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Don't you hate it when this happens (or does it only happen to me!!!)

(23 Posts)
kittylester Wed 06-May-15 10:24:21

Last week I went out for lunch with a couple of friends who are my age(ish) - we first met when our children started school together.

We had a complete gossip conversation about someone we all know who has just left her second husband, used to live next door to one of my friends, whose 1st husband lives in the same road as the other friend and whose son was at school with one of my sons, and none of us could remember her name. confused We knew her father's name, her sister's name, the name of her children, who now lives in her old house and, even, how her father died.

Of course, we remembered as soon as we got home!

NanKate Wed 06-May-15 10:59:02

Forgetting words and names seems to be a daily problem with DH and myself.

Usually the other one can fill in the gap, but not always.

annodomini Wed 06-May-15 11:01:26

If I can't remember a name I tell myself to relax and not worry about it and sure enough, sooner or later, it comes back to me. It happens to the best of us!

tanith Wed 06-May-15 11:01:37

Same here, I just had to ask OH 'what do you call those coats we used to wear on scooters', 'Parkas' says he with a cheeky grin.. grin

ninathenana Wed 06-May-15 11:16:24

No, kitty not just you.
If I can't remember a name, I go through the alphabet which often helps. Otherwise I find it randomly pops into my head some time later.
Chatting to DD the other day about someone who's name I couldn't think of (possible sister of a male friend of hers) About 36hrs later I texted her with just the name. She understood, as her brain is even more random than mine grin

shysal Wed 06-May-15 11:39:31

I regularly meet up with two similar-aged friends for lunch. We have the same type of conversations, forgetting words and names.
Then comes the calculation when splitting the bill, including a tip, and sorting out the change! One may have the correct money but the others may only have notes. Our mental arithmetic skills have almost disappeared! If I didn't carry a calculator and pen and paper, we would be stumped, and we all did A level Maths! It is so embarrassing when we pay at the bar for all to hear! blush

Teetime Wed 06-May-15 11:45:30

Unconscious processing!! That is, don't think about it and it will come to you later. Restaurant bills we just split by the number of people . I never could do maths and it all works out in the end.

rosesarered Wed 06-May-15 11:51:04

We all do it Kitty.At least we can laugh about it .The brain spews random memories whenever it thinks fit! I find past holidays the hardest to remember while Mr Roses has an excellent memory and can recall events and places and hotels, it's all a misty blur to me.

Bellanonna Wed 06-May-15 11:59:45

Shysal, I know the feeling ! When I have meals out with friends I do come armed with notes and change in every possible denomination. That way those with only big notes help themselves to my change and the one with plastic only - and there's always one - just tells them to take a third of whatever the more mathematically of us has decided what that is. I sit back and keep quiet. Didn't do A-level maths and usually have to rely on fingers. Btw splitting the bill evenly is the best way. If you didn't have a pudding and they had coffee or you had two wines (don't know how to insert several smileys but please imagine them) then so be it. Long live eating out and gossiping with friends !
The alphabet method usually does it for me. I get very annoyed when a name or word won't come to the fore. As someone said it usually does in the end but I find that particularly frustrating.

grannyactivist Wed 06-May-15 12:34:37

I do have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment following an illness some years ago. When I am tired, ill or stressed it's very obvious to my family and friends because I find it impossible to talk lucidly. I not only forget names for things and people, but my word order gets muddled too.
My husband cut short our weekly fellowship meeting last week when it was apparent that I couldn't string a sentence together. blush

Elegran Wed 06-May-15 12:42:59

I am so glad to see you posting again. I thought you had gone for good!

Tegan Wed 06-May-15 13:18:36

I'm finding these days that I stumble over words a lot [which worries me a bit].

KatyK Wed 06-May-15 13:22:28

I have to use the calculator on my phone when splitting a bill when out to lunch with just two friends!

Ana Wed 06-May-15 13:24:25

I'm finding that too, Tegan. I've been wondering whether it's to do with retirement and not having as many people to talk to during the day. Perhaps we're getting out of practice! confused

Bogoff Wed 06-May-15 13:38:14

Happens to me every day. People come up to me in our village Tesco and say "Hello". Afterwards, I think, "who the hell were they ?"

Tegan Wed 06-May-15 13:43:20

Ana' I'm ok when I'm talking to myself [which I do a lot these days]. It's when I'm having a conversation with a real person on the phone or face to face that it happens; I just get tongue tied and a bit stuttery [may be nerves perhaps?].

Ana Wed 06-May-15 13:50:21

Yes, that's what I mean - it even happens to me when I'm talking to DD and I'm sure she thinks I'm losing it...grin

kittylester Wed 06-May-15 13:51:26

Nice to see you GA. smile

It's also very nice to see that my friends and I aren't the only ones. grin

The silly thing is, we can have whole conversations about someone (eg an actor) without any of us actually remembering their name or anything they were in which go along the lines of:

You know, so and so.
Oh, yes, she was in that good film and she's married to what his name.
Oh, yes, wasn't he in that TV programme with thingummybob.
And, his daughter plays that woman in that thing that's just finished!

And, worryingly, we all know what we mean. confused

Grannybug Wed 06-May-15 14:28:52

grin Kitty. Just had that kind of conversation with a friend !

Lona Wed 06-May-15 14:34:43

kitty Me too, regularly!

ayse Wed 06-May-15 14:45:06

Happens to me as well when I can't just think of the word I want to use. It's so annoying especially when I'm talking to my doctor. I also seem to get a bit tongue tied and find it difficult to spit out what I want to say. Still the brain still seems to work most of the time

Bellanonna Wed 06-May-15 16:05:26

Think we must all be normal reading the above! Tegan I'm so glad you talk to yourself. I do it all the time.

loopylou Wed 06-May-15 16:19:29

Thank goodness it's not just me grin
As for learning new names en masse, forget it (literally)!