I love the seventies!
Did you know that this was the title of a BBC TV series? I watched every episode and even have the CD that accompanied the series.
Visitors to this site will already have some appreciation of the fact that I love the 1970s - the graphic bar on the top of the site is quite clearly seventies retro and is a dead giveaway. Orange, brown and red are my favourite colours (and in that order too) but it’s not just my colour preferences that show a 70s bias – my sense of interior design, my favourite cars, my favourite TV programmes, my taste in music, watches, clocks, pottery, glass and even my choice of cufflinks are influenced by my decade of choice. My home computer even has a brown tiled Hornsea Heirloom pattern as its wallpaper.
The 1970s are often considered to be a bit naff and it is not unusual to come across references to the decade being one that style forgot. I beg to differ and am quite willing to flag wave in support of this much maligned era. 70’s nostalgia rocks – take my word for it!
There is a saying “that what goes around, comes around” and in recent times 70’s style has seen something of a renaissance (and I for one am very pleased about that). I’ll admit that there is some satisfaction in some of my stuff being considered cool (or even valuable) when not so long ago it would have been ignored, avoided or just abused. I however am not a trend setter, the seventies has been my thing for around 25 years now and the fascination shows no sign of diminishing. When fashion moves on, as it inevitably will, I hope that it leaves behind some new converts to the school of heavy patterns, big collars, Raleigh choppers, space hoppers, Vauxhall Firenzas, Ford Capris, The Sweeney and The Professionals. My children, aged eight and four (at the time of writing), can hum the tunes to both these TV shows and that gives me a ridiculous feeling of pride.
On the subject of Jack Regan and George Carter, I am undecided about the new Sweeney film, most of me feels it’s sacrilegious to remake something that was so good in the first place and of its time (just like the Italian Job or Alfie for instance). My first reaction was negative but what I really hope is that by introducing the new film, younger viewers find the inspiration to track down and watch the originals (but not my copies though - whilst I own the full DVD set, I’d be reluctant to lend it to anyone).
Apologies for the digression; I have pondered upon what has driven my enthusiasm for this time. I grew up in the seventies and my values, beliefs and attitudes were formed during that social period. My young life was surrounded by the designs of the decade and I guess they became reference points as well, even if just subconsciously. My childhood was good and safe and maybe there is a psychological comfort that is derived from items associated with that time. Whatever the reality is, it’s a fact that ever since I had my own money and control over my life, seventies stuff has been in evidence.
It’s a shame though that, even though she was born in the seventies too, the decade failed to inspire my long suffering and wonderful wife in quite the same way. Credit where it’s due though, she has accepted that my “retroitis” appears to be a permanent affliction. Some of the stuff though she hates and will happily remind me from time to time. I keep hoping she’ll mellow a bit! And maybe there’s evidence that she is - I was however slightly unnerved by the almost argument free way in which she accepted the recent smoked glass and tiled topped coffee table into our home! If we ever get divorced, the 70s may get referenced in the supporting paperwork.
I went to the British Museum in London earlier on in the month and enjoyed wandering around the antiquities on display – I couldn’t help thinking though that a seventies hall would have been a nice addition. Maybe I should send in my recommendation, let me know if you’d be supportive.
Back to Observations Home
Visitors to this site will already have some appreciation of the fact that I love the 1970s - the graphic bar on the top of the site is quite clearly seventies retro and is a dead giveaway. Orange, brown and red are my favourite colours (and in that order too) but it’s not just my colour preferences that show a 70s bias – my sense of interior design, my favourite cars, my favourite TV programmes, my taste in music, watches, clocks, pottery, glass and even my choice of cufflinks are influenced by my decade of choice. My home computer even has a brown tiled Hornsea Heirloom pattern as its wallpaper.
The 1970s are often considered to be a bit naff and it is not unusual to come across references to the decade being one that style forgot. I beg to differ and am quite willing to flag wave in support of this much maligned era. 70’s nostalgia rocks – take my word for it!
There is a saying “that what goes around, comes around” and in recent times 70’s style has seen something of a renaissance (and I for one am very pleased about that). I’ll admit that there is some satisfaction in some of my stuff being considered cool (or even valuable) when not so long ago it would have been ignored, avoided or just abused. I however am not a trend setter, the seventies has been my thing for around 25 years now and the fascination shows no sign of diminishing. When fashion moves on, as it inevitably will, I hope that it leaves behind some new converts to the school of heavy patterns, big collars, Raleigh choppers, space hoppers, Vauxhall Firenzas, Ford Capris, The Sweeney and The Professionals. My children, aged eight and four (at the time of writing), can hum the tunes to both these TV shows and that gives me a ridiculous feeling of pride.
On the subject of Jack Regan and George Carter, I am undecided about the new Sweeney film, most of me feels it’s sacrilegious to remake something that was so good in the first place and of its time (just like the Italian Job or Alfie for instance). My first reaction was negative but what I really hope is that by introducing the new film, younger viewers find the inspiration to track down and watch the originals (but not my copies though - whilst I own the full DVD set, I’d be reluctant to lend it to anyone).
Apologies for the digression; I have pondered upon what has driven my enthusiasm for this time. I grew up in the seventies and my values, beliefs and attitudes were formed during that social period. My young life was surrounded by the designs of the decade and I guess they became reference points as well, even if just subconsciously. My childhood was good and safe and maybe there is a psychological comfort that is derived from items associated with that time. Whatever the reality is, it’s a fact that ever since I had my own money and control over my life, seventies stuff has been in evidence.
It’s a shame though that, even though she was born in the seventies too, the decade failed to inspire my long suffering and wonderful wife in quite the same way. Credit where it’s due though, she has accepted that my “retroitis” appears to be a permanent affliction. Some of the stuff though she hates and will happily remind me from time to time. I keep hoping she’ll mellow a bit! And maybe there’s evidence that she is - I was however slightly unnerved by the almost argument free way in which she accepted the recent smoked glass and tiled topped coffee table into our home! If we ever get divorced, the 70s may get referenced in the supporting paperwork.
I went to the British Museum in London earlier on in the month and enjoyed wandering around the antiquities on display – I couldn’t help thinking though that a seventies hall would have been a nice addition. Maybe I should send in my recommendation, let me know if you’d be supportive.
Back to Observations Home
