I remember
...when Irene, out of the blue, said "Get clogs off table"
...when Irene & Debbie went swimming and she just whipped her wig off and threw it in the back of the car
...when Irene was out walking with Debbie and her wig got caught on a twig. She was in fits of laughter while they tried to disentangle it!
...Irene naming our squirrels Fearless and Thicket...and their three babies The Thugs
...Irene calling cling film Rip Wrap
...when Irene booted me in Debenhams
...our first Winter together kicking snowdrifts and laughing
...the way Irene said Disgraceful!
...on her final admission to hospital Irene chuckling and saying "What a terrible noise" when someone in the next bed was shouting!
...in Popes Lane, late evening, the local power transformer used to switch over with a loud noise. Irene quipped "That poor man is trying to shoot himself and he missed again"
...in Danny's place, Irene was convinced that the old boy in the upstairs single room was a murderer because he never spoke to anyone!
...living in the mobile home, we found some chenille curtains at a church jumble sale but when we washed them, they fell to pieces! Irene fell about laughing!
...we had some oranges that were looking the worse for wear, so rather than throw them out, Irene offered them to Mark!
...when Irene visited me in Popes Lane, I put on Rubicon by Tangerine Dream and she sat with her eyes closed, entranced
...on our early dates in the Gunnersbury pub on Popes Lane Irene asked for a sherry, but insisted on a schooner!
...in the early days in Popes Lane, I offered Irene a Callard & Bowser Creamline Toffee and she said: Yes, two please!
...On our honeymoon, Irene was trying to chew her usual two Callard & Bowser licorice toffees and I made her laugh. She ended up with black foam coming out of her mouth!
...Irene's love of toasted waffles with maple syrup which she called shwiffles. She ate them very slowly because she couldn't bear to see them gone!
...going to see one of the first performances of Phantom of the Opera and the moment that the chandelier came crashing onto the stage. It seemed very close as it whizzed past our heads!
...after seeing Phantom of the Opera, hearing Terry Wogan complain on tv that he couldn't get a ticket for months!
...Irene getting excited about small things like new wool
...Irene happily singing around the place
...Irene singing amazing opera notes
...when we went on holiday to Gran Canaria, we found a place with lots of slot machines. I asked Irene which machine was going to pay out next and she thought for a bit, then confidently pointed to a machine. I duly put in 100 pesetas and it started paying out! We got a cupful of pesetas which we asked the proprietor to change into notes. He grudgingly agreed!
...Irene demanding tea at all hours
...being impressed by Irene cleaning all the tar from her cigarette holder using only one tissue!
...how Irene always managed to keep hold of a tissue even overnight!
...Irene in Finland-the amazing way she communicated with people who didn't speak a word of English!
...Irene on our Tourama, helping a disabled lady around
...our adventures in Sydney: QVB, David Jones (fog rolling off greengroceries, basement cafe, upstairs cafe, underground fast food, revolving restaurant, Manly beach, the harbour, the opera house, Doyle's, Alexander's, the Rocks, Koala Park Regis, York Apartments.
...a professional painter praising the standard of painting in the passage, not realising that it was Irene's work!
...our visits to Ocean Village and sharing a rock cake and tea in the restaurant.
...Friday evenings, dancing in Farthings lounge.
...Irene coming out with phrases such as golly, gosh and goody gumdrops!
...when Irene taped Romeo & Juliet on a cassette for me, not realising that she had taped over a previous track!
...Irene cooking lovely yellow mushrooms from David Jones (in butter) for me during a lunch break in our Koala Park Regis studio apartment provided by CitiBank in Sydney!
...Irene taking off Johnny Rotten's punk singing!
...Irene singing (with hand movements) Every Time You Go Away (Paul Young-1985)!
...when Irene used to sit with her hands tucked into her shoulders (like a cat)
...Irene giving Rolfy (soft toy) a bath.
...that Irene insisted on painting eyes on ornaments, so that they could see!
...Irene choosing succinct and appropriate names for things.
...the way that Irene listened a lot and spoke a little.
...Irene's passion for confectionery wafers that she bought from the cafe in Gunnersbury Park!
...Irene's love of "Oven Bottoms" (huge, light and fluffy teacakes from Lancashire)
...Irene telling someone that their pipe tobacco smelled like custard!
...Irene training a pair of doves to take food from her outstretched hand!
...when Irene woke from a disturbing dream and told me off for behaving badly in it!
...In Wetherspoons, Irene throwing a chip at another customer but acting so innocent that he didn't believe it was her!
...Irene calling Selenium and Zinc "Smelly Pill"!
...Irene insisting that Shakin' Stevens had smelly feet!
...Irene calling tourist buses "Open-necked Buses"!
...Irene calling Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony Doctor Finlay music!
...when Peter brought back a Wild Hairy Haggis soft toy for Irene from trials in Scotland and she said that it was horrible!