Well, Plonkers it's the very last day of the A to Z Blog Challenge for 2015 and I've done it. Without any prep, without too much scheduling, I finished. Shoo!
It's been an incredibly busy month with daily posts, Tweeting, Facebooking, Instagraming, 4 times a week training at the gym, 8 publication deadlines at work, a long awaited pregnancy announcement (not mine), 5km runs every Sunday, a brilliant holiday to my folks down at the coast, a trip to the vet with my viciously grumpy Jack Russell, 4 sessions of healthy meal prep, date night with the Boerewors that was cut short, a horrific experience at the dentist, a long awaited engagement, toothache for an entire week, hiding my entire body in a old army trunk, a special dinner with a friend who I hadn't seen in 3 months and was missing terribly, an infection in my jaw and a One Direction concert with my youngest.
So, I'm in much need of a wee bit of "time out". I plan to stay in my PJs this long weekend, watch ridiculous amounts of crappy TV (and some good shit too). Bring on Outlander, perhaps a peppering of BlackList and a spoonful of Greys Anatomy and Elementary. A bowl of popcorn the size of my head and a soda that would drown a small child.
Yes...that's what I will do.
Back to the Letter Z
I love the old stop animation cartoons of the 70s, you don't quite get anything like them anymore. All the cartoons these days are full of monsters, zombies and super heros with names I don't understand. These days anything with a cape and who has super powers is Buck. What happened to good, old fashioned moral- teaching toonz?
The Magic Roundabout was a favourite of mine when I was in my single digits, and I remember running home from school at lunch time to watch it on telly. Glue to the box for half an hour, while crisping up my snow-sodden mittens on the kitchen radiator, and eating a bowl of my mum's hot tatty and vegetable soup. Then sprinting back to school in record time for the lunch bell to reminder us about afternoon classes.
Zebedee was my favourite. I think it would because he has the least human or animal-like characteristics. He had a large spring for her legs and wore a particularly dashing Mexican moustache and bright bow-tie. Who could fault his style?
Dougal and Pollux had swag, but was Zebedee who always made a flamboyant entrance with his loud "Boing!" sound and predictably said at the end of every episode, "Time For Bed and there's been enough magic for one day".
I'm kinda cheating today for my musical finalé portion of the post.
It's a band that doesn't quite start with the letter Z, but fekkit, I'm a rule breaker and I'm gonna play some Zep - Led Zeppelin. Guitar Solo please, Mr Jimmy Page.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
YouTube It
Everyone knows if you want to search for new music, new film trailers, any video sharing....we all head to YouTube. In April 23, 2005, Jawed Karim uploaded a video to a new site called YouTube that he helped create. The World Wide Web was a completely different animal nine years ago - that's like 50 years in the digital age. We didn't talk about social media, we didn't talk about Twitter yet and Facebook was but a baby among college students.
There were no advertisements tied to the videos back then, no Hashtags. It was straight up silly videos and nothing went viral for a while.
In November 2006, it was bought by Google for $1.65 billion.
Vlogging took off and it was the best way of growing your audience and putting a "face to your blog name".
Here are 20 of the oldest YouTube Videos. Oh boy, you're in for a rip-roaring treat....
Labels:
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a to z blog challenge,
vintage you tube,
youtube
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Xmas Xylophone
This is one of the first generation Stylophones that had a transistor oscillator.
My sister and I were gifted one of these babies in the 70s at Christmas one year.
We learned to play the French nursery rhyme "Frére Jacque" on it and probably drove my parents insane! I often wondered why the batteries were ALWAYS flat or we couldn't find any.
The first thing that always went on the Xylophones was the wire on the stylus, which apparently was a common thing. Also, the metal parts around the "keyboard" usually came undone - ours was no exception. This was a great wee toy that my sister and I enjoyed for years!
Today's music are the best auditions from X-Factor
My sister and I were gifted one of these babies in the 70s at Christmas one year.
We learned to play the French nursery rhyme "Frére Jacque" on it and probably drove my parents insane! I often wondered why the batteries were ALWAYS flat or we couldn't find any.
The first thing that always went on the Xylophones was the wire on the stylus, which apparently was a common thing. Also, the metal parts around the "keyboard" usually came undone - ours was no exception. This was a great wee toy that my sister and I enjoyed for years!
Today's music are the best auditions from X-Factor
Labels:
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frère Jacque,
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oscillator,
stylophone,
synthesizer,
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xylophone
Monday, 27 April 2015
Wombles and Willy Moon
We are heading down the home stretch with the last few letters of the A to Z Blog Challenge.We have W, X, Y and Z left. WOW! I can't believe I made it this far. Today's letter is W.
The Wimbledon Wombles. Those orange, fuzzy foragers who were under-ground, over-ground Wombling free? Sticking their bear-like pointy noses into everyone's rubbish and always finding something of significance?
