Dating In Sussex - Dating Advice

Worth Pursuing?

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How to Know if Someone is Worth Pursuing...

So you’ve started dating online, you went into it fairly reluctantly, but have been surprised to find that it works! Lots of people have started to contact you after seeing your profile, you’re overwhelmed and just don’t know who is right for you, well here’s a guide on how to know if someone is worth pursuing.

First you need to take the step to date a few of these potential suitors, this is the only way you can gauge whether they will really be right for you.

Be a good listener – On the first date you can find out a lot about the other person, but it’s usually not just from the facts and details they tell you, but from the stories they refer to, what the talk about the most and the questions they ask you, so if you really listen to all that they are saying you will have a good idea of what they are like and whether they are right for you.

Are you enjoying it? – Don’t make the first date an interrogation session, you want to find out about the other person but don’t force it, just try and be yourself and just let the conversation flow. If you and your date get along really well without having to try then they are probably worth pursuing.

Actions speak louder than words – On a first date the person might find it hard to be themselves when they’re talking to you, but their actions and the way they treat others are a good gauge of what they’re really like. Look at the way they treat the waiter, whether they’ll answer their phone at dinner, small things like that can show a lot about a person.

Intuition – You might think you’ll find it hard to know whether a person is right for you, however you may surprise yourself, you will more than likely just ‘feel’ if it is right or wrong. Trust your intuition as it the best gauge you have, but if you simply can’t tell whether a person is worth pursuing, give it a chance - go on another date and see how it progresses.

Smart Love

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Smart Love

So you may have found someone special online, but to make the relationship last it’s time to practice smart love:

Love makes you feel good - whether it’s watching a classic film romance, reading a love story or actually being swept off your own feet, Love changes us. Everything just seems better when you’re in love, because it makes you happier! The happiness we get from being in love is a wonderful thing; however you can get carried away. Love can cloud our judgment causing irrationality and naivety, because romance itself is irrational, the notion of giving up everything for someone else is not a rational one. So to make sure your love lasts and continues making you happy, be romantic but stay smart too!

Smart Love means paying attention to values –
Discovering the person’s value system should be a top priority. You can observe a person’s values by seeing how they treat others from the waiter to their mother. Also look at what makes them laugh, they might find something funny that you find offensive, or they might not take things too seriously like you.

Smart Love means not trying to change others -
Many people go into a relationship disregarding some of the other person’s big flaws, believing they can change them. You shouldn’t go into a relationship for the wrong reasons, if you find real flaws in the other person but continue to date them, thinking that the love you have will change them, you are probably more in love with the idea of a romantic relationship than the other person. Also the person will probably never change, or if they do it might cause them to be unhappy in themselves.

Smart Loves means you remain yourself –
As well as not trying to change the other person, you have to remember not to change yourself either! The love you have for someone might cause you to try and please them and this might mean doing things that just aren’t you. If a person really loves you then they will want you to be yourself, so don’t try and be something you’re not, this is a common pitfall people in love.

Smart Love doesn’t run from conflict –
The first fight of a relationship can be hard to deal with, you are still finding your comfort zone with the other person and getting to know each other. Often couples will have the first argument and then feel embarrassed and try to make up with each other without really resolving the issue. But to have a healthy relationship you need to communicate your feelings to one another and try and resolve any issues you have, don’t gloss over disagreements because you’re afraid the relationship will end.

10 Tips - Perfect Profile

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If all this online dating is new to you, then you want to get it right from the start. Your profile is realistically the 'first impression' so here are a few top tips to penning your perfect profile.

1. Be Upbeat – be positive throughout and try and sound fun, it’s attractive!

2. Excite us – be passionate about your interests and make them interesting!

3. Be honest – an accurate photo and true details, if you embellish too much then you will get found out eventually.

4. Be revealing – the values that matter to you the most, need to be valued by possible daters too, so don’t hold back on the stuff that counts.

