On this day in 1981, I started my nurse training, 38 years later I'm still working for the NHS.
I had an 1981 play list this morning and lots of memories. I wondered where all my class was, how had their lives turned out?
I also wondered if 1981 was a memorable year for anyone here ( I expect a lot weren't even born😬)
Anyway it was a special, if not scary day for me, I just felt like sharing it 🤩
I was 3 days old and being taken home for the first time x
🤣🤣🤣, excellent, and now I feel really old!!!
Still love 80s music though! Have 80s playlist on my spotify xx
It was a good decade for music, happy birthday week 😊
Oh I was definitely born! It was a memorable year for me as it’s the year I met my boyfriend, now husband! I was just 17, he wasn’t quite 20. Adam and the Ants was his favourite band and he used to impress me with his cassette collection in his Ford Corsair - which needed a hair grip to switch the lights on and off and the gear stick was removable! 🚘
I also loved the newly engaged in that year Lady Di, and I was chuffed to bits when somebody thought I was her (caveat, we were at a ball and the person was inebriated!!) 😅
I like your idea of a 1981 playlist for your run. I might need to do the same, it’ll evoke some fabulous memories! 🏃♀️🎶👍
Cassettes!, we used to have them rattling around my dads car, record the Top 40.... I am feeling very retrospective today😊
I saw Adam Ant in concert a few years ago (very small venue) he sounded great, he still looked handsome, but a fair bit heavier!
He was so handsome wasn’t he? 😍😍 I remember taping the Top 40 on a Sunday evening and failing miserably at avoiding the DJ’s voice (was it Tony Blackburn 🤔). 😅😅
I think Tony Blackburn did do it, and I was rubbish at editing my recording.
How lovely that you met your husband at such a young age, you have grown together 💖💖💖
Ha ha....made me chuckle...every week I tried doing the same and failed....impossibile! And frustrating
He was SO handsome...defo Prince Charming.
Yes and it ruined all our compilation tapes!! 😅😅
We were still there the following weeks though glued to tape recorder trying again...there wasnt another option
True, we were - and we looked forward to it too! 👍
I am trying to imagine what my 16 year old nephew would make of us huddled over a cassette radio, finger poised ready to press down those big buttons!. 🤣🤣
I know they seem so dated now, but the imperfections gave our music character! Like warped scratched LPs! ❤️
Fantastic memories! An amazing career path. Kudos to you for staying the course 👍🏻💕
I was approaching my 7th birthday and we'd just moved house, I was excited for the future. 👍🏻😁
Thank you 😊 No one thought I would, I was squeamish ( still am!) My mums neighbour gave me 3 months, and said I was too dainty????? and should consider dance. Me, who has all the grace of a baby elephant 🤣🤣
It's been an interesting career, never a dull moment really. I see myself as a bit of a dinosaur 🦕🦕, and despair at the loss of professionalism, but you can't stop change.
Wow! How lovely 💗
I was 11, although my 12th birthday was coming up soon. My mum was into The Who, and there was a recent song by them with the line: "When you are 11 the whole world's out to lunch!" 😄
Thank you, I'm glad I posted, it's nice sometimes to just think back 😊
I was 16 and went to my 1st concert, Ian duty and the blockheads ,Hammersmith odean. Still listen to them and they helped me round on my c25k journey.
Ps long live the nhs.
The Blockheads were talented musicians!
I appreciated that fact, only when I got older, as with so many things!
Ian Dury had a hard life, and I was very interested in his artwork.
He was one of a kind and a great lyricist.
Yes, he was only ever himself .
I remember our deputy headmistress leading one of her assembly's with
There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards. It caused quite a stir at the time, we certainly all paid attention!
Hi Jell, I turned 21in March and got engaged at my birthday party. We went to Paris for a weekend. So young and carefree! Its nice to think back to those times.
