Search Results

So hard to believe that this time last week was the eve of the Euro Cup finals. We were thrilled that England had made it to the finals and wanted to host some kind of gathering. Unfortunately, while football* is steadily growing in popularity here in the US, especially among those who hail or whose families hail from countries where football is bigger than life itself, most of our mates here aren't fussed about the sport or the Euros. The only two who are were not available so - just us it was! But now the excitement of another European football tournament is now well and truly over and any football fan who is not Spanish is now coming to terms with the fact that this year just wasn’t their national team’s year. The better team won and we can always console ourselves with the fact that there’s always next time - something English fans tell ourselves every two years! At the start of any major football tournament - whether it be the European Championship or the World Cup - England fans start off very jubilant, optimistic, and dare I say it, a tad bit full of ourselves (me included!) In my much younger days, everyone would enthusiastically be belting out "Here we go, here we go, here we go..." but that has now been replaced with rousing choruses of Three Lions , and passionately declaring to anyone who'd listen that this time (yep, me again!) it’s coming home. Well… It hasn’t 'come home' since 1966. If it is coming home at all, it’s clearly got lost en route!  It’s been five days now since the tournament ended so there’s a good chance that some of us England football fans may just be starting to get over the crushing despair we suffered when we saw our hopes and dreams dashed as our beloved team got defeated by Spain  in the Euros by Spain on Sunday. Though for those of us who are saddened by Gareth Southgate’s resignation this week as England manager… Well it might just take a while longer to get over this much heartbreak! Those who know me would be surprised by the level of interest I show whenever England are playing in major tournaments because everyone knows that when it comes to football, I really am pretty clueless. Teach a man to fish and he can feed himself for life. Hand this girl a football and she still won't know one end of the pitch from the other! While most of the people I know can excitedly chatter away non-stop about the start of the season; transfer windows, league tables and which pundit on Match of the Day needs to be given the (football) boot, all this talk goes way over my head - and not just because I'm short! I may be British and come from a football-crazy family, but I’m not really what you would call a major football fan. I'm probably the only person in my family who doesn't have a team. Oh hang on - there's my mum as well! So in my family I’m what is known as - a weirdo! And the irony that I spent a huge part of my life living a stone’s throw from the world-famous Wembley Stadium but it took a move to America for me to go to my first ever match is not lost on me. And even then it’s because my American husband has become a massive fan of the sport! How’s that for ironic, Alanis! But when it comes to England playing a major football tournament, I can be every bit as passionate, overly excited, and as is always eventually the case, distraught, as your average England football supporter. As a child growing up in the eighties and the nineties, I couldn’t understand why there were certain times when there was more football on the telly than usual. And not just on Saturdays! And what was worse was that it seemed to mess with the normal TV schedule so my fave shows were not on when they should have been. I knew nothing about Britain’s favourite sport but I definitely knew when EastEnders  should have been on!  FIFA World Cup 1998 However I didn't know that the arrival of my baby brother in the early nineties was going to partially change my interest in football. As he was growing up and became totally sports-mad, I learned to get by in football-speak as that was the only language he was able to converse in, and therefore the only way we’d be able to communicate (more than thirty years later, not much has changed!) However my knowledge of the beautiful game is still very limited, so if there’s a million pounds up for grabs and you need someone to tell you what the offside rule is, then I had better not be your phone-a-friend! But growing up in a sport-obsessed household meant that I couldn’t always escape sport when it was on the telly, especially the footy- and rather surprisingly it turned out that I actually did enjoy watching football… but only when our national team was playing... The turning point came during the 1998 World Cup and the infamous England vs Argentina quarter final match.  It was the very first time that I’d sat down with my family to watch an entire match -  the first time I’d watched England play a major game. The first time I realized why it was called the beautiful game; the pride England fans feel when they watch their country play; the glory; the agony; the ecstasy; the punch in the gut when Beckham was sent off and every emotion in between that every football fan experiences. It’s so much more than just kicking a ball around or taking home a trophy. It’s about sportsmanship, pride and honour – all this from someone whose dad and brother fell about laughing because she thought a Champions League match was a friendly!    From that match on, I developed a new-found sense of respect for the game and finally understood what all the fuss was about. I may not necessarily support anyone at club level but I’m most definitely an England supporter through and through. As a Brit now living in America, I still feel that sense of pride in my country and in my national football team, and football is now one of the many things that still keeps me connected to the place of my birth. Furthermore even in America, football can be as much a go-to discussion topic as the weather (a favourite for us Brits!) From a somewhat rookie England fan’s perspective, Euro 2024 did have some highlights. For the first time in the history of my life, I saw England come out the victors in a penalty shoot-out against Switzerland. I'm not saying it's never happened - I'm just saying I've never seen it happen! For those who don’t think it’s a big deal, well let’s put it this way: when the match ends in a penalty shootout, it’s time for the England fans present to start making their way out of the stands and heading back to their hotels to start packing because that’s when we know… the cup ain’t coming home - the team and the fans are!  I was convinced it was all over when it went to penalties but I was elated when not only did we win but it was flawless - five goals out of five! Then there was that astounding last minute goal by Ollie Watkins that got England into the final.  And goalie Jordan Pickford gave it his all as usual. It was great that for the second consecutive European Championship tournament, England made it into the final. Hopefully they’ll make it to the final of the Euros a third time… and we’ll get the desired result. Though I have to say, I had more luck with Copa America where the team I was backing - Argentina - won! Too bad about Messi getting injured but at least he was able to make his way to podium to join the rest of his winning team mates. So why exactly do I love watching England play in major tournaments? Watching and supporting the England football team as they compete in tournaments like the Euros and World Cup isn’t just about the beautiful game itself—these are moments and events that stir a strong sense of unity, patriotism and family togetherness. They're cultural extravaganzas that unite our country; our families and friends; bridge individual differences, and evoke memories that resonate with fans nationwide. Bringing the Country Together Anything that brings people together fostering a sense of unity, community, belonging, and spreads cheer is never a bad thing in my book. As we know sport has the remarkable ability - in any region - to bring people together, creating a shared sense of identity and togetherness. And football tournaments are no different and serve as cultural milestones where the hopes and aspirations of a nation converge, uniting fans in a common cause. Supporting the England football team in international tournaments is a testament to our collective pride as a nation. It’s about rallying behind our players; sharing in their victories and near-misses; and feeling a sense of kinship with fellow fans nationwide, regardless of cultural backgrounds or geographic boundaries. Whether you’re celebrating in stadiums; local pubs; living rooms with family and friends, or just running around your front yard with your t-shirt over your head, the joy and camaraderie of supporting England unites fans from all walks of life in a collective passion for the game. These tournaments are like a giant national group hug where we all wear our hearts on our sleeve - as well as three lions on our shirts - and these moments of togetherness remind us that we're all part of one great, big football-crazy family. National Pride Everything's known for being bigger and better in America, and when it comes to being patriotic, they are head and shoulders above us Brits who, for some reason, are often reserved and apologetic when it comes to displaying pride in their nation. As a British expat living in America, I’ve observed this difference with great fascination. But football - along with other sports such as cricket and rugby - gives us a reason to be proud of who we are as a nation, shout it from the rooftops, and fly those flags with pride! To the most passionate of football fans, these football tournaments are more than just sporting events; they're moments that unite our country, igniting emotions and memories that resonate deeply with fans across generations for years to come. Team Spirit and Camaraderie I also love seeing the camaraderie between the England team players and that feeling of team spirit. As they all play for different Premiership clubs, there’ll usually be rivalry between them on the pitch. But when they come together to play for the national team, you see the sense of unity and sportsmanship. Within the England squad, there’s more than just fancy footwork—it's about that intangible camaraderie and team spirit that turns a group of talented individuals into a cohesive force. It’s not just about individual talent but the synergy that emerges when players come together with a shared goal. It’s like seeing two of your favourite musical icons collaborating on a project - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson; Kylie and Jason; Linkin Park and Jay-Z; Blackstreet and SWV....I could go on all day - but instead of musicians, it's footballers. And instead of music, it's goals, tackles, and -gulp- penalties that make your heart skip a beat. These moments of unity on the pitch resonate with fans, inspiring us with their resilience and determination. Nostalgia and Family Bonding  As with music and photographs, watching the England team in action play isn’t just about the game. For me personally, and for many others, it ’s a wonderful trip down memory lane, filled with nostalgic moments of cheering the team on with loved ones as we gathered together around the telly or in packed stadiums throughout the years. For many of us, watching England play football is deeply connected with cherished memories of family gatherings and shared traditions. These nostalgic moments not only strengthens familial connections but also hands down a love for the sport from one generation to the next, ensuring that football fever does indeed continue to run in the family. It’s in these shared experiences that football becomes a thread connecting past, present, and future. Over the years the England team will have changed and evolved, acquiring new talent along the way as we also say goodbye to much-loved players who move on to pastures new after having served their team - and country - well. These are the legendary players and matches that family members talk about for years to come, where every goal and near-miss is etched into the collective memory of generations... When it comes to supporting the England squad, Alton Towers has nothing on this crazy emotional rollercoaster, with adrenaline-pumping highs; edge of your seat suspense and heart-pounding lows. Before I watched that quarter final World Cup match of 1998, I had no idea that football could be so dramatic. But now I know that each match is an action-packed saga that could easily rival any Netflix series for suspense and plot twists. It’s the kind of emotional whirlwind that keeps you glued to your seat—and maybe biting your nails—until the final whistle blows. Each match brings anticipation, excitement, and sometimes heartbreak, but it’s these emotional journeys that make every victory and setback so impactful. As we look forward to the World Cup in 2026, there’s a huge amount of unwavering optimism and hope for the performance of the England squad that’s as bright as the floodlights at Wembley Stadium. I definitely can’t wait as it’s going to held in North and Central America with one game taking place at our local stadium, there’s already talk of an influx of family and friends coming over which we’re very excited about. And for me, that’s exactly what these matches are about - family, friends and fans coming together and making memories.  Watching the England football team in tournaments like the Euros and World Cup is more than a sporting pastime—it’s a cultural phenomenon that touches the hearts of millions and unites us all. It’s about celebrating national spirit and pride; embracing team spirit and the thrill of the game; fostering unity, and creating lasting memories with loved ones that will stay with us for a lifetime.  *Soccer to our American cousins! I'm well aware that football for them is completely different. Photos: Wix GIFS: Wix Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Who can believe it!!! It's now twenty five years since the best pop group in the world, New Kids On The Block, burst back onto the pop scene to launch their long-awaited, highly-anticipated comeback after a three year hiatus. They released their fifth album Face The Music on the 25th January 1994 - and Blockheads the world over went crazy. This was the second coming of the original - and as far as we're concerned - best boy band ever. We couldn't wait to find out what Face the Music was like. It was New Kids. So their album had to be great... right??? It was widely hailed as their comeback album and it was hoped to be the one to put them back right at the top of the pop block. But for many years, Face The Music had been considered to be the 'lost album.' Why? Because it was the least talked about album; the one that sold possibly the fewest number of copies; and the album from which the group rarely performed any of the tracks. Furthermore it's an album which a lot of die-hard fans have claimed they didn't even know was released (?) or waited years after it was first released to purchase - which might explain why it only sold around 27, 000 copies in its first week. Why? How? Really? Seriously!!! All this is incredibly ironic considering Face The Music was expected to do extremely well, and that it was probably one of their strongest albums both musically and lyrically which showcased their talent as well as a new sound for the band. Many fans who bought the album would argue that it's their best - but then, wouldn't every Blockhead say that about every New Kids' album? Face The Music: The making of the album In 1993 after two years out of the public eye, New Kids On The Block went back into the studio and started working on their fourth studio album. Jonathan Knight and his brother Jordan; Donnie Wahlberg; Danny Wood, and Joe McIntyre all had strong ideas about the direction in which they wanted the group to be heading. The New Kids wanted a harder, slicker image, and wanted to appeal to a more mature crowd. They abbreviated their name to NKOTB. In an interview with the fabulous Clive Warren in 1994 on London's Capital Radio in order to promote Face the Music, Donnie Wahlberg - often considered the group's unofficial leader - explained the reason for the new abbreviated name: "It was the only way we could hold on to what we had and go somewhere new. We're not kids anymore necessarily, we're not new anymore by any means..." Keen to put out a more mature sound and influenced by popular Nineties' new jack swing, the New Kids really pushed for creative control and input and were determined that on this album, fans were going to get the real sound of the New Kids. However the group's founder and producer Maurice Starr, who was instrumental in their success the first time round, felt that they should stick to the same tried-and-tested formula that made them household names. Rejecting most of the material that NKOTB wanted to record, Starr insisted they use his own compositions which didn't go down too well with the boys and in a move that shocked fans, they decided to part ways with the producer who helped put them, well, on the block. As Danny Wood explained in the same interview:  "Maurice Starr was an older man who was into an old style of music... we'd go into the studio, put down a couple of tracks and then get into the car and put on some KRS-1 or Public Enemy..." What - no Stylistics??? No Frank Sinatra??? FACE THE MUSIC: The return After a few false starts and recording hitches, the New Kids returned in January 1994. And not with the whimper that some people (i.e. - press, former fans etc.) had anticipated but with a bang. A very loud, almighty bang - and Blockheads had a reason to smile again! The boys did press conferences, magazine interviews, TV appearances, radio interviews phone-ins... you name it they did it all in a bid to get their new album out there. Face The Music was their first album without Starr at the helm, and the New Kids had written and produced most of this album with the help of renowned producer and RnB artist, Guy and Blackstreet's legendary Teddy Riley who'd worked with Michael Jackson, SWV, and Bobby Brown among many of hip-hop and RnB's big names. Great things were expected from this album. THE TRACKS Face The Music featured fourteen tracks which ranged from up-tempo hip-hop ballards, showcasing Donnie's rapping abilities, to more soulful ballads that had "Jordan singing his butt off" (Joey's words!) There was also a reworking of If You Go Away , and rap duo Nice n' Smooth featured on Dirty Dawg . 