5. Be realistic – don’t be too picky, remember the story about the king who searched the world for the perfect woman only to be rejected by her. She was looking for the perfect man.

6. Make us laugh – Don’t overdo it with the jokes, but getting a little laugh or a smile from those who read your profile could lead to an email too.

7. Turn the heat up – don’t describe your darkest sexual fantasy, but a little flirting in the profile is no bad thing.

8. Qualities not quantities – unless you want to attract superficial gold diggers, or appear as one, then it’s definitely better to focus on your personal qualities and those that you are looking for rather than the material things you have or go for.

9. Stay individual – and stay right away from romantic clichés like ‘My idea of a perfect date is a walk on the beach’ just be yourself as this will really attract someone who’s right for you.

10. Post a photo – it’s shallow but true, so post a photo, as a new photo also boosts your profile in search ratings it can’t be bad.

No Photo - Dateless?

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Photo on your profile – Are you dateless without one?

Here are some stats for you - in a survey where people were asked...

‘What’s the first thing that makes you peek at someone’s personal profile?’
9% said interesting username
11% said compelling headline
10% said right age
12% said close location
3% said it’s new or updated
But an overwhelming 55% said an attractive photo.

A free profile with a photo gets 15 more views than a free profile without one!

It may seem shallow but in the outside and online dating worlds physical attraction is what we notice first, so a profile photo is important. Really you could probably guess those statistics yourself, because in fact it’s what we all do, look through online profile initially by searching for hot photos and then skimming over interests and age etc. So shallow as it may be get your photo right, make it flattering but honest, but above all make sure you have one, as you don’t want to lessen your chances before you have begun.

Sexier Singles after 50

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Being single at 50 has its disadvantages, there are less singles around to date, fewer dating opportunities and it’s just plain scary. But being 50 and single definitely has it's advantages as well!

Here are 5 reasons why women are sexier singles after 50 to boost your confidence:

1. Been there, done that...
At 50 you are definitely more experienced than the average 20 year old and that is definitely sexy!

2. No worries...
In your younger years, you have the massive worry of getting pregnant, being on etc. but at 50 you can relax and love freely as you have none of these concerns.

3. Curvy is sexy!
By 50 you’ve filled out and should be comfortable in your own skin and the body of a real woman is what a man really wants.

4. Confident in yourself...
You should know yourself at 50, and though it can be very scary going back into the dating pool, don’t forget the self confidence you’ve built up. Be confident in your accomplishments and your established character, it is a real turn on.

5. Be Daring...
Your sense of liberation at 50 should set you free, try new things and dare to dream. Going on adventure holidays or other new activities are a great way to meet people and this daring new side to your character also makes you sexy!

Create your Profile - Register for free

Tips to Better Dating

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your dating experience!

• Don’t be conventional – Dinner and a movie, dinner and a movie, dinner and a movie, dinner and a... Ever feel like you’re having déjà vu when dating, well it’s time to stop that by trying some unconventional dates. Paintballing, watching a sports game, wine tasting, an art gallery, the options are endless, but an out there date might just ignite some extraordinary chemistry and one thing’s for certain they will well and truly break the ice!

• Go with the flow – There are so many unwritten ‘rules’ to dating it’s hard to know how to play it, well here’s a suggestion don’t play it at all just go with it. Do what you feel, call when you want and as many times as you want, even kiss on the first date if you like, if it seems right then it probably is and if it turns out to be wrong at least you will know. The thing is every date and relationship is different so there aren’t any hard and fast rules, you have to gauge it yourself.

• Be flexible – The worst thing about dating is the feeling of being uncomfortable, but if you don’t take chances sometimes you can miss out on someone amazing. Your date will probably admire you for going out of your comfort zone, as it shows you’re willing to try new things, which is a great quality.

• Don’t settle – There’s no denying chemistry when dating, you either have it or you don’t. Whilst it’s not the be all and end all in a relationship, it is a good start and plays a big part when you’re dating. So if you’re dating someone and you find there’s no chemistry, then don’t force it, be the bigger person and end the relationship before it gets too serious.

