Here is our Christmas list of appropriate Christmas gifts whatever stage your relationship. A full range of gifts for women is available at House of Fraser. Just check out their ‘gifts and wedding’ section online; don’t worry we aren’t suggesting you plan for the big day just yet, it’s just the name of the online gifts section.

Dating time: less than a month

You definitely don’t know everything about her just yet; so don’t go overboard. This is a tricky time bracket, insomuch as you don’t want to look too soppy and/or keen, but you do want her to know she is special and you are most definitely interested. Anything too personal is a big no-no, but something too general is also out of the question. Beauty products are great early-bird gifts. If she is into make-up – you should be able to figure this out just by checking out her face on the first date – the Benefit makeup Project Flawless Gift Set is the ideal choice. If she is more of a fresh faced lady, the Clinique 3-step home and away I & II is perfect.

Dating time: two to four months

You know more about her now and feel comfortable with where you’re at, but you still need to impress. Prove you know her with a fragrance gift set. Ask the beauty counter assistants for advice; they will guide you through myriad fragrance types. However, if you’re buying online, you could get her the gift set of her favourite fragrance.

Dating time: five to eight months

You really should know what she likes and doesn’t like at this stage, and if you have been together for this long it must be pretty serious. She means a lot to you, so show her how much. This is the time for jewellery. You can find something personal now because you should know her unique style. Earrings and rings can be tricky, but bracelets and necklaces are much easier to get right.

Dating time: nine to 12 months

This relationship is for real now. This means it’s time for the next step; no, not marriage. Instead of a traditional gift, you should get her an ‘experience’. Smartbox experiences, available through House of Fraser include a Michelin-star dinning gift set where you can whisk your leading lady off to one of 30 Michelin starred restaurants in the UK. Quite a nice deal for you too.

Buying a Christmas present for the guy you’re dating can be tricky, especially if you’ve only just started seeing each other. You don’t want to look too keen and scare him off, but you do want him to feel special. You obviously need to know the boundaries and where you are in your relationship before you go off spending money on someone who doesn’t feel the same way. However, having said this, Christmas is about surprises; you don’t want to know too much as where’s the fun in Christmas shopping then?

Whatever stage you are at in your relationship, we have pulled together some gift ideas for you to buy your – new or not so new – man. A full range of House of Fraser presents for men can be found at their website. Here’s our selection of the best.

Dating time: less than a month

You don’t know him all that well yet and you don’t want to come off too clingy by getting something corny or cheesy. Keep things neutral; a personal organiser, a leather wallet or a bottle of his favourite tipple are perfect casual gifts.

Dating time: two to four months

You know more about him at this stage and therefore you can make the gift more personal. However, men are often a little intimidated by notions of commitment, so you don’t want to go all out just yet. You could venture along the music/DVD/entertainment scene, but these kinds of choices are very personal and you could easily get it wrong. A safer route is aftershave or a grooming gift set. Lacoste and Hugo Boss have new gift sets out in time for Christmas, alternatively, just get him a fragrance you like the smell of. After all, we are partly attracted to people because of their smell.

Dating time: five to eight months

Now things are getting serious. He might have even met your folks, or is about to over Christmas dinner. Now is a good time to prove to him how much he really means to you and it’s quite safe to put a little more of your heart, time and thought into the gift. Men are quite fussy about watches, so this is a hard present to get right, but if you do you will prove just how well you know him as well as scoring major cool girlfriend points among his mates.

Dating time: nine to 12 months

You’ve almost made it to the year mark. This is cause for celebration in itself and you probably feel your man deserves a little spoiling. Smartbox gift experiences available at House of Fraser are perfect. Choose from the Adrenaline and Adventure packs to give him the opportunity of racing a Lamborghini or driving an 18-tonne tank.

What OnlineDatingBible.co.uk is, is the most comprehensive site for Christian daters on the online market today. If you are looking for eligible men and women of the Christian faith, there is no better place to go than OnlineDatingBible.co.uk. Make sure that you always remember what you are about and do not let the pitfalls of the dating world ever stop you or make you settle for anything less than what you deserve.

