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Share your worst ever Valentine experience with us in our “Worst Ever Valentine’s” competition. How bad can it be? After all a “Worst Ever Valentine” experience shared is a “Worst Ever Valentine” experience halved, and if not quite yet, you will look back one day and laugh. There’s also a very good chance that if it’s really grim you’ll win our fantastic first prize.

So if your blind date turned out to be your boss or that Valentine’s Card from David Cassidy was secretly from your Grandpa we’d love to know.

The first prize of an original Matthew Rice watercolour with the winner’s loved one’s name will go to the most heart breaking entry. The runner-up will receive a pair of Nice Dreams ½ Pint Mugs and 3rd Prize is a Pink Hearts Small Shopper.

The Winners

1st - A.H. Wigan Alone on Valentine night with no boyfriend, no hot date, no card... and as I reached to lift my solitary meal for one out of the oven, the entire oven fell out of the wall :-(

2nd - L.F. Calne SO.... I cooked a lovely romantic meal for 2 on valentine’s night, house to ourselves etc... My other half turns up and says oh your valentine's surprise is in the boot of my car but don't get it until I come outside to help you in a minute (as he is now in the bathroom) so being a woman I open it anyway and all of these heart / love shaped helium filled balloons fly out over the garden in a massive gust of wind. Naturally I run after some to try and catch them and I fall flat on my face in a ditch (we live near farm lands so it wasn't the nicest of smells all over me) So covered in cattle poo, soaking wet with a ruined new dress and about 10 helium balloons down I go into the bathroom to wash off. BUT.... after all that commotion I had forgotten the dinner in the oven, which I was preparing for a treat. BURNT TO A CRISP! I was so upset, the night was a disaster. The best part of the night though was watching it back on our security camera and seeing what an idiot I had been. I guess patience is a virtue!! Women hey!

3rd - N.A. Hailsham Last year I ate so much cheese I was very sick

Some of the entries so far...

J.T. Faringdon Was the first valentine’s ball at university, fancied this girl, and was plucking up the courage to speak to her, when out the blue the captain of the rugby club swept her off her feet. That put an end to my evening. Oh well young love

G.O. Bognor Regis It was my husband’s year to cook the valentine’s dinner. I was stuck at work late trying to finalise an urgent deadline and decided to give my husband a quick call to tell him that I would be later than anticipated; his work colleague picked up the phone and was rather elusive saying that my husband was feeling a bit poorly and had taken a break from his desk. I asked him to call me when he had a moment. Five minutes later the phone rang, it was his work colleague remaining very vague suggesting that perhaps it would be a good idea if I drove to pick him up as he was feeling rather dizzy, still no real detail. Worried about what was wrong with him, he is never ill, I left work, having to scrounge £10 petrol money from a colleague as I had forgotten my purse that day. As I was driving along the motorway the phone rang. I pulled over and spoke to his work colleague again who advised that they had called an ambulance and were rushing him to hospital. Still no detail. Moments later an ambulance came past and I ended up following it on the motorway tears streaming down my face knowing my husband was in it and no idea what was wrong – my brain went into overdrive. At the hospital I located him in A&E, he had an allergic reaction to his normal everyday medication – once in hospital he recovered quickly, so Valentine’s Day was spent in A&E and me cooking dinner. All to get out of cooking!

J.J. Canada My Valentine's story takes me back to my ex-boyfriend. He was a real stickler with his money. This particular Valentine's Day, in lieu of real flowers, (and fast food take out for dinner mind you!!) he decided to buy me a floral optical fiber light that was encased in a very large plastic box so I could "admire it all year long". It was honestly the UGLIEST thing I had ever seen! Thinking how awful it was, I decided to be a good sport and play along. Long story short, upon plugging it in, the outlet sparked, caught fire and melted the entire thing into my carpet while leaving huge soot marks on my wall and singeing my curtains, not to mention my poor carpet! After a 1/2 hour of trying to explain to the fire marshal what had happened, (who, by the way, thought it was hilarious and laughed through the entire interview process) I like to think my ex learned his lesson about the right gifts to buy someone on Valentine’s Day. At least we saw some sort of spark that day!

L.S. Dublin When I was in art school I went on and on to my chef boyfriend about all the things that I wanted for Valentines Day, especially flowers galore. Day after day I added to the list but mostly flowers were there on the list every day. When the day came I was all excited as he handed me a heavy package. With glee I ripped open the wrapping to find a sack of flour! With the smile disappeared from my face I looked at him with wondering eyes and he said, "If you hadn't asked over and over again for flowers and just left it to me to get you something you wouldn't have gotten this flour!" He was right of course. A few minutes later he pulled out a proper little present and I hugged him. But I learned a lesson that day and I have never asked for anything for Valentines Day since!

J.C. Lichfield When I was 16 the love of my life told me it was over and we went our separate ways when we left school. I always carried a torch for him and 2 years later I had a Valentines Card which I thought was from him, same tiny handwriting and I spent all day comparing writing on old cards he had written. Later that day my Brother confessed it was him. On the up side, that boyfriend and I met again 25 years later and he told me why he had split from me as he felt unable to take care of me going into adult life we married 4 years ago and now have a beautiful son.

T.N. London I went for a meal with my new date and he ordered a meal full of meat. There was a deadly atmosphere throughout because I am a vegetarian and did not eat it. Eventually he called me a "wishy washy yoghurt knitting liberal". I got up and left and felt suitably relieved.

C.A. Halstead I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar... (Ok so not quite, but 'I was working a waitress in a country pub' doesn't sound as glamorous!) and had just started dating the chef. Although we were looking forward to a romantic first Valentine's Day together, it was one of the busiest nights on a chef's calendar so we had to both work instead. We planned to leave work as early as we could to enjoy the rest of the evening together...however, as I sat sipping a glass of wine at the end of the shift, someone made me laugh and as I threw my head forward raucously laughing, I split my lip open on my wine glass and the evening ended in 'the' chef putting butterfly stitches onto my split lip and I looked like I had a white moustache...not the most attractive look and I was so sore we didn't even manage a kiss on Valentine's Day. It obviously didn't put him off too much as 10 years on that chef is now my husband and we can look back and laugh about it!

C.W. Poole My worst valentines day was when my partner didn’t even bother to get me a card or even wish me Happy Valentines he gave me a can opener as a present and then went on to have a go at me about whether I wanted McDonalds for dinner and then he ended it with me when I didn’t. We are back together now though!!!

H.P. Pontyclun My worst Valentine's was when I was about 16. I'd recently started dating possibly the 'hottest' guy in school (He is now 21, and still yet to hit puberty), and was so excited to finally spend the day with my new boyfriend, so I could waltz about with this gorgeous guy on my arm. I'd spent a tonne of money of lots of little bits and pieces for him, and had tickets for us to see his favourite band at a gig that night but, instead of the lovely day I had planned he spent the whole day avoiding me, and I finally saw him bolting onto the school bus at 4 o'clock that afternoon after confessing he'd forgotten. I gave him the benefit of the doubt because we'd both been busy with exam prep, but the following week when he conveniently 'forgot' my birthday too I swiftly dumped him, and tagged him as the cheapest guy I've ever met.

S.H. Southampton It was mine and my now partner of 3 years' 1st valentines day. I arrived home from a long day at work to be told that he had everything under control...he was cooking me a nice meal and I was to go and have a bath. He poured me a drink and ran me a bath. It was all going extremely well. After a nice hot bath I went downstairs to be told to relax whilst he finished cooking. He had bought new cutlery, plates and champagne glasses and a bottle of Verve was on the table next to a bouquet of roses. It was perfect! I was just thinking that I could really get used to this when a scream erupted from the kitchen. He had been chopping chilies and had touched his eye! He was in extreme pain so I had to rush him to A & E as his contact lens had got stuck and was burning his eye as some of the chili had got under it. We spent the whole night in A & E. When we eventually had dinner (2am) it was cold and we were both too tired for the champagne! So we went straight to bed! We haven't celebrated Valentines Day since as it reminds us of that dreadful night!

S.Y. Sutton Coldfield A few years ago I met a girl while on holiday in Las Vegas. She lived in the US in Seattle; I live in the UK in Sutton Coldfield. We kept in touch through and the occasional phone call. It was a good relationship. We met up again some months later again in Vegas and had a great time. We got on fantastically well. The emails and phone calls were now everyday. As Valentine's Day approached I decided to surprise her by turning up at her work in Seattle. I arrived at her office and the receptionist called her down......she was overcome, in shock (hyperventilating actually). The surprise had worked. She left work early and we went out for a drink arranging to meet later. She went home and I went to my hotel. After a day of drinks, meals, walks in the park etc I still had not been to her house and had noticed that she was a bit nervous. I put this down to us being in her home town and not on holiday as we had been in Vegas. I decided to ask her if everything was alright and if she was happy I had come to Seattle. She was happy, but she was just shocked by the surprise. Oh and by the way she said "I am married"........... She continued that her husband had only days before discovered our emails and him and his fireman work colleagues knew I was in Seattle and were looking for me. The rest of my trip was spent hidden away in a very expensive hotel room (you try getting a cheap hotel on Valentines weekend) watching cable. The girl - divorced now. Me - with someone completely different. And yes I now look at wedding fingers!!!

K.C. Swanage Picture this if you can - a 4 month old baby at home, husband and I crammed into our local Italian, tables so close to each other you almost had your elbows in your neighbours' starters! Me: exhausted, bags under my eyes, can't fit into any pre-baby clothes, self esteem rock bottom; neighboring table's date: 20 years younger, fresh and beautiful, legs up to armpits; husband's eyes: examining aforementioned legs...needless to say, a somewhat frosty dinner ensued, with a rip roaring argument for afters on the way home! (In case you're wondering, we're still married 3 years later, we've have had another baby, and I still don't fit into any of my pre-baby clothes; my husband's a reformed character though, god bless him, and when we can get a baby sitter, we grab the chance to have a romantic meal out together - but we do make a point of eating in on Valentine's day!)

M.C. Braintree The 14th February didn't bring me much luck, when hubby arrived on the back of an AA truck! Roses looking sad and his van in a mess his love for me he still managed to confess

K.B. Nottingham I was single so went out on 'we don't care about valentines' girlie night out. There were a few drinks drank , a few dances danced and a few lads chatted up - none that came to anything though, On my way home I slipped on the snow, landed on my backside and really hurt myself - so in the morning it wasn't just my ego that was bruised.

E.P. Penzance I think the worst valentines was when my now ex boyfriend decided that the present I needed the most was a He-man DVD completed with him dressing up as He-man! I knew it wasn't going well when we ordered in a Chinese and asked what my favourite film was and looked very disheartened when I answered something other than He-man! It certainly wasn't the most romantic of evenings after that!!

