Author Archives: jroauthor

With Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s the Power of Love still riding high in the charts after its release in December last year, there were two further songs with the same name by Jennifer Rush and Huey Lewis and the News. Which was your favourite? Personally, I’ve always defended the 70s as being way better musicallyContinue reading “My Top Thirteen from 1985”

In the 1980s the increasing number of working women helped to change the face of food in the UK. The declining use of fresh vegetables started in the 70s continued, with a marked reduction in root vegetables and others, especially carrots, turnips, parsnips, cabbages and sprouts. Out went the standard meat, potato and two veg;Continue reading “1980s Food and Drink”

Two things I remember from this year: firstly Frankie Goes to Hollywood dominated the charts, with The Power of Love, the awesome Two Tribes and their single Relax was banned, so of course it made #1. And there were two songs in the chart called Jump, by Van Halen and the Pointer Sisters (which IContinue reading “My Top 13 from 1984”

1980 Friday the 13th Caddyshack The Blues Brothers Airplane! Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back The Shining Raging Bull 9 To 5 Superman II The Fog American Gigolo Any Which Way You Can 1981 Raiders Of The Lost Ark Time Bandits Das Boot Escape From New York Excalibur An American Werewolf InContinue reading “1980s Movies”

This has never happened before – I just couldn’t pick between 2 songs for the number 1 slot. I would be up dancing to both of these for many hours in 1983 – probably days if you consider the ensuing 4 decades … The fact they’re both by MJ allows me to squeeze an extraContinue reading “My top 13 from 1983”

My memory of 80s centred around business suits – but I always cut out the shoulder pads shudders. I really hated those pencil skirts, so I tended to go for flared ones – my two were in navy and red tartan, and I only chucked them out this decade. I still wear a black-and whiteContinue reading “1980s Women’s Fashions”

These are the ones I watch every year – usually while writing cards, wrapping pressies etc. 1. Love Actually 2003 2. The Holiday 2006 3. Jack Frost 1998 4. Die Hard 1988 5. Scrooged 1988 6. Blackadder’s Christmas Carol 1988 7. A Christmas Prince 2017 (#2 2018, #3 2019) 8. The Christmas Chronicles 2018 (#2Continue reading “My Top 13 Christmas Movies”

This list is a combination of my favourites from when I was young (60s/70s), and from when my kids were young (90s). Funny how much crossover there was. 1. Lego 2. Spirograph 3. Connect Four 4. Etch-a-sketch 5. Trivial Pursuit/Monopoly 6. Twister 7. Rubik’s Cube 8. Thunderbirds Tracy Island 9. Barbie/Action Man 10. Spacehopper 11.Continue reading “Top 13 Christmas Toys”

Something a bit different – or is it? 1. “I Believe in Father Christmas” Greg Lake 19752. “Fairytale of New York” The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl 19873. “Driving Home for Christmas” Chris Rea 19884. “Carol of the Bells” John Williams 1990 5. “A Spaceman Came Travelling” Chris de Burgh 1975 6. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” Tom JonesContinue reading “My Top 13 Christmas Songs”