Stuff We Like

January assemblies hit differently. The Christmas holidays were over. The excitement was gone. And the hall smelled faintly of wet coats and disappointment. You’d shuffle in, sit cross-legged on the cold floor, and know — deep down — that whatever was coming next would not be good news. Here are the five January school assemblies that struck fear into the hearts of pupils everywhere. 5. The “New Year, New Rules” Assembly This one always arrived with a suspiciously cheerful op

January had a very specific vibe. Christmas was over. School was back. The decorations were gone, but the glitter hadn’t quite worn off yet. And on TV? January was chart show season — long countdowns, half-hearted enthusiasm, and music videos that felt cold, moody, and slightly depressing. These weren’t summer bangers. These were songs that thrived in darkness, coat collars, and emotional close-ups. Here are five music videos you swear you only ever saw during January chart s

New Year’s Eve has always been about reflection, hope… and promises you knew you wouldn’t keep. As a child, these resolutions weren’t lofty goals or life-changing ambitions — they were big ideas that felt absolutely essential for the year ahead. And yet, somehow, by January 2nd, they were completely forgotten. Here are the top five resolutions we all made as kids — and immediately abandoned: 5. “I Will Eat More Vegetables” Ah yes, the eternal “I’ll be healthy” promise. You ge

There was a time when New Year’s Eve television felt like a national event. You sat through hours of build-up. You waited patiently with snacks. You believed something huge was about to happen. And then… it sort of didn’t. But at the time? It felt massive. Here are the New Year’s TV moments that once felt world-changing — and now feel delightfully small. 5. The Big Ben Countdown (Every Single Year) The nation held its breath. Ten seconds. Nine. Eight. Everyone shouted at the

Pop the kettle on, grab a mince pie, and see how many of these you can crack before peeking at the answers! 🧠 1) The Late Santa (Easy) On Christmas Eve, Santa visits a house at 11:55 p.m. He stays inside for 10 minutes, delivering presents and eating a mince pie. When Santa leaves, it’s still Christmas Eve. How is this possible? 🧠 2) The Christmas Choir (Easy) A Christmas choir sings for five nights in a row. Each night, more people hear them sing than the night before. Yet

Every Christmas morning, among the bikes, consoles and carefully wrapped “main presents,” there was always one gift that raised questions. No tag from Santa. No personal connection. No explanation beyond: “Oh… I thought you might like that.” You knew instantly. This present was bought in a rush. Possibly on Christmas Eve. Possibly from a petrol station. Here are the five last-minute Christmas gifts everyone received at least once: 5. A Random Toiletry Gift Set (That You Didn’

Because nothing says festive cheer like emotional scarring you didn’t see coming! 5. The EastEnders Christmas Episode (Pick Any Year) If you grew up in the UK, you already know: EastEnders doesn’t do “jolly Christmas specials.” It does: Divorce papers Massive arguments Betrayal Someone dramatically storming out while the Queen’s speech plays Kids would sit down expecting mince pies and family fun. Instead, they got existential dread. Thanks, BBC. 4. The Snowman (Yes, the Enti

Kids today will never know the drama, the anticipation, or the raw power of believing one toy would reshape your entire existence. Here are the presents we truly thought would unlock a better, more magical version of ourselves. 5. A Tamagotchi (Your First Taste of Responsibility) You didn’t just want a toy — you wanted a new identity. You were going to become: A responsible pet parent A digital caregiver Basically a mini adult Instead, it died at school on day two and you spi

Once upon a time, Christmas parties weren’t all grazing boards, miniature brioche sliders, and things sprinkled with rosemary “for the aesthetic.” No — in the ’80s and ’90s, our festive buffets were an unapologetic collage of beige, jelly-based experimentation, and supermarket madness. Some of these snacks were iconic. Some were deeply questionable. And some simply evaporated from the shelves when society collectively realised they probably shouldn’t exist. Here are the top f

We’ve all done it. Rolled our eyes. Scoffed. Said things like, “Ugh, this again?” But deep down — deep, deep down — we knew the truth: these retro Christmas songs absolutely slapped, and we belted them out the moment no one was around. Here are the top five festive bangers you spent your childhood pretending to hate… while quietly living for every second. 5. “Merry Christmas Everyone” — Shakin’ Stevens (1985) You absolutely pretended this was “your mum’s music.” But those jin

