidying up" which was nice. But odd. All by myself with Portillo etc...

*worked in meedja but was poor!

NormaSnorks · 06/05/2010 16:44

In 1997 we were on our honeymoon in Spain

I was glued to Sky TV, as this was the only channel we could get any UK coverage on.

DH always jokes 'there were 3 people on our honeymoon - me, Norma & Adam Boulton

snowlady · 06/05/2010 16:46

1979 - I was a big Blue Peter fan and I remember they had tortoises named Maggie (Thatcher) and Jim (Callaghan)

1987 - supposed to be revising for O levels and distracted by the election.

1992 - missed the election as living in France. Could not believe that John Major won.

BythewayItsStillMe · 06/05/2010 16:52

I remember being in my drama class the day of the 1997 election!

We started our own countries in different corners of the room and had to 'rule' them and try and convince people 'living' in the other countries to move to ours. Went on for weeks.

Taught by one of the best teachers I can remember

OrmRenewed · 06/05/2010 16:53

DS1 was a few months old. I remember strolling through the park after work with DS in his pram to vote. 1997. Can't remember the last time.

amidaiwish · 06/05/2010 16:55

early 1980's i was in west mid hospital waiting to have stitches in my chin. spent the whole blimming night waiting with my dad ignoring me glued to the TV screen in casualty!

amidaiwish · 06/05/2010 16:55

early 1980's i was in west mid hospital waiting to have stitches in my chin. spent the whole blimming night waiting with my dad ignoring me glued to the TV screen in casualty!

amidaiwish · 06/05/2010 16:56

'97 on holiday with twat ex bf who was very concerned the whole holiday that TB had got in and something about bank of england controlling exchange rate/inflation of something!

pagwatch · 06/05/2010 16:59

Seth,
I remember lying in bed with DH weeping after Neil Kinnock blew it with that bloody rally.
Then Blair got in and DH and I got drunk with general jolliness.

Quite sad this year. Have voted labour every year since 1979 and i can't vote for this bunch of useless tossers anymore.

I intend to just get drunk as there is no good outcome to be had.