Linda Hall: What was I was going to say ... ?

Linda Hall.

Making lists has never been my thing.

Some people make lists for all sorts of things. Mr Neat is one of those.

He has lists everywhere and is often seen sitting on the couch or at the table scribbling away. There are scribbles all over the calendar as well.

Grocery lists appear on the fridge, for me, of course, because going to the supermarket is not on Mr Neat's list of things to do on the weekend.

He has been heard to say "well if you made a list or wrote it down you wouldn't have forgotten it".

Lately I have to concede that my memory is not what it used to be.

I also find myself doing some stupid things like pointing my car keys at the back door and pushing unlock (someone should invent a key for back doors that does this - it would be very handy when one is trying to juggle grocery bags, a handbag and keys with a cat meowing around one's feet).

I'm finding that unless I make a wee note when I think of something I need to do at work or home chances are it may not get done on time.

Recently I read somewhere (can't remember where ... oh dear, is that bad?) a handy hint about remembering those brilliant ideas that come to you in the middle of the night.

Apparently if you just can't drag yourself out of bed to find pen and paper, all you need to do is "write" it on your arm with your finger. In the morning you'll remember.

Well I tried that. I often have ideas in the night about work or things I need to do the next day and I do get up and write them down sometimes.

The other night I had a brilliant idea. It was freezing cold so I wrote my idea down on my arm with my finger. Feeling satisfied that I would have no trouble remembering my great idea in the morning I drifted off to sleep again.

The next morning while making coffee I suddenly remembered what I had done.

Yes - I had written something on my arm. What was it?

I thought and thought about it. It will come to me - but it still hasn't.

I have no idea what I wrote on my arm.

Perhaps it was a silly idea and my mind decided to let it go, either that or my memory is worse than I thought.

So while I haven't got to the stage where I need to carry a notebook in my handbag and write everything down I do realise that my memory is not what it once was.

Now, before I forget, I want to talk about an entirely different subject.

The delightful Prince George celebrated his third birthday last week and no matter what you think of the royal family you have to admit he is very cute.

Unbelievably one of the official photos has caused an outcry. I just can't believe some of the nasty comments people have posted about a little boy offering his dog a lick of his icecream. As far as I can see the dog doesn't take the offered treat, but according to one comment "Prince George needs chucking in prison for feeding that dog an icecream, irresponsible animal cruelty paid for by the taxpayer".

Good grief. How many children have done the exact same thing. How many dogs have torn into rubbish bags and licked icecream containers.

It might not be good for them but smoking's not good for humans and they still do it.

I bet the dog would love a bit more of that sort of cruelty.

It amazes me how absolutely nasty people can be when they are hidden behind a computer screen. Instead of sitting there banging away at a keyboard these people should have an icecream ... it just might make them smile.

- Linda Hall is assistant editor of Hawke's Bay Today.