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It means you'll have to ditch the internet, your mobile phone, all TV channels apart from BBC1, BBC2 and ITV, and probably your colour TV.
If you go right back to the start of the 70s, you'll have to revert to £sd.
But you'll get a student grant and free tuition.
I'm not so sure that would be a bad idea.
I certainly don't remember three channels or a black and white TV being a particular issue because it was all that we knew. And I remember being stuck in a hotel room in New York for a couple of days in 1979 before a flight home after working in a summer camp, and being appalled at the drivel on the many cable channels there were in those days.
So, if like you said, they are referring to a declining economy, a decrease in the standard of living and of services, a general 'tiredness' etc, is this what the short to mid-term future in the UK is likely going to bring?
If so, to what extent is this attributable to the effects of Brexit, or are there other key factors? Was it already happening before 2016?
How much are the Tories responsible in other ways, and would a Labour government be able to do anything to prevent it?
Or is this inevitable for the country now?
I read one comment in a recent article saying that the UK is in the 'late Sunday afternoon of its life, comfy-slippered and softly snoozing', which doesn't sound very exciting or promising.
Who knows? After the recession of the late '70s and early '80s came a bit of a boom, then things got worse, then better again, then settled in to something of a downward trend after 2008. Something may come along in the near future to give the UK a bit of a boost, or it may not.
Worth remembering that Britain has been declining from a very high point - as an imperial and industrial superpower - ever since the Second World War. There have been many steps along the way, of which Brexit is only one of the more recent. However, other things have trended upwards during that time - life expectancy, living standards, technology, spending power (especially availability of credit).
The level we find ourselves at is, in global terms, not all that bad. Still one of the bigger economies, politically stable, having a fair bit of diplomatic influence. Could be an awful lot worse.
Who knows? After the recession of the late '70s and early '80s came a bit of a boom, then things got worse, then better again, then settled in to something of a downward trend after 2008. Something may come along in the near future to give the UK a bit of a boost, or it may not.
Worth remembering that Britain has been declining from a very high point - as an imperial and industrial superpower - ever since the Second World War. There have been many steps along the way, of which Brexit is only one of the more recent. However, other things have trended upwards during that time - life expectancy, living standards, technology, spending power (especially availability of credit).
The level we find ourselves at is, in global terms, not all that bad. Still one of the bigger economies, politically stable, having a fair bit of diplomatic influence. Could be an awful lot worse.
I'd argue since before even the Second World War, though that very much served to accelarate things by a huge degree. I would agree with the point though whole heartedly although there is still a breed of person in this country who seem to see us as some global super power even now.
I think the next 20 years are going to be very interesting in this country, you would hope that we would find our natural place in the world and plan accordingly without feeling the need to be quite such a global player.
No idea when I began here, was a very long time ago. Previously known as Spirit_of_81. Love cheese, hate the colour of it, this is why it requires some blue in it.
It means you'll have to ditch the internet, your mobile phone, all TV channels apart from BBC1, BBC2 and ITV, and probably your colour TV.
If you go right back to the start of the 70s, you'll have to revert to £sd.
But you'll get a student grant and free tuition.
Nothing wrong with pounds shillings and pence! I had to learn that and new fangled decimal. No room for guinees, half crowns, florins, tanners, threp’ney bits, coppers, ten bob notes… boo!
Nothing wrong with pounds shillings and pence! I had to learn that and new fangled decimal. No room for guinees, half crowns, florins, tanners, threp’ney bits, coppers, ten bob notes… boo!
I still remember the catchy song at the beginning of this BBC series of public information films.
I remember it being a happy time as a kid, but we did seem happier with less. My folks worked, Churchmans and the Hospital, social clubs, a holiday, simple hobbies, and the football was great! The hiring of that video recorder from Hughes in the Buttermarket was the start of the downfall!
There was considerably more influence from newspapers in the 1970s than there is now. The Telegraph was still advertorial free and a reliable source of facts if you filtered out the establishment line, The Express was taken seriously and The Mail was still keeping a low profile after its pre-war misdemeanors. The Times was just a dusty relic, The Guardian was a last bastion of fading liberalism rather than sympathetic to Labour. If you wanted that then all you had was The Mirror. And there was this curiosity that had just started up, The Sun. I wonder whatever happened to that?
Somewhat before my time! What I’ve gathered so far
- if you are/were left leaning it was a decade where public services were great, you could see a Dr and trains were cheap. - Rught of centre, you recall public services were terrible, rubbish on the streets, and no leccy.
You must have been a very advanced baby if you have vague memories of power cuts. The cuts took place over the winter of 1973 going into 74.
Cuts were common irrespective of the wider political backdrop. We had them regularly in rural Suffolk up until we moved to Ipswich in ‘78. Crappy wires rather than anything else probably.
Somewhat before my time! What I’ve gathered so far
- if you are/were left leaning it was a decade where public services were great, you could see a Dr and trains were cheap. - Rught of centre, you recall public services were terrible, rubbish on the streets, and no leccy.
So basically I’m none the wiser….
Actually the power cuts took place under the Heath Tory government, and the rubbish on the streets only took place for a very short time, and so far as I am aware did not affect Ipswich at all.
Britain had been in decline since 1914 and our mad decision to make war on the Hun. This is just the latest iteration.
In the spirit of reconciliation and happiness at the end of the Banter Era (RIP) and as a result of promotion I have cleared out my ignore list. Look forwards to reading your posts!
Cuts were common irrespective of the wider political backdrop. We had them regularly in rural Suffolk up until we moved to Ipswich in ‘78. Crappy wires rather than anything else probably.