Expectations of Dating

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Women are often afraid to enter the online dating scene in fear of the expectations of men on the scene, but fear not their expectations aren’t so different from those of women. So men what do you expect from online dating?

• Some men will give you the blasé answer that they expect, “not much”, as they wrongfully believe online dating is only for basement IT geeks with next to no social interaction skills.

• Most men will equate online dating with blind dating, as you’re taking a risk, getting hooked up with someone you don’t know, so it might work or it might not. These men will also see the benefits of online dating compared to blind dating, you can get to know the person before you meet them face-to-face.

• Very few people, men or women, have hard and fast expectations of finding the perfect soul mate by dating online. Most men just have realistic expectations, as although you might not think it most men are normal nice guys looking for normal nice women, though there are the exceptions of course!

• Expectations for online dating should be similar to any other kind of dating, as you’re trying to meet someone and it may or may not work out as you want it to.

• Men who treat online dating as shopping to buy a woman, are going to be the ones who wind up unhappy with the results.

Relationship Success

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So online dating is working out well for you, you’ve found someone who may just be the one, but how can you ensure this new relationship succeeds - well reading this article is a good start.

• Mix it up – Try to experience all of the other person and this can mean different things for different couples. If you’re in a long distance relationship you will probably try and make your limited time together extra special, but you have to experience the person with normality as well, see them react to the stresses of day to day life. If you are in a relationship that fits around your daily life, where you see your partner in normal situations, on dinner and cinema dates etc. then try and mix it up and do some extraordinary, out there things to see another side to one another.

• Do it for yourself – A big step in a relationship is introducing your partner to your friends and family, but don’t lay too much emphasis on their judgement. We all want the approval of the people closest to us, but if you are happy in your relationship, then unless your partner is actually coming to blows with your mother or something, then don’t throw it all away because of what they think, after all they should realise it’s making you happy.

• Date Slowly – It has been proven that a couple who date for 2 or more years before marriage are far more likely to have a successful relationship than those who date for a shorter period. So remember there’s no rush to walk down the aisle, or even move in together right away, take the time to get to know each other and have fun together without feeling pressured. It seems that younger and senior singles are the more relaxed daters, whereas middle aged singles and divorcees tend to be in a rush to settle down, but a rushed relationship is less likely to be happy relationship, and it’s better to be single than in an unhappy relationship.

Love Can Happen

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So your say 50, or 60, or 70, or maybe even 80! And you think love has passed you by, but you shouldn’t give up!

Older singles should definitely stay in the dating game, and online dating often works best for seniors than any other age groups. After all it can be far harder for older singles to put themselves out there; they may be widowed, or have come out of what seemed like a lifetime relationship, or just less confident to approach people in their older age.

For these reasons online dating, which offers a more modest approach to dating than having to put yourself out there in the real world, can suit older singles.

Being a little older you might find using the internet as the main stumbling block if you are considering dating online, but it needn’t be. Computers are easy to use once you know how, so don’t be afraid to ask for help, ask a computer savvy relative or friend, or attend a computer course in your local community - there are many run especially for the older student.

You also might be sceptical about signing up to an international dating site, so instead keep it local and join a site like Dating in Sussex which is specifically for people in the Sussex area.

Lastly don’t be afraid to give online dating a try, just take it slowly - you might find great company or a loving companion.

Busting the Dating Rut

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bad date after bad date; does it ever feel like conventional dating just isn’t working for you?

Well why not bust that dating rut by trying out online dating, you never know what it might bring!

A little know how – You need to select the right dating sites and online methods that will be suited to you, for example there are sites specific for more mature daters, or sites for your local area. You need to figure out what you’re looking for and how you can tailor your search to achieve this, and you can also make your profile more noticeable by updating it frequently. Try and talk to someone who has tried online dating, as you can always learn from their mistakes and successes.