Remember Great Uncle Bulgaria with his specs perched on the end of this nose and his tartan shoes. Orinoco is the lazy one, who is always late, Tobermory the clever one and bossy Bungo. Madame Cholet who spoke with a very posh French accent, who I always thought was Madame Charlotte and Cousin Cairngorm McWomble the Terrible. There was wee Wellington with his blue and black cap and black rimmed specs? They were all dead cute. I used to watch the TV series every Saturday morning and sang along to the very catching song "Wombling Free"
The Wombles always had brilliant adventures while on "Tidy Up Duty". They used to find all sorts of useless stuff that they made interesting. My Dad always used to say that "The Wombles could make honey outta dog shite!" Yeah...my Dad is quite a character with a mouth like a sailor...
Did you enjoy watching The Wombles?
Today's music features Willy Moon. He's not vintage, but his music definitely sounds from a different era.
Enjoy!
Saturday, 25 April 2015
Vinyl Junkie
We all had Vinyl records growing up. The old, think 78s were not during my time, but the dinky 45" singles and the 33 were still very much the trend during the 80s. We religiously wiped them with our valour fabric squares that we kept in a plastic zippy. We'd gently settle the needle on the very edge of the record, being incredibly careful not to scratch or bounce the needle.
Then cassette tapes came along and we used our pencil to rewind our tapes when they got stuck in our Walkman, then in popped the CD and vinyl made a trendy come back this decade.
Everyone now regrets using their old vinyl records as décor at the family sixties parties, or used them as frisbies to entertain their pooch. These days they are pretty valuable, especially the old rare printings of some vinyl records. Don't you just love how as time ticks by the trends come and go and come around again...
Pity I didn't hold on to all my dad's Decca 45s of the early Rolling Stones stuff.
Happy Shopping at a modern day Vinyl Shop, Record Mad
Today's music feature is Van Halen
Thursday, 23 April 2015
Under The Bramble Bushes
Remember clapping this Playground Classic?
My sister and I used to do clapping games at lightning speed - I still do it with my lassies too.
Under The Bramble Bushes
Under The Sea
Boom, Boom, Boom
True Love for me, my darling
True Love for you.
And When we Marry,
we'll raise a family.
Under The Bramble Bush...
We used this and other songs for clapping and skipping games too.
I loved skipping (with double ropes too) and Chinese ropes (which was just a bunch of elastic bands joined together). You and a friend stood face-to-face about four feet from one another, hooked the elastics around your ankles and the person playing the game jumped in and out and on the elastic bands in time to the syllables of the song.
and loads of risqué ones too
I much preferred playing marbles in the dirty with the boys though.
Today's musical interlude is my favourite band as a teenager. I was so much in love with Paul Hewson aka Bono and had all their records.
Enjoy
My sister and I used to do clapping games at lightning speed - I still do it with my lassies too.
Under The Bramble Bushes
Under The Sea
Boom, Boom, Boom
True Love for me, my darling
True Love for you.
And When we Marry,
we'll raise a family.
Under The Bramble Bush...
We used this and other songs for clapping and skipping games too.
I loved skipping (with double ropes too) and Chinese ropes (which was just a bunch of elastic bands joined together). You and a friend stood face-to-face about four feet from one another, hooked the elastics around your ankles and the person playing the game jumped in and out and on the elastic bands in time to the syllables of the song.
Not last night but the night before
24 robbers came knocking at my door,
I ran out, (run out of rope), to let them in, (jump back in)
and this is what they said to me :
Spanish dancers do the splits, (jumper doing the commands after each)
Spanish dancers do the kicks,
Spanish dances turn around,
Spanish dancers touch the ground,
Spanish dancers get out of town, (run out of rope, end of turn)
and loads of risqué ones too
When Suzy was a school girl, she said miss, miss I can't do this I've got my knickers in a great big twist. When Suzy was a teenager ... She said "ooh, ah I've lost my bra, I've left my knickers in my boyfriend's car".
I much preferred playing marbles in the dirty with the boys though.
Today's musical interlude is my favourite band as a teenager. I was so much in love with Paul Hewson aka Bono and had all their records.
Enjoy
Tank Girl
Tank Girl is a movie based on the British cult comic-strip, our tank-riding anti-heroine fights a mega-corporation, which controls the world's water supply.
It's a fun film filled with quirky in-yer-face humour, sexy half-nude girls and great one-liners.
Look, its no Schindler's List, but if you're in the mood for a feel-good girl empowering film, this is the one to get you smiling.
It's simple and predictable and full of sarcastic wise-cracks.
It's a fun film filled with quirky in-yer-face humour, sexy half-nude girls and great one-liners.
Look, its no Schindler's List, but if you're in the mood for a feel-good girl empowering film, this is the one to get you smiling.
It's simple and predictable and full of sarcastic wise-cracks.
Labels:
a to z blog,
a to z blog challenge,
british cult film,
nostalgic,
retro,
tank girl,
vintage
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Spongeworthy Seinfeld and a Velvet Scrunchie
It was the nineties and Seinfeld was huge! It was a really funny family weekly sitcom that was a massive success.
