Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[Bald Rick]

There are some modern cars where the correct procedure for replacing the front headlights requires removing the wheel. Not exactly a quick roadside fix!

BMW get round this with their indicators by not providing any!

 

[dangie]

BMW get round this with their indicators by not providing any!

Plus Audi, but for some unfathomable reason, white models are the worst

 

[Indigo Soup]

BMW get round this with their indicators by not providing any!

There is a theory that BMW have designed their cars with indicators, but there's a perennial shortage. The owners have been advised that a team of fitters will be sent out as soon as the parts become available, and that they could need access to both sides of the car at any time.

This explains why BMW drivers fail to indicate, and why they take up two parking spaces.

 

[PG]

When television presenters would say "Don't try this at home!" before some daft/ dangerous activity was shown e.g. Blue Peter.

 

[gg1]

When television presenters would say "Don't try this at home!" before some daft/ dangerous activity was shown e.g. Blue Peter.

But do try building a flimsy multi candle holder contraption from old coathangers wrapped in flammable tinsel

 

[Jamesrob637]

That is an era that I do not miss. 88888 (Jamba?) used to be advertised on telly quite frequently and people didn't realise that they were actually signing up for a subscription service.

I was working for one of the big networks at the time and dealing with the fallout was a massive headache. We had parents calling up complaining that their kids' prepay credit was being swallowed up or that their bills were enormous.

It was known as Jamster in the UK and several other countries.

 

[Acey]

Those small pyramid shaped things which you lit,much like a firework which was meant to clear a greenhouse etc of bugs !

 

[GordonT]

Kenwood Chef electric food mixers complete with bowl, liquidiser attachment and dial to adjust speed of mixing.

 

[dangie]

Shoe shops.

 

[AM9]

Shoe shops.

Really, - plenty of shoe shoips around here.

 

[Acey]

Really, - plenty of shoe shoips around here.

I used to work in a shoe recycling factory,totally sole destroying !

 

[simonw]

Kenwood Chef electric food mixers complete with bowl, liquidiser attachment and dial to adjust speed of mixing.

Food processors and blenders: all products | Kenwood GB

Discover Kenwood food processors, blenders, and mini choppers: versatile, powerful, and designed to simplify your kitchen tasks.

www.kenwoodworld.com

Link to Kenwood food mixer site

 

[dangie]

Really, - plenty of shoe shoips around here.

I can get safety boots from Screwfix. Trainers & football boots from Sports Direct or JD Sports. Hiking & climbing footware from Go Outdoors. Slippers from Home Bargains….. but general footware from………. nowhere

 

[pdq]

I can get safety boots from Screwfix. Trainers & football boots from Sports Direct or JD Sports. Hiking & climbing footware from Go Outdoors. Slippers from Home Bargains….. but general footware from………. nowhere

Don't know where you're based, but it seems surprising that a town with all the above doesn't have at least one Schuh, Office, Deichmann, Clarks, Wynsors or Shoezone nearby.

 

[Monarch010]

Out of utter ignorance, I was going to post "jumble sales", being unaware of any for years, but a quick preliminary search displayed, to my surprise, lots of events happening right now.

 

[philthetube]

Don't know where you're based, but it seems surprising that a town with all the above doesn't have at least one Schuh, Office, Deichmann, Clarks, Wynsors or Shoezone nearby.
Or Hotter

 

[AM9]

Don't know where you're based, but it seems surprising that a town with all the above doesn't have at least one Schuh, Office, Deichmann, Clarks, Wynsors or Shoezone nearby.

Or Hotter

Or Next, Pavers and M&S. In Rugeley, there's a Stead & Simpson, Peacocks, LFS, and a fair selection in the neighbouring settlements of Litchfield, Stafford and Brownhills. That's pretty good for a town of just over 26,000 population. Just how many shoe shops do you expect to see.

 

[GusB]

Really, - plenty of shoe shoips around

Nope, not around here. There's a long-established local retailer that has two outlets in town and TK Maxx sells footwear, but all the traditional shoe shops have gone.

 

[AM9]

Food processors and blenders: all products | Kenwood GB

Discover Kenwood food processors, blenders, and mini choppers: versatile, powerful, and designed to simplify your kitchen tasks.

www.kenwoodworld.com

Link to Kenwood food mixer site

Reminds me of when I was staying in a Hayling Island hotel in 1976. Also staying there was a group of guys who were attending a training course on the latest model Kenwood Chef at the Thorn factory in Havant. They were a friendly lot.
At that time, Thorn were phasing out the old (701) model and selling off the excess mixing bowl stock to staff. One of the guys got me a couple, excellent as general purpose bowls made (I think) of acetal, very tough and still in regular use. Cost, 10p each! According to the BoE inflation calculator, about 68p today.