Dating Choices – As an online dater, your online dating experience will ultimately lie with you and your dating choices. To make sure you make the right choices, make the effort to really get to know your potential dates. You can browse through their profiles, view their pictures and watch their video greeting. If you like what you see, you can send them a smile, a tease or a wink. If these initial contacts are successful, then you can move to a more personalized channel of communication like private emails, instant messaging, phone calls and even video chat. So, don't be shy, leverage your dating site's available tools and features and be pleasantly surprised by how quickly online meetings can turn into offline dates. Also by making the effort you can usually avoid dating disasters.

Getting Started – Now bust your dating rut, sign up to a dating site – what’ve you got to lose?

Writing a Dating Profile

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Make the most of yourself – improve your online dating profile so it reflects the best of you!

Online dating is a competitive world, and whilst you should always remain honest on your dating profile, try using these tips to make your profile the best it can possibly be:

 Be Positive – Positive language is a powerful tool, it will make your profile more inviting, in contrast to negative language which will only deter people from your profile. If you mention your dislikes on your profile make them positive, by being humorous about them, or turning them into positives instead of saying ‘I hate pop music it’s so cheesy ugh!’ say ‘I love independent music’. In general a positive attitude is appealing and will give you more chance of being considered, so it’s worth bearing in mind.

 Make your profile unique – Sometimes it feels like all dating profiles are the same, ‘I’m fun, down-to-earth, looking for someone special. I love music and movies blah blah blah!’ Make your profile reflect your uniqueness, mention specific interests and try not to use bland language typical in dating profiles such as: nice, friendly, outgoing. You might think that mentioning your interests could alienate people, but in actual fact it will target people who share similar interests and in general give more depth to your character. Try to avoid online dating clichés at all costs, be inventive in a way that shows off the best of your personality.

 Target your audience – You won’t be interested in every person that will view your profile, so try and target the people you are interested in. Instead of saying ‘I’m looking for a fun-loving man who shares my sense of humour’, which doesn’t really target anyone, try to target someone you’re looking for. Specify the age range you’re looking between, subtly mention appearance: ‘I like a more clean shaven look’ and maybe mention a common interest if that’s important to you: ‘I’m a very active person and would be interested in meeting someone who also enjoys active pursuits, I myself like to play tennis’. In general try to think of your perfect date and think how you can reach out to them in your profile in a SUBTLE way.

 Keep it fresh – Update your profile on a regular basis, change your picture, your header message, some of the content. Not only does it keep your profile interesting, it also increases your chances of being viewed by searches and by appealing to different people.

Romantic Sussex Spots

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

So you have a date set up! The question remains, where are you planning on taking your date?

There are loads of romantic spots in Sussex and to help you pick the perfect spot we have shorlisted our favourites...

1 Ashdown Forest, Nutley – Take a romantic stroll across the picturesque Ashdown Forest, you could stop and play a game of pooh sticks or try hide and seek at friends clump. If you want to extend the date go for a spot of afternoon tea at the nearby, quaint Duddleswell Tearooms, or for a more upmarket choice dine at Ashdown Park Hotel, where you could even make it an overnight stay.

2 Brighton Pier – It might seem tacky, but Brighton Pier is in fact a very romantic setting, with candyfloss, fairground rides and views of the sea, how about fish and chips for two on the beach now that’s true romance.

3 Groombridge Place – Pride and Prejudice is an iconic novel of romance, and Groombridge Place happens to have been one of the locations for the most recent film version of the novel. Whilst playing host to the Bennett’s family home, Groombridge Place also has charming landscaped gardens and an enchanted forest, which although slightly touristy, has giant swings perfect for couples.

4 Grand Hotel, Eastbourne – Enjoy a romantic seaside stay at the luxurious Grand Hotel in Eastbourne. The hotel is steeped in history and glamour, playing host to guests like Winston Churchill and many royal figures. The setting of Eastbourne combines the grandeur of this hotel with the quaint romance of a seaside holiday.

