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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 second part of our post on Neighbours' Karl and Susan Kennedy's memorable storylines as they celebrate twenty five years on Ramsay Street. 1. THE KENNEDYS BECOME GRANDPARENTS All three of Karl and Susan's children have children but we've only ever seen them with Ben - Libby's son from her marriage to Drew. Throughout his life, Ben has lived with his grandparents on and off over the years, most recently while his mum took a job in Hong Kong, although he has since moved to Oakey in order to get to know his late dad's family better. But Ben is testament of Karl and Susan's abilities as grandparents, and although Ben had his moments as all kids do, he left Erinsborough a fine young man that his grandparents were very proud of. 2. SUSAN LOSES HER MEMORY Most people cry over spilt milk, and if they slip on it, well, that's when they really cry over it! In what was considered by many to be a very far fetched - though indeed memorable - storyline - Susan slipped on some spilt milk and hit her head hard. When she came round, Susan Kennedy thought she was Susan Smith, sixteen, and forget the new millennium, she thought she was back in the seventies! Not recognizing her husband or kids, Susan felt very disconnected from them and refused to believe what they were telling her. And a night out at the school disco at Erinsborough High resulted in a great deal of confusion for Susan as most of the students recognised her as their principal and not as the fellow student Susan believed herself to be. It was sadly during this time that Karl and Susan's daughter, Libby, became a widow after her husband Drew was killed in a riding accident, and it was difficult to reach out to her mother while Susan still believed that she was a sixteen year old schoolgirl. But even though Susan's memory hadn't returned, she had begun to accept who she was, and promised Libby that she would do her best to help her through her grief. And in a storyline that was very Neighbours meets The Vow , Karl never gave up on Susan and um, vowed to help her get her memory back. The Kennedys ended up falling in love again, and it was during their vow renewal that Susan's memory began to return. 3. DASTARDLY DARCY Susan's devilishly handsome nephew, Darcy Tyler, arrived in Ramsay Street to stay with the Kennedys. A doctor like his Uncle Karl, Darcy had accepted a post at Erinsborough Hospital. Although he had always been close to his aunt and uncle, Darcy's relationship with the Kennedys became quite strained due to his womanizing ways and unprofessional behaviour, and he eventually moved out of number 28, and into number 30. Due to racking up gambling debts, Darcy was forced to turn to theft in order to pay off these debts. In a pretty low move, Darcey staged a burglary after hearing that Susan had inherited some jewellery. But his plan fell apart when on fleeing the scene, Darcey knocked over a pregnant Lyn Scully - the only witness to the crime. Susan refused to believe what her friend was telling her when Lyn revealed who really was behind the burglary, leading to a feud between the Scullys and the Kennedys. But when Darcey was caught with a crucial bit of evidence, the Kennedys realised that Lyn had been telling the truth. Darcey was then arrested and charged. But Darcey had a very significant role in the Karl and Susan story after he was released from prison and was working as an orderly at Erinsborough Hospital. It was Darcey who uncovered Izzy Hoyland's lies about Karl being the father of the child she lost. Despite her dramatic attempts to stop the truth from being revealed, Izzy couldn't thwart Darcey's efforts and Izzy was indeed exposed - after Darcey had left Erinsborough. Before he left, Darcey wrote to his aunt, telling her everything... and gave Karl a very prophetic warning before boarding the bus and leaving Erinsborough for good. 4. IZZY! Oh goodness! If Susan thought Sarah was a nightmare as far as the Kennedy marriage was concerned, goodness knows what she would have done is she knew that fate was going to deliver an even bigger blow in the form of Max Hoyland's sister, Isabelle 'Izzy' Hoyland. Blonde, vivacious and feisty, Izzy struck up a friendship with Karl just as his marriage was heading towards the rocks. And indeed Izzy's presence did cause Susan and many of the Kennedy's friends cause for alarm. Karl and Susan's son, Malcolm, saw through Izzy's antics immediately but did his dad listen? Of course not! The atomic bomb that is Isabelle! When Izzy discovered that she was pregnant by Max's friend, Gus Leary, she decided to take advantage of the fact that the Kennedys were having problems by causing further chaos for Karl and Susan in the hope that she could break them up and bag a father for her child for herself. And her plan worked: not only did everyone think that Karl was the father of her child - including Karl himself - but Izzy almost got to walk down the aisle and become the second Mrs. Kennedy. But Susan got her moment of vengeance when she discovered the truth about Izzy's baby, who was tragically delivered too early, and threatened to expose her unless she did the right thing and told Karl the truth. Dr. Kennedy was beyond devastated when he found out the truth and promptly ended things with a distraught Izzy, leaving Neighbours fans cheering! But if anyone thought that the Izzy saga was over, they were wrong - very wrong... 5. SUSAN HAS AN AFFAIR WITH FATHER TOM We've had Neighbours meets The Vow , and now comes Neighbours meets The Thornbirds ! After splitting up with Karl, Susan met Catholic priest, Father Tom Scully, the brother-in-law of her good friend, Lyn. They tried to fight their mutual attraction but ended up embarking on a passionate affair. Rather risqué for a soap that never showed Scott and Charlene in bed together, even after they were married! To say that Susan and Tom's affair was the talk of the Street was an understatement. Furthermore, the affair caused friction between Susan and Lyn, a very devout Catholic. Tom decided to leave the priesthood in order to be with Susan but in the end they both realised that there was no future in it for them so they called it a day. Then three years later, Tom reappeared in Erinsborough... as the new principal of Erinsborough High. He told Susan that he loved her and wanted them to try again but by then she was back where she belonged... with Karl! 6. HOLLY We all remember Susan's devastation when Karl told Susan that Izzy was expecting his baby in a belter of a scene that has since become iconic where Jackie Woodburne gave it all she had! There was even a reference to the time Susan had wanted another baby but Karl had put his foot down. And now he had the nerve to tell her that someone else was expecting his baby. The git! But as we all knew, Karl was not the father and the truth only came out well after Izzy had lost the baby leaving Karl to grieve for a child who was never his. Then there was the series of bizarre plot twists that nobody could have anticipated. Karl got back together with Susan but had a night of passion with Izzy - after mistaking her for Susan (as you do!) and Izzy actually did become pregnant with Karl's baby. But for once in her life, Izzy decided to do the selfless thing by leaving town quietly without telling Karl the truth and ruining his second chance of happiness with Susan. But as we all know, Susan is no fool, and after intercepting a phone call that she thought was meant for Stephanie, Susan realized that Izzy was pregnant and headed over to the bus station where she managed to catch Izzy just in time to demand answers. Izzy lied (what she does best!) and insisted that Karl was not the father but Susan was not convinced and remained suspicious over the paternity of Izzy's child... until baby Holly made her appearance by entering the world just as Karl and Susan had exchanged vows for the second time... 7. KARL AND SUSAN REMARRY To say that Karl and Susan had had their ups and downs is something of an understatement. But against all odds, the couple reunited and while on a trip to London, Karl proposed to Susan who happily accepted. They planned to get married on a boat on the River Thames. But Izzy - who by now was living in London - was on hand to make sure that the ceremony was anything but smooth sailing. She had decided that now was the right time to reveal to Karl that he was the father of her baby. But as she saw the happy couple exchanging vows, she turned around to leave - and promptly doubled over in pain as she went into labour, leaving it to Karl and Susan to deliver the baby girl who unbeknownst to Karl was his daughter, who Izzy named Holly. And Susan's worst fears were confirmed when a conversation she overheard revealed what she had suspected all along - that Karl was baby Holly's father. Being the kind of person that she is, Susan told Karl the truth, and over the years, viewers have watched Karl make frequent visits to London to see his daughter. Holly also made several visits to Erinsborough and even though she did, at first, prove every bit to be Izzy's daughter by making Susan's life difficult, stepmother and stepdaughter have grown close over the years and have developed a very strong bond. So there it is - just some of the very many Karl and Susan storylines that we think are very memorable. We've no doubt that in years to come, there'll be plenty more. Congrats to Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne on twenty five fantastic years on Neighbours as the Kennedys. What have been your favourite storylines featuring the Kennedy clan? Photos from YouTube Wordcloud by Angel Noire

If there's one thing soap fans love, it's a villain! And so does Neighbours as well it seems, going by the long list of dastardly characters who have graced Ramsay Street. In the last couple of years alone we've had Hamish Roach; Cassius Grady; the now reformed Finn Kelly; Andrea Sommers; Heather Schilling, and in the past we've had Izzy Hoyland; Darcy Tyler and Sindi Watts. Now we have Scarlett Brady, a rather unstable young woman who has set her sights on Ned Willis and will stop at nothing, it seems, to be with him - even if that means wrecking his relationship with Yashvi Rebecchi and almost killing Bea Nilsson. Ned, of course is totally oblivious to what is happening around him. Earth to Ned: Woman sobbing in a busy airport while wearing a wedding gown is a major red flag, mate! Scary Scarlett! Over the years, there have been more than a few unsavoury types who have cropped up in Erinsborough. But these are ones you may have forgotten about. We take a look at five villainous but forgotten Neighbours baddies. 1. SHANNON This villain was very much blink and you'll miss her, and probably quite tame compared to other villains. But then Shannon made her appearance back in the relatively early days of Neighbours when villains and their dastardly deeds were just getting warmed up! Shannon was a minor character back in the early nineties who was caught shoplifting from Gaby Willis's boutique, Gabrielle's . In a bid to ensure that Gaby didn't press charges, Shannon returned to the boutique to apologize to Gaby and explain her difficult home life which involved being short of money, and her parents not paying her a lot of attention due to their focus being on Shannon's brother who was in a wheelchair. Feeling a great deal of sympathy for Shannon, especially as her own ex-fiancé Glenn left Erinsborough after being told he'd never walk again, Gaby decided to give Shannon a chance and offered her a job at the boutique which Shannon gratefully accepted and proved to be quite good in her new role. However a furious Gaby caught Shannon stuffing a garment into her bag and yelled at her - but felt quite contrite when Shannon showed her a fault in the garment and explained that she was taking it home to mend it. All was well until a customer stole takings from the till when no one was looking, so Gaby raced off to inform security. However when they found out who Gaby's new sales assistant was, they suggested that she call Shannon's parents.... Gaby did just that and discovered that not only did Shannon not have a brother who was paraplegic, but she didn't have any brothers at all - she was an only child with a history of stealing and lying. Gaby raced back to the boutique and discovered that Shannon was about to escape with the takings. The ungrateful so-and-so told Gaby that anyone who gave second chances the way she did deserved to be taken in. That was enough to convince Gaby to press charges who told Shannon that maybe a court appearance would give her the opportunity to take a long hard look at herself - and stop breaking her parents' hearts. 