What to give this Valentine’s Day? A hug says it best, survey says

While roses, chocolates, candlelit meals and other romantic gestures are very nice for Valentine’s Day (or, indeed, any time of year), it seems that the simple hug often says it best.

A survey by The Co-operative shows that a hug and a kiss even rank above more steamy “between the sheets” pursuits for many.

Sure, two in five men appreciate a great female body while three in five women are keen on a sexy smile and gazing into their partner’s eyes, but the 500-strong survey also found that cards were an inexpensive but appreciated way to show affection.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they’d be spending up to £100 on Valentine’s gifts this year, while 62% said an ideal day would include an intimate dinner.

The survey highlights the partnership between The Co-operative and British Heart Foundation who have set up the Red For Heart fundraising campaign.

Head of corporate partnerships Douglas Campbell Rouse said, “we would like to encourage all romantics out there to buy a Hallmark card from The Co-operative and help us raise vital funds in the fight against heart disease.”

Marriage Missing its Spark?

If the fires of passion in your marriage have been reduced nearly to embers, then you are not alone. One of the most common problems that can damage a marriage is the loss of spark, or spice, or whatever you like to call it. It’s really not so easy to get yourself or your partner “in the mood” once you have become very familiar with each other. Of course, it’s wonderful to be familiar with your spouse because familiarity is the basis of intimacy. But intimacy is not the same as passion, is it? Routine is the culprit. If the proper countermeasures are not deployed against routine’s assault on your relationship, then it will drain all the passion right out of your marriage. Routine is a tenacious killer of passion – a suspect in the deaths of over 1 million steamy romances. I know routine comes in very handy for showers and oil changes, but it has no place in the bedroom.

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British Heart Foundation’s Valentine Appeal 2007

Whether you’re cosily coupled up or a sassy singleton the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has the perfect way to make next Valentine’s extra special. By giving a gift that saves lives you can make February 14 a day to remember, not just for you and your loved one, but for heart patients across the UK.

The Valentine Appeal is aiming to raise £1m which will help fund BHF Heart Nurses and the charity’’s Heart Information Line to care for and support more heart patients and their families. Whether a gift for that special person or a treat for yourself, the BHF has a range of heart-warming ways that you can support the Appeal:

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