JRo Author

My Top Thirteen from 1985

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 musically than the 80s. I still think that, but was kinda surprised by quite how many of this year’s releases deserved a mention. However, I suspect quite a few of these made it into the also-rans pile simply because people would expect to see them there and may even riot if they’re not.
As if!

1. Don Henley – The Boys Of Summer – 02-1985
2. Ashford & Simpson – Solid – 01-1985
3. Mr Mister – Broken Wings – 12-1985
4. Katrina & The Waves – Walking On Sunshine – 11-1985
5. Starship – We Built This City – 11-1985
6. Sister Sledge – Frankie – 06-1985
7. Gary Moore & Phil Lynott – Out In The Fields – 05-1985
8. Glenn Frey – The Heat Is On – 03-1985
9. Marillion – Kayleigh – 05-1985
10. Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill – 08-1985
11. Jimmy Nail – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore – 07-1985
12. John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) – 09-1985
13. Tina Turner – We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) – 07-1985

Here are some of the ones which didn’t make the cut:
Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me) – 04-1985
Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World – 03-1985
Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero – 08-1985
A-Ha – Take On Me – 09-1985
The Rah Band – Clouds Across The Moon – 03-1985
Lionel Richie -Say You, Say Me – 11-1985
Billy Ocean – Suddenly – 05-1985
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark – 01-1985 (re-entry)
Freddie Mercury – I Was Born To Love You – 04-1985
REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight this Feeling – ??-1985
Kool & The Gang – Cherish – 05-1985
Level 42 – Something About You – 09-1985
Kirsty MacColl – A New England – 01-1985
Jennifer Rush – The Power Of Love – 06-1985
Huey Lewis & The News – The Power Of Love – 08-1985
Simply Red – Money’s Too Tight (To Mention) – 06-1985
The Style Council – Walls Come Tumbling Down! – 12-1985
The Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves – 11-1985
Bryan Adams – Run To You – 01-1985
The Commodores – Night Shift – 01-1985
DeBarge – Rhythm Of The Night – 04-1985
Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms – 10-1985
Duran Duran – A View To A Kill – 05-1985
Bryan Ferry – Slave To Love – 05-1985
The Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home – 06-1985
Aretha Franklin – Who’s Zoomin’ Who – 11-1985
James Ingram & Michael McDonald – Yah Mo B There – 01-1985
Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You – 11-1985
Queen – One Vision – 11-1985
David Bowie & Mick Jagger – Dancing In The Street – 09-1985
Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston – Pie Jesu – 03-1985
UB40 Feat Chrissie Hynde – I Got You Babe – 08-1985
Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – Easy Lover – 03-1985
Paul Young – Every Time You Go Away – 03-1985
Midge Ure – If I Was – 09-1985
Billy Idol – White Wedding – 07-1985
Wham! – I’m Your Man – 11-1985
Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love – 03-1985
Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer – 02-1985
Elaine Page & Barbara Dickson – I Know Him So Well – 01-1985
The Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls – 11-1985
Prince & The Revolution – 1999 / Little Red Corvette – 01-1985
Grace Jones – Slave To The Rhythm – 10-1985
Madonna – Crazy For You – 06-1985
Howard Jones – Things Can Only Get Better – 02-1985
Go West – We Close Our Eyes – 02-1985
David Grant & Jaki Graham – Could It Be I’m Falling In Love – 03-1985
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasure Dome – 03-1985
Paul Hardcastle – 19 – 05-1985
The Eurythmics – There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) – 07-1985
Dire Straits – Money For Nothing – 07-1985
Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy – Kiss Me – 03-1985
Far Corporation – Stairway To Heaven – 10-1985
Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F – 06-1985
Five Star – Let Me Be The One – 07-1985
King – Love And Pride – 01-1985
Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) – 03-1985
The Talking Heads – Road To Nowhere – 10-1985

1980s Food and Drink

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; in came sauces, casseroles, the microwave and pasta-based meals. This was also the decade in which takeaway hamburger began to eat its way into our culture. Milk was no longer something always found in glass bottles, now it came in waxed cardboard or plastic cartons.

It was at once the era of convenience-driven microwave dinners and the newly popular global-inspired fine dining, known as “Haute Cuisine” which we remembered as lots of courses with artistically presented food, but very little on each plate. More exotic world foods gained popularity, e.g. sushi, beef stroganoff and pesto. Vegetarian options were still limited, especially when eating out, many vegans and vegetarians built their diets around tofu, lentils, chickpeas and brown rice, with foods like nuts and homemade granola for snacks and breakfast.