V.H. Market Rasen Last year my partner and I were on holiday in Tenerife on Valentine's Day. We had hoped for a nice romantic day. In the evening we were going out with our friend whose birthday was the next day. During the night before however I woke feeling ill and was then sick. I spent the entire day racing between bed and bathroom. Needless to say I didn't go out in the evening. Fortunately I was better the next day in order to attend the friend's birthday party before returning home. I did get a lovely bouquet from the local radio station that did a forgotten Valentine's feature and were touched by my story!

K.M. Leek My worst ever Valentines Day was the day my husband and I decided to take our daughter and her friend to a local play park about 6 years ago. It all started well, right up until the point that the girls started to play on the swinging hoops (very similar to those gymnasts use when they compete. consisting of two hanging chains with hoops on the end) My husband decided to "show them how it was done" and took each hoop in his hands and started to lift himself off the floor. Sadly his balance was not right and he just tipped forward and smacked his head and face on the floor. At first he did not move and I was afraid he was unconscious but after a few seconds he moved slightly. He was grey and had knocked his tooth out and he was bleeding. I wanted to call an ambulance but he didn't want me to so gradually I managed to get him to his feet and to the car. I took him straight to the local hospital where they immediately put him on a body board and his neck in clamps and a heart monitor on his chest. I was terrified! I had to leave my daughter and her friend in the corridor whilst I held my husbands hand in the A & E room. The nurses were afraid that he had broken his neck and it was merely the shock that had allowed him to move. To cut a very long story short we had to wait for an ambulance to transfer him to North staffs where he could have an x ray to determine the damage. I had to arrange a family member to collect my daughter and her friend from the hospital. We then spent 5 hours at North staffs with him being examined and x rayed. The worst Valentines ever!! Sitting alone in a hospital waiting for the results whilst my husband was in A & E. Thank goodness he had only badly bruised his spine and his neck muscles and would after resting be fine. We then had to wait a further hour for a taxi to get home. Just to add insult to injury part of his recovery involved physiotherapy at the local hospital and the first time he had to go he was greeted by a man in a suit representing the hospital and the senior physiotherapist. Basically the North staffs hospital had written on his notes that he had hurt himself on the gymnast rings and the Physio department had made the huge presumption that he was in fact a gymnast.

E.H. Harrogate A few years ago I overheard my boyfriend on the phone telling his mum that he was going to take me away for Valentines Day. He hadn't mentioned it to me so I guessed he was going to surprise me, I spent ages thinking where it might be, Paris? Or a cozy log cabin in the lakes. I even started shopping, new underwear, travel toiletries, the things I thought he might not remember to pack. Valentines Day arrived and as time went on nothing happened, no tickets, so note in a card, no 'let's go for a drive' - that evening it all became clear. I had misheard. He wasn't taking me away; he was treating me to a takeaway :( That taught me not to eavesdrop again!

H.C. Shrewsbury I was 18 starting university. I am a friendly person and smile a lot! There was this other student whom I was having to work with on a project at the time and I just happened to smile at him -not because I fancied him, I hastened to add! He was not your cool looking or gorgeous looking guy in the place! He wore a green smelly raincoat and was a ginger boy with yellow rotting teeth! I will never forget! He asked me which number I lived at close to Valentine’s Day and I quickly said a random number. Yet I managed to receive my first ever valentine's card from HIM! It was a quote from the bible and was signed by him. The thought now just makes me cringe! I never imagined that my first valentine's card would be from a boy like this!

K.B. Fife When I was a teenager I had never, ever had a Valentine's card. One day, the most gorgeous card arrived. I was so excited! The only clue was a car registration number written backwards so I had to read it in a mirror. It was a new car! Who could I possibly know that had a car like that? For weeks I tried to find out, then one day my dad said, "That's the car!” It was a big, red sleek BMW-truly beautiful, but sitting at the wheel was a guy who lived along the street from us who was about a foot shorter and at least 10 years older. I had finally found my fantasy man.............

L.C. Bristol At University I was dating a dishy young Vet. He spent weeks telling me how he'd thought of the most romantic thing for Valentines Day. As the day approached I got more and more excited wondering what he had planned. On the day he handed me a large box which contained a plastic fish tank with pink lid. We then went to the garden centre for our romantic date to pick the fish. Sadly the fish had a disease and gradually died over the following few weeks. The vet boyfriend then dumped me for a fellow vet who was more appreciative of his "romantic" gestures!

J.B. Reading Back in junior school we use to have a post box to put all the valentine cards in and then give them out on the day I remember that on the day after posting all of mine I was the only one in the whole class not to get a card. Lots of valentine days later I still slightly dread the day and the thought of not getting a card even though I know my lovely husband would never forget

A.H. Newcastle Upon Tyne Decided to propose to my partner last minute on Valentines Day. Spent rest of the day trying to book a decent restaurant without success. In the end I decided to take her walking around the centre of Leeds trying all the best restaurants on the off chance. After almost giving up we found one that offered a seat if we waited approx an hour. I talked her in to staying, and eventually we got our table. I made sure she ordered the more expensive things off the menu as it was going to be a special evening. We had our starters and, as the main course arrived I proposed. She was so emotional she couldn't eat and afterwards asked why I hadn't proposed earlier so the food wouldn't have been wasted!! Surprisingly we still got married!

C.W. Thatcham I am ashamed to say that I am the villain of this story and have tried to be a good Valentine ever since! When I was a student, free and single, I went to a Fancy Dress Ball. It was very exciting, planning my outfit (I went as a fairy) and seeing my friends dressed in costumes. During the evening I got talking to a very interesting man. He was handsome, a little 'off the wall' and we seemed to be having fun. He had a very 'different' costume on. He wore a top hat, black coat with tails, had half his face painted white and half black. Very skin tight black leather trousers and huge biker boots. I thought nothing of it really as it was, after all, a fancy dress party. We spent all evening wrapped in conversation and at the end of the night lingered as everyone left and he kissed me! I went home on cloud nine with his number in my pocket. The next day was Valentines Day, and we had arranged to meet that evening for a drink. I was up early that morning, thinking about my date that evening. I got my most glamorous outfit ready and perfect my hair and makeup. I got the bus to town and managed to turn up 10 minutes early. Even though I had had a great time the night before I thought my early appearance was a bit eager, so hid around the corner. I could see the meeting point from my hiding place! On time (you have to give him credit), my date turned up. He really stood out in the crowd, with his top hat, tails, face painted half black and half white. Yes, I had planned a date with the only fully committed Goth student in my college who had gone to the Fancy Dress Party dressed normally. I am ashamed to say that I turned and ran for the first bus home. I saw him a few months later and apologised (honestly!)

R.F. Alford Some 18 years ago my boyfriend and I decided to get engaged on Valentine’s Day. I wanted everything to be perfect so I asked my boss’s wife if she could recommend anywhere. She in fact recommended a really exclusive restaurant some 20 miles away. We talked it over and I managed to persuade my boyfriend to book a table for two on Valentine’s Day. We were really looking forward to our meal, as it sounded so nice. Upon arrival we entered to find a small, but extremely ‘cozy’ restaurant with a red rose on every table. After being shown to our table we ordered from the menu. I was a little shocked at the prices, but my boyfriend seemed ok with that. A while later the food arrived - the meat first followed by the season vegetables’. However, before the vegetables arrived at our table, the waitress lost control of the vegetable serving dish and consequently a floret of cauliflower ended up on the floor. To our total amazement, she quickly bent down picked it off the floor and put it back with the rest of the cauliflower. We both looked at each other totally aghast as she placed the serving dish on our table without saying a word. We were so shocked and became totally speechless from this action; needless to say most of the food was still on our plates when we left. I was so hungry when we left for home that we ended up at the Fish & Chip shop a few miles from home.

B.B. Farnham Some years ago, I was being wined and dined on Valentines Day, when several times, my date for the evening, complaining of a dodgy tummy, had to visit the Gents, but each time he seemed to take a little longer. Eventually, feeling a little concerned, I went to see if he was OK, but he was not to be found. It turned out he had another Valentine in a restaurant two doors away, and was also making excuses to leave the table, which was when he would have been back with me. Revenge was exacted in both restaurants, with a dose of Chili being added to his food!

H.F. London I had been on a couple of dates with a boy that I was really keen on. I kept dropping hints about doing something for Valentines Day together and was thrilled when he eventually asked me to come out with him on Valentines night. As the day approached I got more and more excited that this was going to be the night that we became an official item. I was therefore mortified when our 'date' turned out to be going to a singles party with a bunch of his mates where he spent the night talking to a hot blond (not me!).

W.S. Norwich Spending the night on own without card or flowers as other half had forgotten and was out with mates!!

C.W. Walsall Well simply shall I put it. Met my dream guy 20 years ago-I was 15 he was 21.We used to sit listening to Then Jericho tapes and the Alarm all totally harmless fun. Never had any time on our own-both of us much too shy to say how we felt. Then 20 years later through the powers off Facebook through a mutual friend we got talking again-we started where we’d left off-neither of us had forgotten the other, and last valentines day was our first official date-one year on never been happier. So wish I’d had the last 20 years with him but here's to the next twenty. So for me valentines day ill always be really special.

C.P. Frome A few years ago I took a new boyfriend for a 'romantic' night in a London hotel for Valentine's. He was never very demonstrative so, though upset, I wasn't very surprised when I didn't even get a card or present in return, him using that old excuse, 'You don't need a special day to show someone your feelings’. However, whilst he was showering, I noticed a piece of paper on the floor that had fallen from his jeans. I read it and found it was a receipt for a two dozen red roses to be delivered to his ex!! You can imagine how I felt? Needless to say the relationship was then over.

K.H. Staines We'd been going out together for 6 months and my boyfriend wanted to mark the occasion by doing something special for Valentines night, so he decided to get tickets to the opera. I was impressed. Much better than ending up in an overpriced restaurant, full of drooling, 'loved-up' couples. I was excited as it was my first opera outing and I wanted to make an extra effort to look good. I bought a sleek new dress and heels and regaled my best mate into coming over and applying some of that slow-developing fake-tan everyone rages about, so I'd look bronzed and gorgeous on the night. More of that later! At the theatre, everyone was dressed to impress and the place was buzzing. But with all the people milling around, the place was hot and stuffy and I was glad I'd hadn't bothered to take my coat with me. We decided to head upstairs to get a drink. And it was right there, in the brightly lit bar area, amidst the throng of opera buffs, romantic couples et al, that my boyfriend leaned in and whispered in my ear "quick, hide your arms". I of course, wanted to know the meaning behind such cryptic advice. My tan was now fully developed and I stared in horror at my arms which resembled those 1970's arm-patch jumpers. My arms had a deep golden tan but my elbows had white patches - VERY big, stark, white patches. I spent the entire evening in my seat, stifling a pee, refusing point blank to move till everyone else had left first. I always knew my first opera would be memorable but I never imagined it would be because I'd had to sit with my arms rigid against my body in an attempt to shield my patchy elbows from public view. There was no romantic hand-holding or canoodling all evening. Even in the dimly lit auditorium, my elbows glowed, just like the EXIT signs. My mind was so pre-occupied with my elbows that I'd failed to notice the brown streaks on my wrists, my legs...................

