Retrofloto

I shot this sweet little Cinquecento in Verona in the 1990s. I scanned it high res so it's a good quality image. These cute Fiats are iconic especially in an Italian city street.

This is my concert ticket stub for The Police gig at the Supertent on Tooting Bec Common, London on Monday December 22nd 1980. They had Tommy Cooper on doing magic tricks as support. Can't believe it's 40 years ago!

A funny play on words and familiar expressions.

An old English idiom meaning that something is or is going to be really easy. As easy as eating a piece of cake! This expression originated in the Royal Air Force in the late 1930s for an easy mission, and the precise reference is as mysterious as that of the simile easy as pie.

Donkey's Years is an English idiom used to mean a very long time. Originated in the early 20th century, apparently as a pun on the long ears of a donkey. Cockney rhyming slang with years replacing ears.

Bangers and Mash is cockney rhyming slang for cash, money. Not really an idiom but definitely English slang.

Eat Your Words

A old English idiom meaning to use your head, think about what you're doing and be clever about it. Soldiers in the trenches in the First World War would use a loaf of bread instead of putting their heads up to see if snipers were still around.

A vintage, old English idiom meaning to be happy and full of life. Very energetic and lively.The phrase full of beans seems to have come into popular use in the mid-1800s and is attributed to a practice of feeding beans to horses as fodder.Supposedly, horses that were fed beans were more energetic and lively.

The Bee's Knees is an English idiom meaning something or someone is excellent, very good or top quality. Some people think it might come from the fact that bees store pollen in sacks in their legs so this is the concentrated nectar but this is not a definitive definition. It's a nice reference!

An old English idiom meaning to boast or brag about your achievements, but you probably have good reason to!

Bun In The Oven is an English idiom or euphemism meaning a woman is pregnant.The bun is the baby and the oven is the woman's womb. It's a nice expression I think.

My cup of tea is an English idiom or expression meaning something you like, something you are good at or something you enjoy doing.

An old English idiom meaning oh my word, oh my god, an exclamation of surprise or exasperation or an expletive! Whatever next! From the phrase Oh my Giddy Aunt! It was used as a playful euphemism to avoid blasphemy and is thought to have derived from (if not quoted from) the farcical comedy Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas that ran for 1,466 performances on its first production starting December 1892.

In The Long Run is used to talk about how things happen or develop over a long period of time. This expression, which originated as 'at the long run' in the early 1600s, presumably alludes to a runner who continues on his course to the end.

A vintage, old English idiom meaning to get out and earn the money to live on. To earn money, as from steady employment. The phrase may originate from the fairground contest in which participants try to catch a greased pig in order to win it.

Chocks Away was a term used by World War Two pilots when they wanted the blocks known as chocks placed in front of the plane's wheels to be removed so the plane can take off. It's now used to mean let's go, let's get started.

Hats Off is an English idiom meaning to express congratulations to someone or something. The removal of one's hat is typically a gesture of respect.

To strike while the iron is hot is an English idiom meaning to act on an opportunity promptly while favourable conditions exist, to avoid waiting. It derives from blacksmithing, literally to strike a hot piece of metal, especially iron, with a mallet or other tool before it cools, while it is still hot enough to be shaped.

Push The Boat Out is an idiom or expression commonly used in British language. It means to be lavish in your spending or celebrations, to really go for the maximum you can afford. Be extravagant.

Horses For Courses is an idiom or expression commonly used in the English language. An allusion to the fact that a racehorse performs best on a racecourse to which it is specifically suited. The practice of choosing the best person for a particular job, the best response for a situation, or the best means to achieve a specific end.

Done And Dusted is an idiom or expression commonly used in British language. It means something is finished or decided and there is nothing more to be said or done about it.

A vintage, old English idiom meaning to be happy and full of life. Very energetic and lively.

A vintage, old English idiom meaning to get out and earn the money to live on.

