It's Lent, right? So now is the time to break bad habits of all kinds, from smoking twenty a day to the morning latte that costs you more than your rent. But what about the type of bad habit that's so insidious you don't even realise you're afflicted? It's easy enough to spot when you're drinking too much coffee; the shakes and stained teeth should be a sign. Or too much sugar; your waistline and energy levels will attest to that.

Ask a simple question, get a massive problem. It is amazing how 'a coffee' or 'a drink' has become such an occasion for some people. I must be missing something at the moment and prone to be forever a bachelor because it seems the goalposts have changed when it comes to dating.

Chivalry IS dead! And gentlemen, are there are any left?
Henry Ford once said, "There are no big problems, just a lot of little ones". Unfortunately a lack of chivalry displays far too many little problems and in my eyes, that becomes a big problem.

A friend of mine and I migrated to a well-known city centre establishment the other day after the rugby match. We had already had a few and so we were sufficiently caught up on each other's work, family and social lives. The conversation started to wander. Somehow we got on to the subject of genetics and I professed that it was always an area I was rather shady about in school.

As Valentine's Day approaches, the pressure is ever increasing to get the present sorted out. However, if perhaps things are slightly different for you and the time is nearing to kick the latest relationship to touch, you have to consider: when is too close to a big day to cut all ties? Anyone that lines up the old 'it's not you, it's me' chat in the week before Valentine's Day will forever be known as a tight-fisted skinflint.

One friend's recent tale of woe with a romantic interest made me start to wonder about the nature of relationships between men and women. The lady in question met a member of the opposite sex that caught her eye about a year ago now. For months, the two acted as if they were in the throes of young love. They were in constant contact, went out on the town together every week and he even personally invited her to come and watch him playing sports with the local team.

Social networking was the buzzword of the noughties and is set to continue into the 'teens'. Instead of being judged by the numbers of letters after your name or your sparkling personality, it now all comes down to the number of friends you have on Facebook or how many people you follow on Twitter.

It has become apparent in recent times that women know what men are up to. Contrary to some opinion, they are not stupid (well, not very), as they have learned the art of male seduction in Ireland. In fairness, it's not hard to decipher - drink a few pints, leer, drink some more pints, leer some more. Have a few shots, approach girl, grab her and slur "how's it going love?" get a slap, move on to next one.

There are lots of great things about being single. You can wear what you want, go where you want and sleep with whoever you want (within reason - George Clooney's not going to like it if you slip him the tongue).

You can tell you've been single too long when you can't see the difference between an innocent come on and sexual harassment. For example, I was taking a taxi home from the cinema one night last week and was fully prepared for a silent ride home. I am not the type for banter - there's only so much sniping I can do about Brian Cowen and the weather.

A single teenager in the city - you don't find too many of these these days. But, you know, it is not always a tragedy, as some people might suggest. Of course, you miss out on some things – having someone to text all the time, someone to meet you when no one else will, someone to talk to about a friend who you absolutely can't stand at the moment… But, has anyone ever looked at how good it is not to be 'tied down'?

The term 'cougar', which is commonly used overseas to describe a sexually aggressive older woman on the hunt for a younger man, has begun to infiltrate the Irish dating scene. While it may have been unusual in the past for an older woman to choose a partner a decade or more her junior, new figures are showing that the cougar is moving from the marginal to the mainstream.

Men, they say, are like buses: there will be none for ages and then along will come three at once. Well, I've been at the bus stop for quite a while now and there hasn't been anything past in a century; five or six better be around the next corner. But what do you do in a serious dry patch? Society would tell us that we should wait it out gracefully, enjoy the company of our friends, and pursue other interests.

Contrary to widely held opinion, men are not ignorant of the art of seduction. However, it is often hard to decipher, as it generally involves drinking a few pints, leering, drinking some more pints, leering some more and repeating ad nauseum. Or having a few shots, approaching a girl, grabbing her and slurring, "How's it going, Love?" Usually to be followed by a slap, before they move on to next one.

There are some of us in the world for whom distant drums will always beat. We are the ones who are destined to have astronomical phone bills, worn-out tyres, and old Supermacs bags on the floor of our cars. We are the ones in long-distance relationships. But do not pity us! Like going to the gym or getting an enema, long distance relationships might involve a certain amount of pain, but they do have their advantages.