Last man standing

The biological time clock theory is always attributed to women. But there's no doubt that men too are at its mercy, even if it is emotional rather than biological. There comes a moment in everyone's life when you want to share the things you've accrued - be they material or not. Deep down every man knows he cannot run around sowing his wild oats forever - especially when that developing paunch, those three chins and the forever-retreating hairline are now pitted against better-looking, young studs with the athleticism of cheetahs on heat. There's a certain security to be had - and this usually comes with age - in finding a woman who finds your little beer belly attractive and won't mind if it gets worse as the years trundle by.

Me? I've realised something, too. The thing that frightens me about all my mates getting married is not that I'm scared about being left on the shelf. Or becoming an outcast unable to join in the conversations about buying laminate flooring and bunk beds. It's just that the current betting, at the local All Bar One on a Sunday night, is that yours truly, the last man standing, won't be standing much longer.

Talk about men and marriage on Married life: what women want.