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Still, encouraged by our good friends Shirley and Barry to celebrate our anniversary I had chosen a pub. Not just any pub mind you, but one in the midst of the Hertfordshire countryside, a listed building renowned for good food and fine ales. Barry certainly warmed to the place as he stood beside me admiring the selection of beers on offer.

Shirley came over and whispered ‘I think we shall be okay’.

I had left Val with Shirley at the menu blackboard with relief I had spotted amongst the extensive menu ‘Scampi’ advertised and I knew this is what she would choose. Mind you she would still take at least five minutes choosing what to have. ‘With a side salad, no dressing and definitely no mayonnaise’. Yes I knew that order off by heart.

Shirley had gone to find us a table and once seated Barry had joined her carefully carrying their drinks, I was left at the bar reminiscing thinking of previous anniversaries when suddenly I realised Val was missing...

Shirley and Barry are very good with Val and I trust them but try as I may I could not get their attention at that point. I looked around and simply could not see her and the bar man was having trouble with the till, Shirley and Barry were engrossed in conversation and yes I was now beginning to panic.

It was with such relief when I heard Val’s distinctive cough, I turned and there she was just a few steps away directly behind me chatting away to a couple seated at a table. Thankfully the bar man was at last making progress, the manager had been called to fix the till and very soon I received an apology for the delay along with my change.

‘Now to rescue that poor couple from my wife’ I thought.

Val could always chat to anyone and most would find it interesting, Val still loves to chat but of late what she says is not so interesting and tends to be very repetitive.

I walked over and gave Val her glass of wine thinking I would suggest we join Shirley and Barry and order our meal as the restaurant was getting busy.

I was rather taken back when just as I handed Val her glass of wine the man seated at the table spoke. ‘Hello David. As soon as you walked in I recognised you, after all these years.’

I now looked at the lady seated at the table. Yes they did look a little familiar, but as yet I could not place them. It was a role reversal to say the least. Try as I may I could not put a name to the couple but gradually as the conversation progressed I realised the couple had been to our house and knew about all our cats. We had been registered cat breeders for many years. I assumed they must have bought one of our cats. We had bred a lot of kittens over many years. Even at the best of times it is not easy to remember people’s names or their cat’s.

Thankfully Val was in good form and talked about our famous stud cats etc. The only clue to her condition was when asked by the couple when the cat died and Val would turn to me to give the answer.

We left the couple when their meal arrived. I was relieved things had gone so well but still puzzled as to what their names were. Yes I could remember the couple and even the kitten and the adult cat that they had bought. Yes the man did look different with white hair. Mind you I had last seen him at least twelve years ago. We joined Shirley and Harry at our table and ordered our meal. The meal arrived and we were soon enjoying our food and pleasant conversation when Val interrupted the talking ‘Merll and John’. That’s all she said then continued to eat. I was well impressed – she had remembered the couple’s names.

We finished our meal and Val with her sweet tooth was more than keen to discover what delights were on offer for desert. I was seated with my back to the wall in the corner and Shirley very kindly offered to go and order.

Shirley pushed back her chair and stood up and Val joined her announcing 'Let me come and help’. I looked at Shirley, who nodded.

It was then I had a brain wave and called to Val. I took out my wallet as Shirley and Val came back to our table. ‘How about buying...’ I had forgotten the couple’s name that we had spoken to and gestured up the restaurant to where they were seated behind a wall. ‘You know the couple we spoke to when we came in’. Val looked up the restaurant then looked at me puzzled. ‘You know the couple’. I pointed at the wall just as two elderly ladies walked in. Val looked at me blankly, took my money and turned to follow Shirley.

I just could not believe what happened next. The two old ladies had come to sit at the table next to ours and were greeted by Val, ‘Can I buy you both a drink?’

‘No Val’ I shouted.

The two old ladies looked at Val then at me. All three looked puzzled as well they might and at this point I lost it. I offer no excuses. I got a fit of the giggles and laughed ‘til my sides hurt.

Of course I felt bad. Val was totally confused and had sat down at a loss as to what had happened. Try as I may it took me a while to compose myself. Barry and I eventually made our way up the restaurant and ordered our next course.

Soon Val was eating her desert with relish, the incident now forgotten. It was a good example of Frontal Lobe Dementia – how my wife could remember the names of the couple from many years back but could not remember having spoken to them that very evening.

It proved a good evening and yes it was also a good example of what my wife has had to put up with for the last twenty-seven years. I admit I have a warped sense of humour. It has got me this far and I feel that if ever I lose my sense of humour that will be the time I will give up.