[Post edited 18 Feb 2023 9:19]
They were. I was at school and thought they were a great doss. My mum bought so many candles, there are some in his house to this day!
Tv wise, we didn’t get a colour one until about 1973. My grandparents had one when they first came in, but tbh black and white was fine by me. There wasn’t a great deal to watch beyond Top Cat, The Banana Splits (‘Dear Drooper’…), Tom and Jerry, the football, Top of the Pops and It’s a Knockout.
They were. I was at school and thought they were a great doss. My mum bought so many candles, there are some in his house to this day!
Tv wise, we didn’t get a colour one until about 1973. My grandparents had one when they first came in, but tbh black and white was fine by me. There wasn’t a great deal to watch beyond Top Cat, The Banana Splits (‘Dear Drooper’…), Tom and Jerry, the football, Top of the Pops and It’s a Knockout.
Ahem
Fawlty Towers
{Edit} and World In Action, Survival, Morecambe and Wise,...Dick Joyce's Bygones...
I see you skipped history class as well as politics…
You’re dumb.
In the spirit of reconciliation and happiness at the end of the Banter Era (RIP) and as a result of promotion I have cleared out my ignore list. Look forwards to reading your posts!
Forgot those. Monty Python, the Goodies, Harry Worth, Colditz, Dads Army, Under Sea World of Jacques Cousteau, Test Match with Richie Benaud
Monkey, Roots, Soap, Kung Fu, M*A*S*H, I Claudius, Tinker Tailor, Taxi, Ripping Yarns, ......
... then of course there's The Protectors and whatever the merits of the show it had a cracking theme song
Edit:
The avenues and alleyways Where the soul of a man is easy to buy Everybody's wheelin' Everybody's dealin' All the low are living high Every city's got 'em can we ever stop em Some of us ...... Are gonna try
The idea that the past was better than now has existed throughout human history.
It's centered around a selective nostaligia for the good bits (or supposed good bits, which may not actually have existed quite like that), while editing out the nastiness. Also the idea from older people (who tend to oversee popular culture and the media) that the youth of today is not up to the exploits of their forbears.
Things were said in the 1920s and '30s about the young being too soft to face a world war like their parents had been through. But they did.
This generation are well prepared for one having played COD etc, too.
As for the OP, a return to the 70s what does it mean? Town winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup in the near future and challenging for the Premier League. All we need is to ensure our manager doesn't go to manage England.
It was the unions who messed the country up back then. They needed sorting out. Great days though to be growing up in. Good vibes hanging over from the sixties, which were just before my time. As previously said, the music was fantastic with so many different bands & types. Proper pubs everywhere. ITFC in the first division. Travel opening up to all kinds of places. Good schools.Life not as luxurious as perhaps it is now but much more friendly. There was the scourge of football hooliganism which was not good at all, but we still had proper village football & cricket to be involved in. Glad I was young then & not now. Youngsters get a raw deal these days.
Monkey, Roots, Soap, Kung Fu, M*A*S*H, I Claudius, Tinker Tailor, Taxi, Ripping Yarns, ......
... then of course there's The Protectors and whatever the merits of the show it had a cracking theme song
Edit:
The avenues and alleyways Where the soul of a man is easy to buy Everybody's wheelin' Everybody's dealin' All the low are living high Every city's got 'em can we ever stop em Some of us ...... Are gonna try
[Post edited 18 Feb 2023 12:06]
I Claudius and Tinker Taylor were good.
The Comedians, Poldark, Robinson Crusoe, Tommy Cooper, Benny Hill.
They were. I was at school and thought they were a great doss. My mum bought so many candles, there are some in his house to this day!
Tv wise, we didn’t get a colour one until about 1973. My grandparents had one when they first came in, but tbh black and white was fine by me. There wasn’t a great deal to watch beyond Top Cat, The Banana Splits (‘Dear Drooper’…), Tom and Jerry, the football, Top of the Pops and It’s a Knockout.
Incredible Hulk and Hong-Kong Phooey were also good but nothing bettered the incredible Banana Splits. 1 banana 2 banana 3 banana 4
born in '61, so started the 70s in primary school and ended working at MAFF in Lowestoft. We were all a lot more naive then - finding anything out was hard. Where did you look - the library? or the BBC? I think you had to use your noggin more, to try and work things out for yourself. Beer was mostly sh1te - Double Diamond, Watneys Red Barrel, and lager only became a thing in the mid to late 70s. Fortunately I discovered Adnams. It's easy to criticise the strikes and power cuts which I remember clearly, but with the benefit of hindsight, they were pretty much the last valiant battle against the capitalist state. Society was fairer in the 70s - by which I mean the pay gap between the ordinary worker and the bosses. I don't think there were many "Super Rich" then. Maybe someone can find some data on the differential between a company boss and a worker in the 70s, but I bet it's a lot less than you see today, maybe by a factor of 50. The 2nd world war wasn't that long gone, and all the grown ups remembered the sense of community and everyone pulling together. The NHS had only been created in 1948 as a means to create a fairer society where everyone was equal when it came to healthcare. The demolition of the unions put paid to that, and Thatcher's Britain spawned greed and self promotion with on value on society. So looking back, the 70s were halcyon in that the distribution of wealth was more even, although many things were rubbish. The cars were great - all different, unlike today where they were all designed in a wind tunnel and look the same. Everyone had yellow teeth and hairy armpits. We just accepted violence at football, it was what happened, and it was up to you to be savvy and avoid getting your head kicked in. Taking over Carrot Rd in the Texaco Cup final was the most fun I have ever had at a football match. If you really want to feel what it was like, visit the Isle of Man, they are about 50 years behind us.
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