If I had a pound for every woman Ive heard of late saying that they werent interested in making do with a man, Id be a rich woman. Whilst in the sauna at the public baths the other day, I lay there listening to a group of middle aged women discussing whether or not they felt that they needed a man in their lives. They repeated the same comment Ive heard countless times of late; Im happy with my life the way it is, I dont need to be in a relationship. A man will just disrupt everything.

Ive heard lots of women, my Mum included, discussing how the men they meet seem lovely, but he will always think that his life is far more important than anything she is doing. Its great having men in their lives, but wont live with someone again and play second fiddle to their needs.

Many of my girlfriends are single and will not go out with someone just for the sake of it. Theyd prefer to be single and uncompromised. Some of them are therefore fairly celibate, whilst others are having loads of sex.

Its a funny old situation that can seem very negative but in some ways its a positive. Increasingly, women are refusing to make do with set ups that compromise too many of their principles or passions, and this in turn means they are being less clingy and significant about L-O-V-E. There is much more room for equal appreciation/self reliant relationships, rather than relationships that function as a crutch and respite from oneself.

But it leaves a bit of a question mark over the idea of children and having a family. The way that families have been structured has been changed beyond all recognition over the last few generations and it looks set to become even more weird and wonderful in the future