1. Intro: Face the Music This intro is just over two minutes. It features the guys talking about the past, contemplating the future, and philosophizing against a slamming hip hop background. Great intro that sets the tone for what's to come. 2. You Got the Flavor The first song on the album and how awesome was this! You couldn't help but jam when this was on, and from the first time you hear You Got The Flavor , you just know that NKOTB had indeed produced an amazing album. A slick hip-hop tune that won't leave your head for days. And Jordan's vocals sound deliciously smooth on this track. A great start to the album. 3. Dirty Dawg That song that created all the controversy and made everyone sit up and notice that the New Kids were back on the block. But it also proved that haters are always going to hate, and people are always going to take offence when none was meant (pretty much like life in the twenty-first century!) even when you produce a bitchin' track with a cool rap verse skillfully delivered by rap duo Nice n Smooth. 4. Girls Dirty Dawg saw the New Kids accused of hating on women, but with Girls , the boys are singing about how much they adore the fairer sex. This chilled up-tempo song has something of a Summertime vibe to it, with Donnie showcasing his rapping abilities. A great sing-along-in-the car song. 5. If You Go Away An oldie but a goodie from 1991 with a slightly different arrangement. Great for taking the old fans down memory lane and brilliant for introducing the new fans to their old stuff. 6. Keep on Smilin' No doubt Blockheads couldn't wait to watch the movie Free Willy when they heard that Keep On Smilin' was on the soundtrack. Great melody, upbeat with a feel-good factor. 7. Never Let You Go The second release from the album after Dirty Dawg . Soulful, heartfelt, and ballad-y, featuring a rap from Donnie, and Jordan saying the words every Blockhead longed to hear! Yes, we really felt as though he was singing it to us and us alone! And Jordan-fans were not amused by the rather risqué video that accompanied the track. Jordan - how could you? 8. Keepin' My Fingers Crossed NKOTB were always about  'positivity' and this song contains a moral message about guns, gangs and and making wise decisions, as well as the need for a better way of life. Great gospel-esque beginning of this track before it gives way to new jack swing beats. Awesome track and definitely a fan favourite. 9. Mrs. Right Joe McIntyre  has the vocals in this sweet song about looking for the right person. "Are you really Mrs. Right?" sings Joey. "Yes, I am," shriek back millions of Blockheads! 10. Since You Walked into My Life Jordan and Joey share the vocals in this beautiful and meaningful ballad. The boys' vocals complement each others, with Jordan's sounding incredibly rich and velvety - like the best chocolate shake you ever tasted! 11. Let's Play House A great song with a cool hip-hop vibe that gets you dancing, with Jordan tantalizingly asking us, 'Can you imagine what we can do alone, turn off the phone, I'll teach you passion, come inside your happy home'. Jordan, you don't have to tell us twice! 12. I Can't Believe It's Over If ever there was an ultimate break-up song, this would be it. You can hear the emotion in Jordan's powerful voice and those of you who love his falsetto vocals won't be disappointed! 13. I'll Still Be Loving You An awesome ballard and strong vocals from the youngest New Kid as Joey takes the lead again. 14. I'll Be Waitin' This time it's Danny Wood who takes the lead vocals in the last track of the album. Photos by Angel Noire GIF: Wix

On June 7th 1984, a brand new British television programme was broadcast for the first time on BBC1. At the time it was considered experimental; there were doubts over its success, and it was only expected to last for around three episodes. Back then no one really knew how groundbreaking this television programme was to become; that it would earn it's place in British TV history, and that it would go on to have a cult following long after the series ended. Oh and produce one of the most recognizable catchphrases in British pop culture! Furthermore the show lasted a lot longer than three episodes - it ran for thirty-three years! "Hello and welcome to Crimewatch UK. Now if you've ever worried or complained about crime, this is your chance to do something about it." - Nick Ross Those were the first-ever words spoken on a brand new crime appeal television programme - Crimewatch UK, and it's now forty years ago that the first ever episode aired. For those of us who joined in the fight against crime via our TV sets, we remember how those crime reconstructions terrified the living daylights out of us, and not in a James Bond kind of way either! But for some reason, whether we were able to help solve crime or not, this British TV show made strangely compelling viewing so we continued to tune in every month... even if it meant having to sleep with the light on. And that was just the adults! WHAT WAS CRIMEWATCH UK? Crimewatch UK - which was eventually renamed simply Crimewatch - was a monthly BBC crime appeal TV programme that ran from 1984 until 2017. The show appealed to members of the public for information concerning unresolved crime that could hopefully lead to an arrest and a conviction, and get justice for victims and their families. Despite there being doubts as to how feasible or successful a show such as Crimewatch could be, police forces around the country turned to the show when they urgently needed more information to help with an investigation. Each episode was roughly about an hour long and featured three to four main appeals which were accompanied by mini films (reconstructions) in the hope that it would jog someone's memory so that they could then call into the BBC studio and speak to an officer or BBC researcher with the relevant information. There would also be shorter appeals and features such as Caught on CCTV, Aladdin's Cave where police hoped to reunite owners with lost or stolen property and Photocall which featured photos of people police were trying to trace. CRIME APPEAL TV SHOWS We live in an age where many people are obsessed with true-crime documentaries and podcasts. Back in the Eighties there was very little of those around in comparison to today (definitely no podcasts or YouTube channels!) But what we did have were crime appeal shows for unsolved crimes where short films which reconstruct the crime that occurred are then shown to the public in the hope that someone's will come forward with vital information which should hopefully solve the crime, and better yet, lead to a conviction. In Britain, we had had Police 5, which began in 1962. Police 5 was the inspiration for the long-running German crime-appeal programme Aktenzeichen XY… Ungelöst (or File Reference XY... Unsolved to our non-German speakers) which began in 1967 and is still being broadcast today. Aktenzeichen XY… Ungelöst in turn became the blueprint for Crimewatch UK. Therefore the concept of a crime-appeal show was not necessarily new, even in 1984, but at least in Britain it was quite unusual. After the successful launch of Crimewatch UK, which was once pulling in audiences of fourteen million viewers, a whole host of crime-appeal TV shows and segments appeared, including regional versions of Crimewatch UK such as Crimewatch Midlands, Crimestoppers appeals that really put the fear of God into most of us during commercial breaks; Crime Monthly hosted by Paul Ross; over in America there was the well-known America's Most Wanted, and Ireland had Crimecall. CRIMEWATCH UK AIRS FOR THE FIRST TIME In an ideal world, there would be no need for a programme like Crimewatch. The world would be a perfect place where violence and evil people didn't exist. But sadly we don't live in that sort of a world, so anything that creates less of a place to hide for depraved individuals and seeks to get justice and closure for victims and their families has got to be a good thing. So big up the person who came up with this idea! We take a look at the very first episode of that revolutionary crime appeal programme that played a significant part in solving crime and struck fear into the hearts of villains everywhere forty years ago. Although they could have, perhaps, just not been villains in the first place. It's actually not that hard... Happy fortieth, Crimewatch! OPENING The opening for the first episode of Crimewatch UK saw a montage of clips in quick succession that told the story of cops hurridly after the bad guy leading to an arrest. The opening alone combined with that distinctive theme tune that was practically a call to action - called Rescue Helicopter and was composed by John Cameron in 1980 - immediately caught the attention of the viewer and sent out a powerful message: Crimewatch meant business! Over the years the opening title sequence changed to various other clips though still along the crime-busting theme, and the theme tune stayed although it had been revamped over the years. STUDIO Our first glimpse of the set of Crime watch UK back in 1984 when it first started was an angled shot of a rather somber beige studio where the presenters sat at a desk shuffling papers that were set in front of them. You could almost be forgiven for thinking you had tuned in to the nightly news programme - except that this programme wasn't discussing the day's events and it was expecting participation from viewers at home. Furthermore, in the background a whole host of faces could be seen behind a glass partition. These were real-life police officers and BBC researchers who were manning the phones which didn't look too dissimilar to to ITV's annual Telethon event. However as many of them could be seen on the phone as the programme went on air, it did make you wonder who they were actually talking to as viewers wouldn't have been phoning in before the show even began! They didn't even have the number for them to call in for a start! PRESENTERS Ah that dynamic, crime-fighting duo consisting of a cool, calm and sedate gent and a pretty blonde. But that's enough about Dempsey and Makepeace! Whenever talk turns to those who presented Crimewatch over the years, we immediately think of the programme's two original presenters, Nick Ross and Sue Cook. The two were already very well-known faces on British television and with regards to the subject matter, it was very important that the main presenters were people that the British public were familiar with and had confidence in. During the course of the Crimewatch's thirty-three year history, there have been many different presenters who have fronted the show. But it's Nick and Sue who predominantly stand out in most people's minds, partly because they were Crimewatch's original presenters; they're the two who presented Crimewatch the longest out of all the presenters (Sue left the show in 1995, while Nick presented the show for a whopping twenty five years making him Crimewatch's longest-serving presenter. Go Nick!) And also because Crimewatch was attracting some of it's highest viewing figures during the Nick and Sue years. That's not a reflection on the subsequent presenters who were all highly respectable; very professional and also did a fantastic job of presenting the show. But possibly because during the time Nick and Sue were presenting Crimewatch UK, the show was following a format that the viewers preferred. Another reason why Crimewatch was so successful in the early years was because of the rapport between the two presenters who worked very well together. We especially liked their voiceovers for the reconstructions in which the delivery was very matter-of-fact and calm; with their softly spoken, gentle voices, it actually sounded quite soothing! But there was indeed 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. THE PURPOSE "The police can never solve crime on their own... They can only act on information received. So we're going to ask you to turn amateur detective and help out the professionals." - Nick Ross And no he wasn't talking about Bodie and Doyle! In just a couple of sentences Nick Ross so eloquently explained the purpose of Crimewatch UK and why it was so important, reminding viewers that the programme was "about real-life crime and not the stuff of fiction." And many of us indeed were happy to take up our new posts as armchair detectives - those of us who tuned in every month religiously may even have seen it as a vocation in the fight against crime! FIRST EVER RECONSTRUCTION Crimewatch UK was very well-known for it's crime reconstructions which many felt were well-produced and of better quality than later offerings. The reconstructions were very to the point with violence kept to a minimum; in fact quite often the violence was often just alluded to. But the reconstructions were still 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, we have to say it, pretty dire! It goes without saying that these reconstructions were there to raise awareness and not 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. The first reconstruction ever to be shown on Crimewatch UK was the murder of Nottingham teenager, Colette Aram. This first reconstruction is typical of 1980s reconstructions - very little gore and violence but still very disturbing. Then there was note shown by Nick before reconstruction was shown that was believed to be sent by the killer. There was a real attempt to disguise his handwriting, and quite bafflingly, all of the 'S' letters in the note were replaced with exclamation marks! But even more chillingly was the voiceover which narrated what the killer had written. POST-RECONSTRUCTION TALK If you've watched Crimewatch throughout the years, you'll know that after every reconstruction, there's always a talk in the studio with the detective in charge of the case who reveals more information than what is shown in the reconstruction. In later years, there could also be a talk with the victim's