Join Tommy, Duncan, and Hayley as they take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reliving the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas and New Year past. From paper chains and foil garlands to brandy butter and festive chaos, this episode is packed with laughs, quirky family traditions, and the bittersweet charm of the holidays.

In This Episode:

Tommy recalls the classic Christmas decoration struggle: pastel paper chains, sticky loops, and the eternal battle with blue tack.

Hayley shares her bargain-hunting tips for Christmas decorations, including cheap finds at B&Q.

Duncan confesses his dislike for outdoor Christmas lights—but admits admiration for those who go all out.

Childhood Christmas memories: foil garlands, snow spray, and treasured baubles passed down through generations.

Humorous tales of works Christmas parties and novelty accountant outfits.

Reflections on New Year traditions: Auld Lang Syne, first-footing, and the thrill of staying up past midnight as a kid.

Memorable New Year's Eves, including a Y2K pub adventure, solo radio show disasters, and cozy family celebrations.

Modern-day rituals: quiet pub visits, takeaways, and enjoying New Year from the comfort of home.

Retro Takeaways:

There's always room for one more decoration—especially at bargain prices.

Holiday traditions evolve, but the nostalgia never fades.

The magic of Christmas and New Year often lies in the small, simple moments with friends and family.

Get in Touch:

Loved this trip down memory lane? Subscribe to the podcast and share your own retro holiday memories with us—we'd love to hear from you!

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500 (texts or voice notes welcome!)

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

In this episode, Hayley takes us back to the golden age of 80s toys, from Cabbage Patch Kids and My Little Pony to Care Bears and even a few unexpected Star Wars figures. While parents queued for hours to secure the must-have gifts, kids simply soaked up the magic. Tommy reflects on never being one for "butch toys," while Duncan enjoys the nostalgia trip.

Hayley also shares what it was like growing up with both Hanukkah and Christmas — gelt first, then presents. The food contrast is strong: Hanukkah meals were simple and comforting, while Christmas brought big flavours and even bigger portions. There's a brief celebration of Jacob's crackers being kosher, which still brings delight.

The trio dig into the essential Christmas foods: pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and parsnips, plus the joys of Boxing Day with cold cuts, pickles and bubble & squeak. A debate over Yorkshire puddings highlights the shift from tradition — where they were strictly for beef — to the modern reality where everyone gets one.

Tommy recalls living next to a 30,000-turkey farm, an experience that left a permanent sensory imprint. There's also a nod to the classic Bernard Matthews adverts and their unmistakable "bootiful" charm.

When it comes to discovering the truth about Santa, everyone has a story. Tommy spotted Santa with a black beard under a white one. Hayley saw Santa half-dressed and smoking outside a grotto. Duncan's belief faded slowly, though it didn't stop an LBC caller accusing him of "doing the work of the devil."

Finally, they revisit the chaos of festive school events. Tommy's memory of an ultra-long midnight mass leads the group to agree that 90 minutes should be the absolute limit, while nativity plays should never exceed 20 minutes. And of course, the legendary "Nativity Emu" year makes an appearance — a teacher allowed any animal costume, resulting in thirty-seven emus on stage.

Get in touch:

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500
Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

We'd love to hear your childhood Christmas memories, festive disasters, toy obsessions or nativity nightmares. Send in your stories — we might read them out in a future episode!

This week, Hayley, Duncan and Tommy take a wonderfully weird wander through the world of bending spoons, double glazing, draughty windows, and banana-related childhood trauma.

From Uri Geller's "psychic" tricks to 80s wallpaper paste ads and Christmas cigar jingles, the gang ramble their way through memories of adverts, awkward dances, dodgy dinners and the strange magic of growing up in Britain.

In This Episode
Uri Geller & the power of persuasion: Duncan has his suspicions, Tommy blames magnets, and Hayley diplomatically settles on "entertainer."

The lost household art of "draught finding" — licking your lips to find where the cold air came in before double glazing ruined the fun.

1980s adverts galore: from helicopter wallpaper paste men to Barrett Homes voiceovers by Patrick Allen.

Funeral plan commercials — why is everyone so cheerful about cremation?

Tommy's impromptu performance of "Tom Thumb Cigars for Christmas" and other festive jingles that marked the real start of Christmas.

Stories of Ian Botham and Viv Richards, with Tommy recalling a legendary night that went hilariously off-script.

A nostalgic detour into Minder, with Tommy realising it was actually a comedy (and perfecting his Arthur Daley impression).

Charlie Mullins chat — political flip-flopping and the perils of too much bleach.

Hayley's forgotten first slow dance leads to talk of teenage discos, dodgy fashion, and Duncan's "octopus" moment.

Vegan dating dilemmas — Linda McCartney sausages, meat-free rules, and the great "what counts as a sausage" debate.

Tommy's's reflections on post-war Britain: first bananas, boiled courgettes, and caterpillars in cabbage.

Duncan's banana phobia — thanks to a childhood in Curaçao involving ants in the fruit.

