I am grateful for the fact that Mandi doesn't stand in the way of my work and has no problem with me going to gigs and wandering off to interview people or whatever I need to do, however I sometimes get the impression that her tolerance for my activities is a thinly veiled lack of interest. As supportive as she is I do often tell her that she isn't bothered about my career and sometimes ask her questions to test how much attention she pays and she will show that she doesn't know the answer. Despite me giving her a copy to look at about four months ago she still hasn't read my book Bowie Day, and it doesn't matter that I am saying this because she doesn't read my blog.
There have been countless occasions when I have asked her to watch, read or listen to something only for her to fob me off to the point where I have now given up asking. It is kind of nice that she isn't too fussed about what I do because what is more important to me is the fact that Mandi never tries to stop me, and after being trapped in a marital prison before and not allowed to pursue my career goals I know which situation I prefer.
Yesterday though Mandi hit me with a devastating bombshell from which I don't think I will ever recover. She told me that she doesn't like the kazoo. Part of my working day yesterday had been recording two tracks for my upcoming Christmas Kazoo album, and after doing so I went downstairs to find Mandi had returned home. When I commented that I hadn't heard her come in she made a comment about me having a duck trapped in my office. This afternoon I asked if she wanted to hear the two Christmas songs (Mandi loves Christmas so I thought she would jump at the chance) and she said no because she doesn't like the kazoo.
Doesn't like the kazoo!
This is like Eric Clapton's wife suddenly announcing that she doesn't care for the guitar, or Mrs Mozart asking her husband to knock the piano on the head. The biggest night of my life will come when I am asked to give a concert at the Royal Albert Hall and travel the world in my capacity as Nottingham's premier kazoo player, taking in Sydney Opera House, Madison Square Gardens and the Hollywood Bowl, and Mandi won't want to be there to share it with me.
The Sunday Alternative #55 is available from here.
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September housekeeping
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