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Chat => General Discussion => Topic started by: zpyder on January 19, 2011, 09:06:24 AM

Title: Valentines
Post by: zpyder on January 19, 2011, 09:06:24 AM
So, Valentines day is approaching, just wondering if anyone has found any good sites or offers for generic supplies?

I'm trying to find a balloon site that sells bird shaped balloons (Her PHD is on wading birds), without much luck :(

At this rate I might need to resort to a heart shaped balloon...
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: knighty on January 19, 2011, 09:42:09 AM
don't do the heart shaped balloon.... that's more of a 'fun' gift because it's such a cliché

don't want to sound like a dick, but you're a bit new to dating... which makes it easy to fall into the trap of being too soppy... it's very easy to stop being yourself and start being clingy etc...

every girl loves having flowers delivered to there door... so get that organised and anything else is just a bonus ;)


(try not to go overboard)
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Leon on January 19, 2011, 09:44:53 AM
Hmm been a while since I've done anything on Valentines, in fact the last time a couple years ago involved a good friend, expensive italian restaurent, an awesome steak, 2 bottles of wine and then causing a big scene to confuse everyone there.

Safe to say I can't really give any recommendations on whats the 'correct' thing to do :)
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Tek_Ed on January 19, 2011, 09:55:23 AM
My 24th Valentines day without a significant other (I'm 24)...

Guess I'll do the same as I've done for many years now - Get really drunk! :cheers:
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Bacon on January 19, 2011, 10:11:44 AM
Quote from: Tek_Ed on January 19, 2011, 09:55:23 AM
My 24th Valentines day without a significant other (I'm 24)...

Guess I'll do the same as I've done for many years now - Get really drunk! :cheers:

Its got to a point i don't even know what date it is!

I'll probably be too busy working  :panic:
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Quixoticish on January 19, 2011, 10:14:09 AM
You'd better find out whether she's actually in to the whole valentines day thing before you rush off and do anything grandiose.

I've been with a few women in the past (including my current better half) who really didn't like the idea nor see the point of valentines day and found the whole idea slightly tragic.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: knighty on January 19, 2011, 10:42:09 AM
^^^ I bet she'd still like it if you surprised her with flowers tho :p

Dooms, what did you to to cause a scene and confuse everyone ?
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Eggtastico on January 19, 2011, 10:45:03 AM
ebay... get them heart shape sprinkles you softtie
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/?_nkw=valentine+sprinkles&_sacat=&_ex_kw=&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_sop=&_fpos=&_fspt=1&_sadis=&LH_CAds=&satitle=valentine+sprinkles
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on January 19, 2011, 10:56:26 AM
Good points from both Quixoticish and knighty, basically try to get a good feel for if she's into that sort of thing to begin with (get in now while its good and early and maybe pry about, drop in a casual suggestion of a V-Day meal) then guage if she's the soppy, romantic sorts. The worst thing you can do is go overboard, I've been guilty of that in my foolish younger days.

Flowers (try to find out what are her favourites, should be easy for you really if you don't already know), they are a very safe bet along with chocolates or me to you bears, that sort of thing. That's if she's into all that anyway.

I would say flowers and a meal out is safe, romantic and going to be good for you both; maybe off to the cinema after. Give her a proper date for the evening rather than buying loads of junk.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Leon on January 19, 2011, 11:09:02 AM
Quote from: knighty on January 19, 2011, 10:42:09 AM
^^^ I bet she'd still like it if you surprised her with flowers tho :p

Dooms, what did you to to cause a scene and confuse everyone ?

Me and a friend Laura went out for a fancy meal, throughout the meal we were discussing (read.. Judging) the couples and their relationships around us. Near the end she said can I cause a scene? and I agree aslong as I didn't have to leave and could finish my steak.

So she stod up, shouted some abuse, blamed me for a few things, stormed out. I had there with a smug grin, finished my steak and asked for the bill then met her in the pub around the corner. It was a fun night :)
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: zpyder on January 19, 2011, 12:11:12 PM
One step ahead of you guys here...I've already found out she likes valentines day, so that's why I am trying to plan already.

Meals out are fine but I just don't like the concept of prices...and her fave flowers are purple tulips ;)
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Mongoose on January 19, 2011, 13:05:20 PM
if you do decide to take her out for dinner etc, get on and book it, in my experience most places go from "you're getting in early aren't you?" to "sorry mate we're fully booked" in about 12 hours.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on January 19, 2011, 14:31:00 PM
Yeah if its a decent/popular place book at least a week in advance.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Mongoose on January 19, 2011, 14:41:56 PM
for Valentines I'd go more than a week, frankly start thinking about it now. Better to have them look at you strangely for being uber-early than have the place you want fully booked and have to settle for somewhere that's either more expensive or less nice than you wanted (or worst case, both)
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Bacon on January 19, 2011, 15:24:33 PM
Quote from: zpyder on January 19, 2011, 12:11:12 PM
One step ahead of you guys here...I've already found out she likes valentines day, so that's why I am trying to plan already.

