Shane Watson
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Someone has unearthed a Relate-style test from 70 years ago, designed to measure how women rated as wives. Back then, wifely misdemeanours included soiled aprons and wearing cold cream to bed (who knew?). A wife got merit points for asking her husband’s opinion on important purchases and letting him sleep late at weekends. You will not be surprised to learn there was no equivalent test for men, so I have decided to remedy that and bring you the up-to-date Good Husband Guide 2008.
The good husband
* Recognises the clinically proven need for us to sleep longer than teenage boys.
* Is willing to discuss current affairs, such as who is out on The Apprentice, and is prepared to talk about Mad Men, even though the series has finished (and would be prepared to go to the Sex and the City movie if you let him have two martinis first).
* Shows no interest in experimenting with late-onset jewellery-wearing and thinks Harrison Ford looks a prat with his earring (phew).
* Deals with own stain removal and attempts own ironing.
* Is diet aware: will cook without a pint of cream and pound of cheddar, and doesn’t mind the occasional lentil.
* Is fashion literate. Knows the difference between Marni and Louboutin, and is up to speed with Kate Moss’s latest collection (what we love, what we hate).
* Has a good changing-room manner: always patient and upbeat. Knows not to make wheezing noises whenever catches sight of a price tag or to say, “Is that meant to be that way round/how much longer is this going to take?”
* Is size aware. Knows wife’s knicker size, so can pick some up from M&S in an emergency.
* Is emotionally aware. Understands the need for wife to talk about things for at least half an hour before going to sleep, including Sheherazade Goldsmith’s bedroom fireplace (could it work for us?).
* Is surgery aware. Can’t understand why they would do it. What can they think they look like?
The bad husband
* Splashes fat all over the kitchen from cooking with the gas on full.
* Plays football all the time, even when it’s hailing, but can’t, when quite sunny, go to check out what is new in Gap.
* When shopping, buys everything organic, including pasta (look at the bill!) and buys a bag for life every time.
* Fails to ask wife’s opinion on important purchases such as 10ft painting featuring a lot of red or fridge for bedroom.
* Still doesn’t get the difference between PMT, MT and post-MT. Implies there isn’t much to choose between them.
* Pretends is only interested in Grand Theft Auto because of the amazing graphics.
* Expresses a view on weight-loss-to-cost ratio of Power Plate, MBT trainers and other essentials that do not concern him.
* Orders stuff on the internet, then leaves it at the post office.
* Doesn’t think you need Botox, but thinks everyone who has had it looks fantastic.
* Can sort of see why Sean Penn fell for that tsunami model.
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A good husband listens to, respects, loves, supports and always does his best to promote the happiness of his spouse. A good wife does the same!
Yesterday I helped my man carry home and install his new 42" HDTV then made carbonara. Even though I'm female by this list I fear I'm a bad husband.
Lizzie, London,
With modern women, the first rule should be to check the bank account.
John P, Westcliff on sea, United Kingdom
Clearly the lists are the wrong way round.
H Grant , NRW, Germany
Mark how can you not understand a fridge in the bedroom, guess you have never had the pleasure of staying at a hotel with a mini bar!
Dave Jones, London ,
Your husband must be one of those irritating men always hanging around the changing room doors / underwear section in womens shops like some would- be pervert. As for men having an opinion about Kate Moss's latest collectiion??! I would have no time for any man that even knew it existed.
Gwyneth , Dubai , UAE
Haha, the list is supposed to have a pock at men, but ends up being more insulting to women.
Matthew, Enfield, England
God hasn't created man to serve women.. it was the other way around! And that is why you babes feel so depressed when we don't look at you.
And all those domestic chores.. WE men let you do that so you feel WE actually depend on you. You wouldn't ahve otherwise... LOL
Rui, Lisbon, Portugal
A fridge in the bedroom???
All this article confirms is that Londoners live on a completely different planet to the rest of us!
Mark J, Bath,
She got paid for this?
Chris Jackson, London,
Avoid women who say "How much longer are you going to be doing that?" or "surely you're not still doing that" or "not again". That takes care of half the population
Brian Faulkner, Bridgwater,
With modern women, simply check the victim's bank account.
John P, Westcliff on sea, United Kingdom
I owe the husband I am to my wife's gentle and patient re-direction of superfluous male interests and instincts ,also the efforts I put into the aviodance at all costs of the dreaded",Robert,I've been thinking".Anticipation and compliance,especially as she will read this article, are my watchword.
robert everitt, wolverhampton,
Dangerously simplistic and conformist lists like this one only prolong antagonism between members of opposite genders.
Nice job.
John F, London,
I'm pretty sure Shane Watson is female. Although that has no bearing on her taste in women, if indeed that is the case.
I can understand some of the points made in response, but if I were to rely on this list I'd have to add 'can distinguish opinion piece from fact' under 'good'.
Shona, London,
Shane Watson is a woman (re Carrie from Durham) - but other than that, I 100% completely agree with Carrie (Durham). What a load of utter, pointless drivel !! Is this what the Times has come to - printing this on the front page? I'm a woman & detest these immature/simplistic/'cosmo girl' lists.
Mia, London, UK
Before this article reignites the battle of the sexes and prompts people to moan about how nasty it is about men, it should be noted the author of the article is a man.
It is a parody of women's expectations, not a catalogue of male shortcomings. Probably not meant to be taken too seriously!
Robert Elms, Norfolk, UK
CW just implied that im not a man.
max, croydon, surrey
This is typical old-school man bashing - ie if a man doesn't behave like your best girlfriend then he's a troglodyte prat. If my husband did any of the stuff on the good husband list I'd divorce him. I'm a feminist but I expect a man to be a man and not a pathetic excuse for an almost-woman.
CW, London , UK
What a limited list! There is more to women than shopping, fashion and crap TV. This woman hates shopping, has never watched "Sex and the City" nor "The Apprentice and doesn't find talking about any of that interesting.
Can only guess that Shane has rather limited taste in women.
Carrie, Durham, UK
So this is why I'm perpetually single?
Michael, Nottingham, UK
Erm, I think I'll design my own list, thanks all the same.
I hate to shop, couldn't care less about designers, cook with both cheese and cream, and roll over and go to sleep straight away. If I ever have a conversation about someone's fireplace, feel free to smother me with a pillow.
Paige Atherton, San Francisco,
"Is willing to discuss current affairs, such as who is out on The Apprentice..."
"Knows the difference between Marni and Louboutin..."
"Knows not to make wheezing noises..."
Christ. I'd rather stay single, sane and solvent, thanks. Agree with you on the jewellery, though.
Robert Todd, London,