My side-ponytail-with-a-scrunchie brings all the boys to the yard (or, the 80s make a comeback)

Ah the 80s. Some argue it has a lot to answer for.



But i say this.




It taught us to walk like an Egyptian. That girls just wanna have fun. That love is a battlefield. That we are the world! It gave us teased hair and baggy t-shirts and lacy gloves that served no purpose. It allowed us to express ourselves - blue eye shadow and all. Many a pleasant evening was spent playing pacman or tetris, and if you weren't that cool, there was always hungry hungry hippo. It gave us life long friends, like Mork and Mindy and Kevin Arnold and Alex. P. Keaton and the Huxtables. It gave us hero's, like Mr T and Rico Tubbs, Mr Miyagi and Ferris Bueller. Who, after all is said and done, can forget the great Tom Selleck as Magnum, P.I? And here's another two words for you - Indiana. Jones. We lost ourselves in tragic cinema - The Breakfast Club, Footloose, Dirty Dancing. I still bawl like a baby when i watch E.T. Some of the greatest catch phrases of our generation hail from the 80s. Who ya gonna call? Watchu talkin' bout Willis? Cowabunga dude? And i defy you to find me a decade that spawned a comedy trilogy greater than Back to the Future.




What I'm trying to say is, the 80s was a damn memorable decade. You can poo poo it all you want, but when we headed to the Powerhouse Museum on Sunday for their '80s is Back' exhibition, nothing could wipe the smile off my face.

The cube that boggled a generation.

Jo wastes no time - "computer" games are up first

Awesome graphics.



The Atari - bringing arcade games to your living room for the first time.

Culture Club. I don't even know where to start, but Boy George, i won't forgive you for Karma Chameleon. You really did want to hurt me.

Nothing, and i mean NOTHING, has ever or will ever beat 80s Kylie for me. I STILL rock out to Hand on your heart - the film clip for which she wore this dress. The exhibition also featured some iconic TV moments - like Scott's proposal to Charlene in Neighbours. Je ne sais pas pourquoi.

INXS gave Australia a good, solid rock band - and Michael Hutchence. This is one of his handwritten notebooks, in which he makes a list of things he wants to achieve. Number 4 reads 'Start my own strategy for world domination.'

Boys and their punk

Whoa there. Who let the jumpsuit out?

Ecstasy dance parties. It was OK in the 80s.

P.F Flanagan, whoever you are - i commend your efforts in the war to beat the breathalyser.

Condom Man says - use condoms. And lo, a superhero was born.

It wasn't all glitter and disco balls - the 80s saw the emergence of a new disease called AIDS - and the Australian gay community was one of the first to embrace AIDS prevention through education for EVERYONE - gay or straight. The Australian AIDS quilt project started in 1988 as a memorial for those who had died from the disease.

Wedding dress inspiration - Jo was thrilled to hear I'd be incorporating those off-the-shoulder sleeves in mine.

Me, loving the Madonna-inspired fashions of the decade. WHY oh WHY can't i wear a pink polka dot pleated skirt with matching shoes in public anymore? *despairs*

The national objective in 1985 was to stay alive.

80s toys - cabbage patch kids and Garfield and strawberry shortcake. I'm sure i had a tea-pot that was really a dolls house. And a glow worm.

Seriously, does anyone else remember these?? Were they from McDonald's?? Am i dreaming that??

Typical girls bedroom in the 80s, complete with garish graffiti-inspired bedspread, mini boom box and totally rad movie posters.

And that was just a taste of what we saw - if you grew up in the 80s, I'm sure you'll get a laugh out of this exhibition. GO. SEE. IT. You'll be humming Pat Benetar all the way back home.