I DON'T know if you noticed it, but currently there are thousands of females mourning the loss of an extremely important man to women of our generation and no, it’s not Stephen Gately.

No, this is someone who has already, sadly, become a distant memory for many of us, and is in great danger of becoming just an urban myth to the younger generation.

Who is this mystery fellow?

Well, to some he is known as ‘a real man’, to others he is simply a ‘blokey bloke’... A fella who likes to drink beer, loves football, has a shed full of tools to fix cars, knows how to mend a broken pipe and most of all, wouldn’t be caught dead wearing any jewellery other than a wedding ring.

If you’re scoffing at that description, it’s probably because you’re lucky enough to have one of these rarities in your house.

If you do, hang on to him, because he is fast becoming scarcer than that vase great aunty Mabel left you that you secretly hope to see on The Antiques Roadshow one day.

I know I’m going to sound like a grumbling singleton, and several of you will be mumbling ‘at your age, is it wise to be moaning about men when there are so few left out there for you’?

But it all came to a head the other day when I witnessed the two fellas I work with sharing cooking tips.

Jamie Oliver would pay to know the things I now know about making a good quiche and if any of you ever want to know the difference between a casserole and a stew, I can point you in the direction of two guys who can help.

To judge all men on this one incident would, I know, be harsh, so I searched my memory for any redeeming acts of ‘manliness’ from friends and colleagues. Sadly it didn’t go well.

First there was an incident the other week when we had to get someone’s dad in to nail up a sign.

I mean, there are only eight fellas working at the radio station, and they were all very busy.

Then I recalled the time my old boss stayed over after a night out, and asked to use my hairdryer the next morning.

Or the day my old flatmate told the stunned plumber the 30 creams, soaps and lotions in HIS bathroom belonged to me!

One of my best friends has even taken to carrying her hair products in her handbag to stop her thieving teenage sons from ‘borrowing’ them.

Another keeps moaning her boyfriend uses her razor because he claims it’s ergonomically better-shaped than his.

I’ve even just noticed a famous chemist’s website now has a ‘New for Men’ area on the front page, where there used to be a ‘New for Women’ section!

And is it just me? Isn’t ‘Bling’ just an incredibly clever marketing ploy by jewellery manufacturers to get guys to wear rings, bracelets and necklaces?

Mind you, a guy who smells nice, carries a hairdryer for emergencies, and knows his way to a jeweller is clearly intelligent enough to know how to use a phone to call a plumber should we ever need one.

All whinging from this corner ceases now.