5 Wakehurst Place, Ardingly – The beautiful gardens of Wakehurst place are effortlessly romantic and make the perfect setting for a date. The gardens look amazing throughout the seasons, though as Wakehurst is home to the largest Christmas tree in the UK, it becomes a very romantic winter wonderland.

6 Bar Du Chocolat, Choccy Woccy Doo Dah, Brighton – Chocolate and romance have always mixed well, and Bar Du Chocolat of Choccy Woccy Doo Dah takes this to the extreme. Romance and passion are fervent here, with rich chocolate themes and options tailored to couples, such as the ‘decadent chocolate lovers banquet’. Situated in the heart of the Brighton Lanes, Choccy Woccy Doo Dah has charm, romance but most importantly chocolate!

7 Sweet Memories of Arundel – Sharing a bag of traditional sweets from ‘Sweet Memories’ of Arundel will conjure up good old fashioned romance, whilst walking round the charming town of Arundel will only enhance the atmosphere.

8 Long Man of Wilmington – A bit of caveman romance here, the Long Man of Wilmington on the South Downs has been thought to be a symbol of fertility and passion and surely represents natural romance. Its South Downs location means it offers truly breathtaking views and a wild Cathy and Heathcliff vibe, though it’s slightly more south than Yorkshire!

9 Camber Sands, Rye – The most scenic beach in the Sussex area, it makes for the perfect ‘walk on the beach’ setting, with golden sands and the sea lapping against your toes – what more could you ask for?

10 Blackboys Inn – This is a historic village pub, with a unique but undoubtedly romantic ambience. The food is delicious and the purple room makes for a passionate setting, whilst the covered Moroccan themed area outside is perfect for a date on a summer’s evening.

11 The Bluebell Railway, Isfield – Romance with style, enjoy a leisurely ride on the historic Bluebell Railway, relaxing in your own secluded, first class booth – think Orient Express. The railway is currently laying on a lounge car service of afternoon tea, which departs from Sheffield Park, another romantic Sussex location.

12 Boating in Barcombe Mills – Hire a rowing boat for two and feel the romance of the waterfront, then why not moor up your boat and take in a drink or two at the delightful Anchor Pub, simple but classic romance.

13 15^th Century Bookshop, Lewes – Find a whole host of old romantic novels and second hand books with loving inscriptions at the 15^th Century Bookshop, then look around the romantic town of Lewes, you never know what you’ll find here!

14 Casablanca Jazz Club, Brighton – There is nothing more romantic than dancing the night away and Casablanca Jazz Club caters to all dance styles in its cool Brighton venue from samba to soul disco.

15 La Bodega Restaurant and Tapas Bar, Crawley – This charming Spanish restaurant evokes the authentic Mediterranean romance of flamenco senoritas and courageous matadors. Enjoy some delicious tapas by candlelight.

16 Bodiam Castle – The grandeur and charm of Bodiam Castle conjures romantic fantasies of damsels in distress and brave knights to their rescue.

17 Arlington Reservoir, Polegate – The reservoir is a place of complete tranquillity, though for the more active among us, why not try a spot of couples fishing and a picnic by the water.

18 Cycle along the Cuckoo Trail – The cuckoo trail is a charming bike trail that is perfect for a couples bike ride, why not make it extra romantic and hire a tandem!

19 Ice Cream Sundaes at Macaris, Worthing – Share an indulgent ice cream sundae for two at Macaris restaurant established in 1959, whilst looking over views of Worthing Marina.

20 Cocktails at Blanch House, Brighton – The absolutely outstanding cocktails offered at Blanch House hotel bar, combined with its stylish setting, make it the height of classy, lavish romance, the perfect cocktails for two.

21 Charleston, Firle – The country house that housed many a romance, playing host to the infamous Bloomsbury Group. The idyllic setting of the house makes for a tranquil atmosphere, whilst the eclectic interior of the house, which was known for its scandalous inhabitants, will appeal to the more eccentric romantics among us.

