The 70s and 80s weren't that bad

July 7, 2023
Tweet category: Health

I was born in the late sixties, so I spent my childhood in the 70s and 80s in the UK. It was a time of great change and innovation, and I was lucky enough to experience it all.

I remember the days of having to wait in line to use the payphone, of standing in a call box on a rainy day listening to music on the phone. I remember the excitement of getting a new cassette tape for my tape recorder, of having to rewind cassette tapes with a pencil when the tape recorder decided to chew the tape halfway through my favourite song. I also remember the hours I spent playing video games like Pac-Man and Space Invaders or watching Saturday morning kids shows like The Multicoloured SwapShop or Tiswas.

For me and many others, I suspect, it was a magical time of innocence and adventure.

But it wasn't all about technology. I also remember the simpler things, like playing outside with my friends, riding my bike, or going to the movies on Saturday mornings matinees.

I look back on my childhood in the 80s with great fondness and also a little sadness. It was a time of innocence and wonder, and I'm grateful for all the memories I made.

It sounds crazy, but I actually miss not having all the distractions of technology that we have today. I remember being able to spend hours playing outside with my friends, without having to worry about checking my phone every five minutes.

I also miss the fashion. It was a time of great fashion experimentation, although at the time everything felt normal. No, I'm not that nostalgic that I consider everything I wore as a fashion success. I can attribute the brown flared trousers, orange shirt, and brown tie as a rather dubious ensemble that was inflicted on me by my mother. (Thanks mum)

Of course, there were also some other things about the 70s and 80s that we all took for granted that are definitely not considered ok today. For example, I remember sitting in the boot of an estate car on many a journey or sitting in the seats without wearing a seat belt. Even the afternoons and evenings when the country was subjected to a series of regular power cuts seemed to be somewhat of an adventure. The inconvenience of having no power never really had any impact. Instead, I used to spend the time playing with marbles and plastic toy soldier figures in a fantasy land of battles and conflicts.

In a nostalgic moment, every summer was warm and pleasant and every winter came with heavy snow and Christmas cheer. Funny how the memories change as we get older. Silly little details like the style of cast iron radiators that heated the school or the tarmac melting in the heat of a hot summer, never seem to fade.

The movies of the 70s and 80s will hold a lasting place in my heart and have most definitely made their mark on my childhood. Memorable movies such as St.Elmos Fire, The Breakfast Club, Star Wars, Back To The Future and many more will always bring a smile to my face.

Tv shows such as Dr WHO, Saphire and Steel, The Avengers, and The Professionals were always favourites within our household along with Starsky and Hutch, Tomorrow's World, Top of the pops, and many many more.

Overall, I have fond memories of growing up in the 70s and 80s. It was a time of great change and innovation, and I was lucky enough to experience it all.

My interest in technology has never really waned over the years and today, almost on a daily basis it seems like it has become an impossible task just trying to keep abreast of any new developments.

If you're a child of the 70s and 80s, I hope this blog post brought back some fond memories for you. 

I hope you enjoyed the article.

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