As you repeat this to yourself, you should realize that all of the daters on OnlineDatingBible.co.uk ry/ty. they do not want to have to lie or become discouraged dating people that do not share their faith, and they are looking for people just like you. What are you waiting for? The next thing that you should be doing is creating a profile on the website, and communicating with the faith based daters around your area. And believe me, there are more than you think.

The features on the website allow you to hone your search like no other website before it. You are not only able to communicate freely with people that you find attractive, but you are also able to ignore people that you do not find attractive. You are able to search by any number of criteria so that you can efficiently find the type of person that you like within the faith. And if you ever get discouraged, simply take the mileage out for another 5 miles and you are automatically presented with an entirely new pool of daters for your perusal.

Your faith and your dating are intertwined. There should be no one that can tell you differently. You do not have to settle, and with the resources at the website OnlineDatingBible.co.uk, we are making sure that you do not settle. Not only that, but you might actually find someone that you can fall in love with!

Sandal Castle in Wakefield takes its role in British military and literary history seriously. The Battle of Wakefield during the War of the Roses cost the Duke of York his life here. The event is reenacted during live history days. The castle ruins and visitors center overlooks River Calder and is the setting for Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 3.

Pontefrect Castle served as a royalist stronghold during the English Civil War until it was reduced to ruins in a siege in 1649. The castle area includes an underground magazine, which served as a prison during the Civil War. A tour of the underground area, cut from solid rock, is available for a fee. Shakespeare mentions Pontefrect Castle in Richard III.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park features 500 acres of outdoor sculpture garden space along with five indoor galleries. Exhibitions rotate, with at least 60 sculptures on display at a time. Lakes and woodland in the park have recently been restored and opened to the public, including a Greek-style summer house and a shell grotto, making a lovely setting for a romantic walk. Park admission is free; parking is £5.

Hepworth Wakefield, designed by architect David Chipperfield in a riverside setting, opened during the summer of 2011. This huge exhibition space for the visual arts, 1600 square metres, is located on Wakefield’s Gallery Walk. It is named for Wakefield’s own Barbara Hepworth, an important figure in contemporary art. The gallery is also a social space with film screenings, talks, and concerts. One can impress a romantic partner by planning a date to either art collection to coincide with an exhibit of the other person’s favorite artist.

Other attractions in Wakefield include Nostell Priory House, Chantry Chapel on Wakefield Bridge, and Wakefield Cathedral. The city hosts two major food festivals each year, the Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink, and Rhubarb in Februrary and the Pontefracte Liquorice Festival in July.

With so much to do and see in Wakefield, a visiting couple may just want to grab a quick bite at a castle or gallery café. Perhaps a light lunch or tea at a bistro or public house would hit the spot. A leisurely, romantic dinner can also be found, especially for those who enjoy Italian or contemporary European cuisine.

Getting set up through friends is another option, but it is a risky one unless the values of your friends are very similar to your own. Younger Christian people face challenges as well, since there are less people in their late teens and early 20s who are committed Christians and looking for a life partner.

Christian singles of all age groups who are looking to meet someone new can save themselves a lot of heartache by passing up the general dating websites and registering for one that is meant just for Christians. It is already a given that your fellow dating site members have the same types of values that you have, so that is one less layer of formalities you have to go through in order to meet your potential match. If you think that online dating is far-fetched and only for people who are desperate, you probably don’t realise that one in five relationships today began over the Internet.

Finding a Christian Dating Website

When it comes to something as important as dating and possibly finding the love of your life, you need to take a proactive approach instead of sitting home in your flat waiting for love to find you. That may be the stuff romantic movies are made of, but it doesn’t really reflect reality. If you are connected to the Internet, meeting new people is as easy as finding a website that helps bring single Christian adults together.

Establishing Your Online Profile

If you don’t want to attract superficial people, then don’t write a superficial profile full of things that you think other daters want to hear which may or may not be true. This is the time to dig deep and show the other members of the dating website that you really know yourself and what you are looking for in a potential partner. You don’t have to give your life story, of course, but often times being authentic is what will attract people to you the most.

