The Diary - part two: 10 things older than Lorde

Happy birthday Ella!

Many happy returns, Ella Yelich-O'Connor - 18 years old today. You are legally an adult. Now you can purchase alcohol, make a will and vote at the next election. What fun. You were born in 1996, when modern prepsters were wearing boat shoes, monogrammed blazers and an air of pretension. Now you're redefining pop culture. Here are 10 things older than you.

1. The flat white

The frothy hot beverage is older by a decade.

2. Rachel McKenna

The Shorty Street character, played by Angela Bloomfield, first hit our TV screens in 1993, a year after the soap launched.

3. Ruth Richardson's pant suits

Minister of Finance from 1990-93. Then the power women's pin-up.

4. Rachel Hunter's mallowpuff wedding gown

Rod Stewart gave hard rockers a bad name when he wed Rachel Hunter in a traditional wedding ceremony in 1990. The bride wore white lace. The groom wore a morning suit.

5. Xena

The kickarse warrior princess first hit our screens on September 4, 1995.

6. David Bain's multicoloured jersey he wore after his arrest

Hello, 1994.

7. Act

The party that very nearly died this year began in 1994.

8. 'The Rachel'

The legendary Friends haircut of Jennifer Aniston debuted in 1995.

9. Sisters Underground using hip-hop as social commentary about the community

In the Neighbourhood dropped in 1994.

10. "As if!"

High school classic Clueless coined the household phrase in 1995.