Who was your favourite Seinfeld character?
Elaine was always my favourite.
She's gorgeous, sassy, selfish and incredibly self-righteous. I just love her signature "Get Out!" shove, and all of them never changing their ways - never learning from their mistakes.
It was a brilliant show and never lost its edge. They made it on the cover of Time magazine and won countless awards. It was actually embarrassing watching the Award shows in the 90s , because Seinfeld always pretty much cleaned up!

Scrunchies were also massive in the 90s and every girl had at least two or three of them. Some lassies were lucky enough to have one in every colour to match every outfit. Some lassies were even smart enough at sewing to make their very own scrunchies from old dresses and t-shrits (how very Blossom of them). I was never very good at sewing. I still suck at sewing and making stuff....och, in I'm shite at anything crafty. My stuff is usually featured on those sarcastic "Nailed It" posts on Pinterest.
Who was your favourite Seinfeld character?
Elaine was always my favourite.
She's gorgeous, sassy, selfish and incredibly self-righteous. I just love her signature "Get Out!" shove, and all of them never changing their ways - never learning from their mistakes.
It was a brilliant show and never lost its edge. They made it on the cover of Time magazine and won countless awards. It was actually embarrassing watching the Award shows in the 90s , because Seinfeld always pretty much cleaned up!

Scrunchies were also massive in the 90s and every girl had at least two or three of them. Some lassies were lucky enough to have one in every colour to match every outfit. Some lassies were even smart enough at sewing to make their very own scrunchies from old dresses and t-shrits (how very Blossom of them). I was never very good at sewing. I still suck at sewing and making stuff....och, in I'm shite at anything crafty. My stuff is usually featured on those sarcastic "Nailed It" posts on Pinterest.
Labels:
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elanie,
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Seinfeld
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
Don't HATE, Roller skate!
We're heading down the final stretch of the A to Z Blog Challenge. It's be a rockin' ride...I've visited over 70 blogs already and found a handful that I'm newly following. Keep going, don't give up, we're almost there. Enjoy...
When we emigrated to South Africa from Scotland back in the early eighties, I had my very first birthday party. It was my tenth birthday and I got to invite all my friends from my new school, eat truck loads of sugar and have a few friends sleep over. It was brilliant! A dream come true.
I got a pair of roller-skates and a puppy! I'd always wanted a puppy and wee Skipper was the cutest thing ever.
My roller-skates became an addendum to my body for about two years after my tenth birthday. I lived in, or is it on, my roller skates.
I would put them on the minute I got home from school and not take them off until bed time. I wore out my wheels and front stopper more times than I can remember, and I think I actually slept with them in my bed that first night I got them.
Today's vintage music is Robert Palmer. Every teenage boy watched the music video over and over to watch the hotties pretend to play guitar and shake their arses all over the place.
Enjoy.
Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistible by Dan_of_the_Land
When we emigrated to South Africa from Scotland back in the early eighties, I had my very first birthday party. It was my tenth birthday and I got to invite all my friends from my new school, eat truck loads of sugar and have a few friends sleep over. It was brilliant! A dream come true.
I got a pair of roller-skates and a puppy! I'd always wanted a puppy and wee Skipper was the cutest thing ever. My roller-skates became an addendum to my body for about two years after my tenth birthday. I lived in, or is it on, my roller skates.
I would put them on the minute I got home from school and not take them off until bed time. I wore out my wheels and front stopper more times than I can remember, and I think I actually slept with them in my bed that first night I got them.
Today's vintage music is Robert Palmer. Every teenage boy watched the music video over and over to watch the hotties pretend to play guitar and shake their arses all over the place.
Enjoy.
Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistible by Dan_of_the_Land
Monday, 20 April 2015
Quickly, Qbert
Who remembers the puzzle arcade game Q*bert by Gottlieb from the 80s? The most adorable wee orange character with an elongated nose and his comic swear speech bubble. The controls with the diagonally oriented joystick and the purple snake enemy Coily and the green enemy Slick.
20c got you a few goes with this diagonally hopping orange weirdo. He even got a part in the awesome animated movie Wreck It Ralf.
Today's musical interlude is from Queen. Good old vintage Freddie Mercury in the 80s at Live Aid.
Labels:
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eighties,
gottlieb,
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wreck it ralf
Saturday, 18 April 2015
Psych! It's Paddington.
When I was growing up in Scotland, Paddington Bear was everywhere - books, telly, stuffed bears, comics, endless merchandise. He even has his own Royal Mail stamp! Paddington Bear was created by a BBC cameraman in the late fifties, after buying a neglected Teddy Bear for his wife one Christmas at Paddington Train Station. Hence the name.
He went on to write a book about Paddington Bear and many books were published after that first one.
Adorable wee Paddington wears a grey dufflecoat and closh hat most of the time and carries an old, battered suitcase with a hidden compartment. He sometimes wears wellies, has the cutest accent and adores marmalade!
