In this episode, the gang takes a nostalgic stroll down memory lane, exploring the quirks of old-school technology, eccentric TV personalities, and the comfort of familiar films. From blinking answer phones to telephone seats in hallways, and from the delights of "Two Fat Ladies" to classic feel-good movies, we cover it all.

Plus, we dive into the peculiar joys of bingo, VHS discoveries, and the autobiographies (and biographies) that capture our imagination—or frustrate us.

What We Talk About:

Answer Phones & Telephone Seats: Remember the thrill of seeing a blinking light on your answering machine? Hayley, Tommy, and Duncan reminisce about landlines, hallways, and how messaging has changed over time.

Dial-a-Disc: A retro blast from the past—listening to pop songs via a telephone service from the '60s to '90s.

Eccentric TV Personalities: Celebrating legendary presenters like Keith Floyd, David Bellamy, and the iconic Two Fat Ladies, Jennifer Patterson and Clarissa Dixon Wright.

Bingo Memories: From Butlins to industrial bingo halls, the hosts share tales of bingo calling, dabbers, and rowdy crowds.

Comfort Films & Rewatchables: The movies we return to for warmth and nostalgia, including Home Alone, The Blues Brothers, Withnail & I, The Italian Job, and Groundhog Day.

Missed & Overrated Films: Hayley confesses she's never seen blockbusters like Titanic or Jurassic Park, while Tommy and Duncan debate cinematic classics.

Books We Love (or Hate): From Boris Johnson's autobiography to Jeffrey Bernard's Low Life, the hosts discuss the power of storytelling, self-deprecation, and occasionally frustrating reads.

Get In Touch:

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Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

In this episode, Hayley, Duncan, and Tommy take a nostalgic wander through the quirks and memories of decades past. Expect laughter, a few cringe moments, and plenty of "do you remember when…"

Hayley recalls her dad proudly showing off his first ever "mobile phone" — a grey brick so heavy it needed its own suitcase, complete with nosy neighbours coming round to marvel at it.

The gang dive into the era of yuppies — wine bars, striped suits, and even champagne used for unblocking toilets.

Duncan shares the story of his first brush with broadcasting, armed only with a Renault 5 and a phone the size of a breeze block.

Hayley talks about her accidental on-air debut during a sex and relationships show — and the awkwardness that followed.

The team swap memories of sticker collections, playground trades, and even Pokémon cards flying around Waterloo Station.

And finally, scrunchies make their comeback, both as hair accessories and (unexpectedly) in more unconventional ways.

A funny, warm, and occasionally outrageous trip down memory lane — this episode is full of retro gems you won't want to miss.

Perfect for: Anyone who remembers the "got, got, need" playground chant, misses the word "yuppie," or still has a scrunchie in their drawer.

Join the conversation: Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your own retro memories with us on social media. Tune in, laugh along, and keep the nonsense rambling!

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Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

This week's episode takes a nostalgic (and slightly chaotic) dive into childhood memories of swimming pools, vending machines, and school sports days.

Duncan kicks things off with vivid recollections of the Littlehampton Swimming Centre, sparking a conversation about:

The unmistakable smell of chlorine, rubber swim caps, and verruca baths.

The legendary "No heavy petting" and "No dive bombing" signs – and a spirited debate on what "light petting" might have been.

Swimming tests that involved pyjamas, rubber bricks, and endless treading water.

Why soup vending machines were apparently a post-swim "thing" (and why it all tasted the same).

From there, the chat drifts into:

Childhood chip memories, from vending machine chips at Portsmouth Harbour to debates over crinkly vs. straight fries, and the merits of mayo, gravy, and curry sauce.

Food oddities like deep-fried Mars Bars, half-and-half (chips and rice), and the magic of late-night chippies in Liverpool.

School sports day classics – sack races, wheelbarrow races, egg-and-spoon chaos – and the grim reality of sitting on a coach in damp clothes with a soggy towel.

Overzealous parents at kids' sports days, and one very memorable PE teacher with a starting pistol.

It's equal parts funny, nostalgic, and a little bit surreal – from Lynx-scented changing rooms to naval survival training stories involving helicopters and sinking ship simulations.
Highlights you'll love:

Verrucas, witch-doctor cures, and the horror of slippery pool floors.

Why crinkle-cut chips are the ultimate mayo delivery system.

The dark truth about school sports day "cheerleaders."

And… the only good use for a fallen shipmate.

If you grew up with swimming lessons, sports days, or questionable vending machine snacks – this one will feel very familiar.

Join the conversation:

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your own retro memories with us on social media. Tune in, laugh along, and keep the nonsense rambling!

WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too!

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

This week, Tommy, Hayley, and Duncan take a trip down memory lane – quite literally – as they share the journeys, feelings, and rituals that defined their school days. From lollipop ladies and dangerous subways, to loud singalongs on the 726 bus, each memory paints a vivid picture of growing up.

The conversation wanders into:

School journeys – walking routes, long bus rides, and the feelings of dread vs. freedom

Last days of term – traditions, parties, and the joy of six weeks stretching ahead

Fancy dress adventures – from penguin-like mermaids to toga parties gone wrong

TV nostalgia – The Avengers, The Saint, and why Emma Peel's name really stuck

The magic of newspapers – obituaries, local news gems, and the Sunday Times ritual

Coach trips and turkey-and-tinsel holidays – still alive and well (and full of over-70s)

Plus, Tommy shares a cheeky urban myth involving Little Red Riding Hood, a wolf costume, and a case of mistaken identity at a party.