J.B. Ipswich At the age of 15 receiving a Valentines Card from my Mum because my younger sister always received loads and Mum felt sorry for me.

C.B. Peterborough In my second year at university I was in a long distance relationship with a guy who was studying at a different university to me, because we were both so busy with work we had to concede that we wouldn't be able to see each other but, I decided at the last moment to surprise my boyfriend for Valentine's Day. I travelled the three hours by train with a small picnic for the evening ahead, caught the bus in Leeds and finally arrived at his house only to find that he had gone to visit some of his school friends in Newcastle! Needless to say I had a fun time with his housemates eating the picnic, but it wasn't quite how I planned it!

N.W. Enfield It was my first valentines with my second serious boyfriend who now happens to be my husband. Not to make too much of a big deal we said we would go out for a meal as you do and exchange gifts. I left it with my boyfriend to organise a surprise, he didn't book anything so even our favourite restaurant was full. Luckily the restaurant we loved had another place but it was the total opposite of the romantic place we loved and was a pizzeria! Still not to be downhearted I bought a new dress coupled with killer heels from Stuart Wiseman... As we were finishing dinner his phone which was on the table started to vibrate being in a jokey mood I got his phone and looked it was a text saying happy valentines day babe with no attached curious I laughed at my boyfriend saying who's this and proceeded to call when the phone was answered it turned out to be my boyfriends ex putting him on the spot I passed the phone straight over and he promptly put the phone down still.. This didn't stop me from trying to break free of the night by leaving through a window in the ladies only to realise I had left my new bag there! Having to do an abrupt u turn I got my bag and walked home with my boyfriend running after. Needless to say I will never forget our first romantic valentines and never forget that an ex can truly be bitter!

R.M. Glasgow Years ago, a card arrived on the doormat addressed to me, it had an unusual design for Valentine’s Day of a Cala Lily, very tasteful and understated I thought. I knew that my 'secret admire ' was not one for writing romantic notes inside cards but when I opened the card up I was shocked to see the printed words WITH SYMPATHY. That card was from my husband, he thought it was a 'nice picture' and I would like it, he didn't open it up, because he never signed Valentine cards to me, so he didn't know what was printed until I received it. Fortunately he survived but was mortified; we have a good laugh about it. He now checks inside ever card he gives me. Surprise, surprise, we are still married after 35 years. I now always wonder what cupid will deliver ever 14th of February!

J.D. Barnstaple I was taken out for dinner, whereupon he proceeded to describe me as 'hardy' and 'robust'. He remains a hopeless romantic.

E.S. Seaford On mine and my boyfriend's third Valentine's Day together, I excitedly baked him some heart shaped biscuits and wrote a loving card. He then produced a bunch of tulips (my favourite) and a bag of marshmallows (also my favourite) Where's the tragedy you ask yourself? Later on as I was tucking into the bag of marshmallows, he pointed out that I shouldn't have too many as I was getting a bit fat! The worst of it was that it still took me another two years to pluck up the courage the dump the idiot!

R.M. Cirencester Our first eyes met in my local, she slipped in unannounced and sat down beside me. She brushed my leg she walked passed. I always wondered if she did this deliberately. She had gorgeous blue eyes and ginger hair. I smiled at her as I finished my drink. I left the pub; I walked down the quiet street towards home. I heard a noise behind me - she was following me home! I reached my front door. By this time she had caught up with me - I plucked up my courage and asked her in for a drink. She obediently followed me in. To my surprise she immediately headed for my bed and stretched out on the duvet. I was all in and fell fast asleep. Next morning, I woke and there was no trace of her - I had left the window half open and she had disappeared. Pity, I had always wanted a stray cat as a pet.

S.G. Aberdeen I remember coming home on the bus and sitting beside a girl two years above me at school. She asked what I'd bought my boyfriend for Valentines. I proudly showed her the mug I'd just purchased which had "The best Lover" written on it. At the tender age of 14 I didn't have a clue what the literal meaning of the word "lover" was... and was slightly bewildered by her reaction. None the less I decided maybe I shouldn't give it to him and recall handing it to my Mum and saying I'd got her a gift for Dad! Oh my what must they have thought... bless them they never mentioned it again. If only Emma Bridgewater personalised mugs were around in the 80's!!

N.H. Cambridge It seems strange to foresee my worst valentine but hey ho. This year my darling husband will be in Australia for Valentine's Day. Our daughter and I will miss him dreadfully but he deserves a trip back to his home land because he moved to the UK so that I would not be so home sick for my home land! So, my worst valentine is because I really do have the best, most loving husband. I will not enjoy the cup of tea brought to me in bed, the flowers that will arrive at some point during the day, or the meal cooked for me in the afternoon. I will however try to remember that my loss is his family's gain for the two weeks he will be away.

K.C. Croydon Restaurant was booked for romantic meal, when phone rang, could we entertain 2 Frenchmen as chap who was supposed to do it was sick. Answer O.K., so sat in between 2 Frenchmen who reeked of garlic and got very drunk, but you had to laugh!

U.B. London I think my worst Valentine's Day was my very first one. I was a German exchange student in America (at the time we didn't do Valentine's Day in Germany though German florists have caught on by now) and 17 years old. I would have loved a secret or not so secret admirer no matter how spotty but I got a card from my geometry pupil (a girl) and my host sister only.

C.S. Cobham Years ago, three single girls all decided to go out for Valentines night....whilst driving down the Embankment in London leaving our day jobs behind, whilst squeezed into a little Mazda sports car, the girl in the back said to the other passenger " you do know that you are always very difficult to get along with” followed by complaining about the mortgage rate being 15%, well that made for an exciting ....and friendly night NOT!!! The following year three became one!!

M.H. Newport After many valentines as a singleton I was happy to be with someone this valentine. We had not been together that long and I was really excited that I was being taken out for the evening. However, it ended up at a local bar where I was treated to a half price platter for two which cost £5 (no wonder he was in a rush to get there so he didn't miss the half price offer deadline). Then he kindly told me as he got the food I could get the drinks for the evening!! I was beyond disappointed and faked illness to go home. Only for him to invite himself in and stay overnight. He didn't even take the hint when I went to bed that I had the hump and to add insult to injury then drunk a brand new bottle of Jack Daniels that I had been given as a present. After that lovely night out I never saw him again and he was absolutely mystified why!! Well at least it topped the valentines where I was given an iron :)

R.F. Maidstone Well I’d been single for a few years, and finally found somebody who I would of stayed with forever, I always get excited about valentines day and nothing usually happens so I didn’t try to get too hopeful, my friend kept asking my boyfriend where he was taking me and he wouldn’t reply, I spent all day waiting for something to be said but nothing!! The evening arrived and still no phone calls, so I got on with a few things, then the phone rang! (8.30pm) far to late for booking romantic tables for dinner especially on this busy evening, there it was, all I wanted was some matching Emma Bridgewater 1/2 pint heart mugs for my collection and I received a few sentences about our relationship going no where, followed by being dumped over the phone!! Only having to drive myself home and family members asking why I wasn’t out dinning with my partner on such a special eve, so I have put it down to another lesson in life, that collecting exciting pieces of china is more rewarding than dinner out with certain men. I'm also very lucky because Feb. 14th is also my dad’s birthday so I now spend it with him.

V.S. Bristol I thought it would be a lovely idea to stay in on Valentines with my other half and just cook a lovely meal and sit down in front of the TV and spend time with each other. After planning the night out I popped to the shops and got together all the ingredients for a gorgeous meal. After making sure the other half stopped peeking a look around the door we finally sat down to Steak and Chips! Mmmm. But...what happened next was certainly a Valentines surprise! Power cut. Oh yes, on all the days it happens now. It didn’t ruin our night though as we literally had dinner by candlelight, and a lot of them!

J.M. Strome Ferry When I was about 10 (many moons ago) I had recently heard about "Valentines Day" - living in the Scottish Highlands news didn't travel fast. I thought it would be just lovely to participate and send someone a card. Unfortunately I couldn't think of anyone to send one too, the boys in my school couldn't have been Valentine card material at the time, so I decided that I was going to send one to my Dad. I didn't actually have a card but that didn't stop me. I found a beautiful old Christmas card with a very stylish lady on it and glued a bit of paper (with flour & water of course) over the Christmas greeting. I put a sentimental inscription inside and I was very pleased with the result. I then duly gave it to my Dad. He opened it up and laughed his head off. I was so hurt and embarrassed I never sent a Valentines card again in my life.

E.F. Neston Went to a party just before Valentine's Day and met a gorgeous guy and spent the evening with him. We danced the night away and got on really well. At the end of the evening we exchanged phone numbers and addresses and I eagerly awaited the arrival of the postman on Valentine's Day. A lovely card arrived from gorgeous guy and I opened it with bated breath. Message was... "You’re great but don't want to start anything". Forty years on and I'm still gutted!

P.B. Chester About few years ago my boyfriend at the time decided to take me to an up market restaurant for Valentine's Day - I was very excited being quite young at the time... 10 minutes into dinner I realised I hadn’t turned my mobile off and the phone rang, with my mum asking me how to programme the video player... After 5 minutes of trying to explain to her where I was (she’s hard of hearing) I had to hang up as the other diners were now starting to stare. Thinking we'd been disconnected she then rang my boyfriends phone and he had to go through the same explanation. By this point everyone in the restaurant was looking at us and we hastily paid and decided to give dessert a miss. Unfortunately the dignified exit didn’t really work as my heel broke on the way out. I ended up walking half a mile in the pouring rain with one shoe on until we found a taxi. And to make matters worse, we spent the whole night being violently sick with food poisoning. We aren’t together anymore, but I always tend to avoid valentine's day now!!!

K.D. Banbury I was very nervous about a first date on Valentines Day, so arrived early to the restaurant and positioned myself at the bar. My date arrived 3 gin and tonics later and turned out to love to talk. I was so nervous that all I could do was sip wine, so by the time the starters were taken away, I was very merry indeed. Between courses, he excused himself to use the facilities, and I decided to touch up my make up. I tossed my napkin over the romantic candles... and on his return; he saw our whole table on fire and fire extinguishers being sprayed all over the main course. We left, and I never saw him again.

T.W. Welshpool About 15 years ago I started going out with my landlord's son who seemed to be very swarve and sophisticated being a photographer as well, my opinion of him was rather inflated, our first meal out happened to be for Valentine's, so all excited I made sure I was well turned out, spent hours getting ready; only to be taken to his step mother's pizzeria in town!! This was ok, first off he left me on my own before we even got to our table while he went off into the kitchen to speak with his step mum, then he went off to the Spar to get lettuces for them as they had run out. Finally both seated and thinking I can forgive this; I went off to the loo only to come back to find he had ordered me water AND my meal which was a Waldorf Salad, I hadn't even glanced at the menu plus I can’t stand celery!! I was not happy and I don't know to this day if it was shock or anger that prevented me speaking to him throughout the meal - on leaving I realised why he had disappeared into the kitchen on arrival, he didn’t even pay!!! He had been in there arranging it. Just goes to show that how someone comes across is not an indicator on how they are in reality, I hasten to say though I did spend 5 years with him... ouch!!!