Get in Touch
Got a retro memory, advert, or strange childhood food story to share? We'd love to hear from you!

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

This week, Hayley, Duncan and Tommy tune into the sounds of the past — from Sony Walkmans and clunky cordless phones to school disco slow dances and tuck shop treats.

What starts as a chat about forgotten gadgets soon unravels into stories of radio legends, first crushes, and those painfully awkward teenage moments that everyone remembers (but wishes they didn't). Expect laughter, nostalgia, and a few "did that really happen?" tangents along the way.

In This Episode:

Memories of talk radio icon Mike Dickin — and the myth of the flying telephone.

Retro gadgets: clunky cordless phones, beeping keyrings, floppy disks, and those iconic orange Walkman headphones.

Hayley's first TomTom sat nav — battery-hungry, slow, and full of attitude.

The gang jokes about saucy sat nav voices and questionable road-trip chat.

Tommy's stories of giant house keys, lockboxes, and life before digital security.

School discos: from Agadoo and Move Closer to China in Your Hand — complete with teenage nerves, dodgy dance moves, and clouds of Impulse body spray.

Duncan's proud slow-dance memory (and equally awkward aftermath).

Hayley's tuck shop favourites — cola cubes, flying saucers, and 10p mix-ups.

Tommy's DJ flashbacks — paid a fiver to play Feelings at the worst possible moment.

Highlights:

A nostalgic and hilarious trip through first loves, lost gadgets, and the sweet chaos of growing up in the 80s and 90s.

Get in Touch:

Got a memory, mishap or retro gadget story to share? We'd love to hear from you!
WhatsApp: 07405 341 500

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

In this delightfully nostalgic episode, Hayley, Duncan and Tommy rummage through the sideboards of the past — unearthing everything from dusty board games and awkward pamphlets to windfall apple soup and pheasants full of lead shot.

Along the way, they revisit school assemblies, embarrassing sex education lessons, and the lost art of metalwork, all with the usual mix of warmth, wit and "did that really happen?" moments.

In This Episode:

The mystery of the week's random objects — all leading back to the humble sideboard.

70s and 80s living rooms: whiskey bottles, best china, and that one forbidden drawer full of secrets.

Hayley's mum's hilariously "educational" cartoon pamphlet.

School assemblies featuring hymns, marrows, and confusion over whether Sloop John B was really a religious song.

Tommy's memory of a headmaster announcing Donald Campbell's fatal speed record attempt — and the playground reaction.

Craft class chaos: pottery gone wrong, bent spoons, and Duncan's proud pineapple upside-down cake.

Tommy's posh dinner party gone wrong — including windfall apple soup and pheasant with extra crunch.

Country tales: deer collisions, roadkill etiquette, and the grim legend of "badger ham."

Finishing with old-school fashion and accessories — from sock garters to smog masks.

Get in Touch:

Got a retro memory, weird dinner story, or an old-school school-day confession? We'd love to hear from you!

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

This week, Hayley, Duncan and Tommy take a nostalgic wander from the world of 1980s Filofaxes to the shadowy realms of spies, secrets and accidental espionage.

It all begins with Hayley reminiscing about the satisfying click of Filofax rings, the smell of leather, and the joy of neatly writing birthdays by hand. Soon, Duncan recalls his mum's yearly ritual of copying dates into a new paper calendar, and before long the trio are deep in conversation about privacy, the cloud, and whether we might one day go back to paper diaries.

Then things take a turn — from Cold War number stations and umbrella assassinations to Tommy's astonishing true story of filming a children's TV feature in Ethiopia… only to discover years later he'd been caught up in a CIA operation.

Expect laughs, memories, and a few "did that really happen?" moments in this funny, fascinating chat about how the past still echoes today.

Highlights:

The Filofax: the ultimate 80s status symbol

Retro rituals and the lost joy of handwriting

Real-life spies, coded messages, and Cold War legends

Tommy's unbelievable CIA encounter

Why privacy might just be making a comeback

Get in touch:

WhatsApp – 07405 341 500

Email – ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

Join Duncan, Hayley, and Tommy as they reminisce about the golden days of air travel, fan clubs, and unforgettable personal stories.

From first flights on budget airlines and smoking at the back of planes, to airport adventures and quirky bedside table treasures, this episode is full of nostalgia and laughs.

They also explore:

Childhood dreams of being air stewardesses and the glamour of long-haul flights.

Memorable encounters with airline staff and international adventures.

Obsessions, fan clubs, and the sentimental treasures that shaped their youth.

High-profile court cases and sensational news stories from the past, including O.J. Simpson, Louise Woodward, and the Jeremy Thorpe scandal.

Expect laughter, curiosity, and the kind of stories that make you wish you could travel back in time for a pint at Inverness Airport or a peek behind the scenes of iconic media moments.

Get involved!

WhatsApp: 07405 341500 (voice notes welcome!)

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

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:

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500 – leave a message or voice note, and it might feature on the show!

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com