THESE new Marriage Preparation classes seem like a good idea.

Even if they prevent a handful of poor souls making a catastrophic mistake, they must be worthwhile. There is nothing more tragic, soul-destroying, and damaging to vigorous good health than being trapped in a terrible marriage.

One young woman interviewed on the radio about her course told how she and her fiance were asked separately what each would do with £10,000. She opted to add to their home deposit. He answered: "I'd spend it on a golfing holiday." That should have made her pause.

After shopping, she piled everything for the bathroom on the stairs. He just walked past it. "I could leave it for two weeks and it still wouldn't be moved," she said.

Justifying this, he explained: "She'll have to make it clearer what she expects me to do."

So, stumbling over the Andrex day after day failed to ring any bells.

If he were my fiance, there wouldn't have been any wedding bells either.

But as one marriage guidance expert pointed out: "If couples weren't blinded by romance before the wedding, there wouldn't be any marriages at all..."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.