S.R. Australia Roses are Red Violets are Blue, My Valentines story I share with you; A late bloomer I am Some may say, So Valentines gifts took some time to come my way; Enough is enough said I, and took myself to the shops with a targeted eye; Gold hearts I bought for me To adorn my neck wrist and ear, And this is how I continue to celebrate, year after year after year!

L.L. York I should have known it was all going to end in disaster when he arrived 30 mins late to pick me up. We had a beautiful starter in my favourite restaurant (used to be a brothel in the 18th century ....) during the main course I was 'dumped' by my partner, who commented that he had still come out for the meal as he would have felt awful not taking me out on Valentine's night!!! I chose the most expensive pudding on the menu and left with as much pride as I could muster.... trying not to notice all the other hand holding couples on my long walk home!

M.K. USA During the run-up to our first Valentine's Day together, one boyfriend, who loudly proclaimed his distrust of any holiday as nothing more than "an income-generating scheme for fat corporations", said that he "hoped we could celebrate our love everyday" - or at least on the 15th "when the prices of chocolate and roses again drop to reasonable levels". Bemused, I agreed; and as promised, he arrived at my apartment on the 15th, sans chocolate and roses, to take me to dinner at his favourite restaurant where he ordered "lobster-for-two" (I'm allergic) and presented me with a pair of earrings he'd picked-out for me by his previous girlfriend. When I realized it wasn't all just a joke, I decided to give him credit for remaining committed to himself (and his principles) and deleted his contact information from my book.

P.T. Whitby My Fiancée at the time and I don’t normally go out for a Valentines meal, but 3 years ago I surprised her to a meal out at a local rural restaurant. There we were surrounded by Warm Hearted Couples looking deeply into each others eyes, romantic music playing in the background, candles dotted around the room. Sarah my now Wife Chose Mushroom Stroganoff, the room was so quiet apart from couples whispering to each other until Sarah started to choke on her meal. It was so strong; it overpowered her and could not breathe properly. Everyone decided to stop looking into each others eyes and to Glare at Sarah, thinking this might stop her from Choking. This only made things worse. So we promptly paid up and left the premises, leaving them all to carry on with their meals in silence! I am glad to say that Sarah made a full recovery within an hour or so but has been totally been put off going out on valentines day again ! I think the worst part about it was that nobody seemed to care that she was struggling to breathe and was in quite a state. She recalls being so anxious to get out and get some air!

P.H. Stoke-on-Trent A few years ago I was with somebody who I knew really liked Valentines Day, whereas I wasn't so interested at the time. I thought that it would be a great idea to surprise him and decorate the house with Valentines 'bits and bobs' and prepare a 3 course meal for him. Things were going well until I was blowing heart shaped balloons... I gave one that bit too much air and it popped under my chin leaving me sporting a nice (big) visible red mark. To top it off I then burnt my forearm whilst taking Valentines cookies out of the oven.

M.G. Chester We were on a romantic weekend away for Valentines Day, and had dinner. Little did I know I have an allergy to watermelons and ended up with hives and itching all over! I just remember crying :( I couldn't even travel home until it had cleared up more! And I looked terrible! He was lovely about it though and looked after me :)

E.C. Coventry On Valentine's Day my boyfriend gave me a beautiful box of chocolates and a huge bouquet of red roses. However, since I am always on a diet and I am not a great fan of flowers, I popped them round to my Mum, whose birthday falls on 15th February. I was still patting myself on the back for using my loaf and saving myself some cash by not having to buy her a present when I learnt that my boyfriend had hidden a third present - a pair of Tiffany earrings - inside the chocolate box. I was gutted. They were the most exquisitely perfect pair of diamond studs I had ever seen. Unfortunately my Mum loved them too - and now wears them every day, constantly reminding me of my selfishness and greed. I have never had the heart to tell my Mum the truth. Nor have I had the guts to tell my boyfriend what happened.

H.S. Milton Keynes I have been married for many years to a lovely man....... The first valentine we spent together with a large group of our couple friends. On the morning of valentines we all opened our gifts and cards. All the men trying to out do each other!!!! When it was my turn, I was so excited.......... well all I can say is, it was a card purchased from a garage. A picture of a penguin skating wearing red ear muffs on a really tacky silver patch of ice!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Despite this we have been happily married for 14 years and he has got a lot better at purchasing cards!!!!!!!!!!!! xxx

C.R. Banbury My first love! I was a lot younger then I am now and I had found the man of my dreams! I could hear wedding bells and was convinced he was "THE ONE!!" Our first valentines day was going to be very special I had been looking for the perfect present and planning how it would be a very special and romantic day. On a day out shopping I saw him looking at a parker pen set, he said he thought it was lovely and so when he was not looking I brought it for him. Valentines day came and I was so excited, we sat down at the restaurant for a candle lit meal and then it was time to swap presents, I gave him mine and vice versa, I noticed my present was the same size as his and thought it must be a beautiful piece of jewelry, as I unwrapped it I was getting even more excited, I opened the box slowly and inside was A PARKER PEN! Identical to what I had brought him! They say great minds think alike, while I thought he was admiring it in the shop he thought I was doing the same. Needless to say we never did make it to a 2nd valentines day! I now look back and it does make me laugh!!!

P.L. Glossop When my then boyfriend 'Terry' gave me a large packet of M&M's for my valentine gift.

L.L. Nottingham We were at my parents- first Valentine's Day since getting engaged. Opened my pressie...bottle of cholesterol lowering herbal medicine. Reader, I married him.

A.J. Wantage I was asked by my boyfriend if I'd like to go to a horse racing meeting as a Valentines day treat. I thought hey why not something a little different and maybe we would have a champagne lunch with the possibility of winning a few pounds. As my boyfriend lived in Tidworth, I in Oxford and the race meeting was at Newbury I had to drive to pick him up then drive all the way back to Newbury. On going to get him I find he has invited his football team friends and I was the only female among 14 males!! We did get to the horse racing where my boyfriend proceeded to get very drunk with his friends and I was left to my amuse myself. As if this wasn't bad enough when the meeting was over I had to drive him home with 3 of his drunken friends in my car. I had to keep stopping as one of them was a little worse for wear and had to keep being sick. We stopped at a pub on the way as the other members of the football team wanted to and I left my sleeping boyfriend in my car so I could go and use the loo. When I came back he'd been sick all over my car! I asked his brother to help me get him out so I could sort it out and we put him in one of the other cars while I did this then when I turned round he'd been sick in the other car to. I cleaned the mess from my car as best as I could then told his brother I was going home and that he could tell his brother we were finished. I went home to an empty house and spent the rest of the evening alone. My boyfriend phoned the next day remembering none of what had happened as asked if I'd enjoyed my day! He also didn't seem to remember that his brother had passed on the message that we were finished so I had to tell him again. I can now look back and laugh but at the time it was the worst time ever.

C.G. London I was 35 and single. On Valentines day morning, I got an exciting-looking card in the post. When I opened it, confetti drifted out! Whoever he is, he's keen, I thought. It was an invitation to someone else's wedding.

M.S. Sale I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar... well an American restaurant actually. It was Valentines night and we were fully booked. A man had come in earlier with a ring he wanted to surprise his girlfriend and propose over dessert. As I was making my way to their table with their chocolate mousse and ring box, I slipped and everything (including me) fell to the floor right in front of the couple!! How embarrassing, But, the ring box actually flew up in the air and hit the girlfriend on the nose, Mortified!! Please floor open up and swallow me!

K.B. London I thought I was doing my friend a favour. A very old friend, lets call her Sarah hadn't had much luck romantically and was feeling down over the Valentines period. I thought what a good idea it would be to send her a bunch of red roses anonymously to her work address - I just thought it would give her a bit of excitement. I got a telephone call that evening from Sarah. "I'm really scared" she said. Err why?? "I'm being stalked at work by this chap I don't like and today he sent me a bunch of red roses". She went on "I know it's him - all of my friends would know I'd HATE to receive attention like that at work. If it was a friend who sent it, I'd be so angry with them - it’s such a horrid thing to do". I of course, didn't tell her it was me. She still doesn't know. I'm sorry. She was upset about being stalked for a good 2-3 weeks afterwards.

J.R. Brackley Following many hints about a lovely pair of evening shoes, hopes grew on Valentine's Day when I saw a pressie the shape of a shoe box. Excitedly ripped open box only to discover a wet and dry use lady shave. Boyfriend (unbelievably now husband) genuinely thought I would be pleased with his use of initiative. I've got much better at leaving less subtle hints!!

S.A. Peel I had just started going out with a lad I had known for years and we had got together eventually after a lot of humming and haa-ing about whether to 'go for it' together. We lived quite a distance apart and I was going over for a long weekend so we could be together - he told me to bring my passport with me as he was taking me to France. Talk about excited, I thought this was a huge romantic gesture and could talk about nothing else to my friends all week. I got the train to his office and off we went, down to the Channel tunnel. Having done the obligatory vino fill-up at Auchun hypermarket, we drove to a very quaint typically French village and had a lovely meal in a little bistro - on coming to pay, his credit card was rejected and so I ended up shelling out! Never mind, I thought, he's planned this lovely mini break for us that has probably cost him a small fortune... How wrong could I be? We drove back up to the Tunnel that night and came back to England - no romantic hotel for us... Needless to say, my Valentine's weekend was very short-lived as was our romance!!!

K.R. London When I was a teenager I had a boyfriend who I was (of course!) madly in love with. He dumped me one new year and I was devastated - couldn't eat for weeks (if only I could have that problem now!). Then on Valentine's day I received a single red rose, with the note 'I love you - please forgive me xx'. I was elated (and finally able to eat again!)!! I called him up immediately to arrange to get together to celebrate Valentine's and our love. But when I spoke to him, in typical teenage boy fashion he grumpily replied 'Oh I am not sure why I sent that...' Needless to say, I was devastated - the pain of teenage love.

H.C. North Shields When I was 21 I decided to cook a valentine meal for my boyfriend and I as at the time we didn’t have much money , the only thing was I lived with my parents and had never cooked a meal before. I set the scene right with candles and soft lighting and lovely music and we sat patiently for the meal, Id opted for a Chinese theme, the starter was awful and the main course wasn’t cooked properly but the ice cream pudding went down a treat. My lack of cooking skills couldn’t have put him off too much as 8 years on were married with 2 children.

