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Genealogy/memories

Things we remember and things we forget.

(45 Posts)
mrsmopp Fri 10-Feb-17 12:32:39

I often forget where I've put things and I can't remember what I did last week. I forget people's names and place names.
But I can remember all the words of hymns we sang in school assembly. I can remember all the names of the colleagues I worked with in my first mod in 1961.
Isn't memory strange?

oldgoat Sat 11-Feb-17 17:37:17

I was about to post something on here but I can't remember what it was!!

Diddy1 Sat 11-Feb-17 17:40:33

Our Co Op number was 119787 easy to remember,but things these days dont seem as easy to remember,It cant be that we are getting on a bit do you think?!

Diddy1 Sat 11-Feb-17 17:47:15

Nothing to do with the thread, but I must tell you all, last night we were on a way to a Social event at the British Club here in Sweden, DH was driving and had put some bottles on non alcoholic beer in the fridge (this was a BYO event if you wanted to) anyway after having driven about five minutes, he slammed on the brakes, I wondered what on earth had happened, he said very irritated " we didnt bring the beer with us, why didnt you remind me" I was almost speechless, why should I have to remind him, I said it was his responsibility, and we could drive back, no, he would take a soda water or something, but I ask you all, why should I be blamed, I felt quite sad at this accusation, HE wanted the beer not me, I would love to hear what you think, by the way, it was a nice evening, I didnt let this spoil it for me.

Jalima Sat 11-Feb-17 18:20:44

Diddy1
that's what you're there for!

Your post reminded me of 'Beer at Home Means Davenport's'

elfies Sat 11-Feb-17 18:21:48

I often wonder how much better our memories would be if we didn't all take Statins

mrsmopp Sat 11-Feb-17 18:35:08

Nowadays most of our contacts are pre-set on our phones, with the result I don't know anyone's phone number by heart any more because we never need to dial it.
Before all this, I could ring any of my friends and family as I knew them by heart. I'd pick up the phone and tap out the number, it was almost automatic.

Are we losing the skills we once had? Even taxi drivers don't need the Knowledge anymore - anyone can use sat nav.
Maybe all our brains will just go rusty?!!

anniegold195 Sat 11-Feb-17 19:26:35

nelliemags. Had to laugh when you mentioned detectives asking where were you on 14th. I would be flung in jail right away, as I cant remember what I did last night....(grin)

Daisyboots Sat 11-Feb-17 21:08:51

Yes, I remember my Mum's divi number 568526 but cant remember mine which I would have last used less than 10 years ago.

People over here can rattle off their NIF number (like a tax number) which is about 10 numerals long and all I can remember is mine has 3 zeros in the middle. I even forget my NI number at times and I have had for 57 years.

willsmadnan Sat 11-Feb-17 21:17:48

It takes me months to remember a new PIN number although its only 4 digits, but my DP could remember his National Service number from 1946 until he died last year aged 87! I never knew why, as NS only lasted 2 years. Maybe the male brain retains numbers better.

Tizliz Sat 11-Feb-17 21:21:30

My short term memory has forgotten where the link is to my long term memory so I can't remember anything ?

LadyGracie Sat 11-Feb-17 22:43:45

My memory is awful, I can remember trivia, but can't remember much of my childhood, where I've been on holidays, friends names and even some of their faces escape me. I find it quite frightening.

nancan Sat 11-Feb-17 23:19:45

Yes Gracie was going to say when you cannot remember what an item is called or even can't remember a family member's name I begin to get frightened, have I got dementia

mrsmopp Sat 11-Feb-17 23:21:27

Blinking passwords on the computer are the bane of my life. I lose the bit of paper I wrote them all down on so then I have to think of a new one, and you can't have the same password for everything, oh it drives me nuts....

Carolebarrel Sun 12-Feb-17 09:14:49

I lost my grandmothers engagement ring and was so upset, but I knew it was in the house and hunted high and low. It turned up ages later and I was so delighted. Strangely enough at that very moment, the shower in the bathroom turned itself on!

Caretaker Sun 12-Feb-17 17:35:21

It is the short term memory that goes first the long term memory is often accurate. I have always been terrible at names I said to a lady last evening "sorry I can't think of your name" she said "I'll give you a clue mate".........Wife smile.

Yorkshiregel Mon 13-Feb-17 09:13:43

Am I strange to be able to remember conversations which took place years and years ago? The problem I have is with numbers. I cannot remember them to save my life. I have to have my own telephone number written down never mind anyone else'.

Once on a visit to my son's new house I popped out to get a few bits from the corner shop. When I returned I could not remember what house number he lived in so had to stand on the pavement until he came out to see where I had got to :-)

Sometimes I forget where I put things, but the trick I use is to retrace my steps and go back to what I was doing before I 'lost' whatever it was. It usually works.

Yorkshiregel Mon 13-Feb-17 09:15:37

I find computer passwords easy to remember. I use the company's name and the current year.

LadyGracie Mon 13-Feb-17 11:57:53

Yes nancan I also struggle to remember what items are called. I'm ok with close family members names but others I don't even try. I bought new curtains yesterday, I have lots of hooks but where are they, I shall be going out to buy some more shortly. When I do look for things I find other things I don't remember owning or buying in the first place. Very scary confused

MargPat Mon 27-Mar-17 15:21:42

My daughter's getting me to record as much as I can remember about the photos we have in the family album... so she doesn't get stuck with who is who and what is where

Also if she has kids, sometime they can listen to my voice