Lee_M, you may not be the average woman. But we men know and understand but can't figure out - the average woman expects, no, demands that men be telepathic. Hence, when she says those words or phrases, we are supposed to telepathically know what she's referring to.
Her: "Did you forget what today is?"
Him: <oh shit... her birthday? our anniversary? take the dog to the vet? carry out the trash? her mother's birthday? oh shit! I'm doomed!> "Uh, happy anniversary, honey?"
Her: <arms folded across her chest, eyes narrowed, foot tapping a hole in the floor> "You have to set the clocks forward, but that's okay, you can do it in five minutes."