H.B. Essex I had been seeing a guy for about a month previous to valentines day and found it quite touching that he had planned an evening out for us on valentines day. We started off with a meal in a seafood restaurant in Soho before heading off to watch a film in the Leicester square Odeon. Halfway through the film we were evacuated due to a bomb scare and were not allowed back in- we were given tickets to come back another day as compensation. So instead he just took me back to my flat and we agreed to meet up again in the week to revisit the cinema. To make it worse that night I had the worst case of vomiting and diarrhea ever which I could only blame on the seafood!!! To top it off when we went to the cinema a few days later a fire alarm was set off and we had to stand outside in the cold for an hour while the firemen checked over the building. I took that as a sign that we were not meant to be!

M.P. County Down I was going for dinner with a fairly new boyfriend on Valentines and he chose an Italian restaurant knowing it was my favourite. When it came to ordering I was in two minds to order my favourite dish of Carbonara as it can be messy to eat but decided to go ahead with the Carbonara and just make sure to be careful when eating. Our date was going great and our meal arrived and I was managing to eat it carefully without it all over my face while the date was still going great. Then he said something so funny while I had a mouthful of food and I laughed so hard spaghetti flew out of my nose!!!!!!!!!!! The rest of the evening was quiet to say the least and needless to say the relationship tapered off fairly quickly after that incident!!!

P.J. Shrewsbury This coming Valentine's Day is the worst by far, not your average unlucky date, terrible present or your loved one completely forgetting but just because my gorgeous man is in the Infantry and instead of spending a romantic Valentines Day with little me, he'll be out on the ground in the middle of Helmand Province with only his rifle and a lot of smelly, snoring lads to keep him company!

E.K. County Down When I was in high school on valentines day there used to be a delivery where you would get cards and small gifts in front of the whole class. One year I was 'going out with' a boy, i.e., we would meet at the ice skating every Saturday and have a snog whilst waiting for our parents to pick us up....anyway (!), he gave me one of those troll dolls - it was a valentines one to be fair to him but it was very tacky...the end! x p.s. I didn't marry him!

A.J. USA My husband (then fiancé) worked in an office with mainly male colleagues. They had all forgotten about Valentines Day, so one of them went in to town during their shift and bought a selection of cheap Valentines Cards! My husband picked possibly the worst card for me and brought it home with a large Cadbury's Roses jar... which was empty! Someone in the office shared the chocolates and my husband thought I would like to have the pretty glass jar!!!

M.B. France One Valentine's Day a bouquet of six dozen magnificent yellow roses (no note, of course) was delivered to me at my office. It was the biggest and best bouquet delivered to any of the women at our office that day! A big hit. Being newly married, I immediately called my husband and thanked him profusely for the flowers. Rather shortly, he informed me that he had not sent them. That evening, I sent my assistant home with a beautiful bouquet of roses. A very quiet dinner ensued.

K.F. Thatcham I had a boyfriend who was not in the slightest bit romantic, and though I don't usually worry about valentines, I was curious to see if the day w0uld prompt him to at least pay me a compliment. So on Valentines day he arrives at my house with a raging hangover and a bunch of flowers! Result! Well, no not really. I took one sniff and they stank of diesel. He had nicked them from the 24hour garage on his way home from his boys’ night the previous evening.... It didn't last...

A.L. Luton As grew up I hung out with a gang of friends. We did every thing together. I secretly admired one of the guys in our gang from afar but I was always too shy to reveal my feelings to him. I was frightened by the possible rejection and so kept it a secret, even from my best friend. One valentines day I plucked up the courage to send him a card, without putting who it was from, leaving a few hints in the hope he would guess it was me who sent it and that his feelings would be mutual. Sadly, he thought it was from my best friend and he asked her out. They are now happily married. To this day I have never revealed that the card was from me. I was broken hearted for a while from unrequited love but the passage of time and then meeting the wonderful Man that I am now married to has healed that wound. I now think it's quite funny!

N.J. Woking WE have been married for 24 years this year but with my husband being a member of the Armed Forces we have actually only spent 4 valentines days together. He will be in Afghanistan again this year so yet again we spend it apart. Hey on the brighter side of things absence makes the heart grow fonder and we love each other as much now as we did all those years ago. So whilst it’s grim on the day, long term we always make up for it later in the year.

A.S. Isle of Bute One year B.C. (before children) I book my partner and I into the Dalton Arms Hotel in East Lothian for a very romantic valentine’s weekend. The chef was well known for his excellent cuisine. However my partner decided to have oysters for a starter with the following result. My plans for the next day were a lovely walk along the beach at Dunbar followed by a long slow lunch in our room with all the attendant fun that a childless could have. Did not happen as after five minutes on the beach my partner’s stomach reacted rather unfortunately to the previous night’s oysters meaning that instead of a valentines day of alcohol, food and frolics I spent the day mopping my poor partner’s brows and trying not to gag.

L.H. Cardiff 8 Years ago a good friend of mine from college agreed that if we didn't have date for valentines we would go out for a non valentines 'date'. We booked at a tapas restaurant and ate, what turned out to be, one of the worst meals we've ever had which included soggy Spanish tortilla. To get over the meal we went to a local pub, however this unfortunately just lead to me being sick from cheap wine and both of us having to be driven home by a friend. This drive home was eventful in itself as our friend was stopped by the police- a routine check on a busy night apparently! Post valentines day's events unfolded just as terribly as when my 'date' returned to collect his car from outside the restaurant it had been stolen, found later that day in South London!.....Life has been an adventure ever since as my 'date' and I have been together ever since and happily married for 18 months. The rest they say is history....

L.H. London At 17, I was finally asked out by what I thought was the "boy of my dreams". It was Valentine's Day, so that only added to the trepidation. I was VERY nervous and suffered from a nervous stomached. He was almost an hour late to pick me up, in my nervous state, I sat and absentmindedly consumed a vast quantity of jelly beans whilst waiting (and waiting). He took me to a very fancy seafood restaurant. I ate my favourite shrimp and lobster. Needless to say, after about 45 min., it was apparent that nerves, jelly beans and seafood do not mix. I spent the next hour in the parking lot vomiting in technicolour (due to the jelly beans). No, he never asked me out again. I have had an aversion to Valentine's day and jelly beans ever since.

A.P. Keighley When I first went out with the man who is now my husband, I was working during the day at a film company and we were very busy on a new film - Jurassic Park. When I got home we would snuggle up on the sofa and I would tell him about my day. He noticed I needed some new slippers - so as February 14th approached I sensed I may get some new tasteful slippers. On the day a big parcel arrived at the office. Expecting some lovely, tasteful and comfy white slippers, I was mortified to see he had brought me some big, cumbersome, bright green Dinosaur slippers - with a note saying ‘I saw these and thought of you x'. The worse present ever, but I still love him after all these years!

E.B. Bath Many years ago my then boyfriend said he would take me to a very chic restaurant in Bath for Valentine's. I was particularly impressed when he insisted that I left my wallet at home as he would pay for the whole evening. We dressed up to look the part and walked hand in hand to the restaurant. We had a delicious 3 course meal with wine, followed by coffee, and felt very grown-up, when we were not. Imagine my horror when the bill came and it was more than the ú50 that my boyfriend had thought would cover it! I suddenly had images of us doing the washing up to cover the bill. Bless the manager, he realised our plight and let us off the extra veg and coffee, which brought us in at just under ú50. It still makes me cringe to think of it now! We didn't last...

L.S. Leicester Towards the end of my relationship with my ex I was upset to be told that he would be working on Valentine's night (his choice) but what really did it for me was opening a really cheap looking card (a day late) to find that it said 'to my boyfriend' inside! At least I can laugh about it now!

F.F. Southampton I had been in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend for three years when I went to visit him for valentines weekend, when I got there expecting a lovely romantic weekend together he told me that he wasn't sure things were working out and broke up with me, not exactly the kind of surprise I had been hoping for.

R.S. Norfolk My husband and I have been together since we were at 16 and for a further 16 years I watched as dozens of roses were delivered to colleagues at work on Valentines day but never to me. So for years my husband would be at the receiving end of a little whinge every year when we got home from work. A couple of years ago fed up with being missed out again I called my husband and sarcastically said 'Thanks for the roses they're lovely' to which he replied 'I'm glad you like them’........ Oh no, I was actually due to receive some but hadn't yet had the delivery! When they arrived only a half an hour later they were the most gorgeous roses I had ever seen and most definitely worth waiting for. I had to grovel when I got home - a lot!!

C.D. Worksop My Fiancé LOVES football, he never misses a home or away game of his team Chesterfield. There was an away match at Shrewsbury and I kept trying to stop him going and take me somewhere nice for a good day out and a meal or something. I thought at one point that I had managed to change his mind, only to find I was completely wrong!! So I ended up travelling all the way down to Shrewsbury where it was absolutely freezing and grey and miserable. I had to sit through 90 minutes of one of the worst matches I have ever seen and they lost too! I didn't get taken out for a meal when we got back or anything - I was well cheesed off!! Worst Valentine's Day EVER!

N.J. Kingston Upon Thames I suffered painfully unrequited first love at university; he dallied with me but wasn't really interested. He did however offer to take me to a Valentine Ball, and we had a nice evening, until we were approached by the person selling red roses, my date asked the price, and upon being told, he replied 'No thanks, I won't bother'. The seller looked at me with such pity that I just got up and went home, sadder, but in truth looking back, not much wiser.

A.D. Derby Back in 2003 I was very excited as February 14th loomed ever closer. It would be the first I would spend with my new boyfriend. He loved everything Guinness, so I had sent away to Ireland for some very special gifts for him. They took weeks to arrive and on the day I went to give them I couldn't wait to see the look on his face. As I arrived at his house (gifts and card in hand) it quickly became clear that my effort had not been reciprocated. In a panic my boyfriend ran about his house saying he would cook me a romantic meal. His idea of romantic and mine seemed to vary somewhat, as he burnt pancakes (the flour was at fault apparently), then went to the dizzy heights of whisking up an omelette; this was also burnt which I'm reliably informed was the fault of the gas hob. In my disappointment I sat down in the lounge and took out my mobile. A text was waiting from my housemate asking how my evening was going. I replied something to the effect of 'rubbish, he didn't even get me a card!!' Unfortunately this is where the evening deteriorated even further when I accidentally sent the reply to his phone! I ran into the kitchen hoping to divert his attention while I grabbed his mobile and pressed delete. But to my dismay I entered as he was reading the message. Cue both of us now feeling guilty. In the end we sat down to watch a DVD as he tried to make amends, desperately trying to mould a rose out of polymer clay and scribbling a card on a piece of paper. The afterthought wasn't exactly appreciated, as they say it's the thought that counts. I have never forgotten this Valentine's Day and doubt I ever will. Such anticipation, followed by such disappointment. It all ended well however as we are now married, with 3 children (which includes a set of twins). Unfortunately he is only partially trained in the art of special occasions. He excels at Christmas, is passable at Anniversaries and Valentine's but Mother's Day, well that's another story all together!