When it comes time to upload a photograph, use your photo editing software to include one that has only you in it, is cropped for an up-close look and has bright lighting. Oh, and don’t forget to smile.

- If your dating profile does not already include a photo, add one.

Members with a photo on their profile are more likely to receive a response from other users. Sure, looks aren’t everything- but it’s nice to know who you’re talking to. When uploading photos to your profile, make sure they convey your personality and expectations. If you want a man who values intelligence, bikini pics are out of the question. If you want a woman to know you are responsible and hard-working, save the drunken party pics for Facebook. Another photo upload to avoid: anything with you and your ex. Your first contact attempt will be in vain if your profile photos are not up to par.

- Choose your subject line wisely.

Aside from your photo, the first thing potential dates will see is the subject line on the message you send them. Many members receive 10 or 20 messages a day. Some members receive even more. A subject line like “Hi” or “Hello” is polite. It’s also boring. Say something creative. If you aren’t feeling creative, mention something you saw in the other member’s profile. If you both love cats, write “Greetings from one cat lover to another”. If they mentioned that they love following a healthy diet, write a silly subject line such as “This message does not contain high fructose corn syrup or trans fats”.

- Treat your email like a verbal interaction.

When messaging a member for the first time, it is important to follow many of the same rules you would follow in a regular conversation. Ask open-ended questions. “Do you like tennis?” is not an open-ended question; “What’s your favorite sport?” is. Open-ended questions offer the other person a chance to respond to you and spark up a conversation. Be polite and don’t spent the entire email jabbering on about yourself. If you monopolize the email with “I like this and that and this and also that and blah blah blah”, you probably will not receive a response back. Pay attention. Just like you would pay attention to the hobbies and interests of your potential date in person, you should pay attention to their profile. Don’t stop with a catchy subject line; show that you aren’t sending out a generic message to every member that catches your eye by mentioning specific information found in their profile.

- Don’t be afraid to flirt a little.

It’s okay to flirt a little. It’s not okay to flirt a lot. Showing a member you are interested by saying “I see you love Mexican food- I know a great restaurant we can go to” is acceptable. Saying “I see you love Mexican food, but you’re way hotter than any jalapeno pepper I’ve ever tasted” is slightly creepy.

The first is that the written word does not always translate in the same manner as the spoken word. Simply put, while a comment or question may sound perfectly natural in your head, the reader will only see the exact message minus the tone or inflection that you intended the statement or question to have.

Because of this it is important to carefully structure a first message so that it is an exact written expression of the sentiment that you intended to imply. Remember, you community members may not recognize your attempts at sarcasm and wit for what they are and you could come off as sounding creepy or rude when attempting to infuse a first message with humor. It is always a good idea to keep coversation basic until you and the other party have established enough of a repor to recognize when one or the other of you is joking. With a new dating contact you should also avoid introducing yourself by defining your past dating woes. Your introduction is not the time time to discuss failed relationships or numerous thwarted attempts to ignite your love life.

Understanding this, start by making a brief introduction. This should include why you are interested in the individual, what caught you eye in his or her profile, and what your short or long term dating interest are. If you have likes or common dislikes as revealed by the member’s profile, make certain to address these as well. Knowing that similar interest are shared can help a person to feel more at ease.

As with all dating related introductions, it is essential to portray a measure of self-confidence while remembering to discern the difference between confidence and arrogance. This is best accomplished online by pointing out several positive things about yourself while mentioning key positive aspects of the other member’s profile as well. Taking the time to complement him or her is a phenomenal way to break ice and generate interest. By keeping it simple, direct and positive and you are likely to get a positive and direct response in return.

For Christian singles with strong religious convictions, it may be difficult to find someone on the dating market who truly shares the beliefs, values, and faith that are so critically important in your life. You may have tried to maintain a relationship with someone who has differing core values in the past, but it is difficult to feel truly connected to someone when the disagreements are about such important things as your faith. Online dating sites targeted specifically towards Christian singles are especially geared for connecting potential soul mates with similar values and connection to their faith.