22 Earnley Butterflies and Gardens near Chichester – The opulence of seeing a host of butterflies, with such fragility and beauty is surely a romantic sight when shared.

23 Glyndebourne Opera House – Take in dinner and an opera performance at Glyndebourne. With a romantic countryside setting, combined with the classic glamour of an evening at the opera, it makes for a perfect date.

24 Hailsham Pavilion Cinema – This lovingly restored cinema captures the true romance of the movies and old Hollywood glamour. It makes going to see a film a real occasion that is thoroughly romantic.

25 Maximum Diner, Uckfield – This tiny tex mex diner in Uckfield, has secluded booths and undiscovered charm, as well as tasty food that is perfect for sharing.

Meeting Up Off-Line

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A first meeting with any new love interest can be exciting - and most first meetings are perfectly safe, but it's always smart to take basic precautions. Trust your instincts. And be sure to keep the following guidelines in mind:

DO meet in public.
On first meetings, ALWAYS arrange to rendezvous in a populated, public place. Never meet in a private home (or in a hotel room) or in a remote location.

DO tell a friend.
Tell at least one friend or family member who you are meeting, where you are going and when you expect to return. Let your date know your meeting is not a secret.

Tip: Contact your friend before and after the date or ask your friend to contact you at a predetermined time.

DO stay sober.
Refrain from drinking excessively, as it could impair your ability to make good decisions and may put you at risk.

Tip: Stick to nonalcoholic drinks when meeting someone for the first time.

DON'T leave home without your phone.
If you have a mobile phone, take it with you on dates.

DON'T ask the other person to pick you up.
Get yourself to and from the date, even if you have to have a friend to drive you or take a taxi.

DON'T leave personal belongings or drinks unattended.
Don't risk having your personal information stolen. The same goes for your drink - don't risk having it tampered with.

Tip: If you must leave your drink unattended to go to the toilet, order another drink when you return.

DON'T succumb to the temptation to take first dates to your home (or go to his or her home).
Stay in a public place, even if you are pressured. If you feel pressured, end the meeting and leave at once.

Tip: If you are followed to where you parked your car, stop and hail a taxi or go into another public place to use the telephone to phone a friend. Come back later with your friend to get your car.

DO set up a next date, if you are ready and feel comfortable.
And DO remember to follow all of these tips on subsequent meetings, until you feel confident with your new friend. If the other person is sincerely interested in you, he or she will want you to feel safe.

Online Dating Success!

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Virtual love becomes reality – success stories from online dating

Love from across the pond – “I have always been sceptical about online dating, but my friend registered me on a matchmaking website and one day I was intrigued to see if there were any men on it that I would be remotely interested in. A picture of one man really caught my eye, yes it was a purely physical attraction at first I admit it, but then we got talking and I found we had a lot in common, he had a good sense of humour and I just felt we got on well. And we began to talk on the phone, skype, etc. getting to know each other more and more. Though I may have neglected to mention the real difference between us, he lived in London, whilst I lived in Chicago, so meeting up was going to be difficult. However we decided to go for it, meeting up in New York for a few days, as he happened to be going there for business anyway. We had a whirlwind romance, with New York as the perfect setting, he was exactly the man I met online and we fell in love instantly. My heart was beginning to sink as we approached JFK and saying goodbye, but to my amazement, as he went up the escalator to departures a moment later he came back down the other escalator and ran into my arms. He had talked to his boss that day and managed to get a transfer to New York, I ended up moving to New York and we have been living together ever since, recently getting engaged. I would have to say to anyone considering dating online – take the plunge! What have you got to lose? when you really could end up with the romance of your dreams.

