We 'go Errr...' It's the noise you make when you're going to sleep. You get yourself into a trance. There are three children in our family and we all had separate rooms so we didn't copy off each other. We have different styles. My parents don't 'go errr...', but my dad's grandfather used to do it and my son does it.
The way I did it - I'd crouch up and have my hands under the pillow and then rock my head from side to side and 'go errr' for about 20 minutes. If I wasn't asleep within 20 minutes I'd have to turn the pillow over because it became a bit soggy!
My brother was more subtle. He used to lie on his front and pass his head from side to side just 'going errr...' quietly. My sister used to get up on all fours and smash her head into the head board and sing any songs she knew the words to, especially, "I am woman, I am invincible" ... I don't know whether she knocked herself out.
As children, as soon as we woke up we'd start doing it and do it until we were allowed to get out of bed, when Mum and Dad came to get us. I'm 33 years old now and I did stop before I got married. If I can't sleep I'll go into the spare room and find myself 'going errr...' but not quite so vigorously as I used to.
We terrified our babysitter once. Mum forgot to tell her we did it and this 18 year- old-girl came round and went into one bedroom and there's Paul rocking, in another there's me rolling and in yet another, Dinah is smashing her head against the headboard! She ran out of the house trying to get help! My brother actually moved his cot from one side of the room to another by doing it. I'd love to know if anyone else does this and what they call it!
