ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: How often do you have sex? It’s the nation’s big question… but we’ll never know the answer

How often do you have sex? I’m pretty sure this isn’t a question you want to answer publicly. I’m certainly not. Not even to my closest friends – let alone the readers of The Mail on Sunday.

Last year, TV presenter Mariella Frostrup revealed that she and her husband kept a sex diary, but she did not go so far as to say how often those occasions were noted.

However, comedian Katherine Ryan said in an interview with Style magazine that she records the times she has sex with her husband and that this happens “exactly twice a month.” So precise? And is that typical?

People may discuss the topic in broad terms, such as “He wants it all the time” or “I forgot what sex is,” but it’s rare, even among those close to us, to talk about the real numbers.

Despite the fact that so much is written and spoken about sex, our personal frequency remains taboo.

That’s strange, considering that most people are happy to reveal details about their politics or religion — personal topics that, besides sex, were once considered unacceptable to discuss at a polite dinner table.

But now, even though sex is tossed around, I can’t remember anyone admitting how often they “do” it.

It seems like the idea of ​​sharing our sexual schedule is still too embarrassing and personal to think about. If I were to reveal mine, would my behavior be considered tragically limited or bizarrely active?

I have absolutely no idea what the norm is in my friendship group. Once a week, twice a day, once a month, only on high days and public holidays – who knows?

Of course I’d like to know.

In general, it is impossible to predict the sexual behavior of another couple and often it can be surprising.

While it would be fascinating to know more, I don’t think the country’s true numbers will emerge anytime soon as I’m not giving anything away myself.

If I’m going crazy, don’t tell me!

A new blood test will soon be available that can indicate possible Alzheimer’s disease years before symptoms appear. But like all such predictive medical information, this capability raises as many questions as it solves.

The knowledge would certainly be terrifying.

News of the revolutionary test came at a time when I was particularly concerned about my own forgetfulness. In the past week alone, I booked a flight at the wrong time, tried to open my neighbor’s front door instead of mine, and, most disturbingly, received a summons stating that I had left a gas station before I arrived. had paid. The latter is especially annoying, because I can’t remember doing anything like that at all.

The kind souls I’ve shared these mishaps with all say that of course I don’t have anything too early (or actually not that early), and that I just have too much on my mind – even though I’ve never done that before. I have heard that the mind has a thinking limit.

It’s scary, but entirely possible, that my brain is not overloaded, but deteriorating.

I just don’t want to know that fact.

Ukraine’s ultimate fight or flight

Recently I received a text from a name I didn’t immediately recognize. It belonged to Alexander, a driver who had driven me around Kiev in 2019 before Russia invaded. He asked how I was doing, said he had enlisted in the army and sent me a photo of himself in the trunk of a jeep with a machine gun in his hand.

What a different character than the man who had previously posed with me, smiling, in front of his shiny BMW.

I responded and said I was shocked by what was happening to his country and hoped I had helped by taking in a Ukrainian couple to live with us for 18 months. Instead of being happy to hear this, it provoked a tirade from Alexander about those who had fled the country instead of fighting like him.

If we end up in the doomsday scenario of conscription as proposed by the head of the army, General Sir Patrick Sanders, many will find themselves in Alexander’s position, having to choose between fighting or fleeing some foreign hills.

What would you offer for Shiv’s silk dress?

Auctioneers from Bonhams are displaying a display of the costumes and props from the Netflix series The Crown, ahead of its sale in a few weeks. The mourning outfit Claire Foy wore when she played the young Elizabeth II is estimated to cost £2,000 to £3,000; the replica Gold State Coach £35,000 – £60,000; and Buckingham Palace makes £6,000-£8,000 – although I can’t imagine what anyone would do with the Gold State Coach.

If these meet their estimates, it could lead to a whole new wave of activity around TV shows. How much do the Roy family’s assets from Succession cost? All those Loro Piana cashmere hoodies; the interior of the Gulf Streams; Shiv’s sliding, silky evening dresses. And how about the sets for Downton Abbey and the vintage paraphernalia from Peaky Blinders? Rich choice for everyone.

Royals who make ours look like saints

Some may argue about the House of Windsor, but I really feel sorry for the poor people of Monaco who ended up with the House of Grimaldi. They make our Royals look holy. Prince Albert has a mysterious relationship with his wife and funds a string of mistresses and their children, while his sisters, Princesses Stephanie and Caroline, are said to use the Crown Jewels as personal jewelry whenever they please.

What a contrast to the sight of our Prince Edward last week, who drew the short straw and traveled 10,000 miles to visit St Helena, where he was photographed looking at a 191-year-old tortoise. I bet you won’t find a Grimaldi doing something like that.

Barbie is better than Martin’s snoozefest

It’s crazy that Greta Gerwig missed out on an Oscar nomination as best director for Barbie, while Martin Scorsese was shot for his snooze drama Killers Of The Flower Moon.

I didn’t like Barbie, but it gave movie theaters new life at a time when some predicted the big screen was breathing its last.