Parallel universes, your prediction on how the future may have panned out.

[malumbu]

The Thatcher stuff has probably run its course. But I am amused about how many younger people have viewed her impact/legacy. I thought the world was fine in 1979. I was interested in girls, alcohol, football and music. I don't recall rotting rubbish and corpses in the street as all the newscasts seem to suggest. Maybe a selective memory as I was more interested in trying to get my leg over, and upset by the injustice of what a cold winter had done to the first division.

So, I'd love to hear views on what the world had looked like if (a) Callaghan had called a 1978 election which he would have won, or got his vote of confidence from the TUC on wage constraint in 79, and again he would have won

(b) The Falklands had never happened and SDP had got into power in 83.

© Kinnock hadn't frightened Basildon man, or the Sun hadn't intervened, and labour got in in 1992

(d) John Smith was still alive.

I really don't believe all this tosh about Britain being a dreadful place in the late 70s. To a kid growing up in the 70s they were much more fun than the 60s. And those ten years older thought the same about the 60s vs the 50s. Similarly that all nationalised industry was bad. I recall the electricity generation and telecoms being world leaders. Although no doubt someone will tell me that was because too much state money was put into them.

[Annette Curtain]

(e) the carpet shop gave you a quotation

(f) the estate agent actually helped you out

(g) the forum wasn't created

*gets sucked into black hole-vortex time loop thingy*

[PeckhamRose]

.

[minder]

I was looking forward to leaving school in the summer of 79, just turned 16. Took my O Levels and CSEs and then went straight out to work (wished I'd gone on to college but I can't change time).

I do remember the electricity black-outs and rubbish piling up and being very cold during the winter. I also remember the coal man and the oil man coming round. The coal man used to go up and down our street yelling "who want's coal?"

There was always a strike going on in the late 70s but I suppose it must have been harder for my Mum and Dad coping with all this than me!

[Jah Lush]

"There's no future in England's dreaming." John Lydon, 1977.

[malumbu]

I seem to be being stalked. Such fun.

(e) Got a quote and fitting at a carpet shop in Hayes, which was good and I have been back to it since. Seemed to know something about keeping customers happy.

(f) I'll never know, as Hamptons International clearly didn't want me to move to the Dulwich Triangle. Mr Scotchbrooks was very helpful though and did sort me out.

(g) Well SE23.com was also created, which is a good demonstration of social networking gone wrong. The thought police wouldn't allow me to be stalked on that site.

I imagined that with all the debate going on about Thatch someone would have ventured a view on how the country may have shaped out. I'm sure that we would have had the internet somehow.