A few weeks ago I wrote about the many memberships and subscriptions we have and how shocking it is when you add them all up. It’s taken a while, but I’ve now listed them all, with the cost next to each item. I didn’t include things like gym, golf and choir memberships because we use them all the time. What I was really looking for was those subscriptions we took out years ago that could be cancelled and make no difference to our lives whatsoever. I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed making the list, especially when it came to adding up all the numbers and dividing by 12 for a monthly total. So satisfying.
Some things are non-negotiable, like Spotify. Now that we no longer have any albums or CDs, without Spotify there’d be no music in our house at all. I know there are issues around Spotify and how difficult it is for musicians to make a living, but I really don’t want a house full of CDs. I never felt any affection for those little plastic discs, unlike records, which I admit have a certain vintage charm. Not enough to give them house room, but I like the idea of them. Somewhere else. So, my solution is to make more of an effort to go and see bands live. We’re off to see The Rosellys tonight, a British folk/country act, and then Alice Cooper on Monday evening. No-one could accuse me of narrow musical tastes.
I’m not entirely sure why we’re going to see Alice Cooper – I never much liked him in his heyday. All those snakes, electric chairs, goth vibes and possible chicken incidents weren’t my thing. He had us all fooled, though. His real name is Vincent, his father was a preacher and he’s been married to his wife, a classical ballerina, for nearly 50 years. He used to open all his shows with Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain. It was all just an act. Who knew?
My Audible subscription will also survive the cull. I love audiobooks – there’s nothing nicer than being read to, especially when the narrator is an accomplished actor. I still think about being in Turin, happily listening to Sarah Winman’s Still Life, a wonderful novel about love, friendship, war, art, hardship, music and Tuscany. Perfect. Until I had my wallet stolen. Into each life…
So, what’s going? The British Library membership won’t survive. I imagined I’d be whiling away afternoons there, but I was deluded. The Ramblers Association, despite being a very worthwhile organisation promoting walking and the countryside, will have to go. I’ve come to the conclusion that we’ve never been convincing ramblers and, although it’s a great charity, it’s not top of my list. And the subscription to CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, what’s that all about? You’ve got to be a middle-aged man with a beard and a generous waistline to support that one. It’s a requirement. Someone else will have to fight that campaign.
Meanwhile, I’m listening to Alice Cooper’s Killer album and prepping the black eye makeup. Just praying that no chickens will be harmed on Monday evening.