Chronicles from a distant age
Is it just me or were the 80's really good?
This week I have been listening to the brilliant ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4’ by Sue Townsend on audible; an absolute classic of its time, first published in 1982, for those of you not as ancient as me, it is less than six hours of pure joy and available this month as a free listen on audible here.
Within five minutes of listening, one is transported back to a time of high circulation newspapers, punk rock and the SDP, menace money, Charles and Diana, royal street parties, spice racks, everyone smoking and wearing red socks, Tunisian holidays, Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands war…
In short, the 80’s.
A time around 40 years ago when we were young and couldn’t care less; It really got me thinking; while Adrian was 14 in 1981, I would have been 18 but given I was so young for my age,, I can relate to so many life-enriching events as his diary unravels memories like absolute 80’s golden nuggets; freshly graduating (with no student loan), starting a career in media, meeting the love of my life, and perhaps most importantly, not really having a care in the world.
Adrian was of course besotted with Pandora and the evolution of their relationship is a love story that most of us remember and can relate in many ways as the decades have flown by; this first book was to be one of a series over many years that culminated in Adrian Mole: The Prostate years, published in 2009 before the sad death of Sue Townsend in April 2014.
What a legacy she leaves.
To be searching-out and re-reading these books that are of quite a different age, all these decades later, is, to me anyhow, a joyous experience that reminds me of my own (unsuccessful, thankfully) attempts at diary keeping in my formative years - thank goodness those scribbles are long gone; sharing Adrian’s misfortunes is one thing, re-visiting your own thoughts as a teenager may be quite another.
Having completed my tour of Mole and his mates, reeling with 80’s nostalgia and just a little bit of quilt from rounding up some old school photos, I was astounded to find Mrs Broadbent had within the very same week, quite independently and inexplicably, stumbled across another 80’s phenomena that was going to require at least two evenings of binge watching.
Suddenly, the 5th form day out at Flamingo Land and dubious exploits of the Roundhay School 2nd XV Rugby team were a distant memory; school and university days where abruptly over as we dived head first into the power dressing world of television in the 80’s with the Rutland Chronicles and Jilly Cooper’s ‘Rivals’ on Disney+.
Cooper, creator of the Rutshire Chronicles, interviewed on 25th September 2024 in British Vogue Magazine; October 2024 edition, claims ‘today there seems to be far less bonking’ and she must be right; people had a lot more time for the basics of life?
Several episodes later, totally bonked out and physically sweating from wearing too many power suits whilst jumping around the lounge shouting along to Debbie Harry and Whitney Houston, quaffing chardonnay, I realised I’m just too old for all this.
Certainly with no mobile phones, no internet and no worrying about what others were saying about you on social media channels, life was so much easier to navigate.
The irony of good old face to face conversations, long lunches with huge amounts of alcohol and offices full of people who actually turned up for a 9-5 shift five days a week is not lost on the 2024 audience I am sure.
In fact, the 80’s were bloody brilliant - and it’s only now that I can see that; because at the time they were far from brilliant. OK I am 61 and 3/4 and yes hindsight is good, but it is worthwhile sometimes to look back and think, how did I get here? (something I did a while ago actually here with this post)
Punchline…
Everyone right now is so busy looking at their phones and worrying about their mental health whilst doing the right thing to live their best life; (and I don’t exclude myself from that gross over generalisation) that a lot of the terrible spontaneous fun that used to seek us out every day; well, it’s just gone from life I feel.
So for those of you who are not old enough to remember the 80’s, I apologise for droning on and will resume a responsible outlook with more recent and topical content in my next posting.
For the rest of us old gits, dig out your old albums, scrapbooks and photos, get comfortable on the sofa and pour yourself a drink; slip some vinyl onto the turntable and soak up the memories; and remember Pandora Braithwaite.
Great memories Broady! The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole was the first book I ever read. Aged 12 I never wanted to be in the class room or anywhere reading books….kicking a ball around a footie pitch was everything to me. However, I had to read something in the English lesson and Adrian Mole became a new mate as I was besotted by a Pandora equivalent too….her name was Rachel Cain though!
Whilst I sit doing nothing for a while (you know why) I will indeed dig out my old records, pop them on the turntable and reminisce. Cheers pal.