What is adultery? Is its avoidance essential to the continuation of mankind? Would choosing to enjoy a wider range of partners hack at the very foundation of society?

This is a well researched subject, of course. It has religious and civic implications which have been carefully weighed over the centuries. When one is hit by the roving eye syndrome, however, the temptation is to downgrade adultery's significance, as the less importance one attributes to their potential straying power, the lighter one's conscience.

Currently living with my tumultous heart, am I likely to start reading the numerous passages, in the Bible, which tackle the problem with characteristically lead-heavy severity? Even if I did, my attention would automatically turn to the issue of forgiveness, which smoothes the sharp edges of sin and removes its ability to cut a wedge of guilt into one's soul.

Adultery, of course, is an all-consuming and dangerous activity, whether fulfilled in the flesh or suspended in the limbo of intention. A mutually exclusive relationship protects the core of the original social atom, the childless family.

Yes, that's the point: the childless family. Whoever said that children cement the adults' relationship was single. The introduction of small people into the family unit completely savages the individuals' position within it and towards each other.

If I had no children, several reasons might stop me from considering a change of 'trousers': for a start, I'd have more time for wild sex, chasing each other around the house with no clothes on and no children screaming 'you are IT, you are IT' - which, let's face it, does dampen the ardour quite considerably.

Secondly, one would have more time to sleep, relax and un-plan (as opposed to having to plan a naughty evening to the minutest detail around the children's dinner, bathtime and bed story): un-planning is highly conducive of achieving the mythical 'mood for sex'. Who wants to disrobe and ride the bull, methaphorically or not, after having been drained of all energy by the request for one more story, a glass of milk, a little occasional wet bed or upset tummy?

Have you ever said to your partner, 'cooking a delicious and healthy meal, slaving over the stove, threatening the children with death if they don't eat the result, doing the washing-up, clearing-up and tidying-up, being splashed by water pistols during their bath and fighting finally to straight-jacket them into their bed has made me extremely horny'?

No? Me neither.

Sex with a stranger would mean a temporary release from the loving shackles of your core family. Sex with your husband may be, in the circumstances, just another chore to fit in. And if that doesn't work, there's always forgiveness, isn't there?