family and friends who would appeal for people to come forward if they had any information. After the reconstruction of Colette Aram's murder, Nick spoke with DS Bob Davy who was leading the hunt for Colette's killer. ALADDIN'S CAVE A well-remembered feature on Crimewatch UK was Aladdin's Cave which was a treasure trove of stolen valuable items such as jewelry and antique items which were displayed in the hope that someone might recognize some of their lost treasures and be able to claim them. This segment of the show was often hosted by a presenter from the BBC1 television programme, The Antiques Roadshow. Out of all the segments and features on the show, Aladdin's Cave seemed to be everyone's least favourite (sorry!) Some people have even said that it was the part of the show where they got up to put the kettle on! While we remember Eric Knowles presenting this particular segment, the very first Aladdin's Cave was presented by John Bly. Watching Aladdin's Cave again, it suddenly dawned on us that so many people are into vintage and antiques today - probably more so now than back then judging by how big the vintage community has grown. So the Aladdin's Cave feature might generate more interest if it was still on today. Though hopefully nobody would try to claim something that wasn't theirs. Though we have to say, we were quite taken with that writing and needlework bureau that John showed us. It does make us wonder though - what happens to the stolen goods that are not claimed??? Hope you enjoyed the first part of our post. Part two coming up! And seriously - Don't have nightmares... Photos: YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Ever wondered how your favorite quotes from retro movies might have sounded if they had a modern, British slant? Well I can't say I've given it much thought myself, and frankly my dear, maybe you don't give a bloomin' fig yourself! But a social media post by Very British Problems in which followers were invited to alter a classic movie quote so that it sounded very British, did get me thinking. As a Brit girl myself, I found the results to be hilarious - and I realised - not that I needed reminding - of how much I miss the British vernacular. The most ordinary of phrases can sound so much funnier with a bit of British street talk thrown in! So we thought we'd give it a go ourselves and created this quiz; selecting some well-known and fairly well-known (come on - we didn't want to make it too easy for you!) quotes from classic movies from the sixties to nineties, and modifying them so that they not only had that British sense of over-politeness or the cheeky humour we're known for but a modern twist as well. Because we're just sooo twenty-first century round here in case you didn't know! See if you can guess what the original quotes were and which classic movie they came from. ANSWERS BELOW (NO PEEKING!) But don't worry if you didn't get them all correct because this quiz is just for fun. Sadly there are no cash prizes or the chance for you to win a family car. But on the plus side, you don't have to send in your answers on a postcard either. So how many did you get right? And if you're after more quizzes, there'll be a similar one posted on our sister site, An Extra Slice, where we'll be testing your knowledge on classic quotes from movies of the 1920s-50s. Here's looking at you, fam! GIF: Wix Photo: YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom GENRE: Drama CHANNEL: BBC1 FIRST SHOWN: 1978 (UK) NUMBER OF SERIES: 1 CREATED BY: Derek Ingrey WRITTEN BY: Derek Ingrey and Ray Jenkins DIRECTED BY: Don Leaver Douglas Camfield Don Giles Joe Waters STARRING: Michelle Newell - Terry Lewis Jane Collins - Joanna Daniel Hill - Tom Baxter Maris Mescki - Doreen Patricia Garwood - Dilys Martin Davyd Harries - Jack Dutton Martin Neil - Stephen Mitchell Caroline Holdaway - Diana Baxter Patrick Jordan - Lionel Megson Bernard Kay- Andrew Buchan Geoffrey Hinsliff - Cyril Edmunds Peter Geddis - Frank Martin Hilary Crane - Ruth Dutton Sylvester Williams - Frankie Delane David Beames - PC Trevor Banks Valerie Murray - Dr. Campbell It's no secret that at Nostalgia Pie we love a bit of seventies telly, and when we stumbled upon a virtually unknown TV show called Accident by um, accident, within the first five seconds of tuning in, we were hooked - and that was just from the opening credits! It was just so deliciously retro we just had to watch on - and we're so glad we did! Read on and find out why! PLOT Following a serious car crash featuring multiple vehicles, the lives of the ten people involved - most of whom had never met before that fateful day - become intertwined. Each individual episode is dedicated to a different party, explaining their backstory; how they came to be involved in the crash, and how they were affected by the accident. THE CREATOR The show was devised by north London-born writer Derek Ingrey, who wrote five out of the eight Accident episodes. Ingrey was also the creator of The Enigma Files and wrote all the episodes for that show, as well as writing for Dixon of Dock Green, Manhunt, and Detective. He passed away in 1989. The other three episodes of Accident were written by Welsh writer and former teacher, Ray Jenkins, who has written extensively for television from the sixties until the mid-nineties. His writing credits among many others include Z Cars; Callan; The Brothers; Armchair Thriller and C.A.T.S Eyes. FAMOUS FACES Goodness, where do we start with the famous faces that just kept popping up! For a show that is relatively obscure, there are a surprising amount of well-known faces from British television that crop up in Accident. Many of the cast were established actors and almost all of them went on to appear in a variety of British TV shows over the years. There's actress Gwyneth Powell before she became Grange Hill's Mrs. McClusky; Geoff Hinsliff before he went on to play his most famous role - Corrie's Don Brennan. EastEnders fans might recognize a very young Sylvester Williams, nearly twenty years prior to his role as Walford musician and café manager, Mick MacFarlane. Davyd Harris has been a familiar face on British TV with roles in many well-known shows including Angels; Emmerdale Farm; Casualty, and Hollyoaks. Michael Byrne later turned up in Weatherfield as 'Our Gail's father Ted Page. Late actress Hilary Crane was remembered for her role as Rosemary Webb in ill-fated soap Eldorado, and Patricia Garwood and Daniel Hill were reunited as mother in son in sitcom No Place Like Home. Michelle Newell, who was the only actor to have appeared in all eight episodes of Accident, has appeared in numerous shows including London's Burning; Doctors, Coronation Street, and Casualty. The late actor Marc Zuber had appeared in TV shows such as Angels, Tucker's Luck and The Bill. We also spotted Anthony Head in one episode of Accident. And if the name Sharman Macdonald sounds familiar it's because she's a well-known actress, playwright... and Keira Knightley's mum! And that's just some of them! THEME TUNE AND CREDITS The opening credits shows a car hurtling down a quiet, small-town road from the point-of-view of the unknown driver. So we see a car windscreen and open road that's being driven through at a fast pace. The image in the rear view mirror changes every few seconds to feature the face of one of the characters involved in the crash, with the final image show the mirror shattering into lots of pieces. The theme tune which has that typical 1970s sound, is very fast-paced and sounds like a cross between the theme for a seventies cop show and a factual science programme! The theme was composed by Anthony Isaac who also composed music for episodes of Supergran, Ingrey's The Enigma Files, and The Onedin Line, as well as music for two episodes of that great series Tales of the Unexpected. HOW THE STORY GOES... Episode one - Departure Point (Derek Ingrey) The opening episode introduces us to the six groups of characters who get caught up in the road disaster and events leading up to the accident in which the lives of all involved become intertwined. There's a party of four setting off to the airport for their holiday to Yugoslavia; a young woman dissatisfied with life and her married lover and wants to get away from it all; a married, childless couple who don't seem to have time for each other any more; a seemingly-shady stockbroker and his chauffer; a police transfer vehicle with a prisoner convicted of child abuse, and the owner of a transport hire company who had to do the airport run because he couldn't get cover... The narrative is not told in a linear style, so the episode starts off with one of the vehicles involved in the crash being brought into the scrap metal yard by the recovery services who announce that there has been a terrible accident, and it ends with viewers seeing the actual crash. In between the two events, we get glimpses into the lives of the people involved in the accident; the aftermath when they're brought into the hospital and there are feelings of guilt, as well as a series of incidents which led to the pile-up. But the question is with an unroadworthy vehicle, a driver who ran out of petrol, an erratic driver, and vehicles that may have been driving too fast, too slow, or recklessly overtaking... who's to blame? Episode two - Take Your Partner (Derek Ingrey) The episode begins with police questioning some of those involved in the accident and contacting the next of kin. Meanwhile sex offender Cyril Edmonds has escaped and has gone on the run and finds himself on the grounds of a church where children are leaving a service... But the second episode mainly focuses on university friends Stephen 'Mitch' Mitchell, his pregnant girlfriend Diana Baxter, her brother Tom, and his girlfriend, Jo. Shown in the series non-chronological format, the four are on their way to the airport to start their highly-anticipated trip to Yugoslavia when tragedy strikes. The story of Stephen and Diana's relationship is told through a series of flashbacks. When Stephen's roommate moves out, fellow student Diana, his friend Tom Baxter's sister, moves in. It may not be glaringly obvious at first, but as their story develops it's quite clear that an attraction develops between the two roommates. But they both try to conceal their feelings - mainly because Stephen has a girlfriend - so the two treat each other with a type of mock disdain, with Diana annoying Stephen whenever she gets the chance. Stephen, in turn, deems her 'butch' and 'old-fashioned,' and slates her to his girlfriend, Jean. Yeah right - that old trick again! Jean on the other hand, is no fool and when she realizes that there may be more than meets the eye to Stephen and Diana's relationship, she ends things with Stephen which paves the way for the two roommates to finally become a couple - which happens while they're out skinny-dipping. When the two post-grad students discover that they're expecting a baby, Diana initially talks about having the pregnancy terminated. But she soon comes round to the idea of becoming a mum and wants to keep the baby... but decides that she doesn't want to marry Mitch, though she does want to be with him. We are also introduced to the couple's university lecturer, Albert Ramsay, who Mitch and Diana are both very fond of and have developed a type of friendship with him. Though to the viewer, it would appear that Ramsay has more than just a professional or friendly interest in Mitch... At the hospital after the crash, Diana and Mitch, unable to see each other, are both worried about the other and their unborn baby. And then Diana goes into premature labour... Check out the second part of Nostalgia Pie's post for seventies TV show Accident. Photos: YouTube Word Cloud: Angel Noire

NAME: David Henningham AGE: 53 (I had to think for a second!) FROM: London LIVES: Manchester OCCUPATION: I develop breakfast cereals and snacks FAVE PASTIME: Writing (mainly about things from the 70s and 80s) One of the things I absolutely love about being a nostalgia blogger - apart from sharing happy memories and sending out lots of feel-good vibes - is that I come across loads of fantastic people I may otherwise never have got to know. However I have no good excuse for not having known the affable young chap I'm about to have a slice of pie and a natter with... because he hails from my neck of the woods! I spent my primary school years in East London where I was born. But I spent my secondary school years and thereafter in the Northwest London town of Harlesden. Quite a few well known names hail from or have set up home in Harlesden: documentary-maker Louis Theroux; singer and producer, Phil Fearon; actress Lenora Crichlow (also a fellow-survivor of the secondary school I had the misfortune of attending. And no, I've never met her!) EastEnders stars Michelle Gayle and Shane Richie (the latter's father used to manage the well-known Steps bar in Harlesden. Excellent training for his role as Alfie Moon we reckon!) and over the years my parents have served a whole host of famous faces over the counter of the shop that they've run for the last forty years or so. I won't name-drop (more than I already have!) but I have to give a shout out to actor Eamonn Walker, Chicago Fire's Chief Wallace Boden, who is an absolute diamond - a real legend, and was a pleasure to serve. And now another notable name I can add to the list is David Henningham, aka Sir David of Retrohenshire, nostalgia blogger extraordinaire. David and I met very randomly on the blogosphere. It's always a pleasure to meet a fellow nostalgia blogger but I have to say I got the shock of my life when I discovered that he was a fellow Harlesdenite! Anyone who comes from Harlesden or any of the surrounding areas will know that even though it is an inner-city London district, Harlesden has a small-town feel in the sense that many of the locals all know or know of each other (and each other's business!) How strange to think that Sir David and I may have sat next to each other on the bus; stood in the same queue at the local McDonald's; waited for a train on the same platform at Willesden Junction, and I know, I just know that we have people in common. I just have to find out who they are! And it's fascinating to now know that someone who shares my love of retro and nostalgia only lived a stone's throw away from me. I didn't come across anyone who was into all that nostalgia-nonsense (as some may see it. But not us!) in all my years there. So I'm all the more delighted to have stumbled upon Sir David's blog, Retrohen, which is nothing short of fabulous and it is definitely one of my favourite blogs. I always look forward to new posts written by Sir David because you're guaranteed an entertaining read - not to mention a few chuckles! If you haven't checked it out already, make sure you do. You won't be disappointed (just just doooooon't forget to head back this way as well afterwards!) So in honour of National Retro Day, I can't think of a better person to have a slice of pie with here at Nostalgia Pie than with someone who loves retro as much as I do - and has the best job in the world (see above!) All rise for Sir David of Retrohenshire! Hello Sir David. Help yourself to a slice of pie and a drink. What are you having? Right now, I’m feeling the savoury pie vibe. A nice chunky slice steak and ale pie would be nice with a cold pint of Guinness Can't go wrong with a bit of steak and ale, I say! We’d love to know more about Sir David of Retrohenshire. Tell us a bit about yourself. I was born in 1970 and lived in London the majority of my life. I’m the youngest of 6 (yes, growing up our house was chaos at times). I fondly remember watching TV programmes like Play School, Jackanory, Words & Pictures, Batman (with Adam West) and a host of TV adverts which I now watch again on YouTube. I remember getting my first home computer: the Commodore Vic 20 back in 1982. I'm another one who can't stop watching those old-school ads on YouTube! What would you define as ‘your era’ and why? Most definitely the 80s. It was a time when there was a lot of change and growing up – an era which marked the end of primary school; attending secondary school; moving onto college and then going into full time work. 80s music is my fav and I always listen to