The 1980's

It's hard to imagine these days but when the 1980's began we only had 3 television channels to choose from in the UK, we did get one more channel in 1982 but that was it for the rest of the decade.

It was certainly a case of quality not quantity and during this time I watched a number of TV programmes that will remain very close to my heart.

The Dukes Of Hazard



This was the only TV programme that I would stop playing football (soccer) in the street for. My mum used to call me in 5 minutes before it started to make sure I didn't miss a second. I'm sure Catherine Bach had a lot to do with this.

Miami Vice



How cool was Miami Vice? I remember going to a party sporting the Don Johnson look complete with my suit jacket (2 sizes too big) with the sleeves rolled up. Unfortunately I had just grown my first moustache and had really bad skin so I looked more like Lt. Martin Castillo.

Dallas



Dallas was responsible for my one and only attempt at poetry. When who shot JR fever was sweeping the country our main news programme at the time 'Nationwide' ran a who shot JR poetry competition. I did write several verses but the only bits I can remember are the first verse and the last line.

We all love JR in Dallas city,
and if he dies oh what a pity.
He starts all the trouble on the show,
what he'll do next nobody knows.

But the one who really pulled the trigger was the ghost of poor old Digger.

I know it's hard to believe but I didn't win

There were so many great films released throughout the 1980's picking out a top 3 is almost an impossible task.

There are 80's films like Blade Runner and Blue Velvet that I love now and probably appreciate more because I am older. The three films I've chosen on the other hand were my absolute favourites at the time.

1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

2. Revenge Of The Nerds

3. The Breakfast Club

Forget your iPod's and your Xbox 360's, these were among the must have hi-tech accessories of the 1980's.

The VHS videocassette recorder: So sleek, so slender



The Sony Walkman: Perfect for all your compilation tapes



The Mobile Phone: Great for weight training too.



Sinclair ZX Spectrum: Jet Set Willy, Manic Miner, Football Manager. Enough said.



Check out those mind blowing graphics



The C5: Oops, next please!

As with films, choosing my top 3 songs of the 1980's was an incredibly difficult task, but as with my film choices, I've gone for songs that meant a great deal at the time.

1. Depeche Mode: People Are People

Another first for me in the 1980's was my first live music concert. The band we went to see was the one and only Depeche Mode. Simply awesome.

2. Human League: Don't You Want Me Baby

I was a New Romantic for about a week in the 1980's until I was beaten up at school by some older kids who were trying to keep the spirit of punk alive.

3. The Fine Young Cannibals: She Drives Me Crazy

This song appears on the album The Raw and The Cooked, one of my all time favourite albums.

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