Schoolboy Romance – “I joined a local dating site and ended up talking to a woman who had a daughter at the same school as my son. We began to get on really well and decided to meet up after the school carol service. In flirting we had concealed our identities from one another up to this point, I just knew we were meeting outside the church after the service, and as people began to drift out I made my way to the front of the church, anxiously looking for her. Then as time passed I thought she wasn’t coming, but suddenly a woman came towards me with a giggling girl dressed up as an angel in her arms, the girl was shouting “Rudolph the red nosed reindeer had a very shiny BUM BUM BUM”...clearly she had been held up. We both burst out laughing and introduced ourselves, then her daughter shouted “MISTYTOE MISTYTOE, KISSSS!” we both looked up at the church porch and saw mistletoe above, we looked at one another for a minute and then we kissed. We were inseparable from that night onwards, and married in the same church a year later. Online dating really can work!”

Patience is a virtue – “Okay so online dating is not a failsafe; it’s like dating in real life, sometimes it works but a lot of the time it can seem like an endless stream of Mr Wrongs! I had been online dating for over a year and after a string of BAD dates, I was giving up, but decided to give it one more try. I chatted to a man and I found he had the same sentiments as me, a catalogue of online dating disasters, and we got along really well. We met up and had a great date, laughing about our terrible dates, and also found we had more than poor choice in dates in common. We have been dating ever since and recently he proposed. If you are patient online dating can help you find the one, but love isn’t always an instant find!”

Long term success – “I met my partner online 7 years ago, after chatting online, we met up, and then we began to date in earnest. After really getting to know each other we decided to move in together, we married after two years and now have a child together and our celebrating our five year anniversary. We have not only found fleeting romance online but long term partners who we are truly in love with.

If you have found success with online dating share it with us email admin@datinginsussex.co.uk

*These stories reflect the overall success of dating online, not the users of datinginsussex.co.uk

Top 10 Romantic Gifts

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

These gifts of love may be cliché but they say romance nonetheless and are what every girl wants deep down!

1. A trip to Paris – A trip for two to the city of amore, how could anyone not find this romantic!

2. Antique book of love poems – An old copy of a romantic poet’s works, for instance a vintage edition of Shakespeare’s sonnets, makes the perfect romantic gift. It conjures old fashioned romance and allows you to say something truly romantic even if you’re not the natural wordsmith yourself.

3. Their favourite sweets – Okay so this is basically suggesting chocolates, but if you go the extra mile to give them their favourite sugary snack, it shows a little more thought. If they like one sweet best from an assortment then make a pack that only has their favourites, i.e. only the red skittles or green haribo gummy bears. Or their everyday sweet vice like a kit-kat, presented in the right way could be very romantic, watch the film Juno and you will appreciate the romance of a mailbox full of tic-tacs.

4. Rekindle first date romance – Take your partner back to where you had your first date, or where you first met. If your first date/meeting was just not romantic, then create first date romance, by meeting your partner at a restaurant or theatre show etc. It will seem more romantic as you will meet there, as if meeting for a first date, and you can surprise them with flowers or a secluded box at the theatre, the options are endless.

5. A Handmade Card – Don’t people always say that it’s the gifts that cost nothing that are the best, well in the case of a handmade card I would thoroughly agree. This gift shows you’ve made a real effort to make the recipient feel special and allows you to say exactly what you feel in your own unique way.

6. Mix tape – A compilation disk of all ‘your songs’ makes romance that is personal to you two.

7. Their favourite flowers – It’s an oldie but a goodie, nothing says romance like a bunch of your favourite flowers, delivered to you at work or sitting ready for you on your bedside table, prompted by no occasion whatsoever.

8. Candlelit dinner for two – Make them their favourite home cooked meal, or take them out to their favourite restaurant, just make sure there’s candles and remember to include an aphrodisiac on the menu somewhere!

9. Picture of Love – A framed picture of the two of you quite clearly celebrates your love and will remind your partner of that whenever they look at it.

10. Jewellery for her, Lingerie for him to enjoy – These are slightly shallow gifts, but still romantic - any form of jewellery will make a girl feel treasured and lingerie for your man to enjoy will create the racy romance he’ll love.