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Valentine’s Day: The good, the bad and the ugly

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

It may be a cheesy commercial holiday, but for many it’s still the super bowl for romance and there’s pressure to impress and expectation to deliver!

For guys, there can be a temptation to out-do yourself, but it’s best to keep it simple or else you could fall victim to some terrible 'Failentine’s' pitfalls.

Even if your carefully executed Valentine’s Day grand plans work out successfully, you may be just setting yourself for creating future disappointment by not being able to continually come up with the goods year after year.

It really should just be called 'Flowers and Chocolate Day', that’s all you need, that’s all a girl wants (right?).

Flowers and chocolate, no less – and anything more is optional and should be considered on a case by case basis.

Keep it simple, play it safe, take no risks, just go with the flow, don’t rock the boat and move onto Easter.

Guys; here's an easy guide for surviving Valentine's Day.

GOOD GIFTS – Candy/chocolates, flowers, jewellery (only for the experienced).

BAD GIFTS - cleaning appliances, cooking appliances, gym membership, books.

UGLY GIFTS – 

GOOD DATES – A nice restaurant (Lads, make sure you make a booking!). There’s an abundance of local eateries offering Valentine’s Day specials. Pick one, easy.

Most importantly, give your significant other your undivided attention and TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!

If you're staying in with a film? Stick to the classics; 'Love Actually', 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Sleepless In Seattle'. Actually, anything with Tom Hanks, you can't lose! Like 'Forrest Gump', 'You've Got Mail', 'Cast Away', 'Saving Private Ryan', 'Big', literally anything!

If you must see 'The Notebook' (sorry fellas), it's showing at Anita's Theatre in Thirroul.

BAD DATES – Be careful when dining by candle light, this may sound super cautious and paranoid but there’s plenty of Valentine's horror stories involving candle mishaps.
Remember:
- Leaving candles unattended can be dangerous.
- Keep lit candles in eye sight.
- Always use a candleholder.
- Keep the candle away from anything that could set alight such as curtains.

Play with hot wax at your own risk!

UGLY DATE – If preparing a homemade meal, be extra careful and avoid a food poisoning disaster!
- Wash your hands properly.
- Use separate chopping boards for raw and ready to eat meat.
- Cook food thoroughly.
- Stick to use by dates.
- Keep raw food on the bottom shelf of your fridge and keep cooked meats on a separate shelf.

Or, forget all of this and just order in pizza instead!

Good luck and happy Flowers & Chocolate Day!

By Asa Schuster
schustera@i98fm.com.au