40 Things That Turn 40 In 2014

Life totally begins at 40. FACT.

1. Victoria Beckham

tumblr.com / Via kill-and-runnn.tumblr.com

Spicing up our lives for 40 girl-powered years

2. Hello Kitty

tumblr.com / Via darth-mal.tumblr.com

Hello Kitty makes $7 billion a year, but doesn't spend a penny on advertising. And we thought Beyonce was the ultimate female superstar

Mid-life crisis, what mid-life crisis?

3. Post-it notes

i.imgur.com / Via reddit.com

FUN FACT: Passive aggression was also invented 40 years ago.

4. The MRI Scanner

i.imgur.com / Via reddit.com

This is a gif of a banana going through an MRI Scanner. Oddly satisfying somehow.

5. The word 'banoffee'

tumblr.com / Via aspoonful-of-sugar.tumblr.com

This tasty word entered the OED in 1974. Here's a recipe

Yummerz

6. Tyra Banks

tumblr.com / Via clu5terfuck.tumblr.com

Fierce at 40.

7. For mash, get Smash

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

This iconic ad launched in 1974, bringing powdered potato to the mashes

8. Happy Days

tumblr.com / Via mauvespeaks.tumblr.com

1974 - a Fonz was born

9. Kung-Fu Fighting

tumblr.com / Via edgar-allan-pop.tumblr.com

The single, not the martial art.

10. Early Learning Centre

tumblr.com / Via thecutestbabies.tumblr.com

Fun at 4, still fun at 40.

11. Blazing Saddles

i.imgur.com / Via pandawhale.com

The funniest film ever made was released in 1974

12. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer"

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

That's right, Godfather II was released in 1974.

13. Bagpuss

pinkandgreene.com / Via pinkandgreene.com

The most Important
The most Beautiful
The most Magical
Saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide world

14. Dorling Kindersley publishers

fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net / Via thedkblog.wordpress.com

DK books - responsible for Primary School projects all over the UK.

15. Baileys Irish Cream

file.vintageadbrowser.com / Via vintageadbrowser.com

Making nipples slippery for 40 years

16. New Year's Day

tumblr.com / Via malinhallkvist.tumblr.com

Ok, ok - the 1st Jan has been around for quite a while now. However, New Year's Day was first celebrated as a public holiday (or national hangover) in 1974.

17. The first McDonald's restaurant in the UK

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

The first restaurant opened in Woolwich in 1974 and it's still providing the people of South East London with Happy Meals today.

18. Christian Bale

tumblr.com / Via gemmamccallion.tumblr.com

From Haverfordwest to Hollywood in 40 gorgeous years

19. Tim Henman

tribuneindia.com / Via tribuneindia.com

Not quite over the Henman Hill yet

20. Dungeons and Dragons

upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

The original RPG

21. The Heimlich Manoeuvre

i.imgur.com / Via reddit.com

(Do not try this at home)

22. James Blunt

mrwgifs.com / Via mrwgifs.com

The singer everyone loves to hate, but here's why you should follow him on Twitter

23. Barcodes

tumblr.com / Via a-little-fatal-fire.tumblr.com

The first one appeared on a packed of Wrigley's Chewing Gum in 1974

24. Connect Four

tumblr.com / Via kidswinningboardgames.tumblr.com

Have a game on us - play it here

25. Stephen King's 'Carrie'

tumblr.com / Via (c) 2013 MGM/CTMG

Terrorising high school proms for 40 years.

26. Pocket Calculators

tumblr.com / Via ecrireaucrayon.tumblr.com

FUN FACT: The word 'boobless' is also 40 years old this year

27. ABBA's Waterloo

tumblr.com / Via arabela25.tumblr.com

Sweden's finest took the Eurovision crown at Brighton 40 years ago this year

28. The VW Golf

tumblr.com / Via blog.eurominions.com

"Das Auto" - 40 years and still plenty in the tank

29. Leonardo DiCaprio

tumblr.com / Via themixedtape-cm.tumblr.com

40 and #flawless

30. Rubik's Cube

gp1.wac.edgecastcdn.net / Via reverbnation.com

We're still trying to finish ours 40 years later

31. You Are The First, My Last, My Everything

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

40 seductive years of soul

32. The Exorcist

tumblr.com / Via epic--horror.tumblr.com

40 years on, and we still can't watch this before bed

33. Beefeater Steak Houses

badgecollectorscircle.co.uk / Via badgecollectorscircle.co.uk

A steak with a side order of badge. Standard.

34. The word 'internet'

tumblr.com / Via haydiroket.com

That's right - the word 'internet' was coined 15 years before the World Wide Web was born. THIS MESSES WITH OUR MIND

35. Kinder Surprise

wordpress.com / Via thevintagetoyadvertiser.org

The world's tastiest choking hazard launched in 1974

36. Basildon Railway Station

nationalrail.co.uk / Via nationalrail.co.uk

Everyone's favourite railway station opened in 1974.

FUN FACT: The ticket office at Basildon railway station is open from 5.15am until 10.00pm, Monday to Friday.

37. I Will Always Love You

tumblr.com / Via neonsinmyblood.tumblr.com

All Hail Dolly! Famously covered by Whitney Houston, IWALU reached the number 1 spot twice for Dolly, once for Whitney and was also Saddam Hussein's 2002 re-election theme song. Obviously.

38. Edward Gardner

ENO/B Ealovega

English National Opera's Music Director, Ed Gardner, turns 40 this November!

39. Ugg Boots

tumblr.com / Via xoxouknowyouloveme.tumblr.com

UGG Boots may seem very 2003, but they've actually provided 40 whole years of fluffy comfort.

Say no to Muggs though

40. English National Opera

English National Opera / Via eno.org

40 years of the world's best opera, sung in English at the London Coliseum. Happy Birthday to ENO!

Find out more about English National Opera: www.eno.org, or follow us on Facebook