RIP Marianne Faithfull

[andrec]

My parents got a phone in the early 1970s and it was put in the hall. I remember it was hard-wired into a small socket on the wall but couldn't be moved at all. It had the disadvantage that with all the doors closed you couldn't hear it ring too well. In 1985 or 1986 they contacted BT, who came out...

[andrec]

Growing up in the 60s/70s I didn't take much notice of who made the chocolate bars I enjoyed, so can't say whether I ever saw a Fry's branded Crunchie, but I had just assumed that they had always been made by Cadbury.

[andrec]

I remember this very well, but as I have not eaten an egg, boiled, fried or scrambled, since at age 3 I vomited after eating one, it didn't really affect me, though, of course, eggs are constituent ingredients of other products....

[andrec]

My grandmother always rented her TV but from a local independent shop. She rented a B+W set on legs for years, finally changing it for a colour set probably early 80s, though it wasn't a new one. I can't recall the brand but the colours seemed rather garish. For the last few years of her life she rented...

[andrec]

It was obvious that some of the strips were 'inspired' by films and books. Hookjaw = Jaws, Dredger = Dirty Harry, Death Game 1999 = Rollerball, Hellman = Sven Hassell etc books.

I bought it until it came back in its toned-down form, then there was little to distinguish it from other co...

[andrec]

We had central heating fitted in January '92 as my wife is from a hot climate and really felt the cold. That combi boiler lasted 16 years, just like its replacement that was fitted in 2008. That one we had fixed at least 3 times, all for leaks I think. I'm hoping this current one will beat the other...

[andrec]

Our combi boiler started leaking a couple of weeks before Christmas. We had it insured, but the parts required were not made anymore, which surprised me a little as it was only 16 years old and a common brand. We were offered a new boiler for free but had to pay for installation. We were paying around...

[andrec]

Very sad news. I watched the whole series of Man about the House several years ago when it was repeated on, I think, ITV 3, and thought it was still as funny, with the banter between Murphy and Joyce being a highlight. RIP.

[andrec]

I don't know if this one should strictly count as a PIF but I remember one shown in the 70s and maybe into the 80s that may have been about a walking trail. All I recall with certainty is a section with castle ruins and the sounds of a battle - cannon firing, men screaming/shouting and maybe horses...

[andrec]

Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has passed away at the age of 78. RIP.

[andrec]

I went to college day release after leaving school and starting work. We still had a yearly report that we were given and a copy sent to the employer. Attendance was something our employer took great notice of along with grades quite naturally as they were paying for us to attend. I was on a different...

[andrec]

I think our reports came out around the same time as Parents' Evening i.e. fairly late in the Spring term. I was generally a well behaved lad at school and worked at least as hard as everyone else so didn't really fear the report or what my parents would be told. One thing that used to appear on our...

[andrec]

I, too, was surprised that Topic was no longer made. It's one of the bars I would opt for when I had a bit of money in my pocket....

[andrec]

Yes, we sat on the floor during assembly at infant and junior schools, but we didn't have chairs at secondary school and had to stand the whole time.

At junior school I recall that we were played Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong on one occasion for some reason, and Two Little Boys by...