 

[dangie]

In Rugeley, there's a Stead & Simpson, Peacocks….

Out of date. Stead & Simpson closed many years ago. Yes we have a Peacocks which is ok if all you want are cheap plastic shoes. I did get my crocs from there though.

 

[swt_passenger]

Reminds me of when I was staying in a Hayling Island hotel in 1976. Also staying there was a group of guys who were attending a training course on the latest model Kenwood Chef at the Thorn factory in Havant. They were a friendly lot.
At that time, Thorn were phasing out the old (701) model and selling off the excess mixing bowl stock to staff. One of the guys got me a couple, excellent as general purpose bowls made (I think) of acetal, very tough and still in regular use. Cost, 10p each! According to the BoE inflation calculator, about 68p today.

There are two Kenwood Chefette bowls on my kitchen window sill, with plants growing in them. Must be over 30 years since we had the machine they went with…

 

[GordonT]

Contrariwise: when car tyres were expected to fail catastrophically with such frequency that it was necessary to lug an extra one around with you all the time, rather than a compact and lightweight puncture repair kit.

I actually liked having a proper spare. And was quite adept at jacking up etc. What I was guilty of (among many things) was delaying calling in to have my flat repaired or replaced. Meant I drove around with a "spare" in the boot which was actually only decorative.

 

[johntea]

When television presenters would say "Don't try this at home!" before some daft/ dangerous activity was shown e.g. Blue Peter.

You've just reminded me of the ITV show Don't try this at home from 1998!

Hand feeding sharks...you can probably try that at home

Riding a bucking bronco in a shopping centre whilst trying to eat an ice cream...EXTREME DANGER!

 

[PG]

Usage of E&OE (errors and omissions excepted) seems to have fallen out of favour at some point in the previous century. It was usually seen in publicity materials by businesses and also periodicals.

 

[AM9]

Usage of E&OE (errors and omissions excepted) seems to have fallen out of favour at some point in the previous century. It was usually seen in publicity materials by businesses and also periodicals.

It was often included as a get out when giving information about products and services. Ever since the introduction of the Trade Description Act 1968, and it's several updates, consumer law has tightened to reduce the use of the abbreviation in anything implying transactional conditions.

 

[The exile]

Out of utter ignorance, I was going to post "jumble sales", being unaware of any for years, but a quick preliminary search displayed, to my surprise, lots of events happening right now.

Which is also symptomatic - we can find out within seconds the entire world’s opinion about some minor US celebrity (or anything else we want / don’t want to know) but are much less aware of what’s going on in our immediate surroundings.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jun 2025 ==

I actually liked having a proper spare. And was quite adept at jacking up etc. What I was guilty of (among many things) was delaying calling in to have my flat repaired or replaced. Meant I drove around with a "spare" in the boot which was actually only decorative.

The only time I have ever needed to replace a tyre roadside (so far) was at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve (Thursday IIRC) with several commitments to driving over the following few days. Was I glad that Skoda put full spares in!

 

[Killingworth]

The only time I have ever needed to replace a tyre roadside (so far) was at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve (Thursday IIRC) with several commitments to driving over the following few days. Was I glad that Skoda put full spares in!

Memories, of a hot day driving up the M1 near Wakefield and realising rear nearside had deflated suddenly - just after entering a contra flow section! Suited and on the way to a business meeting in Leeds.

Fortunately I found a gap in the crash barrier to pull off, jack up and remove the punctured wheel, on with the spare and away with traffic wizzing by very close. Nobody to witness my efficient pit stop other than all those passing vehicles.

Earlier I had one on the old A1 just out of Newcastle centre heading towards Gosforth. I managed to get off the road for a quick change there too.

Nowadays the slightest loss of air pressure brings up a warning light and a feeling of trepidation, but so far only slow punctures. I still carry a full spare wheel. Not sure I'd be able to do such a quick wheel change today.

 

[dcbwhaley]

Usage of E&OE (errors and omissions excepted) seems to have fallen out of favour at some point in the previous century. It was usually seen in publicity materials by businesses and also periodicals.

Replaced by T&Cs apply

 

[dangie]

Replaced by T&Cs apply

But don’t even bother to try and read them

 

[Trackman]

Usage of E&OE (errors and omissions excepted) seems to have fallen out of favour at some point in the previous century. It was usually seen in publicity materials by businesses and also periodicals.

I always thought it was errors and omissions exempt