Back in the sixties, my mum used to add salt to everything savoury and sugar to anything sweet, especially corn flakes and strawberries. Probably why I never add either, and cannot bear the majority of processed foods because they’re aimed at people with similarly inactive taste buds. In an effort to get kids to eat cereal, the cynical bods added sugar and used cartoon characters to appeal to the kids. Probably most famous in the UK are Tony the Tiger’s Frosties “They’re Grrrreat!” Originally billed as Sugar Frosted Flakes (basically Corn Flakes plus extra sugar) they prudently dropped the sugar when it suffered from poor press. Kellogg’s also sugar-coated Rice Crispies and called them Ricicles, and there were plenty of other examples like Sugar Puffs (subsequently changed to Honey Monster Wheat Puffs).

The artificial flavourings used in crisps such as Walkers and Golden Wonder originally only available in ready salted, Salt and Vinegar and Cheese and Onion, had branched oy in the 70s with roast chicken and prawn cocktail. The snack market burgeoned with many other corn, wheat and non-potato vegetables being used, whose texture made them a good marriage with all manner of obscure flavours such as bacon and mushroom. The 80s saw attempts at every flavour known to man from Oxo (or Bovril/Marmite), through spicy beef to good old fish and chips. These included: sweet chilli, chicken tikka, beef and mustard, tomato ketchup, pickled onion, scampi.

Here are some foods and drinks popular in the 1980s in the UK, many of which are no longer available. With some memorable slogans.
Heinz Baked Beans Pizza, Cadbury’s Smash “for mash get smash”
McCain Microchips, Birdseye Potato Waffles “waffily versatile”
Pot Noodle “just add boiling water”

Smiths Salt ‘n’ Shake Crisps, KP Space Raiders corn snacks
Cadbury Wildlife Bars, Burton’s Cartoonies (biscuit snacks filled with chocolate)
Rowntree Mackintosh’s Toffo, McVitie’s Trio “I want one now!”
St Ivel Fiendish Feet Yogurts
Bird’s Ice Magic and Angel Delight “it’s delicious, it’s delovely”
Walls’ Cornetto “Just one cornetto – give it to me”

Drinks
Quosh “ready to drink” cartons (complete with plastic straw!)
Cresta pop “it’s frothy, man”
Coffee-mate “coffee tastes nicer with …”

Puddings
Jelly and blancmange
Bananas and custard
Banana split
Mousse

Not much different to 70s, with sandwiches being the staple – usually on sliced white bread, but brown was creeping in. They would generally have the crusts cut off and sliced into triangles. Fillings would be ham, cream cheese, tuna or salmon and cucumber and maybe egg mayonnaise.

So many snacks to choose from, but you couldn’t go wrong with a big dish of ready salted crisps, and some twiglets, hula hoops, mini cheddars, skips, wotsits, and quavers.

The cheese and pineapple hedgehog was still a firm favourite, as were cocktail sausages (in sticks), sausage rolls and the much-maligned vol-au-vents, although the fillings were more adventurous than their stodgy 70s counterparts. New, tastier recipes included various fish/seafood as well as the addition of more exotic flavourings such as fennel, turmeric and coriander. The quiche fillings became more unusual, and the more adventurous tried salmon rillette, samosas and spring rolls.
Puddings: Good old Trifle, Black Forest Gateau and Arctic Roll were joined by Viennetta
Drinks: Babycham, Pina Colada

My Top 13 from 1984

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 I can never hear without seeing Hugh Grant’s dad dancing scene in Love Actually).

1. Billy Joel – An Innocent Man – 03-1984
2. Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun – 02-1984
3. George Michael – Careless Whisper – 07-1984
4. Sister Sledge – Lost In Music – 09-1984
5. Jim Diamond – I Should Have Known Better – 11-1984
6. Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is – 12-1984
7. Van Halen – Jump – 03-1984
8. Queen – I Want To Break Free – 04-1984
9. Lionel Richie – Hello – 03-1984
10. Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark – 05-1984
11. Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It – 06-1984
12. John Waite – Missing You – 09-1984
13. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax – 01-1984