2. SIMON HUNTER Poor Gaby - she just couldn't get away from rotters! Trying to get her life back on track after her failed engagement to Glenn Donnelly, Gaby started dating Simon Hunter, owner of a hardware store who had previously been engaged to Melanie Pearson until she left him for Joe Mangel. Brooding over their failed relationships caused them to get closer - until Gaby discovered that Simon had a girlfriend. He ended that relationship to begin one with Gaby, but was frustrated when Gaby wouldn't take their relationship to the next level and put pressure on her to sleep with him. All went well - until the fateful night that Gaby went over to Simon's for dinner and was assaulted by him in what was a very shocking storyline for Neighbours at the time. Gaby tried to keep quiet about what happened but people kept noticing her bruises, and after breaking down she finally revealed what Simon did to her that night. This led her father Doug to get in his truck and go after Simon, and the furious dad punched and threatened Simon when he caught up with Gaby's attacker. Simon then used the thumping he got from Doug to blackmail the Willises, threatening to press charges against Doug if Gaby went to the police. Despite Doug's insistence that she report Simon, Gaby was in a dilemma: On the one hand she felt that she couldn't let Simon get away with what he'd done but on the other, she didn't want Doug to get into trouble. While she was still deciding what to do, Simon reappeared and finally did the right thing: he apologised to Gaby and admitted that what he did was wrong. He also accepted that she was well within her rights to go to the police, and if she did, he would keep quiet about Doug attacking him. Realizing that Simon was more damaged than evil, Gaby told him that she wouldn't press charges on condition that he sought help for his problems. Simon agreed and even offered Gaby money to keep her boutique going - an offer Gaby rejected, telling him that she just wanted him out of her life for good. And that was the last time that Gaby - or viewers - saw of Simon ever again. 3. PAIGE SNEDDON It's not just Gaby who was a magnet for lowlifes - her little brother Brad attracted his in the form of hip, foxy, older woman Paige Sneddon who ran the local surf shop. Paige hired Brad to work in her shop after hearing about his skills as a surf board designer. A passion for surfing brought the two together and it wasn't long before Brad and Paige started dating. Brad then suffered a setback when someone broke into his garage and stole his surfboards - and a half-coin pendant found at the scene of the crime was left behind by the culprit. Then a customer brought back a surfboard that was in need of repair and Brad recognized it as one of his stolen boards - even though the customer was adamant that the board was purchased from Paige's shop. When confronted by Brad, Paige claimed that she bought the boards not realizing that they had been stolen, and Brad believed her. Suspicion soon fell on Lou Carpenter's son, Guy, as the pendant found at Brad's garage was similar to the one he wore. Guy explained that the pendant was given to him a while back by a woman he had been dating who kept the other half. He then recognized Paige as the woman who gave him the pendant when he saw her and Brad on a date and realized that she must be the one behind the theft of Brad's surfboards. Brad refused to believe Guy's accusations against his girlfriend and the two men come to blows. Then one afternoon while Brad was over at Paige's house for lunch, he saw some surfboards lying around and decided to put them in the garage despite Paige's pleas not to do so - and Brad found his stolen surfboards and realized that his girlfriend was the thief all along. After initially refusing to listen to her, Brad eventually heard Paige out who explained that she was forced to do what she did because Brad was direct competition for her and was taking away her trade. Brad ended his relationship with Paige, who then flew into a rage at Guy, blaming him for Brad dumping her, and tried to attack him. Brad's friends and family urged Brad to report Paige to the police but as he was still in love with her, he refused to do so. 4. JILL WEIR What is it with those Willises, always being taken in by lying, manipulative, no-good so-and-sos? This time it was Doug and his wife Pam's turn to be fooled when an act of kindness towards a grieving mother almost cost them their marriage. Jill Weir befriended Doug and Pam while she was battling for custody of her son, Ross. When Ross died, she leaned heavily on the Willis family who wholeheartedly gave her their support during her time of need. And it was while she was grieving that Jill developed an attraction to Doug, who she began to see as the ideal husband. Doug, realizing that Jill had feelings for him, tried to keep his distance from her, but Pam - who had really taken Jill under her wing - was oblivious to the fact that another woman had designs on her husband, and even allowed Jill to stay in the Willis family home - much to Jill's delight and Doug's annoyance. Realizing that there were cracks in the Willis marriage - which included the growing bond between Pam and neighbour, Jim Robinson, and Pam's admission that she had feelings for Jim - Jill used this knowledge to her advantage by playing on Doug's suspicions. It all worked in Jill's favour who cleverly manipulated the family in order to get close to Doug. And Jill's scheming paid off, when convinced that Pam was having an affair with Jim, Doug succumbed to Jill's charms and had a one-night stand with her. And Jill became more and more unhinged she stopped at nothing in order to get Doug to leave Pam, even taking an overdose while strangely enough in Doug and Pam's bed. It was as she was recovering in hospital that Jill revealed all to a stunned Pam, who confronted her husband. Doug regretted his actions so much that he confessed all to Pam who wasted no time in throwing him out of the house and filed for divorce. Jill was thrilled that her plan worked and without a hint of remorse, rubbed Pam and Gaby's noses in the wreckage that was their family, revelling in the fact that she was responsible. Why she didn't get a slap, nobody knows! However, Jill underestimated the strength of Doug and Pam's love for each other, and after a close call where Doug and Brad went missing at sea, Pam decided to give her marriage another go. This devastated Jill who threatened to throw herself off her apartment balcony but was stopped by Doug. After going to hospital, Jill agreed to get help as her mental state was clearly as a result of the loss of her son. When Jill was feeling better she contacted the Willises to apologize for the role she had played in ruining their marriage and wanted to put things right - but unsurprisingly they felt it was best to steer well clear of her. But the ghost of Jill Weir was difficult to put to rest and years later when Doug and Pam's marriage was tested again due to his battle with dementia, Doug brought up the name of the woman who Pam never wanted to hear about again. 5. FIONA HARTMAN When Annalise Hartman arrived in Ramsay Street, many of the residents saw what a right handful she was - and that's putting it mildly! Conniving, manipulative and a troublemaker, Annalise did a great job of rubbing people up the wrong way. But then along came mama Hartman, Fiona, and suddenly we all saw where Annalise got it from! Though to be fair, Annalise turned out to be a far kinder person than her mother ever could be, and it took Jim Robinson's death to show what a heartless schemer Fiona really was. When Jim became romantically involved with Fiona, the only person who thought she was a totally fabulous woman was Jim! Even Annalise was concerned about her mum getting her claws into a kind-hearted man like Jim Robinson, and Jim's family and friends were very concerned about this relationship, especially his mother-in-law Helen and daughter Julie. And they had every reason to be. In front of Jim, Fiona came across as sweetness and light, but others saw her true colours. When Jim collapsed and died of a heart attack, the only other person at home was Fiona who shed tears for all of two seconds before getting on the phone to transfer Jim's money into her account. She then set the scene for Jim's body to be discovered by his family and left the house before returning when Jim's grief-stricken family were there and feigned shock. Fiona soon fled Erinsborough with Jim's money, but word eventually got back to Annalise that her mother had been involved in an accident and was in a very bad way. Angry at what her mother had done, Annalise refused to go and see her but Helen made her see sense and told Annalise that if she never went to see Fiona and the worst happened, she'd never forgive herself. Annalise relented and dashed to the hospital to see Fiona but it was indeed too late and Fiona had passed away. Photos from YouTube WordCloud by Angel Noire

When Neighbours introduced a new family of five - the Kennedys - to Ramsay Street back in 1994, nobody thought, during a time when most characters remained in the show for two or three years on average, that two of them would still be on the show and going strong in 2019. Viewers recently saw the show commemorate twenty five years since Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan (Jackie Woodburne) first appeared on Neighbours with a very touching scene in which Karl presented Susan with a piece of jewellery which already had 'Happy 25th Anniversary' engraved on it. "Oh well, it's got to be twenty five years of something" mused Karl in the very cleverly written scene, and as the two characters shared a knowing smile, viewers knew it wasn't Karl and Susan they were watching... but Alan and Jackie! When the Kennedys were written into the show, Karl, Susan, and their kids - Mal, Libby, and Billy -they were brought in to replace the Willis family. How ironic then that Karl and Susan are now good friends with the new generation of Willises who made a return to Ramsay Street back in 2013! But not all Neighbours fans liked the Willis family moving out and the Kennedy family moving in, as in comparison to their zany and upbeat predecessors, the new family seemed a little bit, well, bland! But now it's safe to say that twenty five years later, the Kennedys are every bit as legendary as the Ramsays and the Robinsons, and both Karl and Susan are the show's two longest-running characters. Sure, Paul Robinson has been on show since the very beginning but Stefan Dennis, who plays Paul, did he did take a break from Neighbours for eleven years. And Karl and Susan did pack a lot into their twenty five years on the Street - And we do mean a lot! Wherever Karl and Susan were, drama wasn't far behind - just ask Izzy Hoyland and Finn Kelly! But it wasn't all doom and gloom. There's also a lot of fun and laughs for viewers especially with Susan's frustration at Karl's rather frugal ways, and Karl's oblivion to fellow residents and family members not being overly enthusiastic about his music! Here are just a handful of their memorable storylines - not necessarily in chronological order but they do go right back to when the Kennedys first appeared on Neighbours . And we're sure there's still plenty more amazing, funny, and gripping Kennedy storylines to come! 1. SUSAN WANTS ANOTHER BABY Shortly after settling into their new home at number 28, it began to dawn on Susan how fast her children were growing up, becoming more independent and that they didn't need her as much anymore. She began to reminisce about them as babies and all their early years, and then the realization dawned on her that she wanted another baby. Karl wasn't keen on the idea but Susan went to her doctor... and was eventually told that it would be very difficult for her to conceive at her age - a revelation that left her crushed. 2. KARL'S FRIENDSHIP WITH KATE CORNWALL A sign of things to come for sure! Soon after the Kennedys arrival on Ramsay Street, Karl started treating a patient named Kate who was terminally ill. Karl was drawn to Kate and they became a lot closer than they should have been for two people in a doctor-patient relationship; spending evenings together while Susan was away... and even shared a kiss before she left to be with her parents. Feeling guilty and distraught after Kate's death, Karl confessed all to a suspicious Susan who was understandably upset, and distraught that Karl insisted on being at Kate's funeral. But she eventually forgave her husband and the Kennedys worked on rebuilding their relationship. Little did Susan know at the time that a lot worse was to come for her marriage... … and worse came in the form of a sultry brunette and a scheming blonde (just not at the same time!) 3. SUSAN REVEALS THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW HER MOTHER DIED While chaperoning student and neighbour, Brett Stark, on a trip to Africa, Susan started experiencing flashbacks. Then feeling emotional one day, Susan broke down and confessed to Brett that she had helped her mother to die many years ago. Although initially quite shocked, the sensible and level-headed teen understood that Susan's mother was terminally ill and in a lot of pain. The difficult decision that Susan made as a teenager to help end her mother's suffering had been borne out of love and compassion. Brett, in turn, showed his teacher a great deal of compassion and reserved no judgement against her, thus creating a strong bond and deep friendship between the pair. 4. KARL STOPS PRACTICING MEDICINE Karl had got caught up in a feud with friend and fellow neighbour, fiery Cheryl Stark, over her son Darren going out with Libby. The feuding pair eventually called a truce but tragedy was around the corner when Cheryl was hit by a lorry while out with baby daughter, Lolly. Karl tried to tend to Cheryl's injuries but sadly she died at the scene, leaving her children and partner, Lou Carpenter, devastated. But then Karl discovered that Cheryl had been taking painkillers and feared that the drugs he gave her interfered with that and caused her death. Tests revealed that Cheryl did in fact have an allergic reaction due to the medication Karl gave her at the scene but her injuries were so severe that she could not have been saved, no matter what Karl did to help her. This did little to ease Karl's guilt and when confronted by an angry Darren who told Karl in no uncertain terms that he held Karl responsible for his mother's death, Karl made the decision to stop practicing medicine. Mal had been running a handyman business with Darren and agreed to let Karl work on a project with them - much to the fury of a very resentful Darren. But when Mal was seriously injured during a freak accident, it was up to Karl to save his life with an on the spot tracheotomy. Darren, who witnessed the whole incident, realised that Karl had to make a split second decision as his mother lay injured, and Karl did what he thought was best. Understanding this, Darren called a truce with Karl who felt that the time was right to go back to being Dr. Karl again. 