Placing "amicable" and "separation" together creates an oxymoron - we don't usually decide to end a partnership until the very sight of our soon-to-be ex fills us with disgust, misery, agony or a combination of all three.

It's so much easier to count our disadvantages than tot up the mitigating circumstances that generally outweigh the despair.

In romance we feel the need to zoom in and expound on our partner's foibles in intimate detail; in friendship we tend to do the opposite, avoiding confrontation through fear, lethargy or both.

Joy acts like a trampoline, everything that touches it bouncing right back off it.

Like cars, every relationship requires a bit of an occasional service, and fine-tuning should be compulsory.

Having a baby is a disaster for your career. I don't think there's any sympathy.

Placing "amicable" and "separation" together creates an oxymoron - we don't usually decide to end a partnership until the very sight of our soon-to-be ex fills us with disgust, misery, agony or a combination of all three.