Fine Romance,it's As Easy As Abc
THE SUNDAY AGE
Sunday February 5, 1995
FEBRUARY 14 is Valentine's Day the best excuse all year for spoiling that special person.
The most memorable Valentine's Days are the result of sincerity, imagination and inspiration. Sincerity comes from the heart but the other two can involve a bit of time and effort. To help make your Valentine's Day one to remember here are some ideas: A Aphrodisiacs, now there's a great gift idea. The jury is still out on whether these alleged libido stimulants actually work. Many of the old favorites, rhino horns, tiger penises etc, are not only very difficult to get, but in this environmentally aware era, are ecologically uncool. Presenting your loved one with one of these bizarre artefacts is more likely to have the opposite effect.
Oysters come with a big reputation, but do they really work? Chances are if you and your lover feed fresh Tasmanian oysters (available in Daimaru for about $6.90 a dozen) to each other with champagne while naked in the bath, they will work.
B Breakfast in bed. For a memorable day, start from the moment you wake. You can't beat a beautiful breakfast strawberries, clotted cream and croissants. Take your lover on a balloon ride and like two soaring eagles (three if you count the pilot) watch the sun's early morning rays gently caress awake the terrain below. Hire a boat for a quiet row on the lake or river and have a picnic brunch at a secluded spot ashore.
C Chocolates and confectionary. Not just any chocolates but handmade truffles starting at $45 a kilogram from the best shops. Some of the nicest are in Acland Street's continental cake shops. Buy your partner one of those luscious Italian cakes from Brunetti's in Carlton. Savor those flavors almond, coffee, mocha cream, champagne sponge fingers, zabaione filled profiteroles . . . as you lick them from the small of your partner's back (like in the milk ad).
D Dinner for two. At your place, or soft lighting, sweet music and an intimate table for two at Maxims, Jean Jacques, The Latin or Miettas followed by a romantic, midnight stroll along St Kilda pier.
E Erotica buy an elegantly erotic Japanese print for his or her boudoir. Good book shops like Readings or Cosmos often have books on erotica paintings by the Great Masters, or photos by Mapplethorpe.
Commission an artist to paint you nude and present it to your partner.
Or have your self professionally made up and photographed in exotic lingerie for his mantelpiece.
F Anything French just oozes amour. Perfume, champagne, one of Edith Piaf's heartwrenching CDs or Gabriel Gate's delectable cookbooks.
G Golden Heart Badges a great idea by the Variety Club to raise funds for Australia's underprivileged kids. For $2 your lover will appreciate your loving sentiments and so will the kids.
H His and hers items like towels, bathrobes, pillowslips, underpants, and windcheaters. Broadcasts the fact that you two are an item.
I Implements of the domestic variety like irons or benchsaws are no- nos on Valentine's Day. How many folk make love over a hot Hoover?
Don't drive a domestic wedge into your relationship buy gifts that inspire intimacy.
J Jewellery in any form just as long as the item includes diamonds you can't go wrong. If you can't afford them, something unusual even unique will please. Markers Mark Gallery in Collins Street has plenty of beautiful and unusual jewellery to inspire.
Ooh La La has some impressive costume jewellery which give a convincing appearance of opulence without the weighty pricetag.
K Kisses. The best gift of all as they are warm, loving, exotic, erotic, abundant, exciting and free.
L Write a loveletter to your partner and put it in a handpainted, lacquered or decoupage box with a small gold padlock (about $40 at gift stores) to start the collection.
Make sure you write lots more.
M Music. Love songs from the '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s are back in.
Old crooners like Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Ritchie Valens have songs to inspire romance. Our own, contemporary Paul Kelly has also penned some poignant love songs.
N Naughty games for two. Many games shops have them strip poker etc, just ask. Night on the town complete with deluxe room, complimentary champagne and breakfast. Many of Melbourne's better hotels offer romance packages for your Valentine. Rockman's Regency offers packages starting at $349 per couple including dinner and beverages at the Polo Restaurant, accommodation and late check out.
For $449 couples get dinner, a Regency suite with jacuzzi, roses and champagne.
O Over the top. Singing telegrams for maximum impact and embarrassment. A huge bouquet of roses from you, the anonymous admirer. It works especially well if you send them to your man at his office.
P Poetry, a proposal or a puppy. Plenty of passion. A picnic for two in the Botanic, or Treasury Gardens. Psychology books about discovering his feminine side or for her identifying the goddess within.
Q A carefully planned Quickie with quality. Take the phone off the hook.
R Roses and other blooms, an absolute must for Valentine's Day.
Fragrant flowers like gardenias and freesias or exotics like lilies and orchids are bound to impress especially if they come from Kevin O'Neill.
S Surprise the unexpected gift does heaps for the libido.
T Thespian Tickets to the opera, a play, the ballet.
U Underwear out with the boxer shorts and in with Y-fronts.
Previously for small boys and more mature gentlemen, Y-fronts have made a comeback as sexy apparel. Maybe it's all the cool, contoured cotton but suddenly, they look great. Pretty, feminine lingerie in satin, silk or Swiss cotton is always appreciated by ladies.
V Valentine cards. Your big opportunity to let someone who didn't previously know now know you fancy them anonymously of course.
Take out an ad in the paper. If you have to use tacky, smoochy talk then best to keep your names tactfully coded so work colleagues and those who know you don't vomit into their Cornflakes.
W Weekend away on wild, windswept coastline. Wine.
X See K for kisses.
Y Yo-yo or other collectible toys for the children in us all.
Available from shops specialising in '50s, '60s and '70s paraphernalia.
Z Zoo. A romantic stroll around the Melbourne Zoo, now open until late in the evening.
© 1995 THE SUNDAY AGE