I think you are brilliant to have such a long and dedicated career in the Nhs, I bet that has been challenging but also rewarding... 😊xxx
I was never an Adam Ant fan though.😆
Not an Adam Ant fan? 😱😱😱😱😱😱😅😅
😂... No...David Essex though!😍that may have been earlier though😁
I loved Princess Di too❤😊xxx
Ahhh yes, he was lovely - as was David Cassidy! 😍😍
Yes, The puppy song! Is that right 😁xx
Just looked that was 1973 though😄
Cripes, I was 9! 😅😅
I was 3 going on 4 but so many of those songs stick, I’m the youngest of 5 but my oldest brother was a Springsteen and blue oyster cult fan, whilst my sister loved blonde, she probably came a bit later I think, I think the seventies was the best decade for music, followed by the early grunge 90’s. I reckon a helluva lot of us are giving our ages away, I’m on the fast track to 50 but I mentally stalled around 24😳😳
Happy to admit I’m 55, going on 25! 😅
Forever young cheeky 👍😁😁😁
Absolutely Walshy! 👊
That was Donny Osmond wasn't it?
Ahh yes 🎶 🎶 .... and they called it Puppy Love .... 🎶🎶 Great. That’s now my ear worm for the evening! 🙄😅
I think that was Donny Osmond “puppy love” BBR . Loved David Cassidy though - his poster was on my bedroom wall.
In 1981, I was told that I was to be posted to Australia for 3 years so it was a life changing time for me. Went to Oz in 1982 with my Adam Ant frilly shirts and knickerbockers . They didn’t know what had hit them!
There is a David Cassidy Puppy song too...
🎵I wish that I could have a puppy,
.....we would stay away from crowds
and signs that said no dogs allowed...
W'ed be so happy together...🎵
Priceless😁xxx
I know that song and now it's stuck in my head 😂
Ooh I’ll have to google that .
Photos Dexy5 ? 😅😅😅
I’ll dig one out for the next time we meet. You won’t recognise me - I was brunette then.
Oh, got to see that! 😀
Yes, I also had a David Essex poster on my wall💖💖
Me too...did you get Jackie magazine 😁xx
Okay, confession YES 😳
Did you have the issue with the red plastic heart badge that you could separate into 2 “broken heart” halves if your boyfriend (or girlfriend) “chucked” you? 💔 😅
Phwoar.
Confession time! I was never a fan either! Can’t say I was a Bowie fan either sorreee! But the Quo, Springsteen and some good old English folk music kept me going. No wonder I’m confused!!
Ohhhh OGR! How could you?!! 😅😅 Just joshing! 🤪
You folky rocker you!!
That’s me😂!
Thank you Bluebirdrunner.
I can't believe you weren't a fan!!!!🤯
I was just months old, but clearly absorbing all the music my parents played as a good deal of my running playlists now have an 80's bent!
I was 11 - in the summer before changing to secondary school I think
Adam Ant <3 <3 <3
<3 <3 <3 Are you saying he's not even a 3?😶
haha, nooooo
those are sideways hearts 
🤣🤣🤣🤣, I thought it was a bit harsh!
I always thought they meant boobs? That's what someone told me anyway 🙁
Funny 🤣🤣🤣
( . )Y( . )
Those are boobs
😂😂
I see...
So do sideways hearts represent something? 
Yes, the lack of emoticons on my keyboard lol
ROFL ROFL ROFL 😂😂😂
Hahahahaha!!!!
I was 26 and starting my final year of social work training. Placements were a challenge - and an education! Now retired and running!👍😀
I had returned to work after a very short maternity leave (12 weeks) to work part time teaching nurses! I wonder if you were one of the hundred or so!? 😉 All I remember of that time is being exhausted. 😴
I don't know Knittingrunner, but I'm glad you were training in my era, and how interesting (to us at least) that it has almost come full circle!
Watch this space, we will soon be back in 1981.