Do you remember watching him? The TV show was a mixture of 2D and 3D animation and that's what made is so special, well, for me anyway.
Paddington Bear is so well-know he has even met royalty!
The Voice of Michael Horden
Friday, 17 April 2015
OMG! It's The Osmonds!
The Osmonds began as a barbershop quartet group with all the older brothers. I think there were five of them and later the younger boys joined, which made them seven in total. They started the band in order to raise money to buy hearing aids for their two oldest brothers, who were born deaf.
Their only sister, Marie, poor wee thing, didn't really sing with her brothers, but she went on to have a successful solo country career. They grew up a very religious family and were very clean-cut.
Handsome Donny was, by far, the most popular of the brothers and quickly became a heart-throb and front man of the Osmonds. Later, The Donny and Marie TV show took off, but it only ran for 3 years before they went bankrupt.
It seems they all went to the same dentist as they all had the same row of shiny, perfectly shaped teeth. Perhaps that is why they really went bankrupt? Tooth high in dentist bills...
Although they had a clean cut image, their family always seemed to be riddled with scandal.
Here's one of Donny and Marie's hits.
Their only sister, Marie, poor wee thing, didn't really sing with her brothers, but she went on to have a successful solo country career. They grew up a very religious family and were very clean-cut.
Handsome Donny was, by far, the most popular of the brothers and quickly became a heart-throb and front man of the Osmonds. Later, The Donny and Marie TV show took off, but it only ran for 3 years before they went bankrupt.
It seems they all went to the same dentist as they all had the same row of shiny, perfectly shaped teeth. Perhaps that is why they really went bankrupt? Tooth high in dentist bills...
Although they had a clean cut image, their family always seemed to be riddled with scandal.
Here's one of Donny and Marie's hits.
Labels:
a to z blog,
a to z blog challenge,
Donny Osmond,
marie Osmond,
nostalgia,
retro,
the osmonds,
vintage
Thursday, 16 April 2015
Nifty Nanny. Oy vey!
Remember that Nanny named Fran who spoke through her nose and laughed like a hyena on acid? Yeah, I loved that TV show too.
I thought Fran was hysterical with her grumpy Yiddish grandmother, Nanny's short skirts, colourful wardrobe, big hair and opaque tights. Oh she was soooo 90s and such a quirky character. I loved that she sometimes looked directly into the camera when delivering one her of snappy sarcastic one-liners. I love her Mum, who had even bigger hair than Fran, that was forever shovelling food in her face and that she believed Barbara Streisand walked on water.I must admit the kids were annoying and so was Maxwell, but I enjoyed the butler's gags. Nile and Fran always ganged up on CeeCee, ripping her apart and playing daft jokes on her.
Who was your favourite character in The Nanny?
Todays music is 90s boy band 'N SYNC. Certainly not my favourite boy band, but they were extremely popular in the 90s.
Happy Listening.
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Making Out in the Eighties
Growing up, I always wanted a real horse. I used to spent hours drawing horses. I used to dream about having my very own pony. I used to imagine what I'd name him and how I'd spend my time after school brushing his silky mane and plait his tail.
I loved anything to do with horses, so when My Little Pony came on the market I wanted one!
I'd spent ages combing the hair, washing the hair, re-combing the hair and the art was to keep the curl in the tail in tact.
It were a great wee Hasbro toy - small enough to hide in your school bag or pocket. You could ALWAYS have your horse with you. If your mum and dad were wealthy your Little Pony could have pretty transparent wings.
I loved anything to do with horses, so when My Little Pony came on the market I wanted one! I'd spent ages combing the hair, washing the hair, re-combing the hair and the art was to keep the curl in the tail in tact.
It were a great wee Hasbro toy - small enough to hide in your school bag or pocket. You could ALWAYS have your horse with you. If your mum and dad were wealthy your Little Pony could have pretty transparent wings.
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Linolium is Like So Hot Right Now!
Remember those awful sixties and seventies linoleum kitchen floors? It was dead trendy at the time, but looking back, those patterns were like a frikken eye test.
Gosh, they were uglier than a bag full of arseholes.
My folks used to change our linoleum at least every year. I guess my mum loved keeping up with the trends...or is that keeping up with the Jones'?
For those of you who don't remember what lino is, it's a floor covering made from solidified linseed oil, pine rosin, ground cork dust and wood flour. Rolls of lino come in thousands of different patterns and colours. Seems like the majority of the sixties designs were vomit coloured.
Do you remember putting on your fluffiest socks and sliding along the linoleum floor? It was a blast! Happy Times.
I also remember sitting at the kitchen table, my mum nagging us to eat our vegetables and, to pass the time, I counted the blocks in lino. It takes me back in time to when my mum cooked us Mince 'n Tatties and always seemed to burn the tatties. When I went to someone else's house to eat the same dish, I was always surprised to not taste the burn. My mum never watched Martha Stewart, or owned a cook book! Bless her!
