'Til text us do part

Time-strapped couples with only 10 minutes a day to talk to each other are increasingly resorting to emails and texts to communicate reports Lesley Thomas in the Telegraph. According to a new poll, there's nothing unusual about such a set-up. The survey of women found that most have so little time for face-to-face contact with their men folk that one in five uses text, others use email and the Luddites/old romantics use Post-it notes on the fridge to keep in touch. Typically, couples have 10 minutes a day (wow, as much as that?) to talk to one another and they spend nine of those discussing their children.

Relationship counsellors warn against over-reliance on technology, but I like being in a broadband relationship. I think we should congratulate ourselves for finding a way around the lack of human contact involved in being a dual-income, time-poor household. Without electronic messaging, I don't see how we'd keep in touch at all.

Email rows are far more satisfying than the shouty variety. You can think before you speak, allowing yourself that extra moment to come up with your best put-downs and one-liners. I know one couple who have text fights while under the same roof so as not to upset their children. Another friend says she flirts with her husband by email - although by the time she gets home from work, she is usually too tired to make good on any of her frisky promises.

Relationship psychologist Susan Quilliam says: "Lots of busy couples communicate by email and text, but you have to be very careful to make sure this isn't the only way you speak to one another. I do approve of the idea of sending a kiss or a loving message by text. It's just the sort of thing to oil the wheels for a couple with too many demands on their time."

The car insurance company that commissioned the survey found that much verbal communication was saved for car journeys and concluded, of course, that this was no bad thing. Said a spokeswoman: "The car seems to be one haven where couples can chat with one another and discuss their relationship without too many distractions."

Colm