Meals out are fine but I just don't like the concept of prices...and her fave flowers are purple tulips ;)

McDonalds, McDonalds, Kentucky Friend Chicken and a Pizza Hut.  :muttley:
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Mardoni on January 19, 2011, 15:26:47 PM
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on January 19, 2011, 15:53:59 PM
I think it might have been last Valentine's me and the missus went to KFC  :lol:
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Beanissocoollike on January 19, 2011, 16:20:20 PM
If you want to encorporate birds, then this is quite a cute card: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/skyesthelimit/product/love-bird-valentine-s-card  (http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/skyesthelimit/product/love-bird-valentine-s-card)

It depends on whether she's traditional or not, you can never go wrong with flowers, I personally wouldn't go for the meal option, it's more the sort of thing you do on an anniversary, than valentines.
If there's something you know she really likes, like a dessert or meal you could make her that.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Pete on January 19, 2011, 18:42:21 PM
1. Don't stay at a hotel on valentines
2. Don't take her out for a meal on valentines. Cook something.
3. Flowers are best served random. Getting them on v day is still a good idea though.

tbh I wouldn't base anything off her phd, get something that means something to her on a personal level.

Me I'm going cheapskate this year - flowers + cook her dinner.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Mongoose on January 19, 2011, 18:56:41 PM
I don't know Zpyder's other half of course, but in my experience most PhD students are pretty attached to their subject. If wading birds mean enough to her to make her want to spend 3 years of her life pushing back the boundarys of knowledge about them with her bare hands and then writing a reasonably long book about it, they probably do mean something to her on a personal level.

If you're passable in the kitchen (by which I mean what you cook comes out tasting good and looking not a total disaster), the cook her dinner idea can work very well. Particularly for a newish relationship where you don't want to look like you've gone nuts over it
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Beanissocoollike on January 19, 2011, 20:07:43 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on January 19, 2011, 15:53:59 PM
I think it might have been last Valentine's me and the missus went to KFC  :lol:

Which I believe I paid for.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Eggtastico on January 19, 2011, 21:31:08 PM
Quote from: Beanissocoollike on January 19, 2011, 20:07:43 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on January 19, 2011, 15:53:59 PM
I think it might have been last Valentine's me and the missus went to KFC  :lol:

Which I believe I paid for.

That sir sounds like the perferct date
Free KFC Bucket
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Dave on January 19, 2011, 22:10:29 PM
Quote from: zpyder on January 19, 2011, 09:06:24 AM
So, Valentines day is approaching, just wondering if anyone has found any good sites or offers for generic supplies?

I'm trying to find a balloon site that sells bird shaped balloons (Her PHD is on wading birds), without much luck :(

At this rate I might need to resort to a heart shaped balloon...

go get an origami book - learn how to make a wading bird of some variety - when you're having a meal and she gets up to go to the bathroom grab a napkin, quickly construct said wading bird and place next to her plate....

or perhaps make a proper one out of origami paper and give it to her/stick on front of home made valentines card....
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Dave on January 19, 2011, 22:19:23 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on January 19, 2011, 15:53:59 PM
I think it might have been last Valentine's me and the missus went to KFC  :lol:

tis cool if you're comfortable with each other that you don't need to go full out - pretty cool missus if she let you get away with KFC!

Though on the subject of lower budget valentiens day I had an idea a couple of years ago when discussing valentines with a friend (we never actually went through with this)

My friend had mentioned that weatherspoons was doing a valentines special and I started thinking WTF - how would anyone manage to get away with taking a girl to weatherspoons on valentines. Our conclusion was that any girl taken there would be less than imprerssed.

Plan was - go to weatherspoons & drink at the bar, scope out talent in the 'restaurant'/seating area, spot a couple of girls then wait until their respective partners have gone to the bog - approach and explain to them that you believe it is very tacky that their BF brought them to the 'spoons on valentines and you'd be happy to take them to a much nice establishment.

We went into weatherspoons, took a look around and scrapped the plan in an instant - to sum up the scene 'the bar out of star wars' is probably appropriate - in some instances it would be hard to spot which one was male and which one was female (perhaps the one with less tattoos?).
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on January 19, 2011, 23:45:41 PM
Yeah she's great like that bless her (I think she did pay too!) the gist of it being that we were going to get a takeaway and then watch TV I think, as we didn't want to spend lots and didn't really want to go out anywhere, she even suggested it as I had been infrequently mentioning to her she should try it sometime as she never had before. It turns out she quite likes the boneless stuff too :w00t:

Basically, you can do whatever you like and still both be happy so long as you both are comfortable and she in particular is not expecting grand sweeping gestures. It should never be about being flash or what you spend, but the thought and the company and romance as required. zpyder has his head well screwed on, I think she'll love what you get planned for her as you've been paying attention and seem to have her interests most definitely at heart.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: zpyder on January 20, 2011, 00:01:17 AM
Quote from: Dave on January 19, 2011, 22:10:29 PM


go get an origami book - learn how to make a wading bird of some variety - when you're having a meal and she gets up to go to the bathroom grab a napkin, quickly construct said wading bird and place next to her plate....

or perhaps make a proper one out of origami paper and give it to her/stick on front of home made valentines card....