5. THE KENNEDYS 'ADOPT' TOADFISH REBECCHI Now if this isn't one of the most heart-warming of friendships, we don't know what is! Karl couldn't see any redeeming qualities in his son Billy's new best friend Jarrod 'Toadfish' Rebecchi. A bit of a prankster, loud, and always seemingly leading Billy astray, Karl longed for the day when Billy would no longer be friends with Toadie and Karl wouldn't have to come home to find Toadfish and his mullet lounging around his house! Toadie But when Toadie's parents moved away, he moved in with the Kennedys so that he could finish school. From that day on he slowly but surely became part of the Kennedy household, and Karl and Susuan took great pride in watching Toadie grow up from a ratbag kid into a sensible and respectable young man, who had a good job in law and loved his young family more than anything. Karl and Susan supported Toadie during Dee's disappearance; Sonia's death, and the whole Andrea Sommers debacle. And Toadie came to regard the Kennedys as a second set of parents. 6. KARL'S BIOLOGICAL FAMILY When Karl discovered that his dad Tom was not his biological father, he set about finding out details about his biological father, Ronald Davies-Smythe. The two men met but sadly only kept in touch for a short time before Ronald passed away. After years of believing that he was an only child, Karl discovered he had a whole bunch of half-siblings, as Ronald had fathered many children with different women. Years later Karl tried to contact many of them but wasn't met with very positive responses. One of his siblings was Jemima Davies-Smythe, who initially politely declined Karl's invitation for them to meet - but turned up in Erinsborough anyway and ended up performing the marriage ceremony for David and Aaron! Karl was delighted to have found one of his siblings but Jemima irritated Susan no end, who desperately wanted to see the back of her annoying sister-in-law. But it turned out that Jemima was only testing the Kennedys. A wealthy woman, Jemima wanted to be sure that the Kennedys liked her for her - and not her bank balance. Naturally the kind-hearted Kennedys passed the test with flying colours, and a new bond was formed between the Kennedys and Jemima who still gets a mention, and the tram café - Erinsborough's latest hotspot - was a gift from her to Karl. 7. SARAH BEAUMONT Oh dear - Sarah, Sarah, Sarah... Karl and Susan had no idea what they were letting themselves in for with her! Mind you, she was merely the warm up act when it came to destroying the Kennedy marriage - the real star of the show for that was Isobelle Hoyland! Susan couldn't help teasing Karl when he hired their neighbour, glamourous, former model Sarah to be his new receptionist. Feeling secure in her marriage, Susan didn't think she had anything to worry about. And in any case, Sarah was in a relationship with handsome police officer, Matt Compton. But it was when Matt called time on their long-distance relationship that the problems began. Hurt and upset over the end of her relationship, Sarah broke down while at work, and Dr. Karl was on hand to provide a shoulder. But what started as a comfort hug soon turned into a passionate kiss. The pair broke away feeling guilty, and agreed to put the kiss behind them. That was easier said than done, as the encounter had stirred something up in them both. And Susan, totally oblivious to the tension between them, encouraged Karl to tutor Sarah with her nurse's aide course and even got them to play golf regularly. It was months before the truth came out, and everyone remembers that famous episode where Susan belted Karl across the face and threw him out of the house. It took a great deal of time and effort but Susan eventually forgave Karl and took him back. The Kennedy family breathed a sigh of relief when Sarah married Dr. Hannay and left the Street. But Sarah's ghost continued to cast a shadow over the Kennedys and their marriage for years. Even the Karl and Susan were delighted when Mal married Catherine O' Brien, the only fly in the ointment was that the bride was Sarah's sister, meaning that there was always the possibility of awkward Christmas dinners and other family events. After having two children, the Hannays divorced and Sarah made two more visits to Ramsay Street, dropping more bombshells on the Kennedys as she returned... Like what you've read so far? Check out part two for more Karl and Susan Kennedy storylines. Photos from YouTube Wordcloud by Angel Noire

So word on the street is that nineties RnB-pop group, Another Level, are to temporarily reform next year - sans Wayne Williams apparently - for a few just-for-fun-one-off gigs. This news is music to the ears of the group's fans but seeing as we've had our hopes dashed in the past, we'll see what happens... but we so hope to see Another Level performing again next year. I absolutely loved Another Level back in the day. My siblings and many of our friends were also huge fans. Furthermore they were the first group I got to see in the flesh! News that Another Level might be temporarily reforming brought back a lot of memories... How I loved Another Level! My siblings and I were a massive fans of the group which consisted of Wayne Williams, Dane Bowers, Bobak Kianoush, and Mark Baron. We bought all the CDs (because that's what people did back then - they bought CDs!) watched all the TV appearances; bought the magazines; listened to the radio interviews... for this urban music-loving girl, I didn't feel that there was any other group in the charts at the time who could be compared to Another Level - they were so refreshingly unique. But when the group split, most of the former members - with the exception of Dane Bowers - left the spotlight and moved on to other things, and in time so did a lot of Another Level's fans. But I can honestly say the group had - and still has - a very special place in my heart... My life back then Thinking back to my time as an Another Level fan when the group were in the charts, it reminds of how my life was back then. I had just started university, and was fast approaching the end of my teen years and the beginning of a new chapter - my twenties (gosh that was so long ago!) I won't lie - I hated university: I was in the wrong place and doing the wrong course (or so I thought anyway!) But it wasn't all bad: I got to meet 'my girls' while at uni who to this day are friends-bordering-on-family; went to countless house parties, and it was during this time that I visited America for the first time - my future home! Oh and I also managed to get in a bit of study... The Another Level Record Signing News that the boys are due to play a few one-off gigs reminded me that it was twenty years ago that I went to the Another Level record signing at HMV in Oxford Street in Central London -which is ,of course, now no longer. Not only was it the first record signing that I'd been to, but it was the first time I'd ever seen any of my musical idols in the flesh. It was also my little brother and sister's first time going to a record signing, and furthermore, their very first time in Oxford Street. I still remember their excitement at seeing a brightly lit Oxford Street. Fast forward several years to when they were teenagers, and they were hardly ever at home. Instead they were busy running around Central London with their friends! But goodness there was a lot of drama we had to contend with before Another Level even got on stage. It was however an awesome night, and the boys put on a great performance. I'm so glad I got to share that with all my siblings. Too bad it was in the days before camera phones so I don't have any pics but I do have very special memories of that night. The night ended on a high with a visit to Pizza Hut! Another Level... Hope to see you soon! Photo collage and second photo from YouTube Other photos and wordcloud by Angel Noire

Hi Nostalgiacs! This week's Angel's Slice of the Pie has been inspired by a conversation I had with my friend MJ where we were talking about our collection of vintage cook books (I promise you, our conversations are a lot more riveting than this. Although we think talking about vintage cook books, or vintage anything for that matter) is always pretty riveting!) It's no secret that I collect vintage magazines. It is one of my absolute passions and it is because I'm an avid magazine collector that I got to meet MJ who is also an avid magazine collector himself. And the rest is history! But what a lot of people don't know is that I also collect vintage cook books and I get very excited when I find yet another one to add to my ever-growing collection (I do have a life - honest!) I don't know when I made the conscious decision to collect cook books. I was always surrounded by them when I was growing up. In the living room of our very first house in East London, we had book cases which took up almost half the length of our flock-wallpapered through-lounge. You could easily tell which books belonged to whom just by looking at the subject matter: Dad - economics, accounting, literature, religion, language learning books, classic novels, romantic fiction, thrillers, adventure, horror, history, historical fiction, short stories, detective fiction, user manuals and reference guides. Kids - fairy tales, children's novels, children's Bible, early learning books Mum - Cookery books. OK prayer and hymn books too! I love my books! If you come over to my house, you'll find books on a wide array of topics just like my dad had. And also a million and one cook books just like my mum still has! My mum was, and still is, very much a foodie. She loves to cook, watch television cooking shows, and if ever she goes out and hears a recipe book calling out her name - then it just has to come home with her! But don't worry - she always pays for it first! I do like modern day cook books and have quite a few of those but it's the vintage ones that I'm particularly interested in - anything pre-1990. I pick one up and I'm instantly reminded of the cook books Mum had and I'm transported back to my childhood. I love the simplicity of the recipes; the unfussiness of the ingredients, and the homeliness of the accompanying food photos and sketches. It goes without saying that for a nostalgia nut like me, I am completely in my element! In fact I find it very relaxing after a long day to just flick through one when I want to chill (I swear I have a life!) The legend that is Ms. Childs It's unfortunate that most of my collection is back home in the UK - including my ones by Queen Delia - but I have brought a few back with me. Not as many as I would have preferred, admittedly, but more than my husband would have liked, definitely! And I've also been fortunate to have stumbled over some awesome finds here in the States, including a couple of Good Housekeeping cookbooks, one by Better Homes and Gardens , and surprisingly two Sainsbury's cookbooks from the 1980s. I'm guessing there's another ex-pat around here who's been in the States a lot longer than I have! And of course you can't really call yourself a collector of vintage cookbooks unless you have at least one by Julia Childs - and thankfully I do! I have some cookbooks that are absolute favourites. One of them is Good Housekeeping's Hot and Cold Puddings which seems to be very obscure and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of information about it. It used to belong to my mum but now it has pride of place in my own home, and I remember this being on our bookshelves back in the eighties. I'm also delighted to have a copy of Jenny Bristow's Highdays and Holidays as I used to watch her cooking show in the early nineties. Oh, and let's not forget the Farmhouse Kitchen Cook Book ! For those of us who grew up watching the Farmhouse Kitchen TV cooking show, The Farmhouse Kitchen cook books are a must! I also have two revisions of The