Acceptable in the 80s

1. How old were you in 1980?
Five years old

2. How old were you in 1989?
Fourteen years old

3. Were you a Toys R' Us kid?
We didn't have Toys R' Us in Brasil. We didn't have a lot of things, thanks to the country living under a military dictatorship.

4. Did you watch Transformers?
Sometimes. I never was into them. I thought their stories were kinda depressing and dark.

5. Did you see E.T. on the big screen?
Yeah, and I cried like a baby. It's worth mentioning that The Neverending Story was far more important than E.T. to the 80s generation.

6. Did you own a Lite Bright?
Nope

7. Who is your Favorite Golden Girl?
Rose. But Dorothy's smartassness was cute too.

8. When someone says "Who you gonna call?" You think?
Ghostbusters. I want to go dressed up as one to my next Halloween party. Wanna join me?

9. What was your favorite toy?
Lego, He-Man, my Knight Rider remote control car, G.I. Joes, my Cebolinha house (the doll at the bottom of the picture came with a yapping dog that she led with a collar; it was the first time I noticed grownups giving me funny looks), Monica's office paraphenalia (the start of my temping career) and boardgames (I think I had nearly a hundred of them at one point).

10. Did you have a Pogo Ball?
Yes! Mine was green and purple.

11. Did you listen to New Kids on the Block?
Yes, but in a way that didn't make it appear I liked them. All the girls in Brasil went nuts over them (they needed something to fill the hole left by Menudo).

12. What New Kid did you have a crush on?
The one that looked like a monkey.

13. Did you play M.A.S.H?
Hella no.

14. Did you watch The Care Bears?
Yes, but only if there was nothing on TV.

15. Did you have Jelly bracelets?
No, but I had neon-coloured ones. Is that the same thing?

18. Did you ever own a slap bracelet?
Only for a day or two; then I lost it and didn't think much of it.

19. The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles?
Sixteen Candles.

20. Did you have a crazy hair style?
I thought so at the time, but maybe not?

21. What was your first bike?
I can't remember. I was seven years old.

22. Name one thing you still own from your childhood?
Many books and some board games, back in Brasil at my mom's.

23. Did you have a Cabbage Patch Kid?
Hella no.

25. Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake?
Black Forest cake.

26. Did you watch Miami Vice?
Not really. Bo-ring.

28. Did you own a Trapper Keeper?
No

29. Atari or Nintendo?
Both

30. Did you play Pac-Man?
Yes

31. Which was better: Jem and The Holograms or Barbie and The Rockers!?
Neither

32. He-Man or She-Ra?
She-ra, just because her theme tune kicked ass.

33. What movie scared you the most?
None really, though the boy who watched The Funhouse with me needed psychological treatment afterwards. I was terrified though of Monga, the woman who turned into a monkey (every amusement park in Brasil seemed to have one).

34. Did you try to dance like Michael Jackson?
Yeah, but only to get a laugh from my friends.

35. What Is The First Thing That Comes To Mind When You Hear "flux capacitor"?
Nothing.

36. What other colors did Pepsi come in?
I don't think we had Pepsi in Brasil in the 80s. I don't remember seeing it anywhere.

37. Roger Rabbit Or Howard The Duck?
Roger Rabbit. Howard the Duck was lame.

38. Did you ever beg your parents to have your school picture taken with the 'LASER' background?
We didn't have school pictures or year books.

39. Do you know what the Ninja Rap is?
No (thank god?)

40. Do you know why people cringe when they hear the word BUCKNER?
No.

41. Can you name the family members from National Lampoons Vacation movies?
No, but I love the theme song.

42. Did you have pump sneakers?
Yes. Reeboks.

43. Did you own HYPER COLOR shirts?
Do you mean neon shirts? All the rage.

44. Did you watch Smurfs?
All the time. I loved the Smurfs.

Pictures of Saturday

The best time of the day to listen to an album by The Cure is when the sun is about to set, bordering the horizon. And if it has been a pretty, sunny day, then all the better.

We just came back from a walk, where we got to enjoy London's spring-time weather. Roman Road market was as busy as ever, with stalls selling discounted winterwear, pirated R&B and rap CDs, and even "brazilian" donuts. Children had overrun the library and Victoria Park was the domain of dogs leading their owners on a feverish butt-sniffing quest. For the first time in months, I left my mitts at home.

We cut through the park because I wanted to buy some coffee from the bagel shop on Grove Road. We then found an empty bench awash with sunshine which faced boys playing football. A dog ran between the boys, trying foolishly to catch the ball. While Kevin read a book he borrowed from the library (on how to manage your own business) I worried about going blind from too much sun in my eyes.

Plenty of joggers went past us, followed by children on bikes and mothers pushing prams. We circled the park and reached the largest pond, where all the daffodils have bloomed and white stalks that resemble pussy willows line the edge. A black pug overtook us and lapped the water with gusto. Lula! Lula! Tallulah!, called the owners, to a very unconcerned little dog. Tallulah ran off, mildy interested in the Canadian geese, coots and moorhens that sailed the pond.

Sissy Jen, who's visiting us for the weekend, regrets not coming for a walk with us. We left her with copies of today's Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, but there isn't enough news in this world that can substitute a bit of fresh air.