Haha, I'm currently in the process of doing senbazuru...making 1000 paper cranes, to give to her on her birthday on the 27th of Feb. I started a week in to the new year and am sort of at the 500 mark so far. I should add that this is something I know she'll like. Personality wise we have very similar traits and she likes origami etc. Also she's told me a fair few times that 27 is her fave number and as a result this is meant to be an epic year, turning 27 on the 27th etc. I figure a good way to start it off is to try and get 1000 cranes in her room when she's not there...
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: zpyder on January 20, 2011, 00:04:37 AM
Quote from: Mongoose on January 19, 2011, 18:56:41 PM
I don't know Zpyder's other half of course, but in my experience most PhD students are pretty attached to their subject. If wading birds mean enough to her to make her want to spend 3 years of her life pushing back the boundarys of knowledge about them with her bare hands and then writing a reasonably long book about it, they probably do mean something to her on a personal level.

If you're passable in the kitchen (by which I mean what you cook comes out tasting good and looking not a total disaster), the cook her dinner idea can work very well. Particularly for a newish relationship where you don't want to look like you've gone nuts over it

I'm thinking I might get a plush meerkat with something on it, and a nice card, as she thinks I look like a meerkat 0.o And cook something at hers, maybe Unagi don, dunno really.

It's kind of cool that the first Biochemistry practical this term is on the 14th too, we first met whilst teaching Biochemistry last term... I'm tempted to try and see if I can do something heart shaped in the Agar gel etc.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: neXus on January 20, 2011, 11:01:18 AM
What I wanted to do I have had to put on hold till later in the year so I am currently unsure what I will do.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Mongoose on January 20, 2011, 11:28:54 AM
Quote from: zpyder on January 20, 2011, 00:04:37 AM


I'm thinking I might get a plush meerkat with something on it, and a nice card, as she thinks I look like a meerkat 0.o And cook something at hers, maybe Unagi don, dunno really.

It's kind of cool that the first Biochemistry practical this term is on the 14th too, we first met whilst teaching Biochemistry last term... I'm tempted to try and see if I can do something heart shaped in the Agar gel etc.

that sounds like a plan to me.
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Eggtastico on January 20, 2011, 11:32:55 AM
Quote from: zpyder on January 20, 2011, 00:01:17 AM
Quote from: Dave on January 19, 2011, 22:10:29 PM


go get an origami book - learn how to make a wading bird of some variety - when you're having a meal and she gets up to go to the bathroom grab a napkin, quickly construct said wading bird and place next to her plate....

or perhaps make a proper one out of origami paper and give it to her/stick on front of home made valentines card....

Haha, I'm currently in the process of doing senbazuru...making 1000 paper cranes, to give to her on her birthday on the 27th of Feb. I started a week in to the new year and am sort of at the 500 mark so far. I should add that this is something I know she'll like. Personality wise we have very similar traits and she likes origami etc. Also she's told me a fair few times that 27 is her fave number and as a result this is meant to be an epic year, turning 27 on the 27th etc. I figure a good way to start it off is to try and get 1000 cranes in her room when she's not there...

she sounds like a nut job
:D
Title: Re: Valentines
Post by: Dave on January 20, 2011, 21:57:37 PM
Quote from: zpyder on January 20, 2011, 00:01:17 AM
Quote from: Dave on January 19, 2011, 22:10:29 PM


go get an origami book - learn how to make a wading bird of some variety - when you're having a meal and she gets up to go to the bathroom grab a napkin, quickly construct said wading bird and place next to her plate....

or perhaps make a proper one out of origami paper and give it to her/stick on front of home made valentines card....

Haha, I'm currently in the process of doing senbazuru...making 1000 paper cranes, to give to her on her birthday on the 27th of Feb. I started a week in to the new year and am sort of at the 500 mark so far. I should add that this is something I know she'll like. Personality wise we have very similar traits and she likes origami etc. Also she's told me a fair few times that 27 is her fave number and as a result this is meant to be an epic year, turning 27 on the 27th etc. I figure a good way to start it off is to try and get 1000 cranes in her room when she's not there...

That is dedication! Have you watched Heros? There is an episode where Hiro does that for Charlie (redhead who works in the diner).