Be my Valentine?

It's no secret that I am the soppiest hopeless romantic ever. And with Valentines coming up I thought I would share one of my favourite 'Love' gifs of all time!! Ahh the run, the careless bumping into; its everything a girl wants packed into a 3 second clip.

An Unlikely Bond

Anyone who has a pet would know how much you can bond with an animal. Although some despise pets- especially cats- anybody who has a pet knows that there can be genuine love between them and their little friends. But sometimes a bond can build between more than just the normal household pets.

Lions

This picture shows that even the biggest of cats can be full of love for a human. 

Many of you may know about Leo the Lion. If you haven’t seen the heart-warming video yet, what have you been doing?! This demonstrates genuine love between the full-grown lion when he’s reunited with his owners, John Rendall & Ace Bourke, in 1972.

It used to be legal to own an animal like this, but as he grew larger and larger it was time to set him free into the wild in Kenya.

Bears

Although they will grow into big, dangerous animals, bears can be the most loving and playful of animals. If a bond is made from an early age, they can be your best pal. Take Brutus, the pet grizzly bear for example. 

The bond between him and his best friend, Casey Anderson looks unbreakable. I wouldn’t like to fall out with Casey; something tells me his friend’s got his back!

Mark Dumas, a 60-year-old man from Canada also has a ‘bear-bond’ with his polar friend. They say he’s the only man in the World who can swim with a polar bear. Would you jump in the pool?

Crocodiles

What would you rather do; swim with a polar bear or swim with a crocodile? It would be a tough choice. Go to Puerta Rico and you may bump into a man named Chito, who would probably be playing with his friend, Pocho- a crocodile he saved from a gunshot wound over 20 years ago

He said it took more than 10 years to really be able to get closer with the croc. If you can’t get over to Puerto Rico to see the odd couple playing around, here’s a clip.

Gorillas (with pets)

An even more unlikely bond is Koko the gorilla- who loves and cares for a pet kitten. 

She had so much love for the kitten that when she finds out it died, she’d cry! This goes to show that we’re all full of love and emotions.

So next time you feel like adopting a furry friend, maybe you could think outside the box! Depending on the law in your country, that is..

How to write a love letter

Text messages are useful, but they are hardly romantic. Sometimes, only a letter will do (or if you prefer to keep it electronic, a letter by email).
Perhaps you have been with the same person for decades and want to tell them how much you still feel, or perhaps you are in the early stages, looking to meet singles in Manchester with eHarmony. Either way, follow these tips for love letters that will impress.

Presentation

Presentation is important. Do not write your love letter on a scrap of paper torn from an exercise book – make the paper you write on reflect the way you feel. Use good quality writing paper, or a card. Stay away from schmaltzy pictures of hearts and flowers (unless you know that the person you are writing to will love them).
If you go for a card, choose something with a picture that means something to the two of you – a place you have visited, for example. If you write by email, send your letter as an attachment rather than in the email body – it will increase the sense of mystery and excitement.

The beginning

Let the person you are writing to know why you are writing. Perhaps you were thinking about a special time you had together, and want them to remember it too? Or you feel you have lacked romance recently and want to remind them? Or maybe you are telling them you love them for the very first time? Whatever it is – let them know.

The body

Expand on what you have told them in the beginning section. Try to avoid cliché – it will tend to sound insincere. Focus instead on things that you love about them, and the things you have done together.
Remember that this letter is about them and about you as a couple – it should not be about you as an individual. If they want to write a love letter back, they will do. Until then, do not fish for compliments. The letter should be focused on making them feel special and loved.

The end

Finish off your letter with a killer phrase that will stick in their mind and make them smile when they think about your letter. Tell them that you want to be with them forever, or whatever it is that you feel. If you get a little bit cheesy at this point, it does not matter too much – just try to stick with something that sounds sincere and meaningful. From singles dating nights to love letters – in relationship terms, you have arrived.

Resource box

Lovingyou.com: Love letters
A collection of love letters and articles about love letters
Love Letters of the Civil War
Love letters from American Civil War soldiers
Esquire.com: How to write a love letter
A guide to love letter writing

Dating again after heartbreak

We all know it can be hard getting over a failed relationship, and we all deal with it differently. Some like to spend time alone, learning from what went wrong and enjoying being single, while others are keen to move on to the next relationship. This article offers advice for those getting over a relationship and starting to think about a new one.  

Value your good points and work on the rest

 It’s easy to feel bad about yourself after a relationship ends. You might focus on the negatives and obsess over your little faults. Before you can start a new relationship, you need to learn to love yourself again.   Relish your positive attributes and remember all of the ways you have helped family and friends. Take action to improve the aspects of your behaviour or personality that you would like to change for the better.

Remove the rose-tinted glasses

 Once a relationship has ended, it’s common to only remember the good times and forget about the bad. While it’s a good idea to let go of bitterness and anger, it’s not advisable to place your ex on a pedestal. It will be very hard for anyone else to live up to that image.   Recall the positive and the negative aspects of your former partner to get a realistic perspective on why the relationship went wrong. Accept that it will take time to form such a strong bond again, but be confident that you will!  

Learn from positive relationships

 While some have a rose-tinted view of their ex, others might be so hurt by a betrayal that it is difficult to imagine a new partner could be any better. For whatever reason, your romantic relationship didn’t work. That doesn’t mean that every relationship will fail.   Just think of all of the positive relationships you have in your life with friends, family and work colleagues. There are lots of people who you love and respect. Focus on their good points and remain optimistic that you will meet a great person like them to share your life with.  

Join a club to meet like-minded people

 Once you’re ready to meet someone new, the question then arises ‘how?’ One way to ease yourself back in to being sociable with new people is to join a club. You could sign up to a gym or take an evening class.   You’ll be more likely to meet someone with the shared interests. It is also a non-pressured environment where you can get to know potential partners as friends first.

Head online to find compatible matches

It can be daunting to get back on the dating scene. That’s why so many people turn to online dating sites like www.eharmony.co.uk.   You will be matched with a compatible fellow singleton, giving you the best chance of finding love again. Whether you want to start dating Birmingham singles or Londoners looking for love, you’ll find them through online dating agencies.

   

Resource Box

Relationship advice
The Telegraph’s tips for a happy relationship.

Dating
The Guardian’s articles about dating.

Love poems
The BBC’s selection of poems about relationships.