It seems such a long time ago. That baby is now 38 and a matron! I think I trained her well 😊
I'm sure you did!.
Thats wonderful Knittingrunner, you must be very proud of her!😊xx
I am. When I think back to that time it was the last thing I would have thought that little bundle would do! She is amazing and I am extraordinarily proud of her.
Good for you, still slogging it out in the nhs after 38 years! I was 6 in 1981...lol. But I too work in the nhs and started my training in 1993. I might do a 1993 playlist...memories ☁️
Good idea, it certainly takes you back in time 🤩
I lived and worked in the USA in 1993, the grunge scene had just exploded and Clinton was in office, it was a great time to be in, my husband and I sit out in the garden, Weather never permitting, and we listen to 100.7 WZXL, it blasts me right back to those good times , a 1993 soundtrack sounds pretty epic!!
I started my nurse training 2 years later in 1983. Although I did not remain in nursing, I have stayed in the NHS in various non clinical roles. I passed by my old nurses home the other day. Happy memories. The hospital I trained at has been demolished and posh apartments built but the beautiful chapel is still standing. Nice to reminisce! I loved Adam Ant 🐜
My nurses home is still there, but a post grad centre and offices now. I had to go there recently and it brought back a lot of memories 😊
I went back to my old hospital a few years back as a relative. It was hardly recognisable. Time moves on. 😕
Thanks for sharing....very memorable day for you and the start of a succesful career...a big thank you and well done for all the great work you and your many colleagues do.
Not so memorable day for me, i was 10, school hols....probably being used as my big sisters live "girls world" or make up dummy.
Who knew I'd still be doing it 38 years on!!
I love the image of you being the" girls world " living head 🤣🤣🤣
You should have seen what she did to my hair....my mum didnt realise for ages as it was very long and very curly..
🤣🤣🤣, we must have the same hair (I've still got it) my dad used to say it was like an explosion in a mattress factory !
Me too...my favourite inventions are ghd straighteners and scrunchies! My grandad called me tatty head....cant repeat what my gran called me!
Just realised how im looking like a bullied child!
Every picture drawn of me I had thè big felt tip curly long hair!
Your looks short in your profilo pic now?
Dear Lord no, it's up there in an exploding bun!!!!
Called Crystal Tips, or Kate Bush at school 😶
Every hairdresser I have ever seen has said the curls are only controlled by the weight of the hair, I'm scared to go short as I might be like a poodle 🐩🐩
Luckily (so far) I haven't gone grey, but when I do.....
Kate Bush was mine too....my sister again!
I went mid length but mine would be very gray (if I let it)
Thats amazing yours hasnt
Better get on with some work....thanks for the trip down memory lane twin vrb with the same hair
Just jumping into the conversation. I'm a curly / frizzy too, and everyone I knew had shiny, dead straight hair. I've finally grown to love it and I have the BEST hairdresser in the world, (Dale Perkins, you rock!) but this thread has reminded me of the teenage trauma (and I also had comments like your gran made, Jell6, I think. Absolutely not repeatable.)
But the love of my life in 1983 called me Crystal Tips and himself Alistair, which made it bearable for a while. Xxx
It's Franglaise with the unmentionable grandmother 🤣
I was the Crystal Tips/Kate Bush!!
I like your pairing with Alistair 💗💗
Oops, sorry. Kate Bush looked wonderful, so not bad to be compared to her. Xxx
I was 11,on summer holidays before starting middle school! Busy riding my pony and playing in the garden. Remember when my older cousin came to visit she had Adam ant stripes on her face ! 😂x
🤣🤣🤣, honestly I never had the stripes. Frills and headband maybe.....
I was 11 years old and about to start secondary school, I had my long hair cut short in preparation, new me new start and all that.
Unfortunately I ended up looking like a dude!!!