Today's musical interlude is Led Zeppelin. I adore Led Zep, they made some brilliant music and both Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are legends! In my opinion, they weren't the best at playing live but Robert made up for it with his on-stage performance and charisma.
Enjoy.
Gosh, they were uglier than a bag full of arseholes.My folks used to change our linoleum at least every year. I guess my mum loved keeping up with the trends...or is that keeping up with the Jones'?
For those of you who don't remember what lino is, it's a floor covering made from solidified linseed oil, pine rosin, ground cork dust and wood flour. Rolls of lino come in thousands of different patterns and colours. Seems like the majority of the sixties designs were vomit coloured.
Do you remember putting on your fluffiest socks and sliding along the linoleum floor? It was a blast! Happy Times.
I also remember sitting at the kitchen table, my mum nagging us to eat our vegetables and, to pass the time, I counted the blocks in lino. It takes me back in time to when my mum cooked us Mince 'n Tatties and always seemed to burn the tatties. When I went to someone else's house to eat the same dish, I was always surprised to not taste the burn. My mum never watched Martha Stewart, or owned a cook book! Bless her!
Today's musical interlude is Led Zeppelin. I adore Led Zep, they made some brilliant music and both Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are legends! In my opinion, they weren't the best at playing live but Robert made up for it with his on-stage performance and charisma.
Enjoy.
Monday, 13 April 2015
Keen Kodaking
As most of you know, by now my theme for the A to Z Blog Challenge this month is Retro Nostalgia.
I love all things vintage and retro so let me take you back...
Remember the Kodak Polaroid Camera?
It was revolutionary in its day...instant photographs?! My dad had a Kodak Instamatic and the refills came in cute packs of 10 instant photos. They were like wee gold sandwiches in our house. It was uber cool to look at your pictures only minutes after you took them.
Blow It and Shake It - Remember?
Reminds me of the song by Outkast "Hey Ya"..... "Shake eet Laaik a Poloroid Peekture".
We even a Kodak Polaroid at work during the 90s. I worked for a recruitment company and we used them to take instant photos of all our candidates to attached to their profile and resumé. It was genius and a great way of remember what the candidate looked like (before all the laws were in place not to ask any personal details about an applicant)
I can still remember the smell of the photos as they came out. It was a great way to take naughty photos without having the woman at the developing shop, peeping at your pix and giving you the stink eye when you collected them.
Nowadays, you can order polaroid look-a-likes of your Instagram uploads by Nifty250. I loves these print outs. There are so many funky crafts you can do with them.
Music Feature today is The Kinks. They were brilliant! Besides, Lola this is one of my favourite tracks by them.
.
Saturday, 11 April 2015
Jaggie Jellies and Jack White
We're almost half way through the A to Z Blog Challenge and today's letter is the letter J.
Back in the wondrous eighties, the fashions were Fugly and Crazy. These Jelly Shoes were certainly no exception. They came in any colour you wanted and because they were super cheap, you could afford to match your shoes to any colour outfit.
There were a few things about these shoes that made them horrid. They made your feet incredibly sweaty and stinky! They also pinched your feet until you got blisters and came in various styles, sometimes with glitter. You also got an awful tan from the lattice pattern...so gross. You could also get matching bags and belts!
Today's music feature is Jack White, back when he was half of The White Stripes with drummer and ex-wife, Meg White. My favourite band and my favourite artist...
In this track and video, Jack records on his couch while Meg sleeps. Its a great melody and a sweet song.
We are Going to be Friends
Back in the wondrous eighties, the fashions were Fugly and Crazy. These Jelly Shoes were certainly no exception. They came in any colour you wanted and because they were super cheap, you could afford to match your shoes to any colour outfit. There were a few things about these shoes that made them horrid. They made your feet incredibly sweaty and stinky! They also pinched your feet until you got blisters and came in various styles, sometimes with glitter. You also got an awful tan from the lattice pattern...so gross. You could also get matching bags and belts!
Today's music feature is Jack White, back when he was half of The White Stripes with drummer and ex-wife, Meg White. My favourite band and my favourite artist...
In this track and video, Jack records on his couch while Meg sleeps. Its a great melody and a sweet song.
We are Going to be Friends
Friday, 10 April 2015
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget is a cartoon that revolves around the adventures of a bumblin, dim-witted cyborg detective. He was a human being with various bionic gadgets built into his body. He'd say "Go Go Gadget Arm" and is bionic arm would shoot out and screw something up.
I used to watch this on a Saturday morning and he always made me giggle.
Gadget dressed like Inspector Clouseau with his dodgy trench coat and cloche hat that turns into a helicopter. He drove a minivan and had a really smart dog called Brain.
They catching theme tune stuck in your head all bloody day. Do-do-do-do-do Inspector Gadget. Oooo-Hooo!
Today's music feature is Iggy Pop. His antics on stage were completely acid-injected and you can clearly see who is huge musical influence was by how he performs on stage...Jim Morrison? Strange fellow...
I used to watch this on a Saturday morning and he always made me giggle.