Cookery Year which has been hailed as the cook's bible and you'll get no argument from me there! It's full of pretty illustrations, gorgeous photos and if you're someone who likes to use seasonal produce or wants to learn how to make classic dishes, this is the book for you. I have very happy memories of poring over the pages of The Cookery Year as a child, learning all about the different types of food and imagining all the dishes I would cook for my fancy dinner parties when I was all grown up (I've had lots of parties but still no grown-up, fancy dinner parties - yet!) MJ asked if I actually put these cookbooks to good use by actually trying out the recipes. The truth is I haven't put the recipes to use as much as I should have but since my mid-teens, I've definitely tried some of them out. Any recipe that involved making something that was sweet and totally bad for your teeth and waistline was definitely a winner with me! My absolute fave recipe was for an orange foam sauce that you served with puddings. My dad loved hot puddings with loads of custard but one night, I found that we'd run out of milk so I needed to find a sauce that didn't need milk. And I found it in The Cookery Year. I may have flicked the The Cookery Year as a child but it finally took just over a decade for me to actually use one of the recipes! One of the advantages of living in America (free refills; better steak; a stone's throw from Wahlburgers so I might be able to bump into Mark or Donnie...) is that I'm finding lots of cool vintage cookbooks to add to my collection that I may not have found if I'd still been living in England. It's interesting to pore over the pages and see what was en vogue food-wise back in the day Stateside, and of course I'm learning about all kinds of old-school American classics that we don't have in the UK. And for those of you who think that a 'casserole' in America is the same as a stew in the UK or Europe, think again! Out here it's a carb-laden baked dish which can be sweet like a bread and butter pudding, or savoury and topped with breadcrumbs or cheese. Thanks for clearing that up, American cookbooks! So I will be out at my favourite store tomorrow, seeing what other vintage finds I can add to my ever expanding collection - much to Mr. D's annoyance! All photos by Angel Noire Word cloud logo by Angel Noire

At Nostalgia Pie, we like to talk about memories that make you all aglow with happiness and make you go skippety-skip down memory lane. But this week's Angel's Slice of the Pie brings back childhood memories of the I'm-so-scared-I need-to-sleep-with-the-light-on-preferably-on-a-little-mattress-in-the-corner-of-my-parents'-room variety - and sadly the subject matter isn't quite so pleasant. But as most of us eighties and nineties kids will know, this show made strangely compelling viewing... Last month marked a whopping thirty five years since the now axed Crimewatch UK - as it was then called - aired for the first time on June 7th 1984. As I always say - where have the years gone??? Can it really be thirty five years since we heard that famous and distinctive theme tune that was practically a call, no, a demand to action? Has it really been three and a half decades since we saw that opening intro made up of a montage of clips that wouldn't look out of place in The Bill? (Which incidentally also began in 1984!) A NEW CRIME APPEAL TV SHOW Even though I was tiny - well tinier than I am now - when Crimewatch started, I still remember all the publicity surrounding the new BBC crime appeal show that was to be presented by two very well known faces on British television - Nick Ross and Sue Cook. Even to my very young mind, I knew that this show was a great idea. I was already familiar with Police 5 , so I couldn't wait for Crimewatch UK to start. This in itself was strange as a show like this would most definitely give me cause to cower under the covers (with the light on!) but I just had to watch it. For many years and I don't know why, I always thought I'd watched the very first episode of Crimewatch UK on the night it aired but I later realized I hadn't. So I never got to witness that little piece of TV history when it was first broadcast. It was actually another two years or so before I watched my first Crimewatch episode. I guess by then because I was a little older, I was allowed to stay up a bit later than I normally would but I reckon it was still another couple of years before I could watch an entire episode. And so began my vocation of being an armchair detective. Though it didn't matter how old I was - I was always a bit nervy after watching Crimewatch - it didn't matter what Nick said! If you've ever seen those videofits and artists impressions of suspects, I'd dare you not to have nightmares! My sister point blank refused to watch Crimewatch at all! And my mum recently revealed that there were a lot of adults at the time who also refused to watch the programme because they too found Crimewatch UK rather scary. As I got older, I'd tune in regularly to see if there were any wanted faces I recognised. I always thought that I would one day be able to phone the studio and say "Yes! I know that man. He lives around the corner from me." And considering some of the places I've lived in in London, that wasn't an impossibility! And I very nearly got my chance... I COULD'VE PHONE IN... BUT I DIDN'T! There was one time, when I was in my teens, that I was ninety-nine per cent sure that a man featured in a reconstruction of a serious incident that took place in a town not far from where we lived, was the same man that I'd seen behaving suspiciously just the day before. After watching the update and speaking to my sister, who actually spoke to the man and saw his accomplice who was hidden from my view, it turned out that I was right! Someone else had already beaten me to it by phoning in and revealing that they were seen in my neighbourhood. I've been kicking myself to this day that I missed my chance to contribute to the fight against crime and it makes me wonder how many other viewers who were 'almost sure' didn't phone in because of that slight doubt. From watching past episodes it's amazing how many reconstructions and cases I've remembered. Some have stayed with me over the years, and I always wondered about the victim, their families and friends, and whether or not those cases have been solved. There's no getting away from the fact that Crimewatch did some fantastic work and without the show, a lot of criminals may still be walking the streets. But sadly, there's still a high proportion of cases that have yet to be solved. Let's not lose hope though because it has been known for cases to be solved twenty, thirty, even forty years later - however unlikely that might seem. NICK AND SUE Even though the show has seen many presenters at the helm throughout the show's thirty three year history, when I think of Crimewatch , I think of the Nick and Sue years. I think they did an excellent job of presenting the show and they worked very well together. I especially liked their voiceovers for the reconstructions in which the delivery was very matter-of-fact and unemotional (in the sense that it was level and steady, not cold and heartless!) but with their softly spoken, gentle voices, it sounded quite soothing! And there was something in their narration that heightened that feeling of suspense and kept you watching until the end; absorbing all the information they were giving you. JILL DANDO - A VERY SAD LOSS Of course we cannot talk about Crimewatch without mentioning the late Jill Dando who had taken over from Sue Cook as Nick's partner in fighting crime. Everyone always talks about what they were doing when they heard Diana, Princess of Wales had died, but I still vividly remember the exact moment I heard that Jill Dando had been killed twenty years ago. As everyone knows, Jill was murdered on her own doorstep; it was both tragic and horribly ironic and the entire nation was stunned. I discovered the news just as it broke on Ceefax (really showing my age here!) and I read and re-read the headline over and over again not being able to take in the fact that Jill had a) passed away and b) died in a truly horrendous manner. It was a shocking event and the whole country, it seemed, was in a state of disbelief. The news programmes talked of little else. As many of the news broadcasters were people who had known Jill, it must have been truly horrifying for them. I don't think that all who were involved in the show could ever for a moment have foreseen that one day they would have to make an appeal for a very dear colleague and friend. I still remember the episode in which an appeal was made on Crimewatch to help catch Jill's killer. Nick Ross opened up the show in what has had to be the darkest and most sombre episode in Crimewatch 's history and you couldn't help but feel for him. Nick got through that episode like a pro as he presented Crimewatch without his sidekick, but viewers could sense his very evident sense of loss as well as the sadness of Chief Supt. David Hatcher and DS Jacqui Hames. Watching it again, I couldn't help but feel very emotional so I can only imagine what it must have felt like in the studio that night. The episode ended with a very moving montage of Jill's clips from the show in which it cleverly looked as though she was appealing for people to come forward with information, along with tributes from people who knew her. Sadly and very disappointingly, Jill's murder has been consigned to the compartment of Crimewatch's less successful appeals and no one has ever been brought to justice for her death but we live in hope that one day the killer will be caught. CRIMEWATCH 1984 - 1990s The so-called 'vintage' Crimewatch episodes - from 1984 to the late nineties - seem to have attracted something of a cult following if comments are anything to go by. Viewers feel that they are more watchable due to the quality of the reconstructions and there being less distractions in the studio. For years I thought I was the only one who thought that Crimewatch was better in the eighties and nineties and that the show had gone downhill a bit after 2000! I prefer the format of these earlier episodes; the Cook-Ross dynamic; the police presence (David Hatcher, Helen Phelps, and Jacqui Hames) the mini appeals featured on Incident Desk , and the quality of the main reconstructions. They were brilliantly made with a short-film feel to it, well narrated by Nick and Sue, and some of the actors played the bad guy so well they made you jump right out of your skin! RECONSRUCTIONS OF LATER YEARS The reconstructions were also quite eerie and some of them really did chill you to the bone. This was all a sharp contrast to the reconstructions of the last ten years or so before the show was cancelled which were just, I'm sorry to say, dire! Yes, I'm well aware that these reconstructions are not there to entertain, but the graphic scenes, silly effects, and dramatic music were really off-putting and gave the impression of a low-budget movie. Not a patch on the previous reconstructions. Furthermore it made me think about the family and friends of the poor victims - would they really need to see how brutal the last few minutes of their loved ones' lives were? I personally found that very disturbing and that's something the older episodes of the show spared us all from. WHY DO WE STILL WATCH OLD EPISODES? Why do I feel so compelled to watch old school episodes of Crimewatch ? Well it's because despite the fact the show deals with some very unpleasant issues, as any child of the eighties and nineties will tell you, it's a significant part of our childhoods. Even if we didn't get to stay up late and watch it, we were aware of Crimewatch UK ; we heard people talking about it, and of course it featured high profile cases that were in the news. We understood why our parents were so protective of us, and we felt that sense of shock and alarm when kids just like us went missing and never came home again. Moreover when we watch these episodes, it takes us back to a time we knew. We marvel at just how much society, lifestyle, technology, fashion and culture has changed. And for us kids who grew up in the age of the superhero, we liked seeing the good guys take on the bad guys - and hopefully win! Because Crimewatch was not a Hollywood production, the bad guy wasn't always caught and justice wasn't always served, I'm sad to say. But it sent out a message that people were prepared to fight back and weren't going to make it easy for criminals to hide. It must have given villains quite a few sleepless nights - and that's always a good thing. Make 'em sweat! But more importantly, we still live in hope that all those who have literally got away with murder and goodness knows what else over the years, whether they were featured on Crimewatch or not, will be made to pay for their crimes and that justice will be served for the victims and their families. That's why getting rid of Crimewatch was such a bad move. Bring it back - or we really will have nightmares! Oh and another thing most of us who have watched Crimewatch since the early years have in common... we didn't seem to care much for Aladdin's Cave! What are your memories of Crimewatch UK ?

