Tommy, Hayley and Duncan take a long, cheerful wander through the strange afterlife of the English language, from "Bob's your uncle" and "double bubble" to why everyone suddenly insists on "pivoting" and going on "journeys".

There's fury at management speak, nostalgia for lost phrases, and a lot of laughter about how words fall in and out of fashion.

Things then drift into found diaries, abandoned philosophy books, accidental love letters, strange radio bloopers and the small, oddly magical moments you only get when someone leaves part of their life behind on a train or a tube seat.

Add in pebbly beaches, childhood mischief and a few stories that probably shouldn't be Googled, and you've got a very Rambling Retro Nonsense kind of episode.

Got a story, a rant or a ridiculous word you want us to mangle? Send us a voice note and we'll play the best ones on a future episode.

WhatsApp: 07405 341500

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

What do glass bottles on doorsteps, Michael Caine on a milk float, and Rolls-Royces with built-in umbrellas have in common? Very little… and yet somehow they all collide in this gloriously rambling episode of Rambling Retro Nonsense.

Tommy, Duncan, and Hayley start with the simple nostalgia of early-morning deliveries and end up on a delightful detour through clinking bottles, pecked cream tops, midnight bakers, celebrity limos, and the theatre of British life. Expect stories of doorstep bottles, rolling groceries, still-warm loaves from a bakery in Arundel, and Michael Caine cruising dawn-lit London on a milk float.

Also on the menu:

Outrageous vehicles with hidden umbrellas, the quirks of Prime Ministers getting out of cars, and a heady mix of celebrity, politics, and classic retro memories. It's warm, funny, and absurdly charming—a wander through the tiny joys of everyday life, with a side of glamour and nostalgia.

Get in touch:

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

WhatsApp/voice notes: 07405 341 500

Find us on X, Instagram and Facebook — and send us your own stories for a future episode.

This week starts off sensibly with a chat about vitamins…

......and somehow ends with samurai, school reports, enemas and Anne Diamond tattoos.

We dive head-first into the weird and wonderful world of health fads, from Victorian women sucking rusty nails for iron (yep, really) to 90s miracle drinks, vibrating belts and flushing your insides out with a hose.

Along the way, things go wildly off-road — as they always do.

In This Episode:

Why Victorians were encouraged to suck rusty nails
Cod liver oil, vitamins and the supplement explosion
Aqua Libra – the 90s drink that made you feel healthy just by holding it
Green juices and influencer nonsense
The truly horrifying world of colonic irrigation
Duncan's behind-the-scenes camera tour of his own insides
Tommy's indestructible liver and self-administered organ massage
Cutting up kidneys in school biology class
The worst (and funniest) sex education ever
School reports and teachers who couldn't even get your name right
GCSEs, hangovers and Young Farmers gone wild
Cornflake diets, cabbage soup and grapefruit misery
Ab rollers, vibrating belts and fitness scams
Bullworkers, stuntmen and duelling survival tips
Samurai philosophy, beheadings and how to deal with enemies
And why Anne Diamond might need a tattoo that says "Wait at the Bridge"

Get In Touch:

Got a weird health fad?
Did you grow up on cabbage soup, cod liver oil or dodgy gym gadgets?

📧 ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com
📱 07405 341 500 (texts or voice notes)

This week we ask the important question:

What did you watch as a kid that absolutely ruined your sleep for years?

Hayley confesses to secretly watching A Nightmare on Elm Street (and feeling like the police were about to burst through the door), while Duncan relives the trauma of Salem's Lot… including a jump scare that nearly ended him.

Tommy, meanwhile, somehow escaped horror films but was emotionally scarred by being taken to Lawrence of Arabia at the age of eight. Because parenting was different then.

Things quickly spiral into:

Why Jaws made swimming pools terrifying 🦈
Real-life sharks on a Florida beach
A whale nearly murdering Tommy (honestly) 🐋
Kids carrying pen knives and flick knives at school
The dangerously stupid games we used to play
Old men in hats spitting in the street
Tracksuit bottoms, jogging bottoms and "house pants"
And the moment Tommy accidentally witnessed the first ever F-word on British TV
Basically: childhood, fear, stupidity and nostalgia… with swearing and whales.

Get In Touch:

Got a movie that traumatised you?
Did you grow up with flick knives, bangers or dodgy parenting?

We want to hear it.
📧 ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

📱 07405 341 500 (voice notes welcome)

In this episode, Tommy, Duncan and Hayley explore the quirky and sometimes absurd habits of modern life that we never needed, but now can't live without.

