Are you always the one who’s doing her best to make sure everyone else is happy and comfortable?

Do you like to find consensus rather than impose your opinion on others?

Are you good at providing sympathy to a friend in need?

Some would say you’re a “people pleaser” but I don’t like this term ...

*A version of this article first appeared in the Independent on 30 August 2021

As I perch amongst a clump of Isoglossa stems I train my binoculars on a female samango monkey I’ve named Pica. I’ve followed her through the forest, a long way from the rest of her troop, and now she’s cautiously app...

If I asked you “what are the most important attributes to pay attention to when picking a partner?”, what would you say?

A great sense of humour maybe? Kindness? Honesty? A bulging bank-balance perhaps?

Whatever it is, it’s unlikely to be what gives you the hots for a guy when you first meet him –...

I meet so many women in midlife who are completely sorted. They’re gorgeous, they’re fit and healthy, they’ve got successful careers, they’re independent and know how to do all the things.

But they can’t find a man – at least not one that meets their standards. And their standards tend to be high –...