Heart 80s on the radio. I remember some cracking TV programmes: Knight Rider, Fame (I want to live forever), Top of the Pops, Dallas, Neighbours, Beadle’s About, Blind Date, Play Your Cards Right, Grange Hill… ...Falcon Crest; The Price is Right; The A-Team... I hear you! Just like me, you grew up in Harlesden, Northwest London. What are your memories of growing up there in the latter part of the last century? The changes that were starting to take place: the closure of a lot of factories. Just down the road in Park Royal, there were once so many factories and the people from Harlesden made up a lot of the workforce. Many of these factories moved out which was a real shame. My dad worked for a massive employer in that area (Heinz) and that also went. That's really sad. Having those factories in our area really benefitted a lot of the locals. You’ve now jumped ship and become a Northerner! How often do you visit the H-Town and what changes do you find whenever you return home? Funnily enough, I was back in Harlesden a few weeks ago. I usually visit once every 18 months. The striking changes are how densely populated it has become and so many of the streets are permit parking only. The position of the Jubilee Clock has moved and of course the property prices have soared… there’s no way I could afford to move back! I don't think I can either. And I'm glad you mentioned the clock - I thought it was just me! One of the things I remember about growing up in Harlesden throughout the nineties was how label-mad everyone was! I was lucky just to get Matchstick trainers as my mum did not want us growing up obsessing about designer labels (for which I thank her now but not at the time!) How image-conscious and fashion obsessed were you back then? Ahh the nineties. I was working full-time through most of the 90s so I started splashing out on the branded clothes. I become image-conscious but not obsessed. One of my earlier purchases was a Kangol hat – I wanted to have the LL Cool J look . A very colourful Reebok tracksuit was another purchase along with some Karl Kani jeans. Ah, who didn't own a pair of Kani jeans back then! Sadly I didn't! But my sis did indeed have a Kangol hat. You’re another nostalgia addict. All the best people are! When did you get bitten by the nostalgia bug? Far too late to be honest: 2015! I regret getting rid of a lot of items from the 80s and 90s that at the time I thought were useless – little did I know that I’d turn into a nostalgia addict and those items would be so useful for photography to bring back memories. Tell me about it! Check out the second part of our interview with Sir David of Retrohenshire. If you'd like to follow Sir David of Retrohenshire in a non-stalkerish way; check out his amazing work, say hi or purchase his book, here are his deets below: WEBSITE www.retrohen.com EMAIL: keepitretro@btinternet.com SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: https://twitter.com/HenninghamDavid Insta: @davidhenningham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrohen Photos: David Henningham, Angel Noire, YouTube and Wix Blog graphics: Angel Noire

NAME: David Henningham AGE: 53 (I had to think for a second!) FROM: London LIVES: Manchester OCCUPATION: I develop breakfast cereals and snacks FAVE PASTIME: Writing (mainly about things from the 70s and 80s) We hope you enjoyed the first part of our interview with nostalgia blogger, David Henningham, aka Sir David of Retrohenshire, creator of the awesome Retrohen blog. Check out the second part of this interview as we continue to have a slice of pie and a natter with Sir David. You are the creator of the fabulous Retrohen blog (For those of you who haven’t checked it out yet, do so NOW!!!) Where did the name come from? How and when did you get into nostalgia blogging? And why did I not know about you until last year??? My colleagues at work knew I was into retro and one guy called me “Retrohen”. Prior to this, they used to call me “Hen”, a shortened version of my surname. Therefore, Retrohen equals retro and hen put together. I got into nostalgia blogging in 2015. I’d been doing a home study writing course and blogging was a way to test the water with my work. My first blog was about Brut aftershave and I was so nervous about hitting the ‘publish’ button. I really didn’t know how it would be received, but luckily it turned out well… phew! Haha, why did you not know about me until last year? I could say the same thing about you. But seriously, there are so many blogs out there and it’s not always straightforward coming across ones that tickle your fancy. That's true. And I'm glad you've been hitting that 'publish' button since your first post. You’ve also written a book that’s available from your site: Section N Underpass. Tell us a bit about it and yeah - really sell it to us! Poor Carlton Krane. He went on a routine train journey that ended up taking a strange detour into the Section N Underpass. Things don’t get better for him as he’s lead off the train into a region when mobiles, contactless payments and the internet don’t exist. A region when cash rules, the streets are graced with Ford Cortinas and Austin Allegros, and four-star leaded petrol is sold at the pumps. Within the new home that he now resides, Carlton begins learning about the people and happenings within the Underpass region by reading a stack of typewritten accounts of happenings found with a Freeman Hardy Willis shoebox. Sat leant against the warmth of the running twin tub washing machine, Carlton reads through them. Who is the master baker called Mr. Kipling? Why is the Green Cross Code Man so helpless? Is the Milk Tray Man the perfect partner? World of Sport or Grandstand on a Saturday afternoon? The biggest question is how will Carlton survive in a place that displays all the characteristics of the 1980s? That sounds awesome and a must for any nostalgia fan especially if you grew up in Britain during the latter part of the last century. I never knew that my calling in life was to be a nostalgia blogger. If I had known that, I would have kept more things from the years of my childhood to early adulthood. I’m now spending a fortune on eBay buying back my lost childhood! Are there things you regret not hanging on to, especially now that you’re also a nostalgia blogger? I also spend time trawling through eBay buying stuff I originally had. My biggest regrets are not holding onto my payslips from my first ever job. I was 16 years old and I got a part-time job at Asda in Park Royal. I worked on Friday evenings and Saturdays from 7am – 5pm. Supermarkets were closed on Sundays during these times. I was getting about £18 per week for doing this and I so wished I’d kept hold of my payslips and the envelopes they came in. The other thing I wish I’d kept was the weekly British Rail train tickets I had whilst attending college – they were really robust and had the British Rail logo on them. Goodness, the days when everything was closed on a Sunday. Hard to believe now. It’ll soon be National Retro Day here in America. But there’s no reason why those who love all that is retro shouldn’t celebrate wherever they are. If you ask me, it should be International Retro Day! Nostalgia addicts who live outside of America might not be so familiar with this day. But now that you know about it, are you planning to mark the day (February 27th) in some way and if so - how? I had no idea that this existed in America. It's a fantastic idea and it should be a worldwide event. Now that I know I will do a little Twitter (X) post to highlight the day. It absolutely should be a worldwide event! One of the prerequisites of National Retro Day, apart from immersing yourself in all that is retro, is being offline for the day (shock horror!) as a way of remembering simpler times. How easy do you think it’ll be to steer clear of modern day gadgets and gizmos that require Wi-Fi, and revert back to old-school technology for this one day? OMG I’d find that almost impossible even if it is for just one day. I think I’d end up cheating and I’m sure I won’t be the only one. I'm saying nothing! Some of us will remember a time when the internet was just a lightbulb moment in the inventor’s head (gosh, I’m really ageing us here!) And now we live in a time when we have to be online for just about everything. The only thing we don’t need Wi-Fi connection for is going to sleep, but trust me - that will be happening soon! In your opinion, how easy is it nowadays to live a life where we’re not so connected all the time - like how it was back in the day? We’ve really embraced technology and it is part of our lives. Life has become faster and we’ve adapted to that. I remember TV adverts for K-tel records: to order a record you’d have to fill in a coupon, write a cheque or postal order, post it and then wait 28 days for delivery. I’m sure many of us would not even accommodate a 28-day delivery these days and be straight onto Amazon. I’ve even noticed that there are places where a smartphone is mandatory to scan QR codes to access services. I’d say it’s now impossible to lead a life where we’re not connected all the time. I agree. And wow, postal order! Now that's taking me back! We’re nosy - What future plans do you have for Retrohen? The aim of Retrohen was to make people laugh by making a unique twist of events, experiences and advertising from the 70s and 80s. The plan is to continue to do this whilst throwing in some facts. I can honestly say that nostalgia blogging has changed my life for the better in so many ways. For one thing I’ve met so many great people - like your good self - and come across so many fabulous sites - like Retrohen! Would you say that Retrohen has enhanced your life in some way, and if so - how? Each time I write a post I do smile whilst thinking back to those retro days. It's also like I’m transported back to those days when I was growing up in Harlesden. I switch off from the day-to-day pressures and just write and have fun. I hope I enhance the lives of people who read my posts by making them smile and say ‘I remember that!’ I can honestly say you do! This or That: 1980s or 1990s? 1980s Hyde Park or Roundwood Park? (if you know, you know!) Roundwood without a doubt. Man U or Arsenal? (This could get dangerous...) Arsenal Spice Girls or All Saints? The Spice Girls No. 18 or 266? (Again, if you know…) The No. 18. I hopped on this a few weeks ago from Euston to Harlesden. Pot roast or Pot Noodle? Pot roast Opal Fruits or Starburst? Opal Fruits Noel’s House Party or Kid 'n Play’s House Party? Kid ‘n’ Play’s House Party Holiday for two or cash prize? Holiday for two Easties or Corrie? It’s got to be Corrie And Finally… You’ve time-travelled back to the Eighties. You’re in a fancy restaurant and the waiter brings out the dessert trolley at the end of the meal. Which retro pud do you go for? To be honest, I’d go for more than one! The one I’d go for first is Butterscotch flavoured Angel Delight. After that I’d asked for jelly with rum and raisin ice-cream. Sir David, it's been an absolute pleasure, mate! Thank you. If you'd like to follow Sir David of Retrohenshire in a non-stalkerish way; check out his amazing work, say hi or purchase his book, here are his deets below: WEBSITE www.retrohen.com EMAIL: keepitretro@btinternet.com SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: https://twitter.com/HenninghamDavid Insta: @davidhenningham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrohen Photos: David Henningham; Angel Noire; Wix; Unsplash, and YouTube GIF: Wix Blog graphics: Angel Noire

By sheer coincidence, 25th January is a special and significant day for a few of my family and friends due to the number of marriages and births that have taken place on that day. And it's a very special day for Nostalgia Pie too as that's when the third - and dare we say it, the best - incarnation of this site began five years ago... Nostalgia Pie started it's journey back in 2012 and I was soon bitten by the blogging bug. It was a rediscovery of TV shows, books, and music that I hadn't come across in ages that set me on the road to creating this site. I won't lie, in more recent times, I've become quite bored and disheartened by what passes for entertainment these days. It's not that everything produced today is abysmal of course but I just feel that a lot of the more current things I see are a bit soulless and lacking in something, and you have to really search for something that's got quality writing, acting and storylines. Well that's what I think anyway! But being reintroduced to things I used to watch/listen to/use/wear/scoff etc. really took me back and was such an uplifting, enriching and enlivening experience. The long-lost inner child in me would exclaim "Ooh I remember that!" and "Goodness! It's been ages since I listened to them!" as well as "How on earth did I forget about that!" Happy memories would have me grinning away like the Cheshire cat. Yep I was bitten by the nostalgia bug all right. I wondered if anyone else got swept away by the wave of nostalgia when it came to memories of the news, events, and pop culture of their time. So I got the bright idea to put all of my nostalgic wonderings, ponderings and ramblings into a blog... And I've never looked back! Oh and as it happened, there were plenty of people like me who loved a bit of nostalgia! Just a few of our favourite things.... Nostalgia Pie has had two previous homes, and each one I feel, has been better than the last. But it was after moving to America, I decided that if I had a new home, then maybe Nostalgia Pie should to! I felt that the time had come for a bit of a revamp - that and I needed something to keep me out of trouble! And so here we are, and I have to say I'm delighted with the site that I recreated five years ago - I hope the followers are as well! Something I'd never done with the older versions of this site was include a forum and that was something I'd always hoped to do. And I finally got my chance to do just that five years ago. Initially the aim was to share memories with other nostalgia addicts but it ended up becoming so much more than that... ...And a few more! Bring on the nostalgia! We've got a fantastic bunch of people here who have helped to make Nostalgia Pie what it is, and for that I am extremely grateful. And it's because of this site that I've been able to meet some of Nostalgia Pie's amazing followers and connect with them in the real world... People I'm very blessed to be able to call friends. I consider this a real blessing because when I started the revamp of Nostalgia Pie, I was two years into my expat adventure. I was far from home; away from family, friends and all that was dear and familiar to me, and was having to start again from scratch. There were days when I didn't really feel like myself. But then this blog came along and it gave me exactly what I was looking for - a sense of community, belonging, and new friends. I have so much to thank this site for. It's so weird to think that five years have just sailed by just like that. And I've enjoyed every second of it. There's still lots more that I plan to do. We've just started our Retro Reads online book group with the first meeting to take place next month, and I'm working on more exciting ventures to ensure that this isn't just one of my happy places... but yours too! Thanks to everyone who follows this site and interacts with us here. Nostalgia Pie couldn't work without you. Happy fifth birthday, Nostalgia Pie. Here's to the next five years... Photos: Angel Noire, Pixabay and YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

