I was talking to someone the other day about when I first got a mobile phone. When they came out, most of us weren't interested. Why would we need one? We had telephones at home. What a contrast to under 16s this week in Australia lamenting about the government ban on social media. I'd give anything to go back to the days where we weren't connected 24/7 with algorithms teaching us how to think. Anyway, the reason I got the mobile - a Nokia - was because it came with a discman. I was far more interested in playing music than a phone. The Nokia had ten emoji and a game of Snake. It was pretty cool. Still, I didn't even take it away with me when I went travelling in Europe in 2001. They just weren't necessary to everyday life.

@tarazkp asked this week about other 'firsts'. I found it interesting enough to go on a little memory lane trip. Like him, I also grew up in Australia around the same time, though we grew up in adjacent states.

Getting drunk

I'm not sure. It was probably at the Blue Light disco, which was an underage disco at the Surf Club. We were too cool for that so would have been dropped off and then pretended to go in and then escaped to the sand dunes to drink goon (cask wine) and smoke bongs. Gross 🤢

First real kiss

Tongues?? What's a real kiss? First kiss was a boy called Malcolm who was a bit of a bogan. A thousand million kisses later, my first real kiss was with my soon to be husband when I was 30. Swoon.

First girl/boyfriend

Mark. He was cute and blonde and sang me 'First cut is the deepest' really loud on the school bus.

So embarrassing. We also listened to Talking Heads and went surfing.

https://youtu.be/Fb2q141rMNE?si=0Ow8fFQpWT4b6VVt

First smoked

I was 14, at high school. We would crouch down in the girls loos with a view under the entrance partition for teachers shoes whereupon we would piff the smoking but into the toilet bowl where it would hiss like the devil and hide the evidence of our sins. We also smoked joints under the portables. I smoked with relish, moving from Winnie blues to Champion Ruby roll ups in the UK. Quit twenty years ago.

Getting a smartphone

An iPhone, 2004 I think? Not a significant a memory as my Nokia. I have had an Oppo X2 Find and will have it til it dies.

Getting a job

A health food shop, making smoothies, and a sandwich bar come fast food come ice cream shop, 13.

Getting ears pierced

Mum took me. Perhaps 13? Then it was garlic and a needle in the school toilets for the other four in each ear, two nose piercings as well. Makes me eyes water thinking of it. I only have one hole now and I've even taken out my belly piercing.

Losing virginity

Sixteen, to Joy Division.

https://youtu.be/5BIElTtN6Fs?si=kbJV_LNCUASkVLee

Moving from home

18, but I came home a lot between rentals and travelling. I loved my parents and they were always welcoming and supportive.

Getting married

2004, after a year of being together. I never wanted to marry anyone but I took one look at Jamie and a voice in my head said 'shag him then marry him'. Three days later we decided to get married. That's a long time ago now. We still get excited to see each other after a few hours apart.

Fancy having fun with these questions? Go for it!