S.C. Hereford This is a true story and one I would NOT like to repeat. Feb 14th 2008 was the date and pleeeaasseee don't ask me why but my husband and I decided to go to IKEA in Cardiff to buy some shelving for our new garage. IKEA is up there with childbirth for my husband as he is NOT a keen shopper at the best of times and the Swedish gobble-de-gook finishes him off. We took our son aged 10 and our daughter 2. After completing what felt like a marathon Krypton Factor we were the proud owners of an awful lot of metal racking and hundreds of other bits we didn't need but felt compelled to buy. (They never look the same when you take them from the natural habitat). We then started the tense part getting it in the car. One word "fraught”. We have a big 4x4 (I know I should be ashamed) Well, while the 10 year old was being most helpful passing bits and criticising my choice of shopping the 2 year old was now suffering major sense of humour FAILURE so we put her in the car NOT IN HER CAR SEAT BUT LOOSE. Well after 20 mins we got it all snuggly in and shut the boot just as Scarlett decided to hit the central locking system button, oh the keys I hear you shout well she had those too penchant for keys our 2 year old. Inside was also my handbag containing money and phone. Scarlett managed to find the radio button and was bopping round the car like Olivia Newton John on mind blowing medication. While we managed to call the Recovery people my daughter had great fun with the sat nav, Indicators, Hazard light and CD ejector. An hour and half we stood there trying to convince her to push the door button well she thought this was great fun, did she.... No. The man who rescued us thought it was great fun hooking a bit of wire down the side of the door with a 2 year old making gold fish kisses on the window. Did I mention it was very cold? We drove home in silence. Scarlett slept like an angel... The little horror.

K.H. Leicester We had booked a special night away at a posh local hotel, and we were both to meet there after work. I had left work late and headed toward the direction of the hotel, when I came across a bull in the road, I was alone and in the middle of nowhere at 9.30 in the evening and the bull decided to charge at the car, I tried to reverse away but this made the bull madder, in a panic I reversed into a ditch and to make it worse I had not taken my mobile phone, the bull was going nowhere and stood guard over the car until the next car came along at 11.30 in the evening, by the time they had called the police and they had found the farmer, and I could get out of my car it was 2am in the morning. I went to the hotel to find my husband worried out of his skin. It was totally spoiled.

E.S. Seaford I was once dumped on Valentine's Day by my boyfriend of 4 years! I mistook "let's meet up" for a romantic Valentine's Day date....sadly not! Although to be fair, he had thoughtfully brought me flowers in a bid to soften the blow. A pity they were cheap ones from the local service station! As one friend wisely said, "At least one day it'll make a good story!" Hopefully a story good enough to win some Emma Bridgewater?!

M.C. Dorchester It should be the worse Valentine ever, but I regret that to begin with nearly every Valentine was awful. I had very pretty friends, who received lots and lots of cards, I never received any.....I remember a great feeling of dejection. I dreaded Valentines day; but at the age of 10 these things really matter! On the journey of kissing frogs that never turned into Princes, I was lucky enough to have occasionally received a card, one that had done battle with the chap’s cat before I received it! Then the joy of being taken out to a restaurant for a Valentine dinner, to find the booking double booked, we next two hours trying to find somewhere else to eat, and then gave up!

K.B. Newark About 12 or so years ago - having longingly looked at the beautiful long stemmed roses in the florist we used to pass and dropping enough hints about them I was thrilled to see my other half coming up the garden path with a bunch of ' something’...... I was given a kiss with the words “There you go ....and this’ll last a damn sight longer"..... Yes, you guessed a bunch of artificial flowers - so romantic! (We did marry and have 2 fab children and I do drag those flowers out EVERY Valentines Day!!!)

M.B. London I had been separated from my husband for a few months and was already feeling a bit sorry for myself...being a dutiful PA to the Chairman of our firm, I had reminded him in advance and arranged for a beautiful, luscious bouquet to be delivered to his wife...she called me at about 4 pm on the day and asked me to put a single red rose on his desk ASAP -not easy to find at that hour on Valentine's Day! I visited every flower shop within a mile of our office in Mayfair and returned with a glorious rose - only to discover he had decided to head home early! I had one irate wife on my hands - and cabbed it to their home to hand her the flower to deliver to him personally, albeit late. Returned to office at 6 pm to a phone call from Mr saying Mrs was unhappy with her beautiful bouquet - considered it "unromantic". Feet aching and heart sore I worked late that night, thinking how happy I would be for a dandelion given by someone who loved me! A few years on, wonderful man in my life - it all seems quite silly - but it was a very blue day at the time!

K.S. Christchurch We were together for more than 2 years with my ex-boyfriend and the relationship started to get serious, so I thought, this is gonna be the day when he pops the question...I went to work in fancy clothes on Valentine's Day as I was sure he is going to take me to a restaurant or something so I didn't want to be under-prepared. Just before finishing work, he called me to meet at a shopping center. Yupiii, this is it - I was saying to myself. I hurried to the place, but when I got there, he gave me a big, yellow package, a very heavy one...I asked - what is it? - Just look in it - was his answer. When I peaked in, I froze...there were 2 weight thingy, usually used in gym - cause he thought I want to lose some weight...Then we drove home and he asked me to do dinner while he was playing Word of Warcraft...aaaaaaaah, I was really disappointed and felt stupid and in a couple of months I broke up with him. Now it's a big laugh among my friends.

S.B. Stroud I was 21 and so smitten by my tall, dark and handsome boyfriend that I was happy to overlook some of his more 'esoteric' interests. Sadly, on February 14 1992, I realised exactly how important I was in his life when he rang me at work to excitedly inform me that there was a "really rare diesel engine" at our local train station and "would I mind" not going out that night so that he could take a ride behind it... But there was a happy ending. Working in the same office was a lovely guy who, shortly afterwards, asked me out. He went on to become my husband and we now have two beautiful children!

C.D. Wimborne My fat, hairy driving instructor who also had bad breath and was about 20 years older than me sent me a pukey valentines card with a riddle in it that if I solved he would take me out to dinner!!! I didn't try very hard as there was no way I wanted to go out with him. He was getting more and more desperate and by the weekend had sent another note with the answer to the riddle!!! I never went out with him and changed my driving instructor very fast!! OOOOHHHH

S.B. London My husband and I had only been married about seven months and I always picked him up from his job at the hospital. On Valentines Day, I arrived to see him at the street holding a gorgeous, huge bouquet of dozens of roses!! I was so excited and thrilled as I drove up, and he was looking rather sheepish. As get got into the car I started saying how lovely they were, etc. He quickly said, I am so sorry, but these arrived for one of my colleagues after she left, and I said I would take them to her as she leaves near us! Absolutely deflated we dropped the flowers off, went home and I became aware there was nothing for me as my husband then had to run shopping!!! Needless to say, marriage #1 did not last!

N.M. Thames Ditton I was working in Paris and my boyfriend at the time came to visit me on 13th February to spend Valentine’s weekend in the most romantic city in the world. I was working so couldn’t meet him off the plane and we had agreed that he would get a taxi to my house. One hour passed and there was no sign of him. Two hours passed and still nothing. This was before mobile phones so I called his mum and his sister who both said they hadn’t heard from him but told me not to worry. I checked the airport and his flight had arrived on time. Four hours later he turns up, in a furious mood claiming he had been walking around for hours trying to find my flat and blaming me for not meeting him at the airport. He then went into the bathroom, opens his bag and comes out with a present and a big smile on his face. I was so relieved until I found out that he had got talking to a guy on the plane and had gone out drinking with him, not thinking about me worrying at home. We had a huge argument, split up the next day and I had to pay for him to get a flight back home as he had spent all his money in the pub the night before. I then spent Valentine’s Day in Paris on my own watching TV. That was 10 years ago and, funnily enough, I still haven’t received the flight money from him!

S.B. Maidstone Many years ago I received a valentine's card through the post and very small it was, still a card is a card I thought. I found out the next day it was sent to me by a lad I met at school who had asked his mate to buy a 2 for 1 as he had no money and couldn't afford to buy me one. Still money or materials things have never been important to me as I am with this lovely guy who sent me the card, who asked me to marry him and 35 years on we are blissfully happy.

M.R. Hampshire A boy in school asked me out for Valentine's Day. I bought a new outfit and got my hair done. When he showed up at my house he said, "You look nice, Maria." Maria is my identical twin. He had asked me out by accident!

K.D. Woking Husband forgot it was valentines day, booked dinner for himself and his best friend (male) during dinner, he realised when the rose seller thought they were a (gay) couple and insisted on giving them a rose. He came home apologetic but still tried to placate me with said rose!

S.M. Stoke-on-Trent I shouted at one year my husband for not getting me anything one valentine - only to find out he had arranged for a dozen red roses to be delivered to me at home. Only my neighbours had taken in the delivery for me while I was out shopping - they then got called away urgently and forgot to give me the flowers. They did not return home for a couple of weeks and thus the flowers were dead - they were very sorry.

R.M. Enfield I was the Manager of an office and all the girls working for me received bouquets of red roses...we had florists popping in and out the office all day. I was really fed up by closing at having received nothing myself and went home to the house I shared with my boyfriend and he presented me with a paper bag with some crushed up manky Love Hearts sweets in it, except he had eaten most of them on his journey home! My disappointment was quite apparent to him and he miserly explained that he didn't like the 'mark-up' on flowers on Valentine's and went on to tell me the phenomenal profit florists made blah blah blah!!! Fuming and feeling sorry for myself I ran a bath and my eyes happened to glance towards something looking rather like a box under the bed which was wrapped with red paper and had a big black bow. It had a tag on it so I bent down to get a glimpse and have a guess as to what my surprise present was. The tag read ' to my darling Debbie (not my name!!!) I love you so much from *** (I have omitted his name!!) xxx Needless to say this Valentines was the worst I have ever had. It then transpired she was pregnant with his baby and I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear we are no longer together. Mind you, neither are they!!! Gosh, I hate Valentines Day.

T.M. Torquay My husband and I got engaged on Valentine's Day in 1979. I foolishly thought he would buy me something romantic seeing as it wasn't just any old Valentine's Day. Wrong. He bought me one oven glove. I was so upset he drove around town looking for a florist still open and came back with 3 red roses - all they had left. We did get married and have been married for 28 years but his present buying hasn't really improved and I tend to buy my own now! I did get a bit worried last week when I mentioned I had almost burnt my hand as one of my oven gloves has a hole in it. I have a birthday not long after Valentine's Day and from the glint in his eye I presume I'll be getting one glove for each occasion!

L.D. Evesham When I was in my twenties, I dated a young man who had a rather delicious derriere. My pet name for him was... wait for it... 'Scrummy bum'! For Valentine's Day, I decided to buy him a personalized chocolate egg from Thornton’s, and I only blushed a little as I told the lady calligrapher what to write on it. However, when presented with the gift, he simply looked a little hurt and confused. When I checked again, I realized that the egg actually bore the rather less alluring title of 'Scummy bum'! Now I always proof-read first. Happy Valentine's Day!