It's not just Top of the Pops that celebrated turning sixty this month. Iconic British teen magazine Jackie has also hit the big 6-0! It was back in January 11th 1964 that the first issue of Jackie went on sale and changed the lives of many a teenage girl and made its mark on popular culture. Not only that but it served as the precursor for many of the subsequent British magazines that followed in the magnificent footsteps of Jackie and dominated the teen market. It was probably coincidental that Jackie was launched just ten days after the first episode of the cultural phenomenon that was Top of the Pops aired but the two, Jackie and Top of the Pops, went together hand in hand so perfectly well for its influence on youth culture and fashion, and also for giving a platform to both established and up and coming artists. What a fabulous time January 1964 must have been for the youth of that time! But little did Sixties British youth realize that they were witnessing history in the making, and experiencing two phenomenons that many of today's generation barely know about - and both are still so sorely missed... But while I was - and still am - a massive TOTP fan and made it my mission in life, when I was younger, to be in front of the telly at 7pm on a Thursday night, I unfortunately missed out on being a Jackie girl. That might come as quite a shock to a lot of people as Jackie did exist during my lifetime (I'm sadly not that young!) and everyone who knows me knows that there wasn't a TV, music, fashion, women's or teen magazine that I wasn't spending my money on. But by the time I got bitten by the magazine bug and started spending virtually all of my pocket money on magazines - much to my parents' annoyance - Jackie was sadly on its way out with the last issue being printed in 1993. There's no doubt in my mind though that had the plug not been pulled on Jackie, I would most definitely have been an avid reader and a Jackie girl for sure! I would have been one of those teen girls who - from what I heard - would eagerly await the latest copy to hit the stands before rushing down to the newsagent to grab it before anyone else did. It wasn't solely because you were worried about missing out on that week's issue but you needed to be the one to get all the news before anyone else did. You didn't want to hear it secondhand from your classmates - you wanted to be the one proclaiming the gospel according to Jackie before 'Miss' came into the classroom to take the register, and then again over lunch in the school canteen. You wanted to know what the latest fashions were; where were the best places to shop. You wanted to know how to style your hair with just the right amount of bounce. You wanted to know how to do your make up so that you could pass for Twiggy's little sister. You wanted to collect all the free gifts that Jackie had to offer (shimmery lip gloss, girls?) And most importantly you needed that final part of the three-part poster in order to complete your David Essex poster. How else were you going to practice the kissing tips so generously given by Jackie? To have an incomplete poster would have been a fate worse than death and definitely something worth writing in to Cathy and Claire about! The sixtieth anniversary of the launch of this groundbreaking teen magazine means that there are articles and interviews appearing everywhere; where those who remember Jackie all too well reminisce about what the magazine meant to them. I've heard stories from the ladies who were blessed to have worked on the magazine while still in their teens. Who better to write a magazine aimed at teenagers than teenagers themselves? When I was a teen girl myself (only last year, of course!) I dreamed of becoming a journalist and working for one of the magazines I was so keen to spend my money on. I did become a member of the Press Pack (I'm sure that's what they were called) for Fast Forward magazine (remember them?) but sadly never saw my name in print due to me never sending my work in on time! Tut, tut! One of the ladies who gave up her place at uni to work for Jackie in its hey day described it as 'being at the university of Jackie' and talked about the fun environment and camaraderie among the staff there. That definitely sounds like my kind of university, and definitely a lot better than the one I actually did go to (although I did meet my girls there so there were some good points. Well when they're not bullying me that is. Only joking, girls!) However I doubt my parents would never have allowed me to give up my university course. And worse still they wouldn't have paid for my ticket to travel up to Dundee so that I could work at Jackie Towers (No that's not what it was called. But I reckon it should have been!) I think it's what is known as anemoia or sehnsucht. No not the Rammstein album (although I'm sure it's pretty good) but that longing and nostalgia for a time that you have never lived in. I've made no secret of the fact that I wished I could have been a teenager in sixties or seventies London. While I'm sure life wasn't perfect for everyone back then or ever for that matter (it never is) I picked up on the sentiment that there was a vibrancy and a zest for life; an enthusiasm for all that was new and exciting. Youngsters had real optimism and zeal for the future. These are all the things that I see summed up in Jackie. So do I wish I could have been a Jackie girl? You bet! I was, however, a Just Seventeen; Mizz; Sugar; It's Bliss and Shout kind of girl. So I still had the same interests, habits, future hopes and aspirations as most Jackie readers. Half the contents in my chest of drawers were made up of cosmetics that were given away as free gifts. I still put posters up on my walls but it was Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block I dreamed about and not David Cassidy. While I like standing out from the crowd now and being my own person, as a young girl, all I wanted was to fit and and be accepted by my peers - show me one teenager who doesn't! Whether you're in the Sixties, Nineties, or twenty-first century, just pick up any magazine aimed at teens, turn to the letters or problem pages and you will find tons of people of your own age group who are just like you; who have the same worries, fears, concerns that you do. Those who are seeking resolutions and are hopeful for a better future.And many of those teens can't wait to grow up and experience freedom as an adult and imagine, through the pages of such magazines just like I did, of what adult life would be like. Only to realize when we get there, how overhyped adulthood is! So you see - regardless of the decade or magazines that I was reading, I wasn't so different to the Jackie crowd. And furthermore if it wasn't for Jackie, a magazine that revolutionized media for teenagers, I don't think I would have been reading magazines like Sugar or Shout as unless someone had the bright idea somewhere further down the line, I very much doubt they would have existed. Jackie was to British teen magazines what New Kids on the Block are to boy bands (the jury's still out on whether that was a good or bad thing! Not because New Kids were awful - because they're NOT - but because many of the subsequent boy bands that came along were! However others may beg to differ!) But while I may never have had the seemingly, totally care-free existence of a typical teenage girl in the Jackie era whose biggest catastrophe was figuring out how to get the Paul McCartney lookalike at school to notice her, I feel I share more in common with the girls (now ladies of course) of that generation who came long before me than those who came long after me. I could be wrong but it seems to me that adulthood is creeping up on youngsters earlier and earlier these days. Childhood and teen years are fleeting and go by so quickly. So kids and teens should enjoy and relish this period. However with us, even though we were in a hurry to grow up (careful what you wish for and all that!) the difference is that we weren't made to grow up too soon (or at least I don't feel we were.) Perhaps that's one of the reasons why I have a fondness for such times. And things like Jackie, whether I experienced it or not... well it takes me back to more care-free, simpler times. So happy sixtieth, Jackie. I may not have been a 'Jackie girl' or known you personally, or have you educate me on the fine art of kissing; getting attention from the boys, or the benefits of taking my make-up off at night. I may not have had the lovely Cathy and Claire to advise me through every tumultuous situation I ever encountered. But I do feel as though I've known you all my life. You made a generation of girls - and the ones who came along afterwards - very happy. Thank you x With love and thanks to my brother from another mother, JM, for most of these pics. x Photos: Angel Noire and JM Blog graphics: Angel Noire

There are some things you just have to have at Christmas - and a packet of Walnut Whips is one of them! For those of us who grew up in the UK and Ireland, the sight of those individually wrapped Walnut Whips by Nestlé, in its blue packaging, was a familiar sight in sweet shops, and the confectionary sections of supermarkets and newsagents. Admittedly the individual Walnut Whips are not such a common sight these days (which has led many people to think that they've found their way up to choccy heaven. Thank goodness they haven't!) but you're more likely to find them in packs of six especially around Christmas time when the whole country goes seems to go Walnut Whip mad! What's a Walnut Whip? It's not a whip made out of walnuts. And neither is it a tool used to discipline a badly-behaved walnut! Walnut Whips are delicious-beyond-belief funnel-shaped hollow milk chocolate shells with a fairly thick base and a swirled, ridged exterior. The hollowed centres are then filled with a whipped, creamy, vanilla fondant - a bit like a cross between a mousse and a marshmallow. How scrumptious does that sound? It's then topped with... what else, a walnut half! What's the packaging like? For as long as we can remember, Walnut Whips have always been encased in a type of blue, pouch-like wrapper. Although today's wrapper is a shiny, metallic blue, some of us remember a non-metallic, darker blue wrapper. The old-school style also used to have a thin piece of card at the base of the wrapper on which the Walnut Whip could sit quite comfortably (we wouldn't want our Walnut Whip to suffer any discomfort now, would we!) but that no longer exists. How are they sold? Up until round about the 2000s, it was very common to see Walnut Whips sold individually in shops. These days you're more likely to see them sold as six in a box. However that's if you are able to find them at all, as we've heard - and also seen for ourselves - that not every shop stocks them up the way they once did so they're not as easy to find. We can't think why. What are the origins of the great Walnut Whip? The confectionary was originally launched in 1910 by Duncan’s of Edinburgh, a company founded in 1861 by mother and son, Mary and William Duncan in Dundee (and not Edinburgh.) But it wasn't until 1884 that they started to produce chocolate confectionary in Edinburgh, with them moving to a different Edinburgh location - the Regent Confectionary Works - twelve years later. The Walnut Whip was Duncan's most famous confectionary item, and it was due to the rise in popularity of this chocolate product that saw the company's factory grow to six times its original size in order to deal with manufacturing demands. Rowntree's then acquired Duncan’s of Edinburgh in 1927, although the new company continued the Duncan's brand name. Come 1967, various confectionery products were moved to be produced in other Rowntree's factories, while the only item produced by the Edinburgh factory were... Walnut Whips! Rowntree's was later acquired by the now Nestlé UK who have continued producing Walnut Whips. Walnut Whips have come an awfully long way! Not to mention changed hands quite a few times. Is it only Nestlé who produces Walnut Whips? That other great British institution Marks and Spencer’s have their own brand of Walnut Whips which are readily available throughout the year. They are generally sold in packs of three and are available in other flavours. Are they only vanilla-flavoured? Over the years, Nestlé have produced a few different flavoured fondant fillings but it is the vanilla or 'original' flavour which still prevails today. There was a maple, coffee flavour that is still very much missed by those who remember it very well, and there's also been a mention of a strawberry flavour. The Marks and Spencer’s version however has other flavours such as mint, toffee pecan, and double chocolate as well as the original. Oh and there's also been talk of a dark chocolate shell which we don't remember at all, so if it did exist at all, it was probably discontinued around the early Eighties. What changes have occurred over the years? Walnut Whips have undergone a few transformations over the years including the ridging on the surface of the cone; and the texture of the filling which was supposed to have been more dense. Something that is talked about a great deal was that there also used to be a walnut piece placed inside the filled chocolate case, which was a way of using up pieces of walnut that had broken up due to the manufacturing process. Eventually the walnut piece inside the chocolate was omitted (not sure why) leaving the one nut that topped the cone. The Walnut-less Whips! Alongside the original Walnut Whips, Nestlé decided to bring out a new walnut-less version in 2017 in order to increase their product range. As this version didn't contain walnuts, the 'walnut' part of the name had to go, so they ended up being called... Whips! Personally we'd have gone with Walnot Whips or Nulnut Whips! There were many people who were outraged about the lack of the Whip's crowning glory. Some felt that the bitterness of the walnut counteracted the sweetness of the fondant filling so it was always a welcome addition. Others were up in arms because, well, it's nostalgic and traditional to have the chocolate cone topped with a walnut half. But Nestlé placated the naysayers by bringing out three new exciting flavours: Vanilla, mint, and caramel. These are sold individually or in packs of three. What's the connection between Walnut Whips and Christmas? Well Walnut Whips are a chocolate product and chocolate is always very popular at Christmas with most people consuming twice their body weight in the stuff! Many of us remember eating Walnut Whips at Christmas and other special occasions, and for us it feels that no celebration is complete without them. Other than that, there is no significant Christmas connection - it wasn't one of the gifts brought by the Wise Men or anything like that! But along with tubs of Roses and Quality Street, and Terry's Chocolate Orange, they're one of the top chocolate items that people like to tuck into while they're gathered around the TV watching EastEnders or the Christmas movie that's on. Christmas just isn't Christmas without a Walnut Whip! Now the big question... How do you eat yours? Yep it was asked about that other great British confectionary classic, the Creme Egg. But we're asking you the same question with regards to Walnut Whips. So how do you eat yours? Most people start off by picking off the walnut half on top, and then biting off the peak and slurping out the creamy filling prior to moving on to the empty chocolate shell. Some will bite into the walnut, chocolate and fondant filling simultaneously, and then you will get the those who feel the need to perform a party piece and cram as much of the Walnut Whip as they can into their gob! If you ask us, the latter is seriously missing out by not licking the filling out of the chocolate! Wonder if there's any who chomp the top of and then scoff the filling with a spoon? Maybe we can start a trend! Merry Christmas, everyone x Photos: YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Ever since that flash-forward scene first aired in EastEnders as part of the show's anniversary celebrations earlier this year - a first-ever for the soap - fans are eagerly awaiting to discover the identity of the man who lies dead on the floor of The Queen Vic... as well as the identity of his killer. We shall soon find out - and we cannot wait! But another interesting detail from that scene caught our eye... Sharon in a wedding gown which indicated that unless there was a fancy dress party on at The Vic, she was getting married - again! In light of recent events, we're wondering if Sharon Watts/Mitchell/Rickman/Mitchell again/Beale/Watts/soon-to-be- Taylor (maybe!) will actually go through with her wedding to Keanu Taylor. So many mysteries to solve this Christmas! Just before she actually married him herself, Sharon said of her oldest friend Ian that you only had to smile at him and he was ordering