I thought that I knew my wife pretty well. An interest in football has never been a part of what I have come to expect of her normal profile. Imagine, therefore, my surprise when yesterday she said quite suddenly, “I agree with Gary Lineker.” What is more, she was able to explain the basis of their common agreement …. a matter of the award of a penalty. The level of my curiosity was raised when, later, she told me “I think that Raheem Sterling is wonderful.” Fortunately I was sufficiently in tune with the football to realise that she was expressing an opinion about the ability of one of the players and not confessing to infidelity. What really made me realise that things are not as I assumed they normally were when she called out, “They ought to bring on Jack Grealish!” (I gather that they heeded her advice and did just that. England won!)
Realising at this point that I was not capable of adding very much to the conversation I went to bed, encouraged by her comment that the game was set for another half-hour of extra time. Evidently there are hidden depths to my wife I had never previously even suspected.
I have no idea whether her opinions about football are as sound as her views about art. This afternoon she wandered into the studio and peered over my shoulder at the piece on which I was working. “Don’t change that face any more,” she said, and proceeded to explain cogently the basis of her judgement. With the exception of a few very minor details she was right.