Long before every brand tried to make us cry with a soft piano cover of a 70s song, Christmas adverts were simpler. Brighter. Louder. Often a bit weird. And for kids growing up in the ’80s, ’90s or early 2000s, these ads weren’t just commercials — they were the official announcement that Christmas had started. Here are the five festive adverts that shaped childhood Decembers and still live rent-free in your memory. 5. The Coca-Cola “Holidays Are Coming” Truck (1995–present) E

Nothing captures the true spirit of Christmas quite like… total chaos in the toy aisle. Before online pre-orders, stock alerts, or next-day delivery, parents had one option: physically fight their way through December crowds to get The Toy of the Year. Here are the five infamous Christmas toys that caused genuine carnage — bruised ribs, empty shelves, and “we might have more in the stockroom” lies included. 5. Cabbage Patch Kids (1983 release) The dolls were cute. The afterma

The Britpop years (roughly 1993–1999) were full of swagger, parkas, and bands who genuinely believed they could rewrite music history — but when Christmas rolled around, even the coolest acts couldn’t resist releasing something festive, ironic, or just plain odd. And while Fairytale of New York, Slade, and Mariah get wheeled out every year without fail, these Britpop-era Christmas singles… don’t. Some were great. Some were bizarre. Some were clearly written in 20 minutes betw

At 12 years old, you’re convinced pop stars are basically poets. Every line feels like it carries the weight of the universe — heartbreak, destiny, the meaning of life. Then you grow up, hear the same lyric again, and think: wait… what? Here are five pop lyrics that once felt poetic, intense, and soul-shaping — but now read a bit more like diary scribbles written during a maths lesson. 5. “If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends” – Spice Girls, “Wannabe” (1996

You’d think children’s television would be a safe space — bright colours, cheerful theme tunes, maybe a talking animal or two. And yet, somehow, British kids’ TV in the ‘80s and ‘90s was absolutely full of characters that could haunt your dreams for decades. Whether they were puppets, humans in questionable makeup, or unholy stop-motion creations, these villains were nightmare fuel disguised as family entertainment. So let’s face the fear: here are five kids’ TV baddies who w

For every PlayStation or Game Boy that ruled the world, there were a handful of consoles that almost made it — clever, weird, or just ahead of their time. Some were marketing disasters. Some were too expensive. Some were just too cool for their own good. These are the retro consoles that burned brightly, briefly, and then vanished, leaving behind a trail of fond memories, weird peripherals, and second-hand eBay searches at 2 a.m. 5. Sega Dreamcast (1999) The idea: Sega’s come

Every so often, a TV show sticks the landing so hard it leaves you hollow for days. Back in the days of actual appointment viewing — no spoilers, no streaming, just a nation weeping into its tea — a good finale could bring everything to a standstill. These are the five TV endings that absolutely wrecked us, whether through heartbreak, nostalgia, or that crushing “What do I do with my life now?” feeling that followed the credits. 5. Blackadder Goes Forth (1989) The setup: Afte

There was a time when every cause, crisis or vaguely heartfelt moment spawned a charity single — a slightly chaotic gathering of pop stars earnestly singing about world peace while wearing sunglasses indoors. And while the intentions were good, not all of these tracks have stood the test of time. In fact, some have curdled spectacularly. Here are five charity singles that, for one reason or another, have aged like milk left on a windowsill in July. 5. Band Aid 20 – “Do They K

Before health and safety forms, risk assessments, and “supervised public displays,” there was one man — usually your dad — armed with a box of questionable fireworks, a lighter, and unwavering confidence. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, Bonfire Night was less about organised fun and more about lighting something potentially explosive in your back garden and hoping for the best. Here are five fireworks that somehow passed as “safe for home use” — and the memories (and minor singes)

Every November, we’d dutifully colour in a picture of Guy Fawkes, make a wobbly cardboard Houses of Parliament, and chant 'Remember, remember the fifth of November' as if we were about to uncover a national secret. But here’s the thing — a lot of what we were told about Bonfire Night wasn’t exactly true. Between playground retellings, half-remembered lessons and a few centuries of propaganda, the real story of Guy Fawkes is a bit messier (and less heroic) than we learned at s