And the bubbling unders:
The Pointer Sisters – Jump (For My Love) – 06-1984
Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time – 06-1984
Kenny Loggins – Footloose – 05-1984
The Cars – Drive – 09-1984
Chicago – Hard Habit To Break – 10-1984
Tears For Fears – Shout – 12-1984
Deniece Williams – Let’s Hear It For The Boy – 05-1984
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – The Power Of Love – 12-1984
U2 – Pride (In The Name Of Love) – 09-1984
Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) – 04-1984
Wham! – Last Christmas/Everything She Wants – 12-1984
Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) – 04-1984
Kool & The Gang – Joanna/Tonight – 03-1984
Stevie Wonder – I Just Called To Say I Love You – 08-1984
Chaka Khan – I Feel For You – 10-1984
The Bluebells – Young At Heart – 07-1984
Madonna – Like A Virgin – 11-1984
Alison Moyet – All Cried Out – 10-1984
Nena – 99 Red Balloons – 02-1984
Billy Ocean – Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) – 10-1984
Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters – 08-1984
Prince & The Revolution – Purple Rain – 09-1984
The Thompson Twins – Doctor Doctor – 02-1984
Nik Kershaw – The Riddle – 11-1984
Ultravox – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes – 06-1984
The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men – 03-1984
Joe Fagin – That’s Living (Alright) – 01-1984
Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride – 02-1984
Murray Head – One Night In Bangkok – 11-1984

1980s Movies

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 In London
The Cannonball Run
Escape To Victory
Arthur
On Golden Pond

1982
Poltergeist
Tootsie
Blade Runner
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Tron
Conan The Barbarian
Deathtrap
Star Trek II – Wrath Of Khan
48 Hours
Sophie’s Choice
Annie
An Officer And A Gentleman
Deathwish II
Victor/Victoria

1983
Flashdance
Terms Of Endearment
Scarface
Trading Places
National Lampoon’s Vacation
Star Wars: Episode Vi – Return Of The Jedi
Splash
Never Say Never Again
War Games
Christine
Superman III
Staying Alive

1984
A Nightmare On Elm Street
Ghostbusters
Dune
Amadeus
The Karate Kid
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
Gremlins
This Is Spinal Tap
The Terminator
Footloose
Beverly Hills Cop
Purple Rain
Police Academy
Star Trek III – Search For Spock
Romancing The Stone

1985
Desperately Seeking Susan
The Goonies
Back To The Future
The Breakfast Club
St. Elmo’s Fire
Silverado
Mask
Cocoon

1986
Highlander
Labyrinth
Little Shop Of Horrors
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Stand By Me
The Transformers: The Movie
Top Gun
The Fly
9½ Weeks
Three Amigos
Peggy Sue Got Married
Star Trek II – Voyage Home
The Karate Kid II

1987
Dirty Dancing
The Lost Boys
Wall Street
Moonstruck
Lethal Weapon
Full Metal Jacket
Robocop
Predator
The Princess Bride
Raising Arizona
The Running Man
Beverly Hills Cop II
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
The Untouchables
Fatal Attraction
Mannequin
3 Men And A Baby
Overboard

1988
The Naked Gun
Die Hard
A Fish Called Wanda
Big
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Rain Man
Working Girl
The Land Before Time
Willow
Beetlejuice
Coming To America
Young Guns
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Cocktail
Scrooged
Twins

1989
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Field Of Dreams
When Harry Met Sally…
The Little Mermaid
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
Dead Poets Society
Road House
Batman
Back To The Future Part II
Steel Magnolias
Honey I Shrunk The Kids
Licence To Kill
Ghostbusters II

My top 13 from 1983

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 extra one in.

1. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean – 02-1983
1. Michael Jackson – Beat It – 04-1983
2. Billy Joel – Uptown Girl – 11-1983
3. Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out – 01-1983
4. Lionel Richie – All Night Long (All Night) – 10-1983
5. David Bowie – Modern Love – 09-1983
6. Elton John – I’m Still Standing – 08-1983
7. Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart – 03-1983
8. Irene Cara – Flashdance (What A Feeling) – 06-1983
9. Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes – Up Where We Belong – 02-1983
10. The Maisonettes – Heartache Avenue – 01-1983
11. Men At Work – Down Under – 01-1983
12. Toto – Africa – 02-1983
13. Culture Club – Church Of The Poison Mind – 04-1983

For those of you who don’t remember no 10, this was a band formed by the fabulous Lol Mason from City Boy – my favourite British band (tying with Queen), both second to my #1 fave band, Journey. And, as usual, a whole bunch of also-rans.