I've been wearing shorts this weekend which is all the evidence you need that it's been a real scorcher here on the East Coast. I swear half of me has melted away! And I hear it's going to be worse later this week - Lord help me! If I could walk around the streets of New England in a string bikini, I would. But unfortunately I can’t (especially not with this bod!) so I’ve had to think of other ways to beat the heat and I’ve been downing, chomping or slurping anything that’s icy cold. Thoughts have turned to all the ice-creams we used to devour as kids and boy did we love our ice-cream! When we were growing up, ice-cream was an occasional treat. There’d always be tubs of Cornish vanilla or neopolitan ice-creams at family parties and gatherings; the ice-cream man wasn’t safe when we heard the van approaching our road, and ice-cream cones were a must when my family and I hit the local park. Unsurprisingly, Mum refused to stock up on ice-cream during the winter months, so ice-cream is most definitely synonymous with summer. Today ice-cream is all about Ben and Jerry’s, Haagen-Dazs, Carte D’or and flavours that never existed when I was a kid: salted caramel, lemon meringue pie, espresso, and toffee apple... I once asked my EFL class what their favourite ice-cream flavours were and ‘pistachio,’ 'black cherry,' and ‘green tea' featured in the answers. And me? Well funnily enough my favourite ice-creams are three which are very hard to find in England: I love butter pecan (USA) crème caramel/flan (Spain) and brown bread ice-cream (Ireland.) I must be the only person who needs to hop on a plane every time they fancy a scoop of ice-cream! This is all good but it’s dawned on me that many of the ice-cream flavours from my childhood have either totally disappeared or they’re very hard to come by. Ice-creams in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s weren’t necessary ultra-sophisticated. And when I think about it, there was a very limited range of flavours - generally chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla - and packaging was more fun than glam. Brands were typically Wall’s, Lyon’s Maid, supermarket's own… and not much else! But it was fun, delicious and it kept you cool. I absolutely love ice-cream today: there’s a never-ending variety of flavours, including savoury flavours (avocado chilli or black pepper anyone?) the quality has vastly improved, and it’s that much more creamier and flavourful. But I can’t help but get all nostalgic when I think about what ice-cream looked like back in the day and those retro flavours. So as an ode to summers gone by and staying cool, here’s a list of the ice-cream flavours that were around when I was growing up in the Eighties. Some of them are still around; some are hard to find, and some seem to have melted away… 1. VANILLA Vanilla ice-cream needs absolutely no introduction! Vanilla ice-cream might be considered a bit, well, vanilla, but back in the eighties, in a world with limited ice-cream flavours, if anyone had a tub of ice-cream in their freezer, you could bet your life it would probably be vanilla. It was very popular in our house although Mum tended to buy it in block form rather than a tub. I suppose one reason it was so popular was because it was – and still is – so versatile: you could pop it in a soda float; add any flavour topping to it; layer it up in a sundae, or serve it as an accompaniment to a pudding... However most of the people I knew used to serve it with jelly or tinned fruit salad – a real treat back then for us kids (tinned fruit was the only fruit I’d eat as a child.) It might not sound very sophisticated but if someone served up jelly and ice-cream for me, or tinned fruit and ice-cream now, I’d happily scoff the lot! Today, vanilla has to work hard to maintain its popularity with all these weird and wonderful ice-cream flavours around that are tempting us away from this good, old-fashioned flavour. Vanilla is still tops due to its versatility but we’re much more fussy when it comes to the quality and won’t settle for any old vanilla ice-cream. It has to be super smooth and creamy, with an intense vanilla flavour – and if it happens to be vanilla bean ice-cream, so much the better! 2. CORNISH VANILLA Now this was the ice-cream flavour that Mum was most likely to buy and it was always the Wall’s brand that was in our freezer. Cornish vanilla ice-cream had a much deeper cream-come-yellow colour that regular vanilla ice-cream didn’t have, and what I remember most was that deliciously buttery flavour. Even as a child I felt that Cornish vanilla ice-cream didn’t really need any sauces or toppings thanks to that unique flavour; I preferred to have it ‘plain’. Over the years I gradually stopped devouring Cornish vanilla. I’m not sure if it’s because I ate bucket-loads as a child or because I was tempted away by other flavours – or maybe both! But when I’m hit by nostalgia – as I so often am – I do treat myself to some Cornish vanilla ice-cream. However, I can’t help feeling a little underwhelmed by it because that intense, buttery flavour that I remember doesn’t seem the same – no matter which brand I buy. But I live in hope of rediscovering it. 3. CHOCOLATE I didn’t know a kid back then who didn’t like chocolate ice-cream – and I still don’t! It’s still very much a firm favourite today with children and adults alike. When I was growing up, chocolate ice-cream was just, um, chocolate ice-cream. Now chocolate ice-cream has more varieties than Heinz: white chocolate, chocolate brownie, chocolate fudge; chocolate cookie dough; chocolate mud pie; triple chocolate; chocolate-til-it’s-coming-out-of-your-ears etc. At secondary school, we were fortunate enough to have an ice-cream van arrive in the school yard every lunch time and home time, where after school, I would sometimes treat myself to a chocolate cone. I wonder what Mr. Oliver would make of that! And you don’t need me to tell you, it’s still one of the most popular ice-cream flavours all over the world. But then with all those chocolate variations it would have to be. 4. STRAWBERRY My memories of strawberry ice-cream – a flavour both my parents loved back then – was that it was always an eye-catching shade of pink; anything from a pretty pastel shade to a very deep pink. However one thing I’m wondering about is whether any of the strawberry ice-creams I devoured throughout my childhood actually contained a scrap of real strawberry at all! I suspect most of them didn’t and were simply strawberry-flavoured but even if we knew that back then, I doubt we would have minded very much. Of course today there is a real distinction between the brightly coloured strawberry flavoured ice-cream, and the frozen, creamy delicacy that’s made with the real deal and contains yummy chunks of frozen strawberries – and I definitely know which one I prefer! And as with chocolate, there are many variations today of the humble strawberry ice-cream: strawberry cheesecake; strawberry shortcake; strawberries and cream; roasted strawberry mint; strawberries and champagne… oh it was all so much simpler in my day! 5. MINT CHOC-CHIP A childhood fave for me, as I loved anything that was mint flavoured (as a matter of fact I still do!) And contrary to popular belief, mint ice-cream tastes nothing like toothpaste. When I was around seven, I went through a phase where I would only ever eat ice-cream if it was mint choc-chip. I loved the cool, refreshing, minty taste combined with the soft, creamy texture. And those dark chocolate chips were a very welcome addition. Mint and chocolate – a winning combo if ever I heard one. And of course I loved the minty green colour too. Mint choc chip is still readily available and although it's not really my first choice of flavour these days (I definitely overindulged when I was a child and can never finish a whole tub now) I still wouldn't say no to a mint choc-chip cone. 6. BANANA This is an ice-cream flavour I loved back then and still do. Banana ice-cream wasn’t overly common when I was growing up – it still isn’t – but I remember that some restaurants offered it along with the usual three flavours - Strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla. I really liked banana ice-cream partly because I love the sweet, creamy taste of bananas but also because it made a change from the three usual suspects! I’ve since discovered that banana ice-cream isn’t popular with a lot of people even now although I can’t understand why. After all most people like a banana split and the flavours aren’t too dissimilar. Never mind – I’ll guzzle the lot single-handedly! What were your favourite ice-cream flavours as a child? Photos: Pixabay Wordcloud: Angel Noire

So another member of the famous Donovan dynasty made her debut in Neighbours this week. After much press attention, Jemma Donovan, daughter of that other famous JD - the legendary Jason Donovan - made her first appearance as Harlow Robinson. Jason Donovan's daughter Jemma as Harlow Robinson in Neighbours As with her dad's character, Scott, Harlow is a member of the iconic Robinson clan, and when it was first announced that Jemma would be joining the long-running Australian soap, fans were trying to figure out exactly how Harlow would fit into the Robinson family tree. Just before Jemma's first episode aired, it was revealed that Harlow is the granddaughter of Paul Robinson and Gail Lewis, and therefore Scott Robinson's great-niece! While viewers cannot wait to see what's in store for the latest Robinson, it's interesting to note that there have now been three generations of Donovans to appear in Neighbours - Jemma's granddad, Terence Donovan, played the lovable Doug Willis on and off from the early nineties until his character was killed off in 2016. And let's not forget that Jason's sister, Stephanie McIntosh also appeared as Harold Bishop's granddaughter, Skye. It's so not fair - all that talent and great looks in one family! Jemma following in the footsteps of her father, grandfather, and aunt But unlike other soaps, it hasn't been that unusual during the show's thirty four year history for many of the actors to have had an equally talented family member also appear on the show although not necessarily at the same time. Over the years, the Valance sisters, Holly and then Olympia (Flick Scully and Paige Smith) have both appeared in Neighbours, and Harley Bonner who played Josh Willis is the real-life son of Carla Bonner (Steph Scully.) The villainous Julie Quill who was responsible for the Lassiter's explosion that killed two members of the Willis family, was played by Stefan Dennis's (Paul Robinson) real-life wife, Gail Easdale. And Kate Gorman, who plays the loathsome Sue Parker has appeared in Neighbours on and off since the early days, while her parents, Reg Gorman and Judith Roberts have also had guest roles in the soap, as has her sister Charmaine who played Clive Gibbons niece, Vicki, back in the eighties. Talk about giving that Donovan clan a run for their money! We take a look at other Neighbours' characters who were played by actors who proved that talent really does run in the family. 1. SUE JONES and KYLIE MINOGUE (aunt and niece) Everyone knows that Terence Donovan who played Doug Willis is Jason Donovan's father and it's believed that the actress who played Doug's wife Pam, Sue Jones, is the real-life sister of Kylie Minogue's mum, Carol, so therefore she's Aunty Sue to Kylie... Or is she??? This intriguing snippet of information about the Minogue family is believed to have been mentioned in teen and TV mags during the early nineties, and Jason also hinted that the two were related in his autobiography Between The Lines - but it's not for certain that he was talking about that Sue Jones. Sue has been working steadily since leaving Neighbours, and there's no need to mention Kylie's post-Neighbours career! But neither mentions the other in interviews, and in more recent times there's not much info which confirms that the two former Neighbours' actresses are actually related but many believe that they are. Kylie, care to comment? 2. ANNE HADDY and JAMES CONDON (Husband and wife) Despite their extensive careers in entertainment, real-life husband and wife James Condon and Anne Haddy have only acted together twice - and both times were in Neighbours! James has appeared in Neighbours twice, playing different characters. He played con artist Douglas Blake in the eighties, before going on to play Reuban White in 1995. Both characters became romantically involved with everyone's favourite gran, Helen Daniels, with Reuban actually going on to marry Helen... who just happened to be played by James's real-life wife Anne! Sadly James and Anne are no longer with us but their talent and the roles they played will always be remembered by those who admired their work. Here's a quote by James taken from an interview with Perfect Blend in which he describes working with Anne; it sums up everything about their relationship and has you going "Aw, that's so sweet!" "...our being married again on camera was very special - no acting required - just living and loving it." 3. BETH BUCHANAN and SIMONE BUCHANAN (Sisters) Beth's character Gemma Ramsay was only in Ramsay Street for about a year back in the early nineties. Her off-screen marriage to Doug and Pam's son Adam created a union for two of the show's most iconic families: the Ramsays and the Willises. Beth's return to Neighbours this year as she reprised her role as Gemma briefly in order to bring her daughter Roxy to Erinsborough created a lot of excitement among long-time fans of the show. Beth's sister Simone is an instantly recognisable face in Australia thanks to an acting career that goes back to the late seventies and appearances in top shows such as Blue Heelers, Flying Doctors, A Country Practice, and The Sullivans to name just a few. But Simone will be familiar to British audiences as Neighbours lawyer Samantha Fitzgerald, Dan Fitzgerald's first wife. The Buchanan sisters aren't just famous for their acting abilities but for their amazing genes which mean they don't look a day older than when they first appeared on screen. We're so jealous! 