Marriage - eject or sit it out?

Before Gogglebox, Giles Wood and Mary Killen could never have believed that the intricacies of their marriage of opposites would be aired before millions. And now here is their year-long Diary of Two Nobodies read here by themselves. I just loved it – wonderful sharp listening for gloomy days.

Giles is an artist but it takes him a year to complete a painting, partly because since journalist Mary works frenetically, he ‘keeps the show on the road’ in their draughty Wiltshire cottage and conscientiously nurtures all the soil, winged life and trees in the garden. As a child Giles learned the unfortunate trick that being annoying earned him attention – a behaviour he has continued through 30 years of spectacular marital clashes. (In the past a succession of much-loved live-in helpers have acted as buffers between them). Mary is not blameless – she has never managed to pass a driving test and admits to squirting Pledge through the keyhole to ward off Giles.

Whilst Giles loathes social occasions, Mary is a party-holic, but they are both brimful of ideas. What makes this such rewarding listening is that their arguments and furies arising from their differences are measured, intellectual and absolutely reasonable, and beneath all is a heart-warming and binding love, mutual respect and companionship. Giles is completely splendid in his trenchant views. Happy to stay in the 70s, he deplores an awful lot about society (and why not?), including social kissing, hugging, ubiquitous ‘welling up’ as well as the ‘despicable trend’ of bucket lists. Sometimes I do wonder if he is purposefully out-Gilesing himself, as when he extols the joys of using the ‘crevice nozzle’ on the vacuum cleaner.

There’s a serious side to the whole of this (which becomes clearer in the interview with the authors at the end of the download). From a different generation, young married couples are quick to ‘fast forward’ and ‘eject’ their relationship instead of sitting it out and reaping the rewards.

I think perhaps you need to be older to fully appreciate Giles and Mary. I found them a joy. (Listen out for Mary’s account of taking their loved old dog Phoebe to the vet to be put to sleep).

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52 people found this helpful

The two ‘nutties’

I loved listening to this audio book whilst painting my cupboard. Please write another. Giles and Mary are good to watch on google box and even funnier to listen too. I loved it.

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5 people found this helpful

Listen Again and Again

Giles and Mary are so funny that I find my self returning and listening over and over!

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1 person found this helpful

Loved it!!

I seriously loved this audible book, it made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions. I would thoroughly recommend!

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intriguing listening

Thankyou mary and Giles for sharing your 'weird , funny and loving relationship . Thankyou

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Excellent

Going to start all over again!! Loved every second of this book, hopefully there will be more to follow

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funny honest and a pleasure to listen to

certainly made me look at my own relationships n a different way. love Giles's take on life and Mary's coping mechanisms. lots of similarities I didn't think we'd have. laughed out loud and cried along with Mary at horribly sad moment. easy listen

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Delightfully deadpan and yet heartfelt

I enjoyed this hugely and didn't want it to end. Will keep my fingers crossed for volume 2 to come out.

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so enjoyed your book well done.

It made me laugh write another Diary. This was well worth listening to made me laugh.

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Out of touch with the common folk

It was entertaining to listen to two people moan about their TINY 12 room cottage. Wonder how they would cope in a 4 room cottage where in half of the rooms when standing in the middle one can touch two walls. How they have stayed married amazes one. They seem to delight in putting each other down and each constantly talking over the other. However, it was entertaining which did surprise me, when I first started listening I thought they were so out of touch I would be bored by them. But no!! A jolly good laugh. I am still getting my head around the 8 bathroom home she grew up in. 😂🤣😅😅😂🏡

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