It's an episode full of stories, nostalgia, and laughter, where the everyday details of the past suddenly feel extraordinary.

Join the conversation: Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your own retro memories with us on social media. Tune in, laugh along, and keep the nonsense rambling!

WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too!

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

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In this nostalgic episode, Hayley takes us back to the late 80s, rifling through old jewellery boxes and unearthing chunky gold chains, oversized hoops, and geometric bangles.

What starts as a trip down memory lane turns into a lively conversation with Duncan and Tommy about jewellery trends, piercings, fashion statements, and even the curious codes hidden in what we wear. Expect laughs, a few shocks, and plenty of cultural throwbacks — from Beastie Boys and Madonna, to Ratner's infamous blunder, to clip-on earrings and QVC binges.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

Hayley's rediscovery of her teenage jewellery stash — gold chains, giant hoops, and friendship bangles

The influence of 80s icons: Madonna's crucifixes and Princess Diana's pearls

Charm bracelets, signet rings, and Argos' Elizabeth Duke collection

Duncan's Beastie Boys flashback and his surprising goth phase

Tommy's zero-jewellery philosophy — but plenty of stories about sunglasses and watches

First piercings: Hayley's 13th birthday ear piercing and (brief) Britney-inspired belly button ring

Gerald Ratner's "crap" comment and how it tanked his business

QVC, Diamonique, and the lure of late-night shopping

Stories of rings getting stuck, goth hangouts in Worthing, and unexpected medical drama

Why jewellery can be a symbol, a statement, or sometimes just a painful memory

Join the conversation: Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your own retro memories with us on social media. Tune in, laugh along, and keep the nonsense rambling!

WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too!

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

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Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

Hayley, Duncan, and Tommy dive into a nostalgic journey through 70s and 80s television, childhood dreams, and quirky life stories. From time-travel shows like Quantum Leap and Time Tunnel to teen alien programs and Goodnight Sweetheart, they explore the magic of TV that captured imaginations.

The conversation meanders through fan letters, including Hayley's childhood attempts to join the West End stage and Duncan's unusual job replying as Paddington Bear. Horoscopes, clairvoyants, and even Uri Geller's mysterious powers make an appearance, blending nostalgia with whimsical tales of belief and curiosity.

They also touch on the everyday joys and oddities of life—office coffee etiquette, germs, the 10-second rule, and the pleasures of laundrettes and tumble dryers—reminding listeners of the small but memorable moments that shape our pasts.

Listeners are invited to share their own laundrette stories via WhatsApp or email, keeping the conversation going beyond the episode.

WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too!

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

Tommy, Duncan & Hayley are back with another ramble through the past—this time dipping into the world of cash & carry warehouses, CB radios, novelty songs, and everything in between. From blagging their way into wholesale stores in the '80s to the golden age of bulk loo roll, the team take a nostalgic wander through everyday adventures that somehow feel epic.

Along the way, they swap stories of wartime bunkers turned tourist attractions, the strange fame of Roland Rat, saucy seaside postcards, and why Captain Beaky will forever live rent-free in their heads.

Add in a detour through Orwell's 1984, the lost art of sending postcards, and the glory days of CB radio handles, and you've got an episode that's as random as it is hilarious.

Listen for:

Tales of sneaking into cash & carry warehouses as "shopkeepers"

Rats in pop culture—from Orwell to Michael Jackson to Roland Rat

Seaside nostalgia: Blackpool rock, postcards, and Butlins legends

The novelty hits and children's TV icons that defined a generation

CB radio culture: handles, "eyeballs," and the loneliness of late-night chatter

Join the conversation: Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your own retro memories with us on social media. Tune in, laugh along, and keep the nonsense rambling!

WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too!

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

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This week, Tommy, Hayley, and Duncan dive into a lively mix of memories, mishaps, and misheard lyrics. From nostalgic reflections on News at Ten to the quirks of old-school weathermen and the unexpected afterlives of 80s pop stars, the conversation takes plenty of funny turns.

They reminisce about when the whole nation gathered for News at Ten, why it's no longer the same communal experience, and the charm of magnetic weather boards complete with falling letters and the legendary "F in Fog." Famous faces such as Reginald Bosanquet, Alastair Stewart, and Wincey Willis get a mention, as do music icons from A Tribe of Toffs to Hawkwind, Showaddywaddy, and The Beatles.

The episode also explores the joy of misheard lyrics and old adverts, with Hayley recalling an unfortunate Fairy Liquid trauma. There are flashbacks to once-popular perfumes and aftershaves like Charlie, So…?, Old Spice, Brute, and High Karate, as well as nostalgic cookbooks and TV chefs from Mrs Beeton and Delia Smith to Lloyd Grossman.

Tufty the squirrel makes an appearance as the unlikely road safety hero, and there are side tangents about squirrels being "rats with good PR," Tommy's memories of Through the Keyhole, and why fantasy football doesn't quite work for everyone.

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We'd also love to hear from you! Get in touch with your thoughts, memories, or misheard lyrics - To get involved with the show, you can send in voice notes or messages via WhatsApp on 07405 341500, or email ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com.

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