Does anybody else remember the Yellow Pages TV commercial, where the angry boss yells out the window at her assistant: “Not happy Jan!”
I remember it well – because my family often shortens my name to Jan. So I heard the magic phrase “Not happy Jan!” quite a lot 😉 . (Just like I have had countless people randomly serenade me with “Dammit Janet, I love you” from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. How lucky am I?!)
Fact of the matter is, ever since I was a tiny tot, it’s easy to tell if I’m not happy Jan … just look at my face in the photos below!
Can You Tell? I’m Not Happy Jan!
I must be all of three years old in the photo above and I’m clearly “not happy Jan”. It was my uncle and aunt’s wedding, and I still remember being distinctly PO’d that I wasn’t a flower girl. It looks like my grandma and great grandma had their hands full keeping me in line!
When my parents asked me what I wanted to dress up as for my first school fancy dress ball in Grade 1, without hesitation I replied, “A butterfly”.
I had visions of a tutu, with sparkly wings and little Jiffy slippers … so I was clearly unimpressed by the ensemble I actually ended up wearing. A terry towelling playsuit, with bright orange curtain material fashioned into wings, and my everyday sandals. I was so disappointed. And can’t you just tell?!
Looking back on it now, I think it’s a very clever costume and I do look terribly cute, but at the time I’m afraid it just didn’t cut the mustard!
Fast forward forty-odd years and it’s still plain to see when I’m not happy Jan!
The pic above was taken in Italy earlier this year. I’d been looking forward to trying authentic Italian pasta, but was sorely disappointed by the lasagne I’d ordered at this sidewalk cafe – no better than the frozen dinners we get at home!
Do you have any memories of being severely ticked off as a kid – and are there any photos as evidence? When was the last time you were “not happy Jan”?!
I don’t have a photo but I clearly remember going to a fancy dress ball dressed as a Mummy in loo paper. What’s worse is, during the parade the loo paper started to unravel so in the end long pieces were flapping from my arms and legs. Thankfully I was clothed underneath but what were my parents THINKING? That same night my brother went dressed as a tree. For some reason, he was so paranoid a dog was going to pee on him that by the end of the night he was almost beside himself. What a night and we didn’t even win a prize!
LOL was it a Halloween dressup??? I always wanted to dress up as something beautiful and glamourous and sparkly. I might have been disappointed in this particular costume, but I will never forget in Yr 4 I had to go as a cowgirl and was supposed to make do with an old kerchief and hat of my dads – but when I got home from school that day, my mum had bought me a cute little Annie Oakley costume. I was so excited!!
I remember being in the choir of my primary school production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. For some reason I wore my summer school uniform – a blue gingham dress – instead of my winter uniform of skirt, white blouse and tie and navy blazer. I stood out like a sore thumb as there was no time to change. The production was held in a big town hall so it was a bit embarrassing. I don’t have any photos but remember it quite well.
June, I’m sure you would have been cute as a button regardless, although I’m sure you must have felt very awkward!
That phrase is now firmly embedded in Aussie folklore I think. I still use it! And not necessarily to people called Jan.
You look so much like a young Drew Barrymore in that top photo.
I have a hilarious photo of me as a kid wearing an Easter bonnet I was very unimpressed with.
I have a pretty scary “resting bitch face” (as my daughter calls it). It’s just my blank look … but apparently it looks more pissed off than blank. I often have to think about it when I’m out in public so as not to look unwelcoming!
There’s not an Aussie of a certain age that doesn’t remember those commercials! And YES, definitely can remember some key instances of being sorely disappointed, frustrated and annoyed with life in general. The crappy lasagne would have pissed me off no end!!! x
The lasagne sucked, but overall the pizza and cappuccinnos in Italy didn’t disappoint – best ever!!!
LMAO I do love seeing photos of my fave bloggers as kids – you may have been pissed off but you were damn cute lol. I still say ‘Not Happy Jan’ its kind of like “Good on ya Mum” some things just stick 🙂 xx
OH yes, I remember that one “Good on ya Mum, Tip Top’s the one” … does Tip Top even exist anymore LOL?!