B.S. Tadworth When I was 13 and still at school, my friend and I were walking home from school on Valentines day to deliver a card to a boy I fancied. Unfortunately en route, I was knocked over by a car whilst crossing the road! My card never made it, but the boy in question did receive 12 others (quite popular), so I was the unlucky 13!

L.J. Bury Saint Edmunds I had been going out with my first ever boyfriend for 1 month and hoped he would get me a card for valentines day (as I had never received a valentine's day card before). I spent ages picking his card (a lovely card of a Mr and Mrs gingerbread people) and then wrote a lovely message in it, and sent it to his work. However he didn't get me a card, because, in his words - he 'didn't do valentine's day'. Instead he gave me a book on stately homes (wrapped in a brown paper bag). He dumped me a month later, on my 25th birthday.

Z.N. Sussex I was 17 at the time and had been dating my then boyfriend for about 2 months when Valentines Day came around. I was so excited to finally be spending this special day with someone, so I made a huge effort of hand making his card, bought his favourite chocolates & written a love poem. We had arranged to meet at his house and he would cook me a meal followed by a film. He greeted me at the door holding a single red rose...my heart somersaulted! I told him I couldn’t wait to show everyone (as I had never received one before and was rather over excited) but he told me I couldn’t take it home but wouldn’t tell me why. I found this odd but didn’t question him anymore...I gave him my gifts, he seemed most excited by the chocolates and didn’t give my card or poem another thought...my heart sank. So we had our meal but I was rather quiet and had lost my appetite. He asked me what was wrong so I asked him again about the rose...turned out his dad had bought the rose for his mum that day and he had 'borrowed' it to save money even though he had gone out that day and bought alloy wheels for his car!!! He also admitted his mum cooked our whole meal which he tried to pass off as his own! I know it’s the thought that counts but surely this is an exception??

S.H. London I had being seeing this chap for a couple of months but it wasn't really going too well, but I couldn't end it as it was Valentine's Day etc. He however was very keen and was going on all week about the great gift he'd got me and how he was going to get some Moet as I was cooking dinner and how lovely it would all be. On the night (which happened to be a Saturday) he ended up being about an hour late - but had no mobile so I couldn't call him to find out where he was. Had no champagne and the gift he'd got me was clearly a left over Christmas gift to his mother as was a set of lavender bath foams, a bit dusty and without any plastic on them. But maybe by that point I would have disliked anything he got me! The worst part was I kept thinking all through dinner what a perfect time this would be to break up with him - aside from the date of course!

K.H. Cumberland I love any excuse to buy a nice card for someone and always spend ages picking my cards. I had got my boyfriend at the time a particularly nice one and was very chuffed with myself when I gave it too him on Valentines morning. He informed me I would be getting my card in the evening. When he got in it was a card with from the local garage with Fred Flintstone and Bam Bam on the front. He has obviously gone in on his way home and picked up any old thing. I was not happy and told him it was the thought that counts and there was no thought it that!! Ha ha we split up after that.

J.J. Hemel Hempstead Back in the early 90's, after a long period of being single, I started going out with someone I thought might be 'the one'. Very excited by ... finally ... being in a serious relationship for Valentines, I was absolutely stunned when I was informed that his mother was going to join us for dinner AND stay the night on our first Valentines night!! Needless to say, we never celebrated a second.

J.Y. County Down My boyfriend arrived one valentine’s night with a large box under his arm. When I unwrapped it I found a hamster cage complete with water bottle, food bowl, wheel etc. I was so excited about this thoughtful present because I am such a big animal lover! So my beaming boyfriend (looking very pleased with himself for thinking of such a unique gift) then asked me what I was going to call my new hamster. I answered that I'd wait and see what it looked like and then began looking inside the sleeping compartment of the cage to find my new pet. I was firstly confused and then horrified when I found him because he was as hard as a rock, stone cold and completely dead! My boyfriend was totally dismayed and the rest of my evening involved me sobbing, making a small coffin and then burying my dead pet in the garden!

R.M. Caldicot On the first valentines day I had with my now husband he wanted to surprise me and got my landlord to let him into my rented room to 'arrange' things. When we came home from a lovely dinner he had the pleasure of throwing open the door to reveal a room covered in flowers! Unfortunately, unknown to him I am allergic to pollen and had an immediate reaction. Not the most romantic end to an evening to be cleaning and hovering and changing the bed with bags of petals and blooms in the bin!

S.L. Worthing My bloke thinks Valentines is too commercial, We have never celebrated Valentines Day in the 8 years we have been together. No romantic dinners out or cards left on the mat for me. Last year he decided to have 8 scaffold boards delivered over the garden hedge for me use in the garden! Which wasn’t my ideal gift!!? But better than nothing.

W.W. London My story actually relates to another couples' Special Valentines Evening which I "interrupted"! My partner and I own and run a restaurant. On Valentines Evening we always attract a much younger clientele than usual and rather than our regulars we meet a lot of new customers who are visiting us as a treat. We always make a special effort with new customers especially the younger couples who often seem somewhat panic stricken to be in a restaurant environment. On this particular Valentine's night we had one of these your couples in, they were about 19/20 years old, the boy had made a huge effort in a smart shirt and trousers and his girlfriend looked stunning (although nervous) in a lovely black dress. Having made sure they were given one of the nicest tables and were waited on by our most efficient waitress at the time I left them to enjoy their evening. I became increasingly frustrated as I realised that the poor couple had been sitting for 20 minutes with their closed desert menu cards and nobody had taken their order. In my frustration I hastily rushed over to see if I could tempt them with something sweet. I grabbed their menus out of their way and as I did so I flicked a small box off the menus and as I pulled them away I realised that the small box contained a diamond ring and that my young male diner was mid-proposal!!! I dropped the menus and removed myself from the table at high speed. Once I saw the lovely young girl pop the ring on her finger I quickly went over to the table with a complimentary bottle of champagne and some very profuse apologising! Thankfully they laughed it off and managed to enjoy the remainder of their evening. This happened 10 years ago and my young diners are now happily married with a lovely little boy and they now eat in my restaurant most Friday evenings. I will be very careful not to repeat the same thing this year!!

V.E. Hemel Hempstead My boyfriend came to visit me at university for Valentines day as I had not seen him for a few weeks. Valentines day is also our anniversary and we are getting married on the day before Valentines day next year! He had planned to take me out for a nice meal but strangely wanted to leave very early! I got the idea in my head that he was going to propose as we had then been together for five years and the time felt right. Unfortunately I was wrong. He took me to a nice restaurant but we sat down to eat at 6pm which was strange! He then said we could go for a few drinks and we ended up in doing a bit of a bar crawl through Birmingham. He insisted we go into the sports bar where his weird behaviour soon came to light. We spent the evening watching Liverpool play Man U! I was not very happy as I was very uninterested and it was very clear he had planned the whole night around the football match! Luckily he made it up to me by buying me a week in a beautiful cottage in the Cotswold’s but I never let him forget that Valentines day!!

S.A. Maidstone My husband arranged a surprise valentines evening at Leeds Castle. We were presented with a red rose when we arrived and there was a harpist playing. Unfortunately my husband got very drunk on the champagne and left me at the table on my own and socialised at the bar with some of the other men. In the morning he was none the wiser but did have a very sore head!

V.J. Leicester My usually wonderful husband doesn't attach much significance to Valentine's day and it usually passes by as any other day. Last year was our first as a married couple and I was secretly hoping there may be a romantic gesture; however a friend of ours then arranged a stag do for that weekend so I spent it alone. This year his brother has asked for help moving house, and my husband said he couldn't possibly leave his wife alone again on Valentine's Day - so guess what? I get to help move furniture too!!

E.D. Northampton This is a story about me and an old boyfriend! A Mr Wright, who turned out not to be as I am now happily married to Mr Digby! Anyway, we hadn't long moved into a new house and boxes were still everywhere, and still fresh paint smell! I wanted to impress my boyfriend by finishing off unpacking the kitchen and cook him a meal. I had dinner cooking in the oven and decided to put up the utensil rack, I knew how to use the cordless drill, how hard could it be?! I had to keep out of the way as there was a couple of chaps fitting the lounge/dining room carpet at the time, so the kitchen was the only place I wouldn't be in the way! So I used a stool and stood on it to drill some holes in the kitchen wall...I must have drilled into the mains electrics as there was a loud bang and flash and I was propelled off the stool and landed in the dining room, on the new carpet, where the chap fitting the carpet simply said 'you alright love?!' I clearly wasn't and just to be sure, he offered to take me to A&E! So off we dashed to the hospital, calling my boyfriend on the way, not be alarmed, but could he meet us there! Anyway, after a check up and a dent to my pride we came back home only to be greeted instead of the smell of freshly paint and new carpet, the smell of burning casserole!! I'd forgotten all about my Valentine's meal!! We opened the cooker door and the small kitchen was suddenly filled with black smoke, it went straight into the sink, hot water poured onto to it, and even though back then we couldn't afford it, we went out for a takeaway! It certainly was my worse ever Valentine’s day and I am now quite a good cook! Ellie x

S.B. Hampshire Every Valentine is bad for me as it is my birthday! There are many stories to tell over the years - friends who can't celebrate with you because they are with their hot dates etc! The one that stands out in particular was when having just days before moved to London to be with my boyfriend he had the nerve to give me a joint valentine/birthday card - how to make you feel really special - NOT! He then proceeded to buy me Lilies as he knew I do not like red roses and the cat trashed them (cats are allergic to Lilies). He had however put some thought into the day and booked a lovely restaurant in Kensington for the evening so after dressing to the nines we arrived only to find that the greedy restaurateur had booked too many covers and we were told to wait on the pavement! As you can imagine this did not go down well and after trudging around half of London we ended up with a takeaway pizza! Needless to say I married him and we now have 2 wonderful children and he now leaves me to make the arrangements!!

J.P. Sidmouth My boyfriend decided to buy me a frying pan as a Valentine's present 'because we needed one'. Unfortunately (for him) he also needed a new girlfriend after that!

K.B. London Last Valentines Day I actually had a wedding to go to. Me thinking my partner would be let off by the fact he didn't have to take me out because of the wedding, the least I expected was a card! Giving him his card in the morning I received nothing back, but the day was young so I waited with baited breath! Good job I didn't hold it because the day came and went without even a card, a kiss or cuddle! Having spent such a romantic day in the midst of love and a newly married couple I thought this might rub off on him! No such luck! His excuse....... he said that seeing as the day is so commercialised he doesn't want to be dictated to when he tells me he loves me, or sends me flowers, chocolates or diamonds! However I don't get them at any other time of the year so yes Valentines Day is well and truly needed!!!!!

J.E. Norfolk Being given the gift of an iron! Maybe I had said I wanted a new iron but as a gift?!! Nevertheless, we have survived 27 years together.

C.O. Braintree My husband, not being one for celebrating Valentines day that much, decided that instead of taking me for a romantic meal he would buy me a pair of bathroom scales as he thought this would help me much better with my diet....sooo thoughtful of him....and yes we are still married!