Gadget dressed like Inspector Clouseau with his dodgy trench coat and cloche hat that turns into a helicopter. He drove a minivan and had a really smart dog called Brain.
They catching theme tune stuck in your head all bloody day. Do-do-do-do-do Inspector Gadget. Oooo-Hooo!
Today's music feature is Iggy Pop. His antics on stage were completely acid-injected and you can clearly see who is huge musical influence was by how he performs on stage...Jim Morrison? Strange fellow...
Thursday, 9 April 2015
Hall Rules and Heebie-Jeebie Horsefeathers
I'm going way back in time now...this is almost a cheat post because nothing about this time makes me nostalgic, but I do love watching Downton Abbey.
The story is not only about the aristocrats and how they live, but more interestingly about the servants and the "downstairs" way of life.
This period drama series is set during the Edwardian era and quickly moves through time to include pre- and post World War and then through the swinging twenties.
The story is not only about the aristocrats and how they live, but more interestingly about the servants and the "downstairs" way of life.
It has such awesome costumes and the polite dialogue is completely foreign in the beginning. It often makes you think what it would be like to living during those times when women were oppressed and men called all the shots. Not even your inheritance, as a lady, was secure...land could only be passed on to male heirs.
It was time when high-tea was served by servants in the posh drawing room at the request of a bell and mail arrived by hand. When women wore gloves and everyone dressed for dinner. No-one got Half-seas over without getting side-ways glances. Everything was so sophisticated and formal.
Servants had strict Hall Rules; "No Swearing or indecent language while the cloth is on the table" or "No one is to be suffered playing cards in the Hall before 6o'clock in the evening". If they did they were fine thruppence!
Here's a true story of Life below stairs which is really interesting. Enjoy! See you tomorrow.
Here's a true story of Life below stairs which is really interesting. Enjoy! See you tomorrow.
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
Gag Me With A Spoon
Let me take you back to the 80s for the A to Z Blog Challenge Letter G.
The eighties were definitely NOT the best era for flattering fashion. In fact, the fashions and styles were downright ridiculous and often ugly!
This particular item brings back awesome memories for me.
I started being a serious gym bunny when I was 17 years old and I haven't stopped since. If I don't have a gym contract or working out, I feel that something is missing in my life. I've been through aerobics, step aerobics, calanetics, kata box training, zumba, weight training, circuit training, you name it, I've probably tried it at one time or another.
My exercise routine started off doing classic aerobics in the late 80s, when the fashions in the gym were sexy and risqué!
G-String high-cut skimpy leotards with flesh coloured footless tights, wide coloured belts and head bands and not forgetting the fuzziest, brightest coloured leg warmers you could find.
Don't forget the LA Gear hi-tops, which any dedicated Gym Bunny just HAD to have, with the same colour laces as your fluffy roll-down socks, of course. Nothing demure about the eighties!
Oh yeah, those were the days of Jane Fonda educating us on "feeling the burn" and squeezing our glutes until we thought they'd actually fall right off!
Today's retro music feature is George Michael. I thought I'd stick with the eighties...
Remember, You Gotta Have Faith!
The eighties were definitely NOT the best era for flattering fashion. In fact, the fashions and styles were downright ridiculous and often ugly!
This particular item brings back awesome memories for me.
I started being a serious gym bunny when I was 17 years old and I haven't stopped since. If I don't have a gym contract or working out, I feel that something is missing in my life. I've been through aerobics, step aerobics, calanetics, kata box training, zumba, weight training, circuit training, you name it, I've probably tried it at one time or another.
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| G-String Leotards |
G-String high-cut skimpy leotards with flesh coloured footless tights, wide coloured belts and head bands and not forgetting the fuzziest, brightest coloured leg warmers you could find.
Don't forget the LA Gear hi-tops, which any dedicated Gym Bunny just HAD to have, with the same colour laces as your fluffy roll-down socks, of course. Nothing demure about the eighties!
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| LA Gear |
Oh yeah, those were the days of Jane Fonda educating us on "feeling the burn" and squeezing our glutes until we thought they'd actually fall right off!
Today's retro music feature is George Michael. I thought I'd stick with the eighties...
Remember, You Gotta Have Faith!
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Fuddy-Duddy Clifford
So many A to Z Participants this year! WOWZER! Its quite overwhelming!
The April A to Z Blog Challenge has come a long way from its first year way back when. Its a great blog challenge and I've met so many awesome bloggers through this challenge and through Alex. It's always a wild ride and completely different every time.
Back to the Nostalgia Theme.
Something that makes me nostalgic and takes me way back, is my very first car I bought and owned.
I was so proud that I'd saved enough money to buy my very own second hand car. I even named him! Clifford, my MK2 Ford Escort was a bargain and I could wait to drive it!
A couple of days into owning my very own wee car, I realised why it was such a bargain... It was only running on only 3 cylinders, which meant I had to avoid steep hills and going up certain roads, because it was only a 1300 to begin with. Clifford had pretty much no power.
