Name: Angel Noire
Age: Um, let's not talk about that!
From: Old England
Lives: New England
Occupation: English teacher and writer
Favourite Pastime: Too many to choose!
I absolutely love meeting fellow nostalgiacs. It's one of the reasons why I love working on Nostalgia Pie, and I've had some pretty riveting conversations with people who have fond memories of the time in which they've grown up. That got me thinking about a feature in which we get to know more nostalgiacs and hear about their experiences.
So welcome to A Slice of Pie With... in which nostalgia addicts talk about their era and why it rocks, among other things. So to kick things off, the first A Slice of Pie With is with... me! The Fella made good use of himself by interviewing me, and I have to say - he didn't do such a bad job! Maybe I should get him to talk to all nostalgia addicts in future. Well done, Mr. D! xxx
So here it is - the first ever A Slice of Pie With... Enjoy!
1. Choose your slice of pie to go with your cappuccino!
I love pies - and it probably shows! - but if I can only go for one slice then it's got to be lemon meringue - my absolute fave! Although I don't know how well that goes with cappuccino. But there's got to be a generous amount of tangy lemon curd filling with a good proportion of meringue topping which has got to be super marshmallowy and only slightly crisp.
I don't ask for much!
2. Of course you don't! Do you like green eggs and ham?
If you mean the dish, never tried it! But I'm willing to give it a go - depending on what it looks like!
If you mean the children's book by Dr. Seuss, then yes, I love Green Eggs and Ham! 'Miss' read it to us during story time, and that was the first time I'd ever heard the story. 'Miss' taught us that the meaning behind the story was that we should be willing to try new things and not judge something before we've tried it.
And indeed most of us did go on to try many new things in our teens and twenties but somehow, I don't think that's what 'Miss' meant!
3. I don't think she did either! What do you define as your era?
All of the eighties and the first half of the nineties. It all started to gradually change quite significantly after that. I think so anyway. I'm not saying that things were awful or anything. It's just that the time before the mid-nineties - to me at least - was nothing short of magical. Maybe it's just because of how young I was young then and before life got me! Or maybe it's the rose-coloured glasses talking. But yeah, the eighties and nineties were special times.
4. What's your earliest memory?
Blowing out the candles on my birthday cake as a two year old. For years I thought I'd always imagined it - until I saw photos of myself on my second birthday wearing a frilly white dress with peach satin trim, exactly as I'd remembered.
How strange - I remember my second birthday but not what I did an hour ago!
5. Don't I know it! And your favourite childhood memory?
Tons to choose from but I guess it would be any time that we got together with our extended family, especially at Christmas when we had those big family Christmases at one of the aunt or uncles' houses.
6. Describe your early childhood.
Well I'm originally from East London, and our first family home was right down the road from the library and park that used to be the house and garden of philanthropist Elizabeth Fry. We lived on one side of the park, and my uncle, aunt and cousin lived on the other, so we all used to get together and hang out a lot. One of the things I loved about the park when I was a kid, was the little mini 'zoo' they had. I make it sound like they had lions and tigers, but really it was rabbits, ducks, peacocks, goats etc. Although occasionally they had something fancy. Like a llama or something.
Oh and I was such a bookworm! Boy, did I love my books! My mum always had trouble getting me to turn out the lights as I always just had to read another page of my book... then another chapter. It's no wonder I was the kid at school who was perpetually tired! But buying presents was very easy for my family because they knew that I would love the book they'd bought me for Christmas or my birthday. That and anything My Little Pony because I was fanatical about them. And let's not forget Jem and the Holograms!
And I'm still very good friends with one of my friends from infant school. I'm really proud of that - how many people still know the people they went to infant school with let alone remain friends?
7. Did you like those horrible boy bands?
Of course I did! And they were not horrible - only to people with no taste in music! I liked Brother Beyond and Bros, but my ultimate fave was and still is New Kids on the Block. It was love at first sight all right, and yes I was heartbroken when they split. I also really liked East 17 and Bad Boys Inc. I quite liked Backstreet Boys, and didn't mind Boyzone. But it was always the New Kids who had a very special place in my heart. And it's because of the New Kids that it was always my ambition to live in New England... and here we are! Oh but I never liked Take That. How could I - they were New Kids biggest rivals so I was always a Blockhead but never a Thatter!
And I was a huge fan of Another Level but I'm not sure if they fit the whole 'boy band' thing, as they had a different style and sound. And as with the New Kids, I was so disappointed when they split up. Same with Bad Boys Inc. All the boy bands I like break up! Haha!
8. What a pity! Did you like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
Yes I did. The Ninja Turtles were the last kids phenomenon I was into as I was starting to get a bit too old for all of that by then. But yeah the world was Turtle crazy or so it seemed. Who was my fave Turtle??? Hmmm... I'm not sure I had a favourite. I think I liked Michaelangelo because he had the best name and I liked Donatello because he had the purple mask. Yeah I know, die-hard Turtle fans must really hate me...
But yeah, I'm glad I got to experience the phenomenon that was the Turtles. I went to see the film when it came out and I thought the song Turtle Power by Partners in Kryme was awesome.
9. Do you miss Paddington Bear?
It's nice you think I know him, Haha! Well no I don't miss him because Paddington is alive and well and known all over the world. Which reminds me, there used to be this animated Paddington Bear series when I was a kid. I think it was on BBC1. I did like that. And I love marmalade sandwiches just like Paddington and I think of him every time I tuck into one!
10. Do you miss eighties hairstyles?
Haha! People can say what they like about the eighties but I love eighties style and fashion - even if some of the hairdos were a bit on the dodgy side! I was just a child in the eighties so I didn't have anything outlandish. Just a bob with a fringe. Or long hair with a fringe. Just something with a fringe! My aunts did crimp my hair a few times which I loved. And I did scrunch my hair when I was a teenager although by then the eighties were over. Not that it mattered to me and I still love scrunched hair which is my go to style when I'm going to a retro event or something. But I was too young for the obligatory Kylie perm which I'm still quite disappointed about!
THIS OR THAT
Our quick-fire round!
1. Tea or Coffee?
Depends on how badly I need to wake up!
2. Ninja Turtles or Power Rangers?
Turtles.
3. Pepperoni or Hawaiian?
Neither - I'm a veggie pizza girl!
4. Denim or leather?
Both!
5. Sweet or savoury?
Depends on how I feel but generally sweet.
6. Cake or biscuits?
Cake
7. Football or tennis?
Neither - not a sporting bone in my body. Though I do support England during the World Cup!
8. Theatre or cinema?
Theatre every time.
9. Sega or Nintendo?
We had a Sega so I'll go with that!
10. UK or USA?
Oh come on! Do you really have to ask??? If you don't know... clue below!
And Finally...
You've got a tub of Neapolitan ice-cream. Which flavour do you dig into first?
Oh chocolate! Doesn't everyone?
We hope you've enjoyed the first ever A Slice of Pie With... If you fancy being featured here to reminisce about old times and get all retro on us, contact us via the contact page.
Photos from Pixabay
Word cloud by Angel Noire
The eighties formed part of my childhood and teen era and I remember a lot of those styles very well. I know that particular bit in time is known as the decade that style forgot but I don't think so. Maybe because I have so much affection for that time. I agree that the eighties look might be a bit loud today but you could always incorporate key elements into your look.
Long live the eighties!
I was a teenager in the eighties so I know all about those hairdos that I don't think any of us will be trying out again any time soon. But I am definitely a fan of vintage hairstyles from the forties and fifties. Much more elegant and I've been known to be a big fan of victory rolls!
Great to know more about you, Angel xx