The Rules of Love, 3rd Edition

RULE 42

If little things annoy you, say so – with humour

Go on then, what annoys you about your partner? There’s got to be loads of things. Come on, what can you think of, off the top of your head? Let’s see – do they always sing along to your favourite music out of tune? Do they change channels on the TV without asking you first? Take phone messages for you and then forget to pass them on? Put the greasy butter knife straight down on the table? Interrupt you when you’re in mid-sentence? Snore? Throw away the toothpaste before it’s really empty? I bet there are loads of little things that wind you up.

I’ve never met anyone who didn’t wind their partner up in some kind of little way or other. It’s unavoidable. Of course we need to be tolerant ...