Beat – Can’t Get Used To Losing You – 05-1983
David Bowie – Let’s Dance – 03-1983
Rod Stewart – Baby Jane – 06-1983
Laura Branigan – Gloria – 02-1983
Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight I Celebrate My Love – 09-1983
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Dear Prudence – 10-1983
Slade – My Oh My – 12-1983
Billy Joel – Tell Her About It – 12-1983
Wham! – Club Tropicana – 08-1983
Paul Young – Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) – 07-1983
Tears For Fears – Change – 02-1983
The Thompson Twins – We Are Detective – 05-1983
Tina Turner – Let’s Stay Together – 12-1983
Indeep – Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life – 02-1983
U2 – New Year’s Day – 02-1983
Wah – The Story Of The Blues – 01-1983
Dionne Warwick – All The Love In The World – 01-1983
UB40 – Red Red Wine – 09-1983
Spandau Ballet – True – 04-1983
The Style Council – Long Hot Summer – 08-1983
Tracey Ullman – They Don’t Know – 10-1983
The Belle Stars – Sign Of The Times – 02-1983
George Benson – In Your Eyes – 10-1983
Phil Everly & Cliff Richard – She Means Nothing To Me – 03-1983
Level 42 – The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) – 09-1983
Duran Duran – Union Of The Snake – 11-1983
Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow – 07-1983
Iron Maiden– The Trooper – 07-1983
Orange Juice – Rip It Up – 03-1983
New Order – Blue Monday – 04-1983
The Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – 03-1983
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon – 09-1983
Joboxers – Just Got Lucky – 06-1983
Spandau Ballet – Gold – 08-1983
Elton John – I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues – 06-1983
Howard Jones – What Is Love – 12-1983
Kajagoogoo – Too Shy – 02-1983

1980s Women’s Fashions

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 white batwing-sleeved jumper, and my daughter borrowed a roll neck polar-bear jumper which she still wears. And I kept one pair of sparkly blue legwarmers for those wintry evenings when my knees need a little help.

The 80s were the decade for designer denim, with Gloria Vanderbilt, Jordache, Calvin Klein, and Guess leading the pack. Designer jeans came in lots of colours and styles: wide leg, stretch pull-on and coloured jeans — especially pink, khaki, and white. They had a high waistline and a snug fit through the hips in the early 80s and a pleated waist and fuller hip in the mid to late 80s. Acid wash or stonewash jeans, previously only worn by subcultures like punks, entered mainstream 1980s fashion in the middle years. The marbled effect could be found on light, dark and black washed denim jeans.

Most people, if asked about the 80s will think of bright/pastel colours and some manner of leisure wear, whether it’s tracksuits (or their close relation, shell suits), leotards or dolphin shorts paired with crop tops. Inevitably accompanied by Lycra leggings, legwarmers and sweatbands.
At the other end of the spectrum were power-dressing suits, pencil skirts and the ubiquitous shoulder pads.
In-between were a stack of large, sloppy jumpers and 40s inspired stylings from practical shirtwaist dresses to farm-girl dungarees (in candy-stripe pink rather than khaki)

Here’s a summary of some of the most popular 80s fashions:
• High waist denim jeans especially in pastel colours and acid wash finishes
• Baggy oversize blouses with shoulder pads, held in by a wide belt
• Ugly sweaters: loose knit sweaters wild patterns and colours
• Off-the-shoulder tops/dresses and especially jumpers
• Rollnecks (aka turtle-necks), polka dots and batwing sleeves all played a part
• Denim jackets, leather jackets, blazer jackets with big buttons layered over shirts and sweaters
• Padded shoulder dresses- metallic fabrics, Victorian lace, satin party dresses
• Track suits, leotards, running shorts were worn all day. Add a terry cloth headband for Jazzercize class
• Power suits: Peplum skirt suits, padded dresses, silky blouses, dressy slacks and heels
• Leggings- Colourful leggings worn under oversize tops. Add leg warmers and white high top sneakers
• Flat shoes with all outfits. White or neo sneakers for sporty looks. Slouch boots for winter
• Tassels and fringes on everything: clothes, boots and handbags
• Huge glasses/sunglasses with bright, primary-coloured frames. Gloves esp lace/elbow-length

My Top 13 Christmas Movies

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 (#2 2020)
9. Home Alone 1990 (#2 1992)
10. The Knight Before Christmas 2019
11. The Princess Switch 2018 (#2 2020, #3 2021)
12. Trading Places 1983
13. Deck the Halls 2006