🤣🤣🤣
Oh yes, my hair is curly the lady who cut it was from Dublin and had a very thick brogue, I could barely understand her, she just kept cutting and cutting, my hair was disappearing in front of my eyes, I went in to the salon a carefree 11 year old and emerged a traumatised kid who looked like the nit nurse had taken a run at me with the clippers!!! It took years to grow back into some shape. I forgive her now....... only took me 38 years 😩😩😩😩😩
Great idea to post this and well done on such a long career. I was 12 years old at the time. Would have also been on school holidays. Love 80s music. Anyone ever listen to the radio station Absolute 80s. My kids ( 14 and 11) think it’s terrible 😂😂
Thank you 😊, and yes I do have Absolute 80's on my preset stations🤩
And me! 🤓
Me three 👍
I was not only born but had given birth to my beautiful baby daughter a few weeks earlier, so 1981 was definitely a memorable year for me. More of a 60s music fan though.... Great that you're still working for the NHS ☺
I’d just finished my first year at University in Liverpool and, on this day, I was on an Interrail trip round Europe with my then boyfriend (we split up when I was on my year out in Germany in 1983). Fantastic memories though of that trip. I started in the NHS in 1987, working in HR and still do some short term contracts. Went to work in local government from 2001-2008 but it wasn’t the same so went back to the NHS!
I have enjoyed these small insights 🤩
With my job role I seem to spend a lot of time in HR!
My HR advisor is pretty much an extension of my team, I often pop in to see her just to catch up 😊
I’ve just downloaded a 1981 playlist on Spotify. Can’t wait for my next run now! 🏃♀️🎶🏃♀️🎶🏃♀️
You'll be whizzing along 🎵🎶🎶🎶
I suppose miracles might happen ..... ! 🐌
What a lovely post! I thought I had nothing to say about 1981 until I remembered I was in France working as an au pair, an experience which definitely changed my life although I didn't know it at the time. Now I live and work (and run!) in France. Xxx
Thank you Lizzisforliving 😊
I have loved reading the replies, and hearing snippets from that time, also good to know I wasn't the only missing member of the Hair Bear Bunch 😊🤯
Where in France are you? We are part time residents in the Dordogne!
In the Gard (30) and I’m setting up a parkrun if you’re ever near Uzès. X
Ooh I must remember that! I think it’s a great shame that there are so few parkruns in France
I hope to be going to live in France in the not to distant future.. The place is beautiful.
1981 well I finished secondary school in 1989 lol 😂 long time ago so I was very young 1981 I was 9years old 😉
I was living in the USA and my middle child was 4 weeks old! I’m more into 70s music so won’t comment on Adam!! Now I’m Granny to 6. Coincidentally I did one of the first degree courses in Nursing Studies at Edinburgh university but got distracted by my now husband and although I graduated I never finished my nursing qualification. Congratulations on your long career.
Thank you!
I am not adverse to some 70's sounds. I have recently created a couple of Glam Rock playlists, it's good to switch them about .
I expect you are busier than I am with 6 grandchildren 😊
Wondering why it was Adam and the Ants or Shakin Stevens everywhere I looked... had nobody heard of Iron Maiden?
Other than that I was busy being 9
Yes, I had heard of Iron Maiden, but they were not handsome, and I am shallow 🤣🤣
Also having a brother who thrived on prog rock and having to endure the likes of King Crimson and ELP I wanted something different.
I was on a slippery slope when I was 5 and dad bought me the Pistols album... all his fault! Maiden were about as mellow as I got, and I did like the Ants... soon I was to discover Slayer of course and the rest of the thrash scene.
Yes, I had heard of Iron Maiden, but they were not handsome, and I am shallow 🤣🤣
Also having a brother who thrived on prog rock and having to endure the likes of King Crimson and ELP I wanted something different.
1981 I would have been 11 year old and starting junior high school.
I was into two tone, especially Madness and still am. 🕴️😀
Sunday long audio run 
Do what makes you happy
Olympic Stadium C25k BBC 5k
What brought you joy today?