wedding cake. Quite a statement coming from a lady who's about to head up the aisle for the fifth time! During her many years on the Square, Sharon has had quite an eventful love-life. Sharon has been engaged to a vicar; had her heart broken by Simon Wicks; had her married lover return to his wife; lost her fiancé Tom in a house fire; was jilted just before her wedding by Jack Branning, had a fling with Kheerat Panesar... and those are just the ones we can remember! And that's all before we come to the infamous Sharongate... Sharongate - one of the most famous storylines in EastEnders' history where Sharon embarked on an affair with her brother-in-law Phil, thus ending her marriage to the very volatile Grant Mitchell, causing Sharon to leave Walford and head to Florida. But upon her return, Phil and Sharon picked up where they had left off, continuing an on-off relationship that has lasted til present day (where they are currently 'off' again!) After marrying and divorcing Phil, Sharon entered into a marriage of convenience with Ian, which ended after he discovered that she was following in the footsteps of wife number one Cindy in trying to have him killed! But it was her second husband, Dennis Rickman, who EastEnders' fans believe was the one true love of Sharon's life, and had he not been murdered by gangster Johnny Allen, there's a good chance they'd still be together now. When it was announced that Sharon was to fall for her adoptive dad's son, viewers wondered if writers had lost their minds! But we don't mind admitting that this was one of those times when we got it wrong, and Sharon and Dennis went on to become one of the best, though tragically short-lived, Albert Square couples. It would appear that Sharon was never the same after Dennis's death which probably led to her making some rather questionable choices over the years. Of course Sharon isn't the only female soap character who has been keeping bridal stores in business. There are many women in soap who have made it to the altar more more times than they've had appointments at the local nail bar! EastEnders' Peggy Mitchell has been married three times, with Melanie Healy and Denise Fox outdoing her by getting married four times. And Kathy Beale has headed down the aisle a fourth time in a failed attempt to make an honest man out of Tom Cotton. Three was also the magic number for Neighbours' Gail Lewis and Helen Daniels, as it was for Home and Away's Pippa Fletcher. But they were all pipped at the post by Sunset Beach's Bette Kazenkazrahi who had married a whopping seven times! We've already looked at some of the most married men in soap, and not wanting to leave out the ladies, we now turn our attention to the soap brides who are battling out to be soap's answer to Zsa-Zsa Gabor. 1. Gail Platt (Coronation Street) BRIAN TILSLEY (m. 1979) 'Our Gail' has never been what you might call lucky in love. It all started to go downhill in the late seventies when Gail met and married husband number one - Brian Tilsley. The marriage produced a son, Nicky in 1980, and unfortunately for Gail, a meddling mother-in-law, Ivy, who was the source of much friction for Gail and Brian. When the Tilsleys' marriage hit a rocky spot, both spouses had their heads turned by other people, and Brian eventually left to work overseas. The couple eventually patched up their marriage, and Brian settled into the street, opening up a garage. But money worries caused the couple to move in with Brian's parents which obviously pleased Gail and Ivy no end! Unsurprisingly marriage woes set in again, forcing Gail to walk out, taking little Nicky with her, though the Tilsleys eventually reunited. But the happy-ever-after didn't last long, when in 1986, Gail began an affair with Brian's cousin, Ian, but after getting pregnant, she realised that she didn't know who the baby's father was. After Sarah-Louise was born the following year, she was proven to be Brian's daughter. The damage however was done and Brian was unable to bond with his baby daughter. The Tilsleys split yet again with both going on to start new relationships and get divorced. Ironically however, it was Brian's failed attempt to kidnap his son that led to him reconciling with Gail and remarrying in 1988. But once again it wasn't to last and Gail asked for a divorce. But it was a night out at a club which ended the Tilsley's marriage once and for all when Brian was stabbed and tragically killed, resulting in a heartbroken Ivy unfairly blaming Gail. MARTIN PLATT (m 1991) Gail eventually found love again with Martin Platt, who moved in with her and the children, which caused a bit of a stir as he was ten years younger than her. When Gail discovered that she was pregnant in 1990, she decided to terminate the pregnancy as she didn't think she could cope with three children and didn't want Martin to feel burdened by fatherhood at such a young age. But Martin persuaded Gail to keep the baby and that Christmas baby David was born completing the Platt family with Martin going on to adopt Nicky and Sarah - a move that did not go down well with Ivy. But problems arose in the form of unstable nurse Carmel Finnen who developed an infatuation with Martin; a teenage Nicky's strained relationship with his adoptive father, and Martin's one-night stand with a colleague. But it was his affair with nurse Rebecca Hopkins, in which Martin was planning to leave Gail until he found out that Sarah was pregnant, that put the final nail into the coffin that was the Platts' marriage. However Martin and Gail were on good terms, though this was tested after Martin started a short-lived relationship with Gail's friend, Sally. Eventually Martin left the cobbles in 2005 for a new life in Liverpool with his new girlfriend Robyn where the two started a family of their own. RICHARD HILLMAN (m.2002) But it was while Martin was still living in Weatherfield, that Gail found love with the man who was to become the most infamous of all of Gail's husbands - the murderous Richard Hillman. Also known as Norman Bates with a briefcase! Richard was the cousin of Gail's dear friend Alma, and the two meet at Alma's funeral. Gail and Richard soon started a relationship and they went on to marry in the summer of 2002. Unfortunately Richard hadn't been completely honest with Gail about his finances or that he was facing bankruptcy. This led to a chain of sinister incidents starting with Richard leaving his business partner, Duggie Ferguson to die after he had suffered an accident, before going on to kill his ex-wife Patricia with a shovel after she threatened to expose his fraudulent dealings. After this Richard's venomous behaviour knew no bounds and he resorted to all forms of devious behaviour: bribery, investment scams; kidnap; the attempted murders of his mother in law, Audrey, as well as Emily Bishop, and sadly murdering young mum, Maxine Peacock, and framed his stepdaughter's ex-boyfriend Aiden Critchley for her death. With his crimes catching up with him, Richard eventually confessed all to a horrified Gail before leaving Weatherfield, apparently for good. But nothing's ever that simple in soapland, and Richard Hillman returned to the cobbles once again with the intention of killing his stepfamily as well as himself. But when his initial plan was thwarted by Martin and Audrey, Richard abducted the family, driving straight into a canal. Gail and her family survived. Richard didn't. And so was the demise of one of soap's most notorious villains. JOE McINTYRE (2010) It's OK ladies - Our Gail did not marry a New Kid! Instead she fell in love with the father of Tina, her son's ex-girlfriend. But seriously, what is it with Gail and men who are severely in debt??? Gail goes on to marry Joe not realising that his business has collapsed and he is heavily in debt. But a short time later, Joe comes up with a plan to fake his own death in order to obtain the life insurance money. He filled his wife in on the plan which left Gail appalled. After the two got into a physical altercation, Joe sailed away but in a bizarre twist of fate, he met with an accident and drowned. When news of Joe's death reached Gail, she thought that he had gone ahead with his devious plan, and believing that he would return, she and David told everyone that he was away working. But Gail was left distraught when she discovered that Joe really was dead. Unfortunately due to inconsistencies in her story, and statements by witnesses who had seen the fight, Gail was arrested for murder during Joe's wake, charged and denied bail. Though she was later found not guilty and released. MICHAEL RODWELL (2015) Remember how Neighbours' Scott and Charlene met after Scott mistook his future spouse for a burglar? Well that's how Gail met husband number five, Michael Rodwell. Except that there was no mistake about it - Michael really was a burglar! Posing as a gasman, Michael attempted to steal valuables from Gail's home which led to Gail getting hurt in a scuffle between them, and becoming traumatized. But Gail and Michael got to meet again through the Restorative Justice Scheme, and a very forgiving Gail forged a friendship with Michael which led to love once he was released. Will this lady ever learn? Probably not, but determined to get him back on his feet, the two moved in together and later married. But the marriage soon collapses when Michael discovers that the son he has reunited with is actually an imposter and that Gail knew about this. He demanded a divorce and then started a relationship with Eileen Grimshaw which led to a lot of friction between her and Gail, although Michael and Gail did later reconcile. However it is an altercation with Eileen's new love, Pat Phelan, that leads to Michael's sad demise after he suffers a heart attack. A heartbroken Gail was left with the task of scattering his ashes close to the site where they had planned to renew their vows. 1. Janine Butcher (EastEnders) Not even forty years old and she's already clocked five husbands! When Janine Butcher revealed just before her marriage to her latest victim, we mean fiancé Mick Carter, that this was to be her fifth waltz down the aisle, viewers were scratching their heads as they tried to remember who were the previous five grooms who had been daft enough to marry Janine. BARRY EVANS There was husband number one, bumbling, gullible Barry Evans, who had been Janine's kind-of-sort-of stepbrother when his dad Roy married Janine's stepmother Pat. Ian Beale is often deemed one of life's biggest losers but we think that title goes to Barry who was even more hapless than Ian. Vulnerable after his divorce from his first wife, Barry fell into a relationship with scheming Janine. He saw her as his second chance at love. She saw him as a cash cow, and when it was believed that Barry may not have long to live, Janine - who had already started an affair with Barry's friend, Paul Truman - rushed to make it down the aisle to become the next Mrs. Evans before Barry's heart gave out. And while her scheming paid off, it was on their wedding night that both she and Barry discovered that his diagnosis had been a false alarm and he was given a clean bill of health. That was too much for Janine, who during a confrontation on a hilltop with Barry she announced she had never loved him before Barry accidentally fell down the side of the hill - while Janine watched as he died from his injuries. DAVID BERKOWITZ Then came elderly David Berkowitz who Janine - or maybe that should be Janine's alter ego, Judith Bernstein - was exchanging vows with when her stepmother Pat burst into the synagogue with Ricky, and Janine's friend Billy Mitchell in tow, before revealing Janine's true identity while declaring that her stepdaughter was "as Jewish as a bacon sandwich," - a line that has gone down in EastEnders' history of spectacular quotes. Poor David, mortified at the revelation that the woman he loved wasn't who she said she was, collapsed and died in front of the horrified congregation. Janine in the meanwhile managed to worm her way to Walford, now leaving two dead husbands in her wake. RYAN MOLLOY Husband number three was Whitney Dean's half-brother Ryan Molloy. Young, good-looking and charismatic, Ryan was everything that Janine's previous two husbands were not. Needless to say that Janine couldn't believe her luck when Ryan, making the biggest mistake of his life, proposed to her. So Janine became Mrs. Molloy and all was well for a while... Until the pitter patter of tiny feet could be heard. No, Janine wasn't pregnant but she had discovered that Ryan was the father of Stacey Slater's baby daughter, Lilly, and Janine was far from happy about it. Her jealousy and spite eventually drove Ryan into Stacey's arms, and the two were about to start a future together with baby Lilly. But a spanner was thrown in the works when Janine discovered that Stacey was the one who had murdered Archie Mitchell, causing a terrified Stacey to flee the Square, taking Lilly with her but leaving a heartbroken Ryan behind. Ryan eventually left the Square but he should be pleased because as devastated as he was at losing Stacey and Lilly, he is the only one of Janine's husbands who's still alive and kicking! MICHAEL MOON Janine's fourth husband was Alfie Moon's suave cousin Michael Moon. The two got married when Janine was pregnant with their daughter Scarlet. But married life proved to be far from easy and Michael eventually started an affair with Scarlet's nanny Alice Branning. During a tense confrontation, Janine ended up stabbing Michael to death, and then framed Alice for it. MICK CARTER (m. 2022) Then along came husband number five - lovable publican, Mick Carter. As with Barry, Mick was devastated after his marriage to childhood sweetheart, Linda hit the rocks, and he became susceptible to the charms of the manipulative, scheming Janine who was as good at sniffing out vulnerability as a sniffer dog is good at sniffing out illegal substances. Mick thought he'd been given another chance at love but viewers knew that what Janine was really in love with was the idea of becoming landlady of her former childhood home the Queen Vic, and providing both her and Scarlet with the type of family life neither of them had had. And in order to get that, Janine's plotting, scheming and conniving knew no bounds including framing Linda for a car crash in which it was really Janine who was behind the wheel. However all of Janine's lies caught up with her on Christmas Day - just one day after becoming Mrs. Carter - in which her own daughter exposed her for being a fraud. Sadly it was Mick's determination to ensure that Janine didn't get away with her crimes that saw him pursuing her before tragically going missing at sea and is now presumed dead. All of the above should be enough of a deterrent for any man daft enough to think of proposing to her, but knowing Janine we're sure she'll snare husband number six on her next return to Walford... Check out the second part of our post Ooh, She Does Love a Nice White Frock! Photos from YouTube Word cloud by Angel Noire