A photograph of my 1988 mix tape, one that I made when I was a teenager recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio! Here are some on the tracks on my tape, some great tracks. The Tide Is Turning - Roger Waters, How Soon Is Now? The Smiths, You Win again - The Beegees, One Tree Hill - U2, Heavy Traffic - Elton John, Always On My Mind - Pet Shop Boys, Ship Of Fools - Erasure, The Right Stuff - Bryan Ferry, Tougher Than The rest - Bruce Springsteen, Hangman Jury - Aerosmith.

A photograph of my 1987 mix tape, one that I made when I was fifteen recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio. Yes it was illegal but everyone did it! Some great tracks! Sometimes - Erasure, All Summer Single - Billy Idol, Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards, Don't Get Me Wrong - The Pretenders, It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - The Blow Monkeys,China In Your Hands - T'Pau

A photograph of my 1986 mix tape, one that I made when I was a teenager recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio! Here are some on the tracks on my tape, some great tracks. When the Going Gets tough - Billy Ocean, You Little Thief - Feargal Sharkey, The Sun Always shines on TV - A-Ha, Road To Nowhere - Talking Heads, Every Breath You Take - The Police, Moments In Love - Art Of Noise, Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears, Living In Another World - Talk Talk, Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel, Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer.

A photograph of my 1983 mix tape, one that I made when I was a teenager recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio! Here are some on the tracks on my tape, some great tracks. Dare Me - The Pointer Sisters, Slave To Love - Bryan Ferry, The Must Be An Angel - Eurythmics, Eyes Without A Face - Billy Idol, Atomic - Blondie, Slave To The Rhythm - Grace Jones, Something about You - Level 42, Alive and Kicking - Simple Minds.

A photograph of my 1984 mix tape, one that I made when I was a teenager recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio! Yes it was illegal but everyone did it. Here are some on the tracks on my tape, Jump - The Pointer Sisters, The Riddle - Nik Kershaw, Careless Whisper - George Michael, Purple Rain - Prince, Out of Touch - Hall and Oates, You Think You're A Man - Divine, Don't Stop Me Now - Queen.

A photograph of my 1983 mix tape, one that I made when I was a teenager recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio! Yes it was illegal but everyone did it. Here are some on the tracks on my tape, Who's That Girl - Eurthymics, Cruel Summer - Bananarama, Club Tropicana - Wham, Thriller - Michael Jackson(I remember staying up late to watch the video's first UK showing on telly, brilliant!) I'm Still Standing - Elton John, Big Log - Robert Plant, The Lifeboat Party - Kid Creole.

A photograph of my 1982 mix tape, one that I made when I was a teenager recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio! Yes it was illegal but everyone did it. Here are some on the tracks on my tape, The Revolutionary Spirit - The Wild Swans ( I was into listening to John Peel!), Atmosphere - Joy Division, Ever So Lonely - Monsoon, Klactoveesedstein - Blue Rondo A La Turk, Youth of Nation on Fire - Bill Nelson, I've Seen The Word - Blancmange and Nowhere Girl - B Movie. I had forgotten that one, great track!

An original retro vintage Relaxation audio tape from the 1980s. I was going through my old stuff and found this in my old Sony Sports Walkman, must have been the last thing I played on it, back in the 90s probably. It's very much like the meditation apps and mindfulness stuff that's all around now, relaxation. Getting you to focus on the here and now, it's all about the breathing!

A photograph of my 1981 mix tape, one that I made when I was a teenager recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio! Yes it was illegal but everyone did it. Here are some on the tracks on my tape, While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood, In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins, Rapture - Blondie, Promise - OMD, and Vienna - Utlravox.

A photograph of my 1980 mix tape, one that I made when I was fifteen recording tracks from vinyl records and the radio. Yes it was illegal but everyone did it! Here are some on the tracks on my tape, Don't Stand So Close - The Police, I Die, You Die - Gary Numan, Ashes to Ashes - Bowie, Echo Beach - Martha and The Muffins, Master Blaster - Stevie Wonder, Dog Eat Dog - Adam and The Ants and Enola Gay - OMD. What's on yours?