Louise Van Der Velde, a 43-year-old doctor's widow, has revealed she's had affairs with over 80 married men and she couldn't be happier about it.
Most women would kick off if they found out they were a side chick, but not Louise, she actively goes out on the prowl for married men. After the death of her husband in 2004, Louise decided she would live every day like it was her last, which included shagging whoever the hell she wanted, married or not.
Louise, who works as a sex therapist (go figure) says she meets all her lovers on Illicit Encounters, a dating site for married people who want to have affairs. She says that some of the guys' wives know they are cheating but they just turn a blind eye and carry on. Louise says:
Traditional marriage counselling often fails because it is based on a model which has not been not reformed for 150 years. All this 'till death do us part' nonsense assumes monogamy works for everyone. This is not realistic and not in line with human nature. In order for love and passion to re-enter a marriage, there are other ways.
This is why living my sex life to the max and educating people about the future of love is my life's work.''People should judge less and just have more great sex. You sure as heck can tell the ones who need it most - the ones who are unhappy. Life's too short to stick to sex with only one partner.
Louise, from Yorkshire, said she started shagging other people during her marriage but that it was a mutal agreement between her and husband. She said the decision to have an open relationship was one of the best things they've ever done. She says:
We decided to embark on an open relationship in the last few years before he died. I have carried on the same way ever since. His death made me realise you have to seize the day and make the most of every day.
Key dates like Valentine's, Christmas and summer holidays are a big trigger point for affairs by both sexes. It really puts a relationship under the spotlight and makes many unhappy spouses realise that there has got to be more to life than having rubbish sex with the same boring partner for the next 50 years.
Lots of wives only have themselves to blame when their husbands cheats. They lose interest in sex and effectively abandon them in the bedroom. All their effort goes into their children and running things domestically and they devote no attention to their marriage. It's no wonder so many men cheat. Obviously men can go off sex, too - and I don't blame their female partners for cheating either.
To be fair, she's not wrong. I know way too many women that have turned into frumpy mumsy types with zero sex drive after having kids. You can't blame a dude for going out there and wanting to feel desired again. Apparently, around 60% of couples will experience cheating at some time in their relationship. Maybe if they were more open about sex, there would be much less betrayal.