Angela Philipps, Contributor

HAVE YOU ever had a boyfriend who was actually worth loving? The kind of person we all wish that we had in our lives? Of course, you are going to think that the man you are with is wonderful, but that's very subjective.

I want an objective opinion now. Did your friends and family think he was the perfect man? And I mean that in the most down-to-earth way possible. No thought on how much money he has or on what he looks like.

At the start of every relationship, however short or long it may have been, I definitely saw the bright, rosy side of the lad in question. Even if I recognised his faults, I convinced myself that I could live with them and that he had other great aspects which made up for them. Of course, all these men turned out to be egotistical and self-centred in the end, and this characteristic, unfortunately, mars all other traits. I know this sounds extreme, but it's true. I have a propensity to go for men who want to be the centre of a particular world - whether it is my world, in a social situation, at work, in the gym, or worse, all of the above.

There is only room for one queen or one king in a relationship, and I have always made the man the king. I have done this without complaint and, in fact, I really have not minded. I am a strong independent lady who is very sure of herself. I do not have to prove anything to anyone. My family loves me unconditionally and they make me feel so secure that I find true peace when I am with them. I am happy to make a man the centre of my world, until I see his dark side of selfishness, and then he's out of my mind forever. But is this right? Shouldn't I be the centre of someone else's world for a change? Can't I be the queen?

Many wonderful attributes

Well, it wasn't until I was put on the throne (so to speak) by the guy I am seeing now that I realised how amazing it was, and is, to feel so adored by someone. I have at last met a man who, so unlike any otherI have gone out with - one who is truly selfless and giving.

Now, I know I told you last week that he can't cook to save his life, but he has so many wonderful attributes that he is excused from all culinary duties for the rest of his life. Trust me on this one, ladies, if you were with him, you wouldn't care if he never roasted a chicken or boiled an egg for you again. He washes up, takes out my garbage, chops down dead trees in the garden, cleans up my puppy's mess, mends all my light fixtures, tightens all the loose screws in my house, surprises me by doing my supermarket shopping on occasion, travels to the end of the world to do something for me, and best of all, he treats me like an angel! He would, and does, do the same for my friends and family.

For the first time in my life, the two most critical beings when it comes to identifying good character (my grandmother and father) think he is a loving and giving person. They see a stable, mature, caring and thoughtful man with some 'fine' qualities. You don't understand, people - they do not freely give out compliments to anyone. I guess I can truly say that theirs is an unbiased judgement! Normally, no one is good enough for their little girl!

Yes, indeed, my friends, I have finally met a man who is worth loving, and the marvellous thing is that he thinks I am worth loving too!

angelaphilippsja@hotmail.com