And these get a look-in, too:
Your Christmas or Mine? 2022 (#2 2023)
Father Christmas is Back 2021
Klaus 2019
Jingle All the Way 1996
A Castle for Christmas 2021
Operation Christmas Drop 2020
Holidate 2020
The Family Stone 2005
Surviving Christmas 2004
Noelle 2019
Last Christmas 2019
White Christmas 1954

When I researched this, I was shocked by the total ramp-up in production of Christmas(ish) movies this millenium. This selection is only a very small sample, based on the ones I’ve actually heard of/watched. In particular, since 2014 when Hallmark, Netflix and Lifetime etc got in on the act producing dozens of “original” movies each year. Is it just me or is that the very last thing they are???
There are many more out there and if you want a more exhaustive list, I suggest you try these excellent sites: https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-christmas-movies/
https://www.countdownuntilchristmas.com/category/christmas-movies-a-to-z/
Although you will have to spend most of your time scrolling past adverts – but hey, these good folks gotta get some ROI for the hours they’ve devoted to setting up the sites.

2020s
A California Christmas 2020
Operation Christmas Drop 2020
Holidate 2020
Love Hard 2021
A Castle for Christmas 2021
Father Christmas is Back 2021
Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special 2022
Violent Night 2022
Falling for Christmas 2022
A Brush with Christmas 2022
Your Christmas or Mine? 2022 (#2 2023)

2010s
Arthur Christmas 2011
Get Santa 2014
The Man Who Invented Christmas 2017
Christmas in Angel Falls 2017
A Christmas Prince 2017 (#2 2018, #3 2019)
The Christmas Chronicles 2018 (#2 2020)
The Princess Switch 2018 (#2 2020, #3 2021)
Dr Seuss’ The Grinch 2018
Klaus 2019
Noelle 2019
Last Christmas 2019
The Knight Before Christmas 2019

2000s
How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2000
Elf 2003
Love Actually 2003
Surviving Christmas 2004
The Family Stone 2005
Deck the Halls 2006
The Holiday 2006
Four Christmases 2008
Nativity 2009 (#2 2012)

1990s
Home Alone 1990 (#2 1992)
The Muppet Christmas Carol 1992
The Nightmare Before Christmas 1993
Miracle on 34th Street 1994
The Santa Clause 1994
Jingle All the Way 1996
Beauty & the Beast Enchanted Christmas 1997
Jack Frost 1998

1980s
The Snowman 1982
Trading Places 1983
Gremlins 1984
A Muppet Family Christmas 1987
Die Hard 1988
Scrooged 1988
Blackadder’s Christmas Carol 1988
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 1989

1970s
Scrooge 1970
Miracle on 34th Street 1973

1960s
How the Grinch Stole Christmas 1967

1950s
A Christmas Carol 1951
White Christmas 1954

1940s
Holiday Inn 1942
Meet me in St Louis 1944
It’s a Wonderful Life 1946
Miracle on 34th Street 1947

Top 13 Christmas Toys

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. Power Rangers
12. Matchbox cars/vehicles
13. Polly Pocket

1990s
1990 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures, Mouse Trap, Polly Pocket
1991 – Sega Game Gear, Nintendo Gameboy, Super soaker 50
1992 – Thunderbirds Tracey Island, Weekend Barbie, WWF Action Figures
1993 – Talkbot, Action Man, Play-doh
1994 – Power Rangers Action figures, Biker Mice from Mars, Cabbage Patch Kids
1995 – Playstation, POGs, Beanie Babies
1996 – Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Action Figure, Tickle Me Elmo, Doodle Bear
1997 – Nintendo 64, Tamigotchi, Blue and Pink Model, Teletubbies
1998 – Furby, Bop It, Gameboy colour, (Teksta Robot Dog)
1999 – Pokemon (Red and Blue), Who Wants to be a Millionaire Game, Bob the Builder

1980s
1980 – Hungry Hippos board game, Lego Train set, Mr Frosty
1981 – Rubik’s Cube, He-Man, Donkey Kong
1982 – Lego 255 basic train set, BMX bike, Stompers Truck
1983 – Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, My Little Pony
1984 – Cabbage Patch Kids, Transformers Optimus Prime, Pound Puppies
1985 – Trivial Pursuit, Wuzzles, Pillow People
1986 – Lazer Tag, Lego Airport, My Pet Monster
1987 – Sylvanian Families, Jenga, Koosh balls
1988 – Ghostbusters Proton Park, NES Action Set, Playskool Kitchen
1989 – Batmobile, Disney Sno-Cone Castle, Talking Alf