From carrying oversized water bottles everywhere and obsessing over step counts, to fitness trackers, loyalty cards, and texting kisses, they reflect on how technology, wellness trends, and social comparison have transformed everyday life.

Through humour, nostalgia, and personal stories, they discuss:

How hydration became a 24/7 requirement and the commercial push behind it.

The rise of fitness trackers and social media-driven comparisons.

Childhood curiosities, sneaky parental discoveries, and memories of simpler times.

Texting etiquette and how little symbols like X's became modern expressions of affection.

The conversation is a playful mix of reflection and laughter, exploring whether these modern "must-haves" genuinely improve life - or just keep us hooked.

Get involved!

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

Topics covered

Haggis at New Year

Tripe, chitterlings, gizzards, sweetbreads & forgotten cuts

Oxtail, mutton and cheap cuts becoming trendy

Guinness, stout and Nigella's iconic Scotch egg moment

Chips with curry sauce (Duncan's new obsession)

School memories: mufty day, signing shirts & reunions

Best bits

"I'll have your gizzards out!"

Nigella eating a Scotch egg

Cocktails saving a dull hotel dinner

Chickens carrying gravel

Duncan discovering curry sauce

Join the Conversation

What's the strangest thing YOU'VE ever eaten — and would you eat it again?

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500 (texts or voice notes welcome!)

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

In this episode of Rambling Retro Nonsense, we take a delightful stroll down memory lane, starting with our first suits and the awkward, itchy outfits of childhood weddings. From Dorothy Perkins frills to Miami Vice–inspired blazers, we explore how these rites of passage shape our sense of style and adulthood.

We wander further into nostalgic territory with stories of classic train buffet trolleys, cheese shops at Victoria Station, and the small joys of black cab rides across London at sunset—complete with the sounds of The Kinks and Sinatra setting the scene.

Of course, it wouldn't be a proper ramble without meeting some unforgettable characters along the way. Sue Pollard, Joanna Lumley, Woody Allen, and even a brush with Jacob Rees-Mogg make appearances in our tales of celebrity encounters, cocktails, and dinner plans that could rival any movie scene.

Expect laughter, a touch of nostalgia, and a few corkscrew anecdotes along the way—because some stories just need a bit of liquid courage to be told properly.

Highlights in this episode:

Duncan's first suit adventure at Burton's and the Miami Vice influence.

Hayley's childhood wedding memories, itchy sequins, and Polaroid frustrations.

Nostalgic train buffet trolleys, cheese shops, and black cab rides.

Celebrity encounters: Sue Pollard, Woody Allen, Joanna Lumley, and more.

Reflections on iconic comedy and enduring legacies.

Join the conversation:

What's the most unforgettable outfit or travel memory from your own past that still makes you smile (or cringe) today? Send us your story!

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500 (texts or voice notes welcome!)

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com

Subscribe, leave a review, and share your own first-suit or memorable black-cab stories—we'd love to hear them!

Join Tommy, Duncan, and Hayley as they take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reliving the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas and New Year past. From paper chains and foil garlands to brandy butter and festive chaos, this episode is packed with laughs, quirky family traditions, and the bittersweet charm of the holidays.

In This Episode:

Tommy recalls the classic Christmas decoration struggle: pastel paper chains, sticky loops, and the eternal battle with blue tack.

Hayley shares her bargain-hunting tips for Christmas decorations, including cheap finds at B&Q.

Duncan confesses his dislike for outdoor Christmas lights—but admits admiration for those who go all out.

Childhood Christmas memories: foil garlands, snow spray, and treasured baubles passed down through generations.

Humorous tales of works Christmas parties and novelty accountant outfits.

Reflections on New Year traditions: Auld Lang Syne, first-footing, and the thrill of staying up past midnight as a kid.

Memorable New Year's Eves, including a Y2K pub adventure, solo radio show disasters, and cozy family celebrations.

Modern-day rituals: quiet pub visits, takeaways, and enjoying New Year from the comfort of home.

Retro Takeaways:

There's always room for one more decoration—especially at bargain prices.

Holiday traditions evolve, but the nostalgia never fades.

The magic of Christmas and New Year often lies in the small, simple moments with friends and family.

Get in Touch:

Loved this trip down memory lane? Subscribe to the podcast and share your own retro holiday memories with us—we'd love to hear from you!

WhatsApp: 07405 341 500 (texts or voice notes welcome!)

Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com