Another year is on the way out and we are all awaiting the new one. Some of us at this moment are preparing for the New Year's Eve bash we're going to throw tonight. Others are excitingly getting ready for the New Year's Eve bash we're going to attend. And for some of us, well it's just a cozy night in as we see the new year in quietly. But all of us will be wondering what 2024 has in store for us... and hoping that it'll be something great! 2023 has been a real roller-coaster of a year for us. During the early part of the year, we were met with a great deal of sadness of which we are still working our way through. The one good thing that came out of it, was the love and support of family and friends who rallied around and let us know that we were far from alone. Everyone always says you know who your real friends are you're going through a crisis. Well I'd like to think that we always knew who our real friends were but this just confirmed it. But it wasn't all heartbreak and devastation. This year was a very busy year with lots of new experiences and travel to places we'd never been to before. I made my annual visit to London to see family and I got to celebrate my birthday with my immediate family for the first time in over a decade, I reckon! We did a road trip with my sister's family which we really enjoyed. We had two lots of friends come over from Britain, had another amazing road trip up to Montreal and our stay there was nothing short of magical. We had an amazing Thanksgiving with The Fella's best friend and his family, and a very peaceful Christmas. Oh and I had my first ever girl's trip! I've never had a holiday with the girls before but at my grand old age, I finally did it and we had great fun. I cannot wait to hang out with the girls again. It really can't come soon enough. And in other events, we saw the coronation of King Charles III. William and Kate became the Prince and Princess of Wales as they move one step closer to the throne. Harry and Meghan were well, following on from the success of the furore they caused over their Netflix documentary, decided to cause further upheaval with the release of Harry's book, Spare. Barbie starring Margot Robbie in the title role became a box-office smash with the world going Barbie-pink mad. His obsession with the letter 'X' led owner Elon Musk to rename Twitter well, X (although it'll always be Twitter to us!) And as is sadly the case every year, we said bid farewell to a host of famous stars as they were laid to rest. These included Tina Turner; Suzanne Somers; Lisa Marie Presley; Len Goodman; Shane McGowan; Sir Michael Gambon; David McCullam; Tony Bennett; Paul Reubens; Sir Michael Parkinson; Sinead O'Connor; Jane Birkin; Jerry Springer; Paul Cattermole; Raquel Welch; Burt Bacharach; Tatjana Patitz, and most recently Ryan O' Neal to name just a few. The loss of a person is always hard, and obviously heartbreaking for family and friends. But one loss that sent shockwaves around the world was the passing of Friends star Matthew Perry. For almost three decades he brought laughter into so many people's households - mine included - with his portrayal of the king of sarcasm Chandler Bing. No matter what might have been going on in our lives, an episode of Friends could make everything right in the world again even if it was just for a while. And Matthew contributed to that greatly, and I for one am very grateful May they all rest in eternal peace... And there was further despair around the world, as conflict and bloodshed raged on in certain parts of the world. We saw images of hardship and suffering which is not an easy thing to handle. If it's hard for you to watch these images on a screen, you can only imagine what it's like for the people caught in the midst of such turbulence. We're all hoping that conflict everywhere can be resolved peacefully, and also that there won't be new surge of war or any other disaster next year. We can only hope and pray that 2024 will be happier for us, and a great year all round for everyone. xx Photos: Wix Blog graphics: Angel Noire

There's nothing like a reading challenge to force yourself out of a reading rut. No matter how much you enjoy reading, it sometimes seems as though there's never enough time to settle down with a book; savour the story, and get right to the end. One of the joys of my long commute to and from work when I lived in London, was that it was the only time I got to fit in a few chapters. But since working from home, where everyone believes that anyone who works from home has all the time in the world, I'd fallen into bad reading habits. That is I was very inconsistent in my reading! So when I heard about the Read Christie challenge at the end of 2022, I decided to participate in this reading challenge for the following year. It sounded like just the opportunity I was looking for. It was a good chance to read more; get back into some Christie classics - and prove that I could actually finish something that I'd started! I am nearing the end of this challenge and it really has been such a fun experience. Not only am I going to continue with this challenge for 2024 but it also got me thinking.... Could I actually set up some kind of reading group or book club that the Nostalgia Pie community could participate in? Well I've set up the book group - now I'm hoping you'll join in! Nostalgia Pie's Retro Reads Book Club begins next January. We may not be The Pointer Sisters but we're still so excited! WHAT'S THIS BOOK CLUB ALL ABOUT? I'm very passionate about books - old and new. I have always been a bit of a bookworm, so for me, reading takes me back to my childhood and teen years when I always had my head stuck in a book. Mind you back then, I had the time for it! As you'll know from an earlier post, I love my retro reads and I'm thankful that many of the books that were on our bookshelves when I was growing up are still here. And I've definitely made it my mission in life to rescue as many old-school titles as possible that are of interest to me and take me back to 'the good ol' days.' While the initial idea was to read and review these books for the site, I realized that there could be other fellow bookworms who might want to read these books for themselves too. This notion, combined with my enjoyment at participating in the Read Christie Challenge gave me my light-bulb moment and set the wheels in motion to start up an online book group. GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF THINGS! One of the things that many of us love about Nostalgia Pie is that feeling of community; connecting with like-minded people, and that buzz of excitement as we share memories about all that was great about yesterday. There's that sense of belonging; community and friendship which sometimes, if we're really lucky, spills out into the real world - as it should! And it's through this site that I've met some truly awesome people, some of whom I'm very fortunate to call friends. We figured that this book club, albeit an online one, is another way in which we can bring people together through a common interest - a love of books. It's for those who understand that books are more than just literary works - they're a collection of memories. Just as music can evoke memories and take you back to another time and place in the past, books can do the same too. Certain books can take you back to your early years; school days; family events, and other important milestones in your life. WHAT KIND OF BOOKS WILL YOU COVER? There'll be a wide variety of genres so - hopefully - there'll be something for everyone. One thing you can be sure of is that they will all be well-known titles from back in the day! HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT CHOOSING WHICH BOOKS TO READ? We're choosing well-known retro titles (the more obscure ones will be reviewed by me as part of the Retro Reads Book Review) which should hopefully be fairly easy to get hold of so you shouldn't have to hunt around for them like J.R. Hartley! We're mainly interested in titles published between the 1960s-1990s. But we'll also look at older titles that we may have read at school. Any post-millenium books selected have been chosen because they are very memorable and have some special significance for me. WILL ANY NEW TITLES BE INCLUDED? Not, really no. The most recent will likely be from 2010s and will probably be a novel that's connected to my commute into Central London every day in order to get to work! Admittedly this isn't a group for those of you who'd like to read newer releases. I do too, but for this particular group, we're sticking to more 'oldies but goodies.' CAN MEMBERS MAKE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHICH BOOKS TO READ? Of course! But that said, if we approve your choice and it meets our criteria, there's a possibility that it will end up on next year's list. Once a reading list has been created and posted, it doesn't change unless there's a good reason for it. SO NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE ONCE A READING LIST HAS BEEN POSTED? We put a lot of thought into compliing our reading list with suitable book titles, so once it's been posted we will try very hard NOT to make any changes with regards to titles, dates and times in order to avoid confusion and disappointment. But as we all know, life doesn't always run as smoothly as we'd like it to. So in the event that changes have to be made, we aim to let you know as quickly as possible. HOW DOES THE BOOK GROUP WORK? It couldn't be more simple. It's quite similar to the Read Christie challenge but instead of twelve books, we're starting off with just six. So it's ideal for you busy bees! Each book is read and then discussed within a two month period. Towards the end of the two month period, we will 'meet' online to discuss the book. The 'meeting point' is the Retro Reads Book Group page (Under the 'GROUPS' heading) that's right here at Nostalgia Pie. There will be two time slots on the day that we all get together to discuss the book for a live Q&A sessions. You can, of course, leave comments after the Q&A sessions have ended if you were not able to attend. HOW DO WE JOIN AND GAIN ACCESS TO THE READING GROUP PAGE? The Retro Reads Group page is private so in order to join in the fun, you'll have to become a member (it's free!) Being a member means that you'll also be able to gain access to any available free resources. Anyone who has been approved as a member will be invited by Nostalgia Pie to join the book group. Alternatively members can request to join and wait to be accepted. WHAT ARE THE BOOK TITLES FOR 2024? We thought you'd never ask! We've selected what we think are a great bunch of titles to kick start this book group. Information regarding dates and times are included on the reading list which is available to members: Love Story - Erich Segal The Reading Group - Elizabeth Noble Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson Flowers For Mrs. Harris - Paul Gallico The Stepford Wives - Ira Levinson A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett AND FINALLY... Remember that we are hosting a book group and NOT necessarily a reading challenge - well not unless you want to challenge yourself! There are no prizes. You will not win a holiday for two or briefcase full of cash presented by a glamourous young lady. Instead you win by knowing that you've read at least one great novel in the year! So you can read all the titles that have been selected or just choose the books that appeal to you. The first novel, Love Story by Erich Segal will begin 1st January 2024 with the the first Q&A session on 28th February at 1pm and 6pm (EST) Come on everyone - let's get reading! Even though I've always been a fan of the film, Love Story, it will be my first time reading the novel which I selected because I've always been a huge fan of author Erich Segal's work. It's very ironic that the first book being read by the Retro Reads group is Love Story, as it was while I was in the middle of writing this post, that we learned that Hollywood acting legend Ryan O'Neal had sadly passed away at the age of 82. Love Story is one of my favourite films, and even if you haven't seen it, you'll definitely have heard of it and remember that bittersweet theme. Ryan O'Neal is remembered for his role in that iconic seventies film as Oliver Barrett IV, although to my mum, he'll always be Rodney Harrington from her one-time favourite soap opera, Peyton Place. Ryan reunited with his Love Story co-star, Ali MacGraw RIP Ryan O'Neal. Photos and GIFS: Angel Noire, Wix and YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Thanksgiving is about to descend upon us – and I can’t wait! Thanksgiving 2023 is going to be my fifteenth Thanksgiving. That's a lot of turkey we've scoffed over the years! Ever since The Fella and I became a couple, I’ve been celebrating Thanksgiving with him. It’s a very special time for us and even when we moved back to London for a few years, where Thanksgiving is non-existent, we still made a big deal of what had become one of my favourite holidays. And what makes it even more special, is that over the years our family and friends over in Britain have come to realize how important this time is to us, and all the messages we receive from them on that day, well - it means a lot. One year we got to celebrate with our friends in Edinburgh – and they loved it. It has definitely gone down as one of our most memorable Thanksgiving celebrations. There was also the time I got to cook Thanksgiving dinner for eleven of us. It was interesting, and definitely an experience, but incredibly stressful! That was the most I've ever hosted and not one of my favourite Thanksgivings - though that was due to the difficult people we had the misfortune of hosting and nothing to do with the number of people present! Which is just as well because all across America, people are going "Eleven people? Is that all???" But it's our first Thanksgiving together that is the most memorable and one that set the tone for all subsequent celebrations. I had arrived in America to surprise my then-boyfriend-now-husband and hadn't realised that it was Thanksgiving week. All I really knew about Thanksgiving was what I'd watched in movies and read in those young adult fiction series that I was so fond of (thank you Sweet Valley High and Roommates!) So while I had the jist of it, my knowledge about Thanksgiving celebrations was pretty limited. The Man was delighted at my arrival and decided that our first Thanksgiving together was going to be a great one. But get this, despite being an American and growing up with this annual celebration, he didn't really know a great deal about Thanksgiving himself! He didn't really know what to do; how to celebrate it; what to prepare, or about the customs or traditions. But then it's not as though he ever hosted Thanksgiving in his life: just ate a huge dinner and played video games all day! After a bit of research (thank you, Google!) I understood that a traditional roast turkey dinner was served, and that most people settled down to watch football and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving but I didn't know about anything else that was involved. And neither of us knew how to roast a turkey as neither of us had ever had to do that. But thankfully a few frantic phone calls to our mums sorted that out! So after interrogating The Man about the dos and don’ts of Thanksgiving, he insisted that it really didn’t matter what the traditions were – we should work on creating our own ones. I thought it was a lovely idea. I also knew that it was his way of saying that he hadn’t the foggiest what Thanksgiving traditions were despite having celebrated Thanksgiving his whole life! So create our own traditions we did! Well of course at the time we didn't know that these were going to become our traditions, but over the years they've firmly taken root and now it's how we do Thanksgiving every year - otherwise it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving. Though I’m very glad to say that our first ever Thanksgiving meal has not become one of our traditions or else we’d be eating roast turkey, raw carrots, stuffing and nothing else every year! So as I prepare to celebrate my fifteenth Thanksgiving with the man who introduced me to it all, I take a look at all things that are typically 'us' and that we have to include every year so that it feels ‘Thanksgivingy.’ 1. CHURCH IN THE MORNING While I know that Thanksgiving isn't necessarily a religious celebration, for me, it’s very important to start Thanksgiving by going to a church service exactly as I would do Christmas morning. This what I did on my first Thanksgiving as a married woman and I've continued to do so. While The Man isn’t big on church, he does accompany me. It’s my chance to give thanks for all the good things that have happened that year and gives me time to reflect. I like that in America, there are special services for Thanksgiving, but as this holiday has no real significance in Britain, there is no special Thanksgiving mass in any of the churches but I still attended mass regardless. 