4. KRISTIAN SCHMID and KRISTA VENDY (cousins) Aah, Todd Landers, an absolute sweetie with a good head on his shoulders, a slightly rebellious streak, and was never short of attention from the girls. Kristian Schmid did such an excellent job of playing Beverly Marshall's teenage nephew that twenty seven years after Todd was tragically killed off, he is still one of the most memorable of Neighbours characters. Kristian has gone on to star in a whole host of shows since he left the soap including a role in Home and Away as Mick Jenner - a character as far removed as Todd Landers as you can get - but it's his role in Neighbours which we will forever remember him for. Eleven years after Kristian first appeared in Neighbours, his cousin Krista joined the cast as Tess Bell, one of the most glamorous teachers ever to work at Erinsborough High, although she had originally auditioned to play Sarah Beaumont - a role that eventually went to Nicola Charles. So Krista narrowly missed out on playing the first woman to wreak havoc in the Kennedy's marriage! A neat freak who didn't have the best of luck when it came to men, Tess left Erinsborough after jilting the dastardly Darcy at the alter. With the return of Tess's best friend, Dee Bliss, is there any chance that Krista might reprise her role as Ms. Bell and come back to Ramsay Street too? 5. SIMONE ROBERTSON and AIMEE ROBERTSON (Sisters) Simone captured the hearts of Neighbours fans with her portrayal of teenage mum, Phoebe Bright (later Gottlieb) which wasn't bad for someone whose character was only supposed to be in the show for a few episodes. And Simone definitely packed a lot in during her time on the show: Phoebe went from being an outcast at school to getting caught up in a love triangle with Josh Anderson and Todd Landers; becoming pregnant with Todd's baby, and then watching him die after a road accident. She then went on to give birth to Todd's daughter Hope just before marrying Stephen Gottlieb and leaving Erinsborough to open up a record store. As there seems to be something of a resurgence of past characters coming back to Ramsay Street, it would be awesome if we saw Phoebe return with a grown up Hope! However as Simone is now living in America, working in IT and appears to have given up acting, it's unlikely that that will ever happen. Hold on - the Blakeney Twins are also living in America, have also given up acting and have just filmed the return of Caroline and Christina Alessi. So anything is possible! Simone's younger sister, Aimee, who had starred in children's TV series, Pugwall , playing a character called Melissa, had a guest role in Neighbours after Simone had left the show. She played another Melissa, Melissa Drenth, Billy Kennedy's girlfriend (before Anne Wilkinson came along.) Billy and Melissa had an on-off relationship which ended for good once Billy started dating Anne - and Melissa was unfortunatley written out of the show. It is not known if Aimee is still acting. Special shout out to Suzy and Sandra for their efforts in helping with research for this post. Photos: YouTube. Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Hands up who loved the return of 'Mary the Punk' and Lofty to Walford last week? Nostalgia came to EastEnders when former Walford residents Lofty and Mary - complete with her daughter, not-so-baby Annie - returned to the Square for Dr. Legg's funeral. I was surprised when I heard that the two eighties' characters were coming back, and even more surprised when I found out they were going to be played by the original actors, Tom Watt and Linda Davidson, especially as Davidson was said to have retired from acting years ago. I couldn't wait to see them back on screen... but I couldn't help but feel a little skeptical. In recent years EastEnders have tried to play the nostalgia card by bringing back past characters, and even though these comebacks have been highly anticipated, when it actually happens I can't help but feel underwhelmed. Mel Owen is hard-faced and unlikeable; I sometimes forget the resurrected Kathy Beale has been resurrected; I'm really not sure I understand the point of Ruby Allen's return, and let's not talk about the debacle that was Michelle Fowler. The once iconic character will now forever be associated with one of the most disastrous soap comebacks of all time. Let's hope we can expect more from Sean Slater's return. For those of us who have watched EastEnders since the early days, we know how popular the characters George 'Lofty' Holloway and Mary Smith were. They had some pretty intense, and in Mary's case, gritty storylines and were often at the forefront of all the drama. So it would be a huge disappointment for the fans if their long-awaited comebacks were just one huge flop. But thankfully - in my opinion at least- it proved to be anything but. It was fantastic to see them back in the Square, reminiscing with Sharon, Dot, and Kathy. Incidentally I had actually stumbled across old EastEnders  video clips featuring some of Lofty and Mary's scenes of the exact events that they were talking about in The Vic with their old mates. And not wanting to give too much away for those who have yet to see this episode but it was lovely to see that things have worked out well for two of the most downtrodden characters in Albert Square. Though why Lofty would still be pining after his ex-wife, miserable Michelle, I don't know! The only complaints I have about Lofty and Mary's visit are that it wasn't long enough, and that Ian Beale was missing from the group. Could you just imagine his face when he discovers that Lofty is a bigger success story than him - and much, much nicer! Despite being sad at having to say goodbye to Dr. Legg, it was a terrific send-off for an iconic character and a very enjoyable episode. No doubt the cast had as great a time filming these scenes, catching up with old friends and reminiscing as us viewers did watching this very bittersweet episode. Well done, EastEnders! This is how you do it! Check out our post, Five EastEnders Characters Who Should Make A Comeback . Which EastEnders character would you like to see make a return? Photos: YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

So after months of nagging the fella, we finally, FINALLY, got around to watching Bohemian Rhapsody - and my leg has almost fallen off below the knee from where I've been kicking myself so much for having waited so long to watch it! And when the fella announced that our local movie theatre (goodness, I've come over all American!) OK, when the fella announced that our local cinema (that's better!) had had a sing-along night when showing Bohemian Rhapsody , I almost kicked him for not telling me before! I have always liked Queen and thought of Freddie Mercury as the ultimate showman but after watching Bohemian Rhapsody, my admiration for the band has grown even more - as it has with most people. It's not hard to see why in the year 2019, Queen have not only a legion of fans who have worshipped them from the very beginning, but a new generation of die-hard fans who were born long after Freddie passed away. Bohemian Rhapsody has been criticised for being factually incorrect - but come on, are all music bios a hundred per cent accurate? To the best of my understanding, I think the film has done it's best to capture the essence of what the band were about - and seeing as I've never been so affected by a film about people I don't even know personally, I think it's done an outstanding job in doing so. And of course another key theme of the movie was Live Aid and that iconic performance. My memories of Live Aid are very vague. I just remember this super long concert that was on TV all day that my Mum and my aunts got very excited about; I sadly don't remember any of the actual performances. And of course back then, I didn't know the story behind Queen being a late addition to the line-up. But the story together with the performance is the stuff legends are made of. The first thing Mr. D and I did after we finished watching the film was check out Queen's Live Aid performance. I don't have the adjectives to describe how awesome it was - and for an English teacher, that's bad! And why did I wait so long to check out that legendary performance again???? Cue much more kicking! One thing I became painfully aware of after watching Bohemian Rhapsody was that even though I liked Queen, I had kind of taken them for granted over the years. They are one of the biggest rock bands in the world whose music was always 'there'. It was a case of hearing the music without really listening. But all that's changed now and my appreciation of Queen has grown enormously. Not a case of bandwagon jumping because of a top movie but realizing all over again just how formidable Queen are. I mean I always knew that. But now I really know! So if there's anyone who still hasn't seen Bohemian Rhapsody and wants to know what all the fuss is about, check it out NOW! The cast were fab. Everyone's raving about Oscar winner Rami Malek's portrayal of Freddie Mercury and rightly so, but all the cast gave stellar performances and really acted their socks off which was indeed a contributing factor to the film's success. But seriously - was I the only one who kept looking at Roger Taylor and thinking, "That's Peter Beale!" RIP Freddie Mercury. The legend lives on... And Queen continue to reign. Photos from YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Neighbours fans have just witnessed the tragic death of Sonya Rebecchi, ending one of the strongest and best-loved romantic unions on Ramsay Street (seriously Neighbours - what were you thinking???) What will poor Toadie do now? No doubt a new love interest will soon be lined up for him, but fans could see that Toadie and Sonya had a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love, and whoever Toadie is to be romantically linked with in the future, the late Mrs. Rebecchi will be a very tough act to follow. Mr. and Mrs. Rebecchi Throughout the show's history, Neighbours have introduced viewers to couples whose relationships unsurprisingly dissolved faster than a stock cube in boiling water; who definitely belonged in the how-on-earth-did-those-two-get-together category. Such couples included Joe Mangel and Melanie Pearson; Gary Canning and Therese Willis; Paul Robinson and Jane Harris, and now the newlywed Mark and Elly Brennan. But there have also been couples who, like Sonya and Toadie, had that special something, and have stayed in the hearts of viewers; couples who will be remembered for a long time to come. So let's take a look at some of our favourite Neighbours couples who proved to be love's young dream... 1. SCOTT ROBINSON AND CHARLENE MITCHELL Even though this list is in no particular order, it would have to be Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene (Kylie Minogue) at the top spot, wouldn't it! Scott and Charlene aren't just the hottest Neighbours couple; they're probably the most popular soap couple of all time, and their screen romance led to the actors who played them to become international stars. Their soap wedding, that was screened in the Eighties, is still the most talked about TV wedding to this day. Scott and Charlene met as teenagers, when Charlene greeted him with a punch in the face after Scott mistook her for a burglar. Despite the unlikeliest of starts, they soon started going out and became seriously loved-up although their relationship suffered a lot of ups and downs - which didn't end even after Charlene became Mrs. Robinson. Their families didn't expect their marriage to last due to them having married so young, but Scott and Charlene proved them wrong. The day sadly came when the Robinsons packed up and left Erinsborough for a new life in Brisbane where they became mum and dad to Daniel and Maddie and are still living in happily married bliss. As every Kylie and Jason fan knows, Ms. Minogue and Mr. Donovan got together off-screen in a romance that delighted Neighbours viewers. It didn't last but the two are still on good terms. 2. MIKE YOUNG AND JANE HARRIS Mike (Guy Pearce) and Jane (Annie Jones) made a fantastic couple but they were often overshadowed by their best friends Scott and Charlene. But nonetheless, their romance kept Neighbours fans hooked. And as with the actors who played Scott and Charlene, fans hoped that Guy Pearce and Annie Jones would also become a real-life couple. It never happened but it seems as though they're still good friends in real-life which is pretty awesome too! Jane Harris arrived in Erinsborough in the mid-Eighties after being sent to live with her grandmother, Nell Mangel. Dubbed 'Plain Jane Superbrain' by her less than friendly classmates, shy and awkward, Jane was desperate to fit in but didn't have any luck in making friends - until she was befriended by Scott, Charlene and Mike albeit after an initially frosty start. Mike asked Jane to be his date to the school dance - and that episode where Mike's jaw hit the floor after Jane had had her makeover was an iconic Neighbours  moment. Mike - like the rest of us - saw just how stunning Jane really was. They started dating but had their share of problems, from Mrs. Mangel standing in the way of their relationship to Mike's ex-girlfriend Nikki returning to Erinsborough. Then Mike did the unthinkable and cheated on Jane while on a trip to Canberra and the two broke up although they later became friends - but not before Jane threw a well-deserved pavlova in Mike's face! After some time apart Mike soon saw sense and won Jane back who by now was the Lassiter's Girl. This time round they seemed more rock solid than ever before. Then just when we thought that Mike and Jane had a real chance to be happy together, Jane fell for Mike's closest friend and father figure, Des Clarke, which wrecked their relationship once and for all. Eventually Mike and Jane each left Ramsay Street to care for sick relatives without getting back together again. Even after Jane got with Des, fans hoped that Mike and Jane would get back together again but sadly it never happened. No one knows what the writers were thinking in getting Des and Jane together because they just weren't suited - they didn't have the same chemistry that Mike and Jane had. It would have been great if Mike and Jane had their happily ever after, just like Scott and Charlene did, sailed off into the sunset together but it was not to be... 3. PAUL AND GAIL ROBINSON Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) is undoubtedly the Ian Beale of Ramsay Street. How did such an unpleasant man end up with so many wives and girlfriends? And this is clearly a man who