C.D. Wadebridge My boyfriend and I had been seeing each other for a few months when Christmas came round. I thought a lot about his gift and was very excited about receiving mine. I managed to look past the electrical tape holding it together and thought I had hidden my disappointment well when I unwrapped a toothbrush holder. My birthday came 2 weeks later and I was expecting him to make up for the lack of thought, but I ended up booking my own treat, paying for it and eating a chippy in the car afterwards. No card, no pressie, I was gutted. Valentines day was the following month and I decided it was 3 strikes and he was out - luckily he came up trumps, we're now married with a beautiful boy. Not the terrible Valentines everyone else has had - but it had REAL potential!

K.C. Newton-le-Willows Back when I was in university and just before my birthday, my boyfriend broke up with me so he could date my best friend, who was also my housemate. When Valentine's Day rolled around a few weeks later, I vowed that I wasn't going to stay home to watch them going out. Unfortunately the only person without Valentine's Day plans was a girl my ex-boyfriend had snogged the year before...while we were dating. Trying to make the best of it we planned a girly night in with junk food, movies, nail polish and she wanted to dye her hair. We got half way through dying her hair before we realised one bottle just wouldn't be enough, so we raced to the 24 hour supermarket to buy more with her hair half -dyed under a thin plastic cap that came in the box. It made enough of a scene that the local cop stopped us to find out what was going on. The last thing I remember is a group photo of me, the cop and the girl in a cheap plastic bonnet cover in red hair dye.

J.E. Bolton My (then) boyfriend Ken was coming home for Valentines Day. He was in the army and stationed in Northern Ireland. I was sooo excited to see him to spend Valentines Day together. When he arrived he made a big thing about his gift for me. He opened his suitcase to reveal........ A picture of Robinsons Jam! On a tin plaque!!! After 5 minutes of “it's lovely" "just what I wanted" there was a knock at the door. There stood the florist with 2 dozen long stem red roses......from someone else!!! Whether the potential competition worked I don't know, but we have been married for 22 very happy years (and the Robinsons Jam plaque??? Banished to the loft many years ago)

C.M. Leicester Some years ago I had been hoping for a Valentine from someone I had my eye on at work. I heard friends at work talking together who were also friends with the person in question. We all went to the Pub together and the 'man of my dreams' said he needed a drink for 'Dutch courage'! I eagerly anticipated what was coming... But I had a shock instead of 'him' asking me out he said another person at work (definitely NOT the man of my dreams) wanted to ask me out and he had put it him to suss out how I would feel!! I was not amused and went on to receive a (tacky) Valentines card from you know who. He did ask me out in person but I declined. The man I really liked went on to marry a colleague and I have been married to another guy I met also at work for 13 years this year. Funny how things work out...

J.P. Manchester Hardly romantic but my friend set me up on a blind date with the most good looking boy I had ever seen. I was 16. I turned up looking what I thought was fabulous in a Mary Quant dress.. wish I still had it, or indeed fit in it.... and he was wearing brown shoes!!!! Arrgh!!! With a black suit. I made up the excuse that my Mum said I had to be home at 8.30.This was at 7.30. So Valentine's Day never held much store for me after that. I have remained good friends with the girl that set me up even after 44 years .

N.W. Cheltenham We've had more rubbish meals on a Valentines Day than I can recall but I'm a romantic and Mum to a 3yr old so I grab any opportunity for a night out with just my hubby. We'd really gone for it by booking a "swing jazz" night with Sinatra impersonator and everything at the local Thai, not something we'd normally go for. A few days before, my hubby started getting a cough and spluttering a lot so I growled at him that he was not getting out of it and was incredibly unsympathetic at what I thought was "man flu". Turned out he was coming down with pneumonia and was admitted to hospital the day before Valentines. I felt so awful! He was in there for 10 days in the end so I was at home with just my son who was 14 months old at the time. My son then also came down with a sickness bug which he generously shared with me so I was banned from visiting my hubby until it cleared up! By day 7 of his stay he was fed up with the hospital food so I sneaked in a naughty bag of fish and chips to share. We cook for each other at home now on Valentines!

M.V. Belgium Dear Emma, Years ago I had a very nice boyfriend from Cyprus. I am from Holland where sending and receiving Valentine cards is quite usual as is the idea of exchanging gifts for Valentine. That 14th of February although I gave one to my boyfriend I did not receive anything in return. I was a bit put off by that. But to my great delight I was given a nice hand-written card the next day together with one red rose. It said (and I will never forget it), that he did not enjoy all those mercantile moments for exchanging gifts, but would rather be my Valentine every day of the year and not just one day of the year. As you can imagine, I felt duly ashamed and could not have agreed with him more. Now 20 years later I look back on that moment and realise that he was a really nice man.

R.W. Shepperton Wow! A secret admirer! Aged seventeen, Valentines day - at school. I opened it; it said ' a smile would be nice once in a while'. Who could it be from? I didn't recognise the writing... the rugby player in the upper sixth? That shy guy in my form? Worst Valentines Day ever when I realised it was from my very well meaning history teacher who thought I'd been looking a bit fed up lately. Not a romantic Valentine (obviously... he was my teacher) but a sympathy one!

R.B. Welwyn My then boyfriend had an unwillingness to book a restaurant on valentines day, I agree, too much price hiking etc... So we tried to go to our local Italian eatery where we were regulars... full up of course. So, I was taken next door into Mr Cod and bought a pie and chips then taken home to my house and treated to a bottle of beer out of my fridge... come to think of it, I even paid for the Mr Cod as he had no cash... I did marry him though and we are still wonderfully happy with two beautiful boys so it does all turn out alright in the end and just goes to prove that you shouldn't judge a man by his valentines day!!!

C.B. London My lovely other half has never attached as much importance to special days as I do. Last year I decided that I would give him a helping hand and gave him some not so subtle clues a few days before Valentine's day. I sent him a link to Emma Bridgewater's "Happiness for mum" mug, left the catalogue open on the right page and mentioned my favourite restaurant.... On the day, I came downstairs to find a packet of children's sweets and a rather wilted bunch of flowers... I know that the other 364 days of the year are just as important but, but...

D.C. Andover My partner Andy and I decided to go to the local pub for a special Valentines meal and doing so had politely maneuvered us out of the village valentine’s disco which had run its course many years before. When we got to the pub they had not got our booking although I had rung them the week before. They managed to move tables about and fit us in. The meal was okay with oysters and chocy puds. Afterwards we had to pick my teenage son up from the disco. We were met at the door by all our friends furiously looking for an engagement ring screaming did he ask you!! We did laugh as they had even cooled a bottle of champagne. We knew nothing of this although it was a joke in the village as to when Andy would ask me. They were all very disappointed. Six years later we are getting married in June and yes it was a leap year....!

J.O. Croydon I was 17 and had met a lovely guy (it was his Irish accent that did it for me!!!) Unfortunately, on Valentines Day he gave me one of those most ghastly satin padded cards (do you remember them??) Noooooooo!!!! It didn’t' last long after that...I still have the card somewhere though - may dig that out and photograph it for all to see!

L.O. Kingston Upon Thames Having finally persuaded the parents to look after the girls when they were very little (2 and 4), we went off to a very smart hotel for Valentine's Night. The room was much smaller than described but the restaurant was beautifully decorated with balloons, hearts etc so we thought, so romantic, so exciting! But the chef forgot (or didn't get) my email saying which foods I am allergic to, and EVERY course they served up had an allergen in and had to be sent back. (I am allergic to eggs, fish, spinach and parsley). Was such a disappointment for such organisation and financial outlay. Funnily enough, have never been back! Grrrrr.

R.S. Norfolk When I was 11 or 12 I had arranged to meet a boy from school in town on valentines day. I waited in the arranged spot for what seemed forever but soon realised I was being stood up for the first time. Feeling hurt I didn't speak to him at school on the Monday, but later heard from a friend that he had been knocked off his bike by a car on the way to meet me. Thankfully he wasn't hurt but I felt so much better knowing I hadn't been intentionally stood up!!!

P.W. Milton Keynes My husband and I decided that as we couldn't go out on Valentines night (we had a small child and I was heavily pregnant) we would have a special lunch that we would eat at our separate work places at the same time whilst on the phone to each other. My husband loves curry so we had rice and curry. I sat in the company kitchen having heated up my meal in the microwave and talked on my mobile. It was really lovely and I went back to work suitably loved up. An hour later and I wasn't feeling so hot. Putting it down to morning sickness I didn't think much more about it... until I got home and threw up all over my husband who opened the door with a bunch of flowers for me. Apparently I hadn't cooked my rice for long enough and so gave myself food poisoning. I spent the rest of the night in bed feeling sorry for myself.

J.T. Bourne End When my husband and I were courting, we booked a Valentine meal at our local Greek restaurant. That night, as a special promotion, as each lady was seated at her table, she received a small heart shaped cake which looked really pretty. I didn't receive a cake when I sat down. I had a glass of wine, feeling slightly miffed. Cakes kept coming to all the other ladies around me in the restaurant, still no cake for me. More wine and feeling really upset by this time. At one point, the waiter walked towards me with a cake, "This is it", I thought, until he veered off at the last moment and gave the cake to the woman on the next table. Lots more wine, now, not feeling much of anything accept a rising rage - this just wasn't fair, why me?! As we were leaving, the restaurant owner asked if we'd had a good night and my husband explained that I had not received a cake - the manager was horrified and promptly gave him a cake for me. When my husband gave me the cake outside I shouted, "I don't want a stinking cake now", burst into tears and threw it in the nearest bin. The night was completely ruined and we argued the entire long walk home... Eighteen years on, he can laugh about it now, but it still hurts me that I was the only woman in the whole restaurant who wasn't given a heart shaped cake that night.

K.M. Edinburgh I seductively leaned in to give the boy of my dreams a spoonful of ice cream and proceeded to knock the rest of the partially defrosted tub over and into his lap. We eventually had babies but these were early days and I was totally horrified!

K.C. Newton-le-Willows My ex-husband thought it was a good idea one year to buy me a book about Jack the Ripper for Valentine's Day.

A.O. Warrington In my younger days at college I fancied a lad who I thought was called Scott, he had a best mate who was not as nice to look at I asked my mate to set me up on a date on valentines with Scott. I got all glammed up, turned up at the pub and found his mate waiting for me, turns out he was actually called Scott and was really chuffed I had asked him out! I stayed polite and got through the date and did eventually get my date with the other guy which was a bit awkward. Now I double check people's names.

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If your love life has been eventful and have more than one story to share with us, you’ll be doubling (tripling, etc!) your chances of winning.

By entering you allow us to publish your initials and your location (eg. London, Stoke, etc).

The best “Worst Ever Valentine” will be chosen by Matthew Rice on the 11th February 2010.

The winner and runners-up will be notified by us on the 11th February 2010.