I HAVE a memory like a goldfish (although I’ve often wondered how anyone actually managed to measure the cerebral powers of a fish!)

If it were not for the fact that this has always been the case, I might be getting a little more worried as the years roll on.

The truth is – and my family and friends will gleefully testify to this – my memory has been the source of dismay and hilarity in almost equal measure for decades.

In my early 20s, I actually left a friend’s wife to walk three miles home in the pouring rain because I forgot I had offered to give her a lift.

And here’s the worst of it, not only had I made the offer just 20 minutes earlier, I actually drove past her in my car (I think I even waved!).

Just one of many stories that frequently come back to haunt me. In my working life with the BBC, “post-it” notes were my salvation. They were literally everywhere in the house.

These days iPhone reminders are a huge asset – but sometimes I forget to set them!

Just last week I excelled in the poor memory stakes.  I was about to go for a short ride on my motorcycle. As I started to get my helmet on, I placed my mobile phone on the bike’s rear pannier box.

As I did it, I said to myself: “Bad idea…. you’ll ride off with it still there.” Then I silently reasoned: “Well I won’t now, will I? Because I’ve warned myself.”

But, you’ve guessed it, I did, less than two minutes later.  When I got home I realised my phone was missing and straight away retraced my journey, slowly creeping along the busy A38, hazard lights flashing.

My spirits were raised when I saw my blue rubber protective phone case on the side of the road. But when I dismounted to pick it up, it was just the case – no phone inside.  It was nowhere to be seen.

How grateful was I for the car driver who slowed down (stopping all traffic behind him) asked me what the problem was, then offered to keep ringing my phone until I found it, which I did – oddly enough about six metres away in long grass. Without the ringtone I probably would never have found it

So a huge thank you to that kind soul. He did give me his name…but I’ve forgotten it.