How important is your name? I personally find that a name slipping from memory is one of society’s moments of comic genius. Last summer I partook in some local am-dram and was befriend by my onstage companion Russell. He took a shine to my dry wit in the kind of way a Labrador takes a shine to its owners bed. All through show week he assured me he could provide a location for the after-show party, probably the most important part of am-dram. He had a friend, Tom, who was having a party anyway and was the kind of chilled out guy who would welcome all comers. They must be good friends I thought to allow him to bring up to thirty strangers into his house.

Anyway, as the week went on I found out a lot about Tom, by the end of the week I felt as though I knew a lot more about him than I did about Russell. Russell was clearly even more infatuated with this chilled-out welcoming Tom guy than he was with me. So the big night came - party time! We arrived at Tom’s house at gone 12 and considering Tom was the social power Russell had made him out to be the house was eerily quiet. Russell and I knocked the door to be opened by Tom smiling and with an outstretched hand to Russell as he said “SIMON! Great to see you”. Russell’s face dropped and replied “its Russell” as he walked into the quiet house head down and tail between his legs.

Unfortunately that was the highlight of the night, it turned out Tom hadn’t been a social power at all but more a recluse who needed all the friends he could get.

A similar name forgetting incident happened to myself not long ago. After a year of being poker buddies a friend (or at least someone I thought of as a friend) drew a blank when asked what my name was. Its not a great feeling for the forgetter or the forgotten but as a bystander it’s brilliant.

I’m terrible at remember names to the extent that I don’t listen to people’s replies when we exchanges introductions. Once I’ve realised I didn’t listen though it’s too late to ask what it is again and so an awkward night of name avoidance ensues.