Valentine's Day gift hell and heaven this year?

[HQPlanning]

Hello Mumsnetters!

We've got a debate going over here at MNHQ... essentially it's... what's your idea of a Valentine's Day gift from hell and a Valentine's Day gift from heaven?

We'll go first...

Valentine's Day HELL = a meal on the day - nothing worse than a set menu in a restaurant filled with other couples mooning over each other.

Valentine's Day HEAVEN = massage, facial, spa day... anything! I want to be shut in a room with pinkly plonky music and no sign of a laptop or phone anywhere near me.

We can't wait to hear yours.....

@MenaiMna

Anonymous48 because it will be a lacklustre overpriced menu cooked & served by people who are either lonely or resentful that they aren't celebrating. Valentine's Day should be meaningful to me as it's when we were engaged but the commercial aspect 20 years later just annoys.

I don't understand. Why would this hypothetical meal in this hypothetical restaurant be any different on March 14 than it would be on February 14?

I don't understand. Why would this hypothetical meal in this hypothetical restaurant be any different on March 14 than it would be on February 14?

Because in general, restaurants tend to offer a set menu/reduced offering for Valentine’s Day. They know they’ll be busy so it’s catering for the masses. This won’t be the case on March 14th (or other dates).

Additionally, Feb 14th is a Monday this year. Often a difficult night for getting babysitters, work the next day etc. I wouldn’t normally choose to go out to eat on a Monday night, so I also wouldn’t just because that Monday happened to be Valentine’s Day.

HELL - being taken to a concert where you have to stand up - just why?

HEAVEN - a really nice meal at home, or a meal out on a different day to avoid the crowds/ price hikes (or both!)

That said I once spent a lovely Valentine’s day whilst at Uni, having been abandoned by then boyfriend in favour of his friend’s birthday 😡, playing computer games with my housemates! It was the only time I won!

[quote iklboo]@CanofCant - oh, I'm sorry! I totally read it wrong. [/quote]
No, I'm sorry, I'm in an absolutely foul mood and feeling too sensitive. I probably could have worded my messages better. Off to find a cheesecake.

I usually get paid for contributing to market research for clients but hey ho ...

Heaven : brunch with fizz somewhere lovely, followed by dog walk stopping for coffee, then home to a quiet cuddly evening with a good takeaway and my choice of film. Some independent florist flowers, and usually I'd like chocolate but I'm trying to lose weight right now so him respecting that and swopping for non-edibles would show thoughtfulness.

Hell: supermarket shite, anything for the house/domestic duties, crap flowers or general "not me" gifts. Disappearing off to his study for the evening/not marking the day, or Watching sport.

Hell: meal out, one of those generic presents from the card shop like those grey bears.

Heaven: funny card, flowers, takeaway

Literally don't even think about it. It's just a marketing thing I have never celebrated it. Ever

@CanofCant

Heaven-

An extremely comfortable sofa, blankets, a familiar and enjoyable film or series, a takeaway, chocolates, Prosecco and my husband.

Hell-

A meal out. A cinema date. Anything like that really. I could do without seeing other couples dry humping and salivating

[quote iklboo]**@RedRec* - yes, I see what you* mean, too. When people call it 'tat' or 'rubbish' or 'embarrassing' - goes a bit beyond just saying you don't care for something. [/quote]
If they were name calling a person, then I’d get your point

But it’s a day dreamed up in a boardroom in hallmark offices.

So totally acceptable for posters to say they think it’s shit and the cards and flowers associated with it are embarrassing

sex on the hearthrug.

We just don't bother with it. I don't need it to be 14 February to tell my husband I love him...

I might make a card, if I get a chance, wouldn't bother buying one. It's a massive marketing scam and I have far better ways of spending my money!

Hell - a teddy bear

Heaven - a hotel stay on my own (DC disabled so can't leave him), a fancy restaurant cook at home meal, artisan chocolates. Or something from my favourite jeweller.

I won't get any of the above!

Heaven- dominos or Chinese

Hell- new underwear

Heaven- I've been told what my Valentine's Day gift is, we don't normally bother with gifts, just a jokey Mandalorian/Witcher/Simpsons/Curb Your Enthusiasm based card.

BUT this year it's a night-time ghost walk in Eyam!! So that plus pub tea and optional sex while my parents look after the children.

Hell- lingerie (he doesn't understand sizing discrepancies between shops for bigger titted women)

@GrandDuchessRomanov

I see MNHQ has let the work experiencers loose again.

I just snorted 😂and woke the sleeping cat

Heaven : Tulips - no roses for me it's been tulips since year one (sometimes presented in a basket you would send to your aged auntie!)

Anything from my favourite shop.

Hell: Going to a valentine themed night at a restaurant or a spa anything.

Hell - people making a massive fuss out of Valentines Day when no longer teenagers
Hell - single red roses in cones
Hell - cuddly toys with hearts
Hell - cheap tacky 'sexy' underwear
Hell - spa day

Heaven - something meaningful. A lie in. Nice words in a card. Maybe a book you've wanted.

Hell would be a massage or spa day 🤷‍♀️it's just not my thing.
Heaven would be a nice takeaway and a lovely soak in the bath while the other half did the bedtime routine with the kids.
And chocolates are always welcome because I know he's not foolish enough to buy me a pink mop again like he did last year! Apparently he thought I'd love it as I'm a bit obsessed with keeping the kitchen floor clean 😂

Heaven- a weekend away by the coast, wined, dined and lingerie. A book by my favourite author, flowers and some new make up/clothes. (It’s heaven so went all out)

Hell, a cooked dinner indoors.

Hell, a cooked dinner indoors or worse, a takeaway! (I’m not a dinner fan)

@Lifeslooser

Hell, a cooked dinner indoors or worse, a takeaway! (I’m not a dinner fan)

What meals do you like?

Hell - nothing really, we are just too old for it now, and I wouldn’t like the busyness/overpriced nature of a meal on the day. But my 19 and 21 yo DDs will definitely do something with their BFs, and that’s great. We used to celebrate it decades ago.

Heaven - I am having a dreadful time at work with being disciplined for MH issues, so we have decided to go away overnight this week (less busy) to…Newcastle. I’ve always wanted to go as it seems like a great city and (generalisation, sorry) all the people I have met from there have been very lovely. So looking forward to that before I’m sacked.

I will be taking a coat though.

(Sorry for changing the tone!)