That didn't put me off! I was young and my motto was... "have car, will drive" and drive I certainly did. I went everywhere in wee Clifford. My Ford Escort was baby blue with a trendy vinyl roof and I thought I was the shizzle. I even bought matching fuzzy car seat covers and put in a tape deck so that I could play my MixTapes.
Loads of fun was had in that wee car. Clifford could even tell a few stories about the Drive-In...
Enjoy this track by Fleetwood Mac....Go Your Own Way from 1977.
The April A to Z Blog Challenge has come a long way from its first year way back when. Its a great blog challenge and I've met so many awesome bloggers through this challenge and through Alex. It's always a wild ride and completely different every time.
Back to the Nostalgia Theme.
Something that makes me nostalgic and takes me way back, is my very first car I bought and owned.
I was so proud that I'd saved enough money to buy my very own second hand car. I even named him! Clifford, my MK2 Ford Escort was a bargain and I could wait to drive it!
A couple of days into owning my very own wee car, I realised why it was such a bargain... It was only running on only 3 cylinders, which meant I had to avoid steep hills and going up certain roads, because it was only a 1300 to begin with. Clifford had pretty much no power.
That didn't put me off! I was young and my motto was... "have car, will drive" and drive I certainly did. I went everywhere in wee Clifford. My Ford Escort was baby blue with a trendy vinyl roof and I thought I was the shizzle. I even bought matching fuzzy car seat covers and put in a tape deck so that I could play my MixTapes.
Loads of fun was had in that wee car. Clifford could even tell a few stories about the Drive-In...
Enjoy this track by Fleetwood Mac....Go Your Own Way from 1977.
Monday, 6 April 2015
Eat My Shorts!
Happy Monday, Pretty Plonkers.
Today is the letter E for the 2015 A to Z Blog Challenge.
As you know my Nostalgic theme is two-part; the first part of the post will be something retro or vintage that I remember from my childhood, or something that I remember my mum and dad talking about or passing down to me.
Today's feature is ta-raaa - The Easy-Bake Oven.
What little girl in back in my time DIDN'T have an Easy Bake Oven? And let me tell you, if you didn't own one, you were cramping your fingers writing countless letters to Santa begging him to bring you one. It was every wee lassie's dream.
Many hours were spent playing with the oven, but when your mixes and accessories ran out it was pretty much useless.
Today's nostalgic tune is the 80s duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart in the Eurythmics. They had plenty hits but this one is pretty catchy. Enjoy and sing along!
Today is the letter E for the 2015 A to Z Blog Challenge.
As you know my Nostalgic theme is two-part; the first part of the post will be something retro or vintage that I remember from my childhood, or something that I remember my mum and dad talking about or passing down to me.
Today's feature is ta-raaa - The Easy-Bake Oven.What little girl in back in my time DIDN'T have an Easy Bake Oven? And let me tell you, if you didn't own one, you were cramping your fingers writing countless letters to Santa begging him to bring you one. It was every wee lassie's dream.
Many hours were spent playing with the oven, but when your mixes and accessories ran out it was pretty much useless.
Today's nostalgic tune is the 80s duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart in the Eurythmics. They had plenty hits but this one is pretty catchy. Enjoy and sing along!
Saturday, 4 April 2015
Dirty Dancing, Duh!
Happy Easter Everyone!
So, if you haven't noticed yet, my Retro post names have been all retro or vintage slang..
I hope you're enjoying the challenge as much as I am. I haven't been commenting as much as I'd want to because we're actually on holiday. My family and I are enjoying a well-deserved beach holiday and I'm able to visit my mum and dad too. Our internet signal isn't good at all, so I might not be posting again until Wednesday.
It's great to see my folks, but I just wish they lived closer to me. 700km is really far to drive for a cuddle from yer Mum.
Back to the challenge....remember Patrick Swayze?
The 80s dreamboat, who could wiggle his rear and be cool at the same time? Oh Yeah, Daddy-O!
For you blokes....remember Jennifer Grey?...hot body, cute personality, but that schnos!?!
Yeah, after she got the nose job, no one actually recognised her and no one gave her any other good film roles...poor thing.
I wanted to post a Depeche Mode song, but unfortunately I can't seem to access from our holiday destination :-(.
I will be back in the land of the Wi-Fi on Wednesday.
So, if you haven't noticed yet, my Retro post names have been all retro or vintage slang..
I hope you're enjoying the challenge as much as I am. I haven't been commenting as much as I'd want to because we're actually on holiday. My family and I are enjoying a well-deserved beach holiday and I'm able to visit my mum and dad too. Our internet signal isn't good at all, so I might not be posting again until Wednesday.
It's great to see my folks, but I just wish they lived closer to me. 700km is really far to drive for a cuddle from yer Mum.
Back to the challenge....remember Patrick Swayze? The 80s dreamboat, who could wiggle his rear and be cool at the same time? Oh Yeah, Daddy-O!
