Rehab your relationship

Even the steadiest relationships can be rocked by a rough patch. "All couples hit slumps at times, because we tend to take our partners for granted," says relationship expert Jean Smith. "We put huge amounts of effort into all other areas of our lives, but get lazy when it comes to long-term love."

Couple crisis: you seem to be drifting apart
You used to spend all your time together, but lately your interests have changed and you're now living virtually separate lives.

RECOVERY PLAN "Having different interests is actually a positive in a relationship," says Mary Balfour, author of Smart Dating (HarperCollins, R218).

"It's great to maintain space and individuality, but make sure you balance this with joint activities. Why not suggest that for every time you go out separately, you spend the next night together - even if you just stay in and cuddle in front of a scary film?"

Couple crisis: you're playing the blame game
All you do is argue and go around in circles blaming each other for all the little problems.

RECOVERY PLAN "There's often a more serious problem at the heart of this," explains Jean. "If he's always out with his mates, it's easier to nag him about the washing-up than confront the real issue. The worst thing is to be accusatory. Come at it from his point of view by saying, 'I know I've been neglecting you lately, but it's because...'

Don't dance around the subject, and instead of talking about it when you're tired from work, go for a walk on a Sunday afternoon when you're full of energy. If you slide into blame, put yourselves in each other's shoes for five minutes. You'll be amazed at how quickly things can be resolved when you consider each other's feelings."

Couple crisis: the thrill has gone
You've become so comfortable with each other that you never bother with makeup and he's always wearing his tracksuit pants and dirty socks.

RECOVERY PLAN "Is this bothering both of you?" asks Mary. "He might love seeing you au naturel, even if you're sick of him wearing the same grubby gear. But not making an effort means you're both probably feeling unappreciated."

Mary recommends some good old-fashioned flirting. "Send flirty texts or emails, or recreate a memorable date from the early days of your relationship. Remind him that you never want to take him for granted, and vice versa. Without comparing too much, talk about other relationships you admire. If there's a couple who still get dressed up to go on dates, borrow their style."

Couple crisis: you still have baggage
Your last boyfriend cheated on you and you're petrified your new man will do the same.

RECOVERY PLAN "Past relationship problems belong there," says relationship expert Paula Hall. "Reassure your partner that you're addressing the issue because you want it to work this time. Say you want to know who he's out with because you've been stung in the past. Hopefully he'll make the effort to stay in touch more."

Perky pets

If you're looking for love, you might want to consider how pets fit into your future. A new poll shows that the type of pet you own and how you treat it can influence relationships.

Almost half of the women surveyed said they were "repelled" by the idea of a man owning a spider, while men said they shy away from dating women who pamper their pets. And a quarter of men and women said if they had to choose, they'd keep their pets over an allergic partner.

Love quickie: infidelity starts in the mind: 30 percent of committed partners have fantasised about cheating.