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James

@retrojames.bsky.social

3.1K followers 1.9K following 4K posts

Designer | Writer | Retro video producer | '80s soul (music and mind) | Writing a book about Hong Kong - publishing in early 2026 🙂 | Despise right wing and corriander

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James @retrojames.bsky.social · 8h

Not yet - worth it?

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 11h

Same with mine - so they went on a massive recruitment drive in China, but that affected the enrolment of local kids, and the place shut down.

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 11h

Very much so, just like school uniforms. Good that you weren’t totally alone. I only full boarded for 4 months, and when I look back at my diary, parents were back every three weeks or so. But that first school - urgh.

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 19h

It’s out there somewhere! So it’s late 90s?

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 19h

Most of the kids at my second school were also fellow forces families - a lot of army with parents on bases in Germany, quite a few Air Force based at Brawdy, and me, the one with a dad in the Navy.

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 19h

It was such a strange place - zero empathy, just anger, rigour, Latin, and rugby.

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 19h

I went to two - both closed. The first was hell - St John’s Prep in Porthcawl - weekly boarder, I was only there 6 weeks but it was just terrible. Threatened with the cane for the evil act of….
Talking after lights out.
I was 11 & needed mum.
The second was better, made friends, mostly a day boy.

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 19h

Let’s go….im up for a bit of time travel

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 19h

That would be brilliant

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 20h

Welcome back to October 1985, here's what was on the box in terms of adverts - it was all on another Level...

Edited for your viewing pleasure....I hope 😊

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

"Get off that bloody phone, you're seeing each other at school tomorrow!" was shouted at me on a regular basis!

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks a lot - I added a lot of personal favourites in there!

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

Have you seen "The making of them"?

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

Pots are very useful Anthony!

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

What five events defined your childhood?

1. Falklands War and my dad not going thanks to an admin mix up.
2. Going to boarding school
3. Being pulled out of the bloody place
4. World Cup 86
5. Live Aid

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

2025 - aside from family and friends, you can take a long walk off a short pier.

Seriously, let’s go back to the 80s.

I made this. It might warm your heart, at least that was my goal when I made it.

I can’t do more than this…

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

I’m up for it. I tried to be one of these retro content producers who never longed to go back, but actually I’ve changed my mind

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

They were great - and yes, Victoria Wood rebranded it! Went to one in Swansea. Simple times. Glad you like it, thank you 🙂

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

Watches and phones from the 80s.

Two products that don’t belong together, but the adverts were pretty thin on the ground, so I did this…

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks a lot Johnathan - that’s job done for me then! 🙂

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

If I could promise you a miracle, all the nastiness from this world would disappear, but all I can do is make stuff like this to distract you from it…

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

What were the greatest British adverts from the late 70s and 1980s?

That’s a tough one, but I’ve put a few of them together in a fun way.

Call it good
Call it bad
Call it anything you want to baby!

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

I took some scenes from a few classic 80s movies and made this…

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 1d

The 1980s…it’s all history.

There is thought behind how and what I edit to the music, although I can understand how it might look quite random! I probably spend too long on tiny details.

With each video, I’ll try a number of songs and lots of adverts, then once I’m happy, I’ll share it with you 🙂

James @retrojames.bsky.social · 2d

A beautiful October morning in Graz. 18c - a bit of warmth before it plummets.