Other dating sites do not place as much emphasis on matching you with other singles who share your beliefs, faith, and family values. Elsewhere, you can get matched with someone who you fundamentally disagree with on the most important issues there are just because you share some of the same hobbies. In this case, the chances of finding someone you can have a deep, meaningful relationship with is slim. With dating sites specifically for Christian singles, there is a much higher chance of true soul mates being matched.

Online, you can learn about what someone cares about most before meeting them in person. This important information can help you make a much better decision about whether to get involved in a relationship with someone than you get through traditional dating methods.

This St. Valentine’s Day, you can make the choice to start the process of truly connecting with someone. Free faith-based online dating can connect you to someone that you will spend the rest of your life with in love, friendship, passion for your faith and each other, and long-term happiness. Your soul mate is out there. Who will he or she be?

The exchanging of gifts is a long-standing tradition at Christmas, so why not take part? Give a gift that can spice up time together, such as a nightie, silk boxers, candles, body oil, or a toy. This gift could make this holiday a sultry one. A fun and surprising idea is to be a present under the tree, perhaps wearing a festive negligee or robe, or just a well-placed bow.

At Christmas lights and decorations are everywhere giving off an ambient glow. Spend a playful evening bathed in the glow of the little lights reflecting of the ornaments. A nice bit of extra effort would be to place candles around the bedroom, scented and unscented, in the colours of the season for a festive ambient glow.

As Christmas is time for parties and dinners, a break will be needed. Casual friends can take an evening off from the hustle and bustle of visiting and parties. Stay in and have fun at home with your own feast. Bring out sensual foods such as champagne, spaghetti with oysters, and chocolate. Serve foods that can become part of playtime such as strawberries with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

When planning a romantic and fun Christmas together, try to make it as stress-free as possible. The season is already busy with planning good cheer for loved ones from nearby and visiting. This is time for friends with benefits without having to think about gift lists, cards, and guests. Have fun and make this an intimate and personal time. Remember the mistletoe above the door!

I was in bed for three months.

Last March my husband of twelve years unexpectedly moved out of the house. We didn’t marry young; I was nearly forty when we eloped, but he was the love of my life. As cheesy as it sounds, he was my soulmate. My heartthrob. The man of my dreams.

It turns out he was having an affair with one of my best friends.

I didn’t go directly to bed, I tried to get him to work things out. I gave him some space. I badgered and pleaded with him.

My depression didn’t stem solely from rejection, or that I so misread him. Part of it was the idea of starting over, alone and lonely. I love being married and having a partner. The thought of going through all the pain, turmoil and rejection of dating again was more than my psyche could bear. After all, it took me years to find the “man of my dreams.” What were the odds there were two?

I’m also not your conventional fifty-something. I like punk music, rock and roll, going to shows, wearing jeans and trainers. As I looked around in those weeks before I went to bed, I realized that men my age didn’t wear jeans and trainers. They didn’t go to rock shows. They weren’t where I was.

My friends started signing me up for dating sites. “You’ll find someone,” they proclaimed, “you just haven’t looked in the right places.” It was hooey, I was sure, but it made them feel better, so I let them do it.

The emails came in, first a few, then a lot. “Like what I see,” “Let’s chat soon.” But I didn’t want to sit home by the fireplace and knit. I wanted to rock. One email, though got my attention. “You look like a rocker.”

I looked at his profile. He appeared to be another fish out of water. He was a musician, and as we started emailing back and forth, I found out that he, like me, was always the creepy old person at the rock show.

Ted isn’t exactly why I got out of bed. I realized there was someone out there for me. If not Ted, then someone else. Ted is a doll. We went on our second date last night, and I actually had that fluttery feeling in my stomach when I saw him, something I thought I would never feel again.

Knowing that my heart is still intact and I’m not obsolete is what is got me out of bed. And that is where I intend to stay.