If you lived through the ’80s then you, my friend, LIVED.

In hindsight the ’80s were a glorious if not occasionally, repulsive decade. They had moved on from the laid back ’70s yet still weren’t quite ready to converge upon the power suits and much more serious time of the ’90s. One thing the ’80s did do though, was stamp their very unique mark upon this era.

And it didn’t seem to matter where in the world we grew up, we all pretty much had the same experiences. It’s almost guaranteed that you at some point during this decade, would have been seen listening to a double tape deck blasting Holiday by Madonna whilst simultaneously applying electric blue mascara and teasing the bejesus out of your hair. And there’s a Polaroid picture somewhere to prove it.

I am an unashamed '80s tragic. The entire decade wasn't just unique, it was bloody awesome and if you weren't lucky enough to be around during this time, let me show you what you missed out on:

You spent hours trying to work out how to solve this sucker. (Or like me, you just changed the stickers around)

These were a necessity for all self-respecting '80s girls. For reasons that were never determined.

So cute. So evil.

These things were dangerous! Plastic and sweat, you do the maths.

Pac Man of the '80s was played on a sweet sit down arcade game table and an endless supply of twenty cent pieces. And to this day cannot be surpassed.

So many SVH books, so little time.

I can still smell that grape one today. Unsure what Easter smells like though. Carrots or chocolate?

The ultimate in hair fashion.

Barbie was a serious camper okay.

We all wanted to be this kid.

Pretty sure my friends and I would have given away a kidney to secure one of these.

Yes. Yes that is a rubber watch protector. No, I'm not proud of this.

See her shining bright.

England, Ireland, Scotland Wales.

Holiday Roaaaaddd.

I'm not going to try and defend this.

For all those girls who weren't allowed to pierce their ears, these were the poor substitutes. We all knew we were frauds.

Do you see the lift? This townhouse had a motherflipping lift and was one of the greatest things to happen to tween girls in the '80s.

So good, so bad.

The one time our government instigated a campaign for Australians to get off their arses.

A lot of us graduated year 7 in one of these. Tragically.

Still the most coveted Barbie doll ever.

Cut, bake in the oven and they shrink. What sorcery is THIS?!

Nail polish for when your Mum thought you couldn't handle real nail polish. I think I can still smell this.

Raspberry all the way.

David Hasselhoff circa not getting blind and eating hamburgers off the ground.

Remember when collecting rubbers (erasers) was a massive deal?

THIS creepy as all get out teddy bear read you stories (and then haunted your dreams)

I'm still yet to find another video game I kick arse better in than Atari tennis.

Instant pictures. In our hands. Why did we ever think we could supersede this?

Kaylene May. That was the name on my Cabbage Patch Kid's birth certificate signed by the one and only Xavier Rudd. Accept no substitutes.

You needed the trifecta or you can't consider yourself a woman of the '80s

And not nobody can take that away from you honey.

Backwards skate. Oh yeah.

Anyway else remember being told not to touch the middle of that floppy disk? And they did anyway.

Huuurrry UP

If you were REALLY lucky, you had the double screen Donkey Kong version.

Jodi Foster should look way happier than she is right now with that  amazing crimped do.

The double tape deck was obviously the bomb, but this still was quite something.

This is how we learned to count in the '80s.

Only fools drank these instead of froze them.

So WHAT if he didn't wear pants. He was still the coolest guy going weekday mornings.

Peter Jackson's were $1.28 and you could still buy Polly Waffles. Amazing times.

These guys. Nuff said.

Politically incorrect in ALL the ways, most kids of he 80s spent their days pretending to suck these down JUST like Dad. Class.

Pat the Rat!!

I don't care who you are, you dug these.

Presented without comment.

Garfield and Odie. There's a reason why we still relate to this so much.

The cakes that broke and brought the nation together.

Anyone else remember lining up for the New Zealand pavilion for 6 hours just for an ice-cream?