1970s
1970 – Nerfball, Sindy, Apollo Moon Rocket
1971 – Space Hopper, Mastermind board game, Weebles
1972 – Skateboard, Uno card game, Plasticraft modelling kit
1973 – Shrinky Dinks, Evel Knievel stunt cycle, Walkie Talkie sets
1974 – Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots, Spirograph, Twister
1975 – Pet Rock, Pong, Othello board game
1976 – Magna Doodle, Pogo Stick, Stretch Armstrong
1977 – Atari 2600, Star Wars toys, including figurines of Luke, Darth and R2D
1978 – Connect Four, Dungeons & Dragons, Matchbox Powertrack, (Simon Says)
1979 – Strawberry Shortcake, Millenium Falcon, Sony Walkman

1960s and earlier
Lego/Meccano Construction Set
Action Man/G.I. Joe
Hot Wheels (matchbox cars)
Barbie/Sindy
Etch-a-Sketch
Monopoly

My Top 13 Christmas Songs

Something a bit different – or is it?

1. “I Believe in Father Christmas” Greg Lake 1975
2. “Fairytale of New York” The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl 1987
3. “Driving Home for Christmas” Chris Rea 1988
4. “Carol of the Bells” John Williams 1990
5. “A Spaceman Came Travelling” Chris de Burgh 1975
6. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews 1999
7. “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow” Michael Bublé 2003
8. “Merry Xmas Everybody” Slade 1973
9. “Last Christmas” Wham! 1984
10. “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” David Bowie & Bing Crosby 1982
11. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Mariah Carey 1994
12. “A Winter’s Tale” David Essex 1982
13. “Stop the Cavalry” Jona Lewie 1980

And because I can never contain myself in 13 (let alone 10):
“Thank God It’s Christmas” Queen 1984
“Keeping the Dream Alive” Freiheit 1988
“Wonderful Christmastime” Paul McCartney 1979
“I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” Wizzard 1973
“Step Into Christmas” Elton John 1973
“When a Child Is Born” Johnny Mathis 1976
“Christmas Day” Squeeze 2007
“Mistletoe and Wine” Cliff Richard 1988
“The Power of Love” Frankie Goes to Hollywood 1984
“Merry Christmas Everyone” Shakin’ Stevens 1985
“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” Bruce Springsteen 1985
“Saviour’s Day” Cliff Richard 1990
“Christmas Time” Bryan Adams 1985

2023 Advent Deals

Huge apologies for starting this late, but there’s plenty of opportunity for you to stuff your kindle full of great reads for those cold, wintry nights. With so many books in my back catalogue, you can pick up several bargains every day in December, and this will run well into the New Year.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Here’s a sample of what’s out there:

Dec 16: FREE – The Day the Earth Caught Fire – Ro Green
FREE – Linda (CC#3) – Jacky Gray

Dec 15: FREE – Catalyst (CoL #4) – Jacky Gray
  FREE – Big Bad Wolf (Hostage #3) – Ro Green

Dec 14: FREE – Captive (CoL #3) – Jacky Gray
              FREE – Young Men Gone West – Ro Green

Dec 13: FREE – Chrysalis (CoL #3) – Jacky Gray
              FREE – Chloe – Ro Green

Dec 12: FREE – Stand By Me (BR #6) – Jacky Gray
    FREE – Geraint (Hengist #5) – Jacky Gray
FREE – Don’t Stop Believing – Ro Green

Dec 11: FREE – Music was my First Love (BR #5) – Jacky Gray
    FREE – Slater (Hengist #4) – Jacky Gray
             FREE – Final Jeopardy (Jeopardy #3) – Ro Green

Dec 10: FREE – Edge of the Blade (BR #4) – Jacky Gray
        FREE – Reagan (Hengist #3) – Jacky Gray
           FREE –  Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (Hostage #2) – Ro Green

Dec 9: FREE – Leader of the Pack (BR #3) – Jacky Gray
             FREE – Rory (Hengist #2) – Jacky Gray
       FREE – More Jeopardy (Jeopardy #2) – Ro Green

Dec 8: FREE – Show Must Go On (BR #2) – Jacky Gray
    FREE – Tina (CC#1) – Jacky Gray
FREE – Death Wishes – Ro Green