For you blokes....remember Jennifer Grey?...hot body, cute personality, but that schnos!?!
Yeah, after she got the nose job, no one actually recognised her and no one gave her any other good film roles...poor thing.
I wanted to post a Depeche Mode song, but unfortunately I can't seem to access from our holiday destination :-(.
I will be back in the land of the Wi-Fi on Wednesday.
Friday, 3 April 2015
Take A Chill Pill
The Letter C finds us jumping back in time to these...
Kids of today would not understand the relationship between these two items - The Pencil and The Cassette Tape.
When your favourite MixTape got eaten up by your Sony Walkman, you opened it up, pulled out the cassette and the miles of tape that the Walkman "ate", you had to insert the pencil between the cogs in the holes and wind the tape back into the cassette manually.
If you didn't have a pencil or a pen, you used your finger and tore all the skin of your Peter Pointer while doing it. We often had to do this with our favourite Mix Tapes, because we played them over and over again and the tapes would get stretched. It was your worst nightmare if you snapped the tape on your favourite U2 cassette.
Sometimes, we even used cellotape to rescue the poor thing. It always left a muted section on your tape, but it was either that, or chuck the entire tape in the bin?!
Kids of today would not understand the relationship between these two items - The Pencil and The Cassette Tape. When your favourite MixTape got eaten up by your Sony Walkman, you opened it up, pulled out the cassette and the miles of tape that the Walkman "ate", you had to insert the pencil between the cogs in the holes and wind the tape back into the cassette manually.
If you didn't have a pencil or a pen, you used your finger and tore all the skin of your Peter Pointer while doing it. We often had to do this with our favourite Mix Tapes, because we played them over and over again and the tapes would get stretched. It was your worst nightmare if you snapped the tape on your favourite U2 cassette.
Sometimes, we even used cellotape to rescue the poor thing. It always left a muted section on your tape, but it was either that, or chuck the entire tape in the bin?!
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| Remember Cabbage Patch Kids with their very own Birth Certificate? |
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| Care Bears. Everyone had a favourite and we used to watched the TV Show every Saturday morning |
The Cure are today's Retro band. I used to love Robert Smith, but was always a wee bit put off my his messy hair and smudged red lipstick. Good toonz though...
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Where’s the Beef?
Welcome to the Letter B of this year's A to Z Blog Challenge.
Who remembers the TV series Beyond 2000?
Here's an episode from 1987 taken from Betamax. Remember Betamax?
Yeah, well our wee family had the Phillips 2000 video recorder and we thought we were the shizzle!
The Phillips VCR had fancy analogue double-sided tapes like audio tapes. Twice the amount of recording time - Booyah!
The commercials an frikken epic.
My retro musical feature for the letter B is the B-52's who had huge hits in the 80s like "Love Shack" and "Planet Claire". They were pretty new wave and not everyone's cuppa tea. This was my favourite song of theirs.
See you tomorrow for the letter C....
Who remembers the TV series Beyond 2000?
Here's an episode from 1987 taken from Betamax. Remember Betamax?
Yeah, well our wee family had the Phillips 2000 video recorder and we thought we were the shizzle! The Phillips VCR had fancy analogue double-sided tapes like audio tapes. Twice the amount of recording time - Booyah!
The commercials an frikken epic.
My retro musical feature for the letter B is the B-52's who had huge hits in the 80s like "Love Shack" and "Planet Claire". They were pretty new wave and not everyone's cuppa tea. This was my favourite song of theirs.
See you tomorrow for the letter C....
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
A is for Atari
Welcome to the very first day of the 2015 A to Z Blog Challenge. This was a very last minute decision to take part this year, as I haven't been regularly blogging for a while.
I look forward to sharing my Nostalgic Retro Vintage posts with you and visit as many blogs as I can during April.
Atari means "to hit the target" in Japanese and is also the name of the corporate and brand name started in the year I was born, 1972.
Nostalgic?
I remember spending tons of my childhood hours jigglin those joysticks and fighting with my pals on who's turn it was next.
Atari pioneered the 20c arcade games that we love and remember - PacMan and Space Invaders? These incredibly wealth guys, and probably quite dead by now, helped define the electronic entertainment industry from when I was born until the late 1980s
And now a step back in time to the year 1981 and a disco dance hit that we all wiggled out bums to. Enjoy the totally bitchin' toon.
I look forward to sharing my Nostalgic Retro Vintage posts with you and visit as many blogs as I can during April.
Atari means "to hit the target" in Japanese and is also the name of the corporate and brand name started in the year I was born, 1972.
Nostalgic?
I remember spending tons of my childhood hours jigglin those joysticks and fighting with my pals on who's turn it was next.
Atari pioneered the 20c arcade games that we love and remember - PacMan and Space Invaders? These incredibly wealth guys, and probably quite dead by now, helped define the electronic entertainment industry from when I was born until the late 1980s
And now a step back in time to the year 1981 and a disco dance hit that we all wiggled out bums to. Enjoy the totally bitchin' toon.
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