I've spent a lot of today being variously sworn at, patronised and insulted. By myself.

This does make sense really. In mid-1999 I managed to forget a dentist's appointment on the day, despite having kept it firmly in mind for the whole of the previous week. I was somewhat disgusted with myself as a result, and when in late 2001 I forgot again, I decided to take stern measures. Hence, every time I go to the dentist and come back with an appointment for six months later, I now immediately schedule a large number of reminders - deferred emails, beepy things on my watch, anything else I can think of - which will nag me incessantly in the week leading up to the next appointment in the hope that with enough endless repetition I won't manage to forget. Since this tradition was born when I was extremely annoyed with myself, the messages mostly tend to be either very rude, or of the form "Do try and remember this time". So twice a year, I receive a whole week's worth of invective from my six-months-younger self.

My teeth are usually perfectly all right, requiring nothing more than a little cleaning; so I'm not actually worried about the appointment. But nonetheless I'll be very relieved when it's over, because my six-months-younger self will finally SHUT UP :-)