2. PANCAKE BREAKFAST Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without a traditional breakfast of pancakes drenched in butter and maple syrup with bacon/sausage and eggs. You might wonder why we’d be tucking into a very filling breakfast when we’re going to be tucking into a gut-busting meal later on but when you come to number 5, you’ll understand why! 3. WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER! Yes you read that correctly - chicken! While we have always celebrated with the traditional roast dinner just like everyone else does, it's only in more recent years that we made the switch from turkey to chicken. For many people, when it comes to Thanksgiving, the most traditional thing about it is the roast dinner which – unless you’re a vegetarian – just has to be turkey as tradition dictates. I remember for our first Thanksgiving in Britain, my mum insisted on cooking a leg of lamb because she absolutely hates turkey. Well, I’m sorry – I wasn’t having any of it! I told mum she could have some lamb for herself if that’s what she wanted but we were damn well having turkey! Of course I put it very politely or what was on the menu was going to be the least of my worries! Since moving to New England, we often have wild turkeys wondering through our yard, and because we've catered to their needs, they seem to regard our yard as their home and we regard them as our pets. And once we saw the baby turkeys (or poults) well there was no way we could eat them after that. My mother-in-law said it's not the same kind of turkey. I replied we couldn't very well eat their cousins. So we don't! So now we always have chicken (OK, true, maybe another cousin but we're not ready to down the stuffed marrow route just yet!) with all the trimmings including potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes and even Yorkshire pudding because let's face it - you can take the girl out of Britain... Cranberry sauce and green bean casserole usually gets left off the list unless one of our guests requests it. And you can bet your life biscuits and pumpkin pie will be on the menu. Of course there’ll be a round of sandwiches the next day! 4. CHICKEN MUST BE TOPPED WITH BACON I thought everyone wrapped the top of the turkey with bacon in order to keep it very moist - after all, no one likes dry turkey, do they? It's certainly something I consider a necessity. But it would seem that when I prepared Thanksgiving dinner in the States one year, many of The Man's family had never seen a turkey covered in bacon rashers before. Some even thought it was my own invention (I wish!) They thought it was the most awesome thing they'd ever seen, and before the turkey even made it on to the table, the bacon had already been devoured! I continue to do the same thing these days but with chicken instead of turkey. 5. A VERY, VERY, LATE DINNER This is a cross between a tradition and coincidence as try as I might, I can NEVER get dinner on the table at a time when most normal people would expect to eat. But then we’re not known for being a ‘normal’ household! From what I understand, most Americans have their traditional Thanksgiving meal between the hours of 1-3pm. Not in this house though! I don’t know if it’s because of all the back-to-back movies we’re watching; the non-stop grazing that happens while we’re waiting for the main event, I don’t know why or how but dinner is never served before 6pm. In fact the year we were in Edinburgh with our friends, we were having such an awesome time that we didn’t serve dinner until 11pm! That’s right – 11pm!!! Although there was also the issue of a turkey that had not really defrosted... So by the time I eventually sat down to eat, it was after midnight and Thanksgiving was officially over. So the moral of the story is that if you want to eat on time, Angel Noire's is not the place to be! 6. FAMILY MOVIE MARATHON The Fella is a movie nut so if it’s just the family who are coming over, it’s not unusual to find us watching movies until the early hours of the following day. We only stop to call friends and relatives; The Fella takes a break to game (also his chance to chat to his bestie who lives in South Carolina) and of course to scoff dinner! 7. GAMES WITH FRIENDS If we are having friends over, we know that they will not want to sit around watching movies the whole time. So The Fella will watch his beloved movies until our guests arrive and then it’s raucous party game time. They might be a bit old hat (not that that's a problem for me of course!) but charades and bingo always go down well and have proved to be an excellent ice-breaker with people who don’t know each other very well. By the time they’ve put on their coat to go home, they should (hopefully) have made a whole new bunch of friends. 8. DEATH AT A FUNERAL This may seem like an odd choice but it started out as purely coincidental. I realised that for the first few years that we’d celebrated Thanksgiving together, we’d always watched Death At A Funeral. I’ve seen both the 2007 and 2010 versions which both star Peter Dinklage. Don’t ask me why but that’s always something that’s on the movie marathon list. So now I feel that it isn’t really Thanksgiving unless we watch this hilarious comedy film that never fails to have me in stitches even though I’ve seen it countless times now. 9. CANDLES There’s nothing like candle light, and every Thanksgiving I make sure there are candles dotted around the place – especially beautifully scented candles. One of the things our friends in Edinburgh remembered about our Thanksgiving celebration was how gorgeous the place looked bathed in candlelight and the welcoming aroma that greeted them as they entered the house. And we always have a candlelit dinner for Thanksgiving because there’s just something about that gentle, cosy glow and the warmth of the flickering candles as we’re all sat around the table. In fact, come to think of it, that might be another reason why we serve dinner so late in the evening as a candlelit dinner at 1pm just isn’t the same. 10. CHEESE BOARD The first year we brought out a cheese platter, it was such a hit that I knew I had to do it again the following year, and now it's a tradition that's remained ever since, and often replaces lunch. Everyone enjoys nibbling on a selection of cheeses with crackers, mini sausages, apple slices, grapes and chutney in between chatting; mingling with other guests; playing charades, watching movies and so on, and grazing until near enough dinner time because as you all already know now - Thanksgiving dinner is always served late in this house! 11. I AM THANKFUL POEM It was our first Thanksgiving as a married couple and we were living in the Pacific North-West when during the church service the priest read a beautiful poem that has stayed with me ever since. It’s a reminder to be thankful for the little things and to count your blessings – even if it may not seem like a blessing at the time. The poem is called I Am Thankful by a talented but Nancie J. Carmody. I like to read it every Thanksgiving: I AM THANKFUL I am thankful for… The mess to clean up after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends. The taxes I pay because it means that I am employed. The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat. My shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine. A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home. The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking. All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech. My huge heating bill because it means I am warm. The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear. The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby. The alarm clock that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive. Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been productive. Let’s be thankful – not only at Thanksgiving, but every day. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Photos: Wix Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Halloween is here again which means that it's scary movie season again. However for this girl who was brought up on a diet of classic horror, thanks to my dad and my mum's side of the family who got me watching blood-chillingly frightening movies at an age when I had no business to be watching them, every day was pretty much Halloween! Is it any wonder that for years I had to sleep with the light on??? The Poltergeist, Halloween, Carrie, The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby... I'd seen them all. And as I got older, and we'd go to pick up movies from Blockbuster (damn, I miss Blockbuster!) you could bet your life it'd be something nightmare-inducing whether it was classic horror, suspense, a whodunnit or psychological thriller. And I have to say those are still among my favourite film genres today. I'll leave the sci-fi and fantasy to the fella! There's loads of horror films that I could watch over and over again without getting bored of them. Here's a list of my top five horror flicks. It wasn't easy picking just five and I know there's a couple here that a lot of people might not be familiar with. But I have great memories of watching them the first time round, and there were some parts that scared the hell out of me... which is exactly what a good horror movie is supposed to do! And just in case anyone is wondering why The Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't on this list, well that's because despite being a great film, it didn't do what it was supposed to and frighten me. Instead it made me laugh. A lot. And hard! 1. PSYCHO Year: 1960 Director: Alfred Hitchcock Country: United States Starring: Anthony Perkins Janet Leigh The film considered to be the Master of Suspense's great masterpiece and the film that made everyone afraid to step into the shower, Psycho turned the big 6-0 this year, and I still remember the very first time I watched this Hitchcock spine chiller. I was probably about eleven, it was a school night, and my sister and I had stayed up with Dad to watch it. It freaked me the hell out - especially the final scene - but Psycho did go on to become one of my fave movies. How The Story Goes... After stealing a huge sum of money from her employer, secretary Marion Crane flees Phoenix in order to go on the run with her boyfriend in the hope that he'll marry her. But overcome with exhaustion and eager to escape the heavy rainstorm, Marion decides to check into the rundown looking Bates Motel for the night. There she meets the owner, the seemingly sweet but slightly odd, Norman Bates, who has an interest in taxidermy and has a rather difficult relationship with his domineering mother. But Marion doesn't realize just how difficult until she decides to take a shower... and when no one hears from her, Marion's very worried sister raises the alarm... 2. THE OMEN Year: 1976 Director: Richard Donner Country: UK & USA Starring: Gregory Peck Lee Remick Billie Whitelaw Harvey Spencer Stephens My dad had had the David Selznor novel as part of his collection of books for years. But I only read it after seeing the film adaptation for The Omen. It freaked me the hell out (Dad, there's a reason why films come with a rating!) but I was incredibly fascinated with the film, and Dad's book came in very handy for explaining the bits I didn't get. And watching The Omen might explain why I've always thought twice about telling off naughty children! How The Story Goes... When the wife of an American diplomat living in London gives birth to a baby boy who is stillborn, husband Robert quickly and secretly adopts another newborn baby in order to spare his wife Katherine any pain; passing off the child as the baby boy she gave birth to. A classic case of 'it seemed like a good idea at the time!' And if they were wondering why baby Damien had such a thick shock of hair, well, there was a good reason for that! But as little Damien grows older, a series of bizarre happenings and tragedies - not to mention Damien's intense fear and hatred of places of worship - causes Robert to become suspicious. When a priest approaches Robert with a terrifying prophecy regarding Damien, Robert is forced to investigate and is horrified to discover the awful truth about both his sons... 3. THE SHINING Year: 1980 Director: Stanley Kubrick Country: USA Starring: Jack Nicholson Shelley Duvall Danny Lloyd Scatman Crowthers "Come and play with us Danny. Come and play..." What is it with horror movies and kids? There's a reason why I never thought identical twin girls dressed the same were cute. And if you need further explanation, all you have to do is watch The Shining. As my dad has always been a Jack Nicholson fan, he naturally loved The Shining and introduced me to it. The first time I watched it, I have to admit I didn't really know what was going on exactly but that didn't stop the film from scaring the bejeezuz out of me! How The Story Goes... When writer and recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance takes on the position of a seasonal caretaker at an isolated hotel in the Colorado Rockies, he sees it as the perfect opportunity to overcome his writer's block. So along with wife Wendy and son Danny the family settle into life at the hotel. But it isn't long before young Danny is plagued by terrifying visions of the hotel's disturbing past. It is the hotel's chef, Dick Hallorann who realizes that like himself, Danny has psychic abilities and can communicate telepathically; an ability known as 'the shining.' Things take a turn for the worse however when Jack, having ghostly visions himself, and is frustrated that his writing is going nowhere, begins to spiral into a psychotic rage and targets his family in a terrifying ordeal... 4. CROWHAVEN FARM Year: 1970 Director: Walter Grauman Country: USA Starring: Hope Lang Paul Burke John Carredine Lisa Eilbacher Now this little known, made-for-TV movie won't be instantly recognizable to a lot of people but it's definitely one of my favourites. Although for years, I thought it was called Craven Hill Farm (no wonder people said they didn't know it. The movie Craven Hill Farm hasn't been made yet!) I must have seen it for the first time back in the eighties because I have memories of watching it in our first family home. As the years have gone by, I sometimes feel as though I have what I now call Crowhaven Syndrome: it's where you're the only person who can sense that something isn't right but no one else will listen or take notice of what you're saying a la Maggie Porter - the movie's heroine. And the moral of the story is always trust your intuition. That and your wife is always right (eh, Mr. D!) How The Story Goes... A married couple, Ben and Maggie Porter, inherit a New England farm, hoping that the fresh start and change of scene might help to patch up their troubled marriage. But tales of supernatural activity and a weird sense of foreboding surrounds Crowhaven Farm. And while Maggie immediately picks up on something not being quite right with the people or the place, Ben takes to life at Crowhaven Farm like a duck to water, ignoring his wife's misgivings, and befriending the locals. It isn't long before the Porters are confronted by supernatural forces and Maggie soon learns who the locals really are... 5. THE DEAD ZONE Year: 1983 Director: David Cronenberg Country: United States Starring: Christopher Walken Brooke Adams Tom Skerrit Martin Sheen Based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, I remember watching this for the first time with my parents and my sister, and I'd thought about it a lot over the years. I might call it a horror of the non-ghosts and ghouls variety but The Dead Zone also falls under the psychological thriller, sci-fi thriller or political thriller genres. If you watch it, you're sure to find it chilling, sinister, and tragic. How The Story Goes... Teacher Johnny Smith is in a relationship with his colleague, Sarah, and everything is going well until one night, following a date with Sarah, Johnny has an accident while driving home. When he awakes from his coma, he is shocked to discover that not only have years gone by, but Sarah has married and moved on with her life. Making an effort to move on and make up for the lost years, Johnny is unnerved when he discovers that he can see into a person's future through the power of touch. As these premonitions are disturbing, Johnny is quite unsettled by this. But after meeting and shaking hands with political candidate Greg Stillson, Johnny realizes the danger presented by the candidate should he be successful, so Johnny takes it upon himself to kill Stillson... Which scary movies do you like best? Photos: YouTube Word Cloud: Nostalgia Pie