likes wedding cake because despite so many failed marriages, he still insists on proposing! However, it's his second wife Gail (Fiona Corke) who probably comes the closest to being Paul's perfect woman - and quite possibly the only woman that Paul ever truly loved. It's ironic that their marriage was only supposed to be a business arrangement but the truth was that they both loved each other - they were just too afraid to admit it. It took Gail accepting a job in New York for Paul to come clean about his feelings for her - and their passionate embrace was witnessed by a delighted Scott and Charlene. It still wasn't all plain sailing though. Gail desperately wanted to start a family but the couple had problems conceiving. It was while she was undergoing fertility treatment that she and Paul learned that he had a child (Amy) with an ex-partner; a revelation that devastated Gail. So fans were thrilled when Gail finally got pregnant with triplets. It seemed to be a new beginning for Paul and Gail. And new beginning it was - just not in the way that fans had hoped... Fed up with Paul's workaholic ways and feeling anger towards him for the accident that killed her father, Rob, Gail had had enough of Paul's lack of support and left him while she was pregnant to start a new life in Tasmania. Paul was heartbroken and wanted to be there for Gail and the babies - but she was having none of it. When Paul realised that Gail wanted nothing more to do with him, he was forced to move on. And move on he did - to wife number three, Christina Alessi. But after Paul and Gail, Paul and Christina proved to be a bit of a lacklustre union; they lacked the fire that Paul and Gail had had. So it was no surprise when Paul and Christina eventually split and Paul started getting measured for a new tux in his search for wife number four! Would Paul have turned into Mr. Nasty if he'd still been married to Gail? Who knows! But Paul and Gail definitely had a special bond - as did the actors who played them, with Stefan Dennis, quoted as saying that he'd love for Fiona Corke who played Gail to return. She has already made two guest appearances but we'd love to see her return as a regular cast member. 4. HENRY RAMSAY AND BRONWYN DAVIES Joker Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan) fell in love with Bronwyn Davies (Rachel Friend) as soon as he laid eyes on her. But the pretty blonde couldn't take Henry seriously, and started going out with Henry's friend and neighbour Mike Young instead. However Bronwyn's relationship with Mike didn't last and she soon realised that Henry was the man for her - much to his delight. Henry had gone out with Melanie Pearson in the past, and had suffered the experience of unrequited love with Des Clarke's sister, Sally. But it looked as though he might have found the right woman in caring, strong willed, country girl Bronwyn. But surprise, surprise - as with all Ramsay Street couples, Henry and Bronwyn encountered problems which saw them split up on a couple of occasions, but the bond between them was too strong and they would always find their way back to each other. Their biggest test came just before their wedding, when Bronwyn's father, not convinced that Henry was the right man for his daughter, persuaded Bronwyn to postpone the wedding. And she did just that - on the morning of the day that she was supposed to marry Henry alongside their friends Joe and Kerry in a double wedding ceremony. Both Henry and Bronwyn were heartbroken and even though this incident could have split them up again, it didn't. And both of them were determined that next time, they'd make it to the alter without any hitches. The next test came when Henry landed a radio job in New Zealand, and had to leave without Bronwyn who was unable to get a job transfer. Having to endure a long-distance relationship, Bronwyn felt lonely and miserable without Henry. But luckily for her, the opportunity to work at a veterinary surgery in New Zealand came up. So Bronnie bid farewell to everyone in Ramsay Street and was once again reunited with her beloved Henry. The two married off-screen and are still believed to be happily married - with a family - in New Zealand. The on-screen chemistry between Henry and Bronwyn spilled over into real-life as Craig McLachlan and Rachel Friend started dating and eventually married much to the delight of the show's fans - although they sadly later divorced. 5. JOE MANGEL AND KERRY BISHOP Stereotypical Aussie bloke Joe Mangel (Mark Little) and free-spirited hippy Kerry Bishop (Linda Hartley) seemed like a very unlikely pairing. But the two were drawn together - and they soon found that opposites did, indeed, attract. Over a period of time, Kerry's hard-edged, stubborn streak subsided and viewers found her to be a very loving and caring lady who still had her own unique way of doing things. This softer side came about as the result of her relationship with Joe, proving that the two really were a good match. But of course there were issues that had to be resolved especially as the two were chalk and cheese but they managed to make compromises. The biggest hurdle they faced occurred when Kerry found herself attracted to Clive Gibbons, who had recently returned to Ramsay Street, just before her wedding to Joe. Thankfully though Kerry soon realised that Joe was the man for her and decided to go through with the wedding. Joe and Kerry were planning to marry alongside their friends Des and Jane, and Henry and Bronwyn in a triple wedding ceremony - but Joe and Kerry were the only ones who made it to the alter that time. Further problems arose after they became man and wife with Joe's ex-wife Noleen getting custody of their son Toby, and the father of Kerry's toddler daughter Skye returning: two things which threatened the tranquility of their perfectly blended family. However, Joe and Kerry got through these episodes - including comforting a very traumatized Toby after his mum died - and were delighted to discover that Kerry was pregnant with their first child. The stage was set for a happy ending. But alas it was not to be as Kerry was accidentally shot while on a protest in front of a distraught Joe and later died in hospital. Joe eventually went on to marry zany Melanie Pearson, although they divorced a few years later. And his engagement with Lyn Scully ended when a certain Paul Robinson caught her eye. Perhaps the only woman for Joe really was his beloved Kezza. Who were your favourite Neighbours couples? Photos: YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

What better way to kick off the first feature in the Comfort Food series for Nostalgia Pie than a post for... Apple pie? And not just any old apple pie but the first apple pie I ever watched my mum bake many years ago. I still remember the first time I watched my Mum bake an apple pie (from scratch) and serve it with custard (not from scratch!) I was about four years old and I was sat on the kitchen work top, watching her get to work making the pastry dough; rolling it out; covering a pie dish with it before filling it with sliced fresh apples and trimming the edges. Oh and my favourite bit: sealing the edges with a fork so that it had that lined effect that pastry chefs deem 'old fashioned' but to me is the sign of a good homemade pie. I can still taste how good it was and how the sharp, tangy apples contrasted deliciously with the sweet, creamy custard. It's still one of my favourite puddings to this day but then who isn't partial to a bit of apple pie and custard? And if it's made with puff pastry - even though Mum loves her shortcrust - then that's even better! Oh and it has got to be custard. Flavoured creams and ice-cream are all very well but nothing beats lashings of hot custard. My dad pours himself enough custard to fill the bathtub! So yes, I suppose it's safe to say that apple pie and custard is definitely a family favourite. The apple pie that my mum baked all those years ago was based on a recipe that she found in a cook book called Good Housekeeping's Hot and Cold Puddings . It was for a fruit pie that only seems to have a pastry lid, although Mum chose to include a pastry case. But if you are more adventurous than Mum, you might like to have a go at making the custard from scratch and not just open a tin of Bird's custard powder (even if that does take me back to my childhood!) Apple Pie With Custard APPLE PIE Ingredients For the shortcrust pastry: 8oz plain flour 1/2 tsp. salt 4oz margarine or butter Cold water to mix For the filling: 1-2lbs of apples, peeled, cored and sliced 3-4oz sugar , cold water Method Pastry 1. Sieve the flour and salt. 2. Rub in the fat until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs and no lumps of fat remain. 3. Mix carefully with cold water using a knife until a dough is formed. 4. Use your fingers for the final mixing. 5. Chill until ready to use. Then roll out and use as required. Filling 1. Preheat the oven to 250C/450F/Gasmark 8. 2. Put prepared apples into the pie dish with sugar. 3. Add enough water to cover the bottom of the dish. 4. Roll out pastry larger than size of dish. 5. Cut a strip of pastry long enough to go around the rim of the dish. 6. Dampen rim with cold water and put on the pastry edge. 7. Press the edges together and trim them. 8. Decorate the edge of the pie and make a slit in the centre to allow steam to escape. 9. Bake for 15-20minutes to cook the pastry. 10. Then move the piedown in the oven OR lower the temperature slightly and bake for another 15 minutes until the apples are cooked. Custard Ingredients 1/2 pint milk 2 eggs 1oz caster sugar 1 tsp. vanilla essence/extract Method 1. Heat the milk but do not boil. 2. Pour on to the well beaten egg, stirring. 3. Return to the pan and cook over hot water until the sauce coats the back of the spoon thinly. 4. Add the sugar and vanilla. 5. Strain and cool, stirring occasionally or serve hot. Do you like pie and custard? What's your favourite pie? Do you remember baking with your family as a young child? Photos: Pixabay Word Cloud: Angel Noire

We have Clive Gibbons as a recurring guest character in Neighbours . The lovely Jane Harris has made two guest appearances after almost thirty years. Even the legendary Jim Robinson made an appearance as a ghost! And now it's been confirmed that actress Shaunna O' Grady is to reprise her role as Dr. Beverly Marshall and is heading back to Erinsborough! It's always a pleasant surprise for Neighbours fans who have been watching the show since the very beginning to see a familiar face. But it's hard to believe that many of the fans who regularly tune into the Australian soap now, probably weren't even born when these characters left Ramsay Street all those years ago! Talk about making one feel old! But if it means we got to live through Neighbours -mania, when the soap was one of the hottest shows on TV back in the eighties and nineties, then no worries - we'll take old!!! O'Grady - the second actress to take on the role of Beverly after Lisa Armytage - reminds long-time viewers of when Neighbours was in it's heyday; on BBC1; and on twice a day so that schoolkids didn't feel as though they were missing out! At present, it's not known when Jim Robinson's ex-wife will be appearing on our screens; how long for, or what the storyline involving her return will be. Beverly went through a lot during her time on the show: a violent ex; stormy marriage to Jim; mugging and subsequent miscarriage, a blackmail attempt... so no doubt there'll still be plenty of drama awaiting Dr. Marshall. There are some very memorable characters who have left their mark on Ramsay Street long after they have moved on to pastures new. Here's ten characters we would love to see back in the Street again. 1. SCOTT AND CHARLENE It goes without saying that we would all absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt want the eternal king and queen of Ramsay Street to return, as the most famous cul-de-sac in the world has never been the same since Scott and Charlene left for a new life in Brizzy! Even though it was great meeting their kids, Daniel and Maddie, we would still love for Mr. and Mrs. Robinson to, at the very least, make a flying visit. There's a whole new, younger generation of Neighbours fans who'll never know just how iconic Scott and Charlene were, so perhaps it's time the characters came back but seeing as these are two roles that can NEVER be recast, it's fair to say that we'll never see Scott and Charlene back on the Street as we can't see Ms. Minogue or Mr. Donovan in any hurry to return to Erinsborough. In fact Jason Donovan once admitted on British afternoon talk show, ITV's Loose Women, that he'd never return. Go on, Jason - you know you want to! 2.THE ALESSI TWINS There have been four sets of twins who have appeared in the soap including the current set of twins, the Tanakas. But Caroline and Christina Alessi were probably the only twins on Ramsay Street to have been played by real-life twins, Gayle and Gillian Blakeney. The twins bring back memories of Neighbours - not to mention life in general - in the early 90's. Twin-mania really took off as Gayle and Gillian seemed to be on every TV show and every magazine cover at the time - they even had a pop career! The twins had some very memorable storylines on the show including Christina's kidnapping and Caroline's dalliance with her brother-in-law, Paul. In fact as Paul is still in the show, writers could find a way to reunite Christina with her ex-husband. But the question is would Gayle and Gillian, who have spent more than two decades living in California, want to return to Ramsay Street to reprise their famous roles? 3. GAIL ROBINSON Well if we bring back the third Mrs. Robinson, why not the second one, Gail Lewis? Gail, played by Fiona Corke, was a firm favourite with viewers and out of all of Paul's wives, probably the only one who could handle him and didn't put up with his nonsense - but in the end she got tired of Paul's workaholic ways and left him while pregnant with their triplets. Since then, Gail has made a couple of brief returns to Ramsay Street and we've even met the triplets, but it would be great if Gail made a more long-term return to Ramsay Street. Sure it'd probably put Paul's current lady Therese's nose out of joint, but someone needs to sort that Paul out! 4. SHANE RAMSAY It may be called Ramsay Street but... There are no more Ramsays left! So what better than to bring back one of the members of the original Ramsay family as well as one of the show's earliest characters, Shane Ramsay? It's unlikely that Peter O'Brien who played Shane would ever return to the soap, which is a Shane, sorry shame, because Shane did have some very good storylines including the Des-Daphne-Shane love triangle. Even though Des Clarke won her heart in the end, it was clear that Shane would always love Daphne and viewers couldn't help but feel a little broken-hearted for him. 5. HENRY RAMSAY Who couldn't love Henry Ramsay? Before he appeared on screen, viewers were led to believe that Madge's son, who'd spent time in prison, was a bit of a bad apple. But once he arrived, it was obvious that Henry's main fault was that he often acted before he got his brain into gear, and he definitely had a heart of gold. He loved his family and friends and would do anything for anyone. A practical joker whose hairbrained schemes often went wrong, Henry provided much of the show's lighthearted moments. Unfortunately his love life was a bit of a disaster zone - but that was until he captured the heart of his beloved Bronny! Ramsay Street was a much quieter place when Henry left to start a new life in New Zealand, closely followed by Bronwyn Davies, and the two wed off-screen. When Brad Willis first appeared on the Street in the early Nineties soon after Henry left, some viewers thought he'd been brought in as 'the new Henry' - but the truth is there's only ever been one Henry Ramsay... 6. THE WILLIS FAMILY It took a while to get used to the Kennedys when they were brought in to replace the Willis family. But now, while none of us can ever imagine Ramsay Street without Karl and Susan, it would still be fab to see the Willis family again. Despite having their ups and downs, they tried not to take life too seriously; loved practical jokes, and were an incredibly loving, close-knit family. While Neighbours brought back a new generation of Willises six years ago, we still love the Nineties incarnation which consisted of Pam and Doug and their four kids, Adam, Gaby, Brad and Cody. We've already seen the return of Brad (albeit played by a different actor) and sadly Doug and Cody have been killed-off but it would be awesome to see the remaining original Willis family make a comeback including Gaby's son 'baby' Zac who would now be in his twenties. And seeing as Therese, Piper, and Ned still live on Ramsay Street, the possibility of a comeback isn't that unlikely. 7. GLEN DONNELLY Perhaps Paul Robinson has been so traumatized by the knowledge that he has a half-sibling, that he's done his best to permanently eradicate all thoughts of his dad's illegitimate son from his mind. When was the last time anyone heard Paul mention his half-brother Glen? True, the two hated each other so much that it's unlikely that they're on each other's Christmas card lists, but anyone who didn't watch Neighbours in the early nineties would be forgiven for not knowing that Scott isn't Paul's only brother. Glen's exit from the show was under very tragic circumstances as a fall from the Lassiter's roof meant that he was never going to be able to walk again. His bid to file a lawsuit against Paul turned very bitter and led to Paul having a nervous breakdown. In the end Glen felt that his only option was to leave Erinsborough with the help of a friend, leaving his fiancée Gaby Willis devastated. As Paul is still in the show, it would be brilliant if they brought Glen back to really shake things up for his dastardly half-brother. 8. DES CLARKE Ramsay Street hasn't been the same since 'Clarkey' left - the original occupant of what is now the Kennedy house. Des was in the show from the very first episode until the early nineties when he left with his young son Jamie to start a new life in Perth. Des managed to pack in a lot during his time on the show, including finding out he had a half-sister; being reunited with his long-lost father, and his very unlikely romance with Jane Harris. But the storyline we all remember Des for was the loss of his beloved wife Daphne after a fatal car accident. Who can forget Des's pain as he watched Madge and Harold marry while he was struggling to come to terms with Daphne's death? It was wonderful to see Paul Keane reprise his role as Des for the show's thirtieth anniversary episodes but the only downside is that it just wasn't long enough. Come back Clarkey! 9. SUSAN COLE We have Paul, and we also have the lovely Clive Gibbons, two characters from the early days of Neighbours . Now wouldn't it be great to throw Susan Cole into the mix? For those of you whose memories need refreshing, Susan was the former mistress of Madge Ramsay's ex-husband Fred, and the mother of his child, Sam - remember the baby Charlene claimed was hers but was in fact her half brother? Yep, it does sound very Bold and the Beautiful , but it was definitely Neighbours ! Susan began a relationship with Paul Robinson (as every woman naturally does!) while sharing a house with Clive, not realizing that Clive was secretly in love with her. Dr. Gibbons did eventually get the girl but sadly for him the girl was still in love with Paul despite having agreed to marry Clive. Susan left Erinsborough having ended her engagement to a heartbroken Clive. It would be great for her to reappear on the Street and stir things up for Paul and Clive... but where would that leave Sheila? 10. MATT ROBINSON Reading this list of former Neighbours characters who should grace the Street with their presence again, it's amazing how many of them are connected to Paul Robinson in some way. Not that that should be a surprise - after all he's been in the show longer than anyone else despite a long absence from the show in the Nineties. So we'll throw in another Robinson - Matt Robinson, the son of Paul's cousin Hilary. Matt, played by Ashley Paske, was the street's resident heart-throb back then. Matt worked hard to forge a bond with his birth mother, Hilary, as well as to overcome his battle with dyslexia, but it was his breakup with Gemma Ramsay that led to him leaving Erinsborough for good. Hilary does make the odd appearance from time to time so it would be fantastic if we see Matt with her - even though viewers understand that mother and son have had a falling out. Who would you like to see make a dramatic return to Ramsay Street? Photos: YouTube Word cloud by Angel Noire

As one original EastEnder leaves, another two return - though only for a little while. Who would have thought that one day we'd see Lofty Holloway and Mary Smith back in Walford again? Even though the passing of the legendary Dr. Legg was very sad, it was great to see the return of two characters who reminded those of us who had watched EastEnders from the very beginning, of the good ol' days of Albert Square. The only disappointment was that it wasn't long enough. It's got fans thinking about who they would like to see making a welcome return to the soap. New characters are great but there's something about a familiar face that gets us feeling all nostalgic. In more recent times, EastEnders have brought back a few of the old faces: Mel Owen, Ruby Allen, and soon we'll see the return of Sean Slater. But as for the Michelle Fowler fiasco, yeah, let's not go there! So EastEnders , if you still want to bring some past characters back to Walford, this little lot would be great for starters! Now sort it aaht! 1. GRANT MITCHELL Walford was never a dull place when Grant Mitchell was around. If he wasn't the cause of all the drama, he was in the middle of it. Walford could be a scary place with Grant around but it could also be a safer place with people running to Grant whenever someone needed 'sorting' - a lot like they do now with his brother Phil. Walford is still standing but it has never been the same since hard-man Grant left for a new life in Portugal with his daughter, Courtney. During his time on the Square, the mechanic turned Queen Vic landlord attacked Eddie Royal; married Sharon Watts; torched the Vic with Sharon inside; divorced Sharon; had a one-night stand with her best friend Michelle; fathered a child with Michelle; had a one-night stand with Tiffany Raymond; fathered a child with Tiffany; married Tiffany; had an affair with Lorraine Wicks; got back together again with Tiffany; had an affair with mum-in-law Louise; watched Tiffany get knocked over by Frank Butcher; had an affair with sister-in-law Kathy; rescued Ian Beale's sons after they had been kidnapped by Cindy; had an affair with Jane Beale; helped put Chrissie Watts behind bars; had an affair with... Goodness Grant, you have been busy! If Ross Kemp hadn't had left when he did, no other character would ever have had any storylines! And of course one of Grant's biggest storylines can be summed up in one word - Sharongate! There's always a possibility that Grant Mitchell could find himself back in Walford to lock horns with Phil; deal with anyone who needed 'sorting,' and get all misty-eyed over Sharon... and EastEnders' fans would always be happy to welcome Grant back to the Square - though hopefully it'll be for a lot longer than a brief guest appearance. 2. KELVIN CARPENTER Gonna Make Something Outta Nothing... Albert Square has never had a shortage of youngsters running around the Square getting up to all kinds of mischief. But back when EastEnders first started, the original group of young 'uns were Sharon Watts, Michelle Fowler, Ian Beale and Kelvin Carpenter. Sharon and Ian are still on the Square and still the best of friends. Michelle made her infamous visit two years ago. But viewers haven't seen Kelvin since he quietly slipped out of Walford without saying goodbye to anyone, missing his own leaving party to head off to university. Hardworking, studious, showing that he could give Ian Beale a run for his money in the entrepreneurship stakes, Kelvin also showed his musical abilities in the (shortlived) group he set up with Sharon, Simon and Ian - and a couple of others - called The Banned. The song the group wrote Something Outta Nothing actually became a real-life Top Forty hit! Kelvin had flings with both Sharon and Michelle (the dawg!) as well as a relationship with older woman, health visitor, Carmel Roberts, which naturally caused quite a stir in Albert Square. On two occasions in more recent times, viewers thought Kelvin might be heading back to Walford to catch up with his old mates - but both times hopes were dashed. Who knows if Kelvin will ever make a return, but it's time he was reunited with his best mate, Ian. Kelvin might be the only person who can put that Mr. Beale in his place! 3. THE SLATER GIRLS "You can't tell me what to do. You ain't my muvver." "YES, I AM!!!" OK, these are three characters instead of one, but despite the shouting, temper tantrums, and non-stop fallouts, the Slater girls have always been a pretty tight unit so they could count as one. Kat might be living with Stacey, Hailey, Jean and Mo but it's probably time she had her sisters Lynne and Little Mo, as well as her daughter Zoe back again. With the exception of Kat, none of the Slater sisters have ever returned to the Square since leaving, and seeing as there was always plenty of drama with those girls around, is it any wonder that fans want them back in Walford? The revelation that Kat was Zoe's real mother was one of EastEnders' biggest storylines, and viewers saw plenty of ups and downs in their relationship - and judging by references made to Zoe, it would appear that years later, nothing much has changed between mother and daughter. A possible return by Zoe wouldn't just cause drama between her and Kat, but it would also stir up a lot of unresolved tension between her and Sharon due to Zoe's role in the murder of Sharon's dad, Den, and Zoe's relationship with Sharon's late husband Dennis. And now that Honey and Billy Mitchell have split up, perhaps there's a second chance for Billy and the first Mrs. Mitchell, Little Mo? Also as the most sensible one of the Slater sisters, Lynne needs to be around to keep her younger sisters in order. Yeah, no one fancies her chances but she can try! 4. CHRISSIE WATTS If Sharon Mitchell thinks she's got issues caught up in a Phil-Sharon-Keanu-Louise love square, with Karen Taylor baying for her blood, then what would she do if her former stepmother Chrissie Watts was ever to set foot back in Walford? When it was announced that back-from-the dead Den Watts was going to be joined by his new wife, no one thought they would ever take to the second Mrs. Watts. Den's marriage to Angie was never a bed of roses, but their tumultuous partnership kept viewers enthralled. Could anyone ever step into Angela Watts's stilettos? But then along came feisty, big-hearted, curly-haired Chrissie, who made firm friends with most of the Square, doted on Den's kids, and put Den in his place far better than Angie ever could. Unfortunately that place turned out to be a hole in the floor of the Vic's cellar! Yep, Chrissie was the woman who finally finished off Dirty Den for good which is why she's now on a daily diet of porridge! Chrissie was basically a nice lady who did a terrible thing because she had the misfortune to fall in love with the wrong man. If ever she should be released early from prison (And why not? Janine Butcher was!) there's probably a million places other than Walford where Chrissie would rather be, but we hope that she does make it back to the Square to ruffle a few feathers and give Sharon's lips something to really quiver about! 5. ANTHONY TRUEMAN When was the last time that Dr. Trueman came back to Walford to pay his old dad, Patrick, a visit? Kind, good-natured, with a strong set of morals, Anthony was the complete opposite of his wayward brother, Paul. In fact the naughtiest thing Anthony ever did was defy his mother, Audrey, by taking up with loud, brash Kat Slater. Actually that's not quite true. Anthony did have relationships with both Kat and Zoe, flitting between mother and daughter which led to the two women coming to blows on more than one occasion. So the good doctor wasn't quite so squeaky clean after all! But still a lot better behaved than most of Walford's inhabitants. And now that Kat has returned, and Alfie has left, could the spark between Dr. Trueman and Kat still be there? Who would you like to see back in Walford? Photos from YouTube Word cloud by Angel Noire