A typical Valentine’s Day in HK is sending flowers to the office, booking a nice restaurant, buying a gift or buying each other a gift.

Your partner might be just clueless: Don’t assume they know what you want. Sometimes men really have no clue how important it is that they do something on that day. For some of them, it’s just another working day.

Gift or no gift?
If you would like a certain gift, tell him sweetly. But remember to ask what he would like to have too. This is when you are in a long relationship or married. Men generally will give you a surprise when they are chasing you.
For a couple at the dating stage, who want to give surprise to their partner, you can ask common friends what they would like. Or try to recall if they hinted at anything in the previous conversation.

Tell him exactly what you want:
Ladies, if he really did not do anything and you love him, don’t get upset. Be sweet and suggest a place you would like to go. He will be happy to do that if he can afford it and he loves you. If he doesn’t….no big deal, as long as he is not spending that day with any other woman.

Be extremely easy going:
If he suggests a gift or a restaurant you don’t like, find a way to appreciate it and share how you feel a few days later. Because if you don’t take the first offer, he might not suggest another because he doesn’t know what you like.

Whatever happens that evening, keep happy and feel fortunate!

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You know we have a dog language and a baby language, I have found some husband language which is useful in dating, relationships or marriage.

If you don’t know these tricks, the chances are that you may have the same problem with different relationships. A man likes a woman who cares about him like his mother, but never nags him or yells at him.

1: Say your preferred option last, with a smile. When you want to do something, you want him to feel like it’s his choice. Say what you least prefer first, then what you like second with a big smile. Most of the time, it makes no difference to them anyway.

2: Be the role model: Be a clean cook – that means after cooking the kitchen is almost clean, except the serving and eating dishes.

3: Change your thinking: Instead of thinking he never washes the dishes, you should think he would rather wash the dishes than watch you do it, but if he does they are not clean enough, and you need to do them again.

4: The most well know trick. Put the nice clothes that you like on top of the others, while leaving the old ones at the bottom of the pile.

5: Mirroring: If there is a problem, and you nag him, he won’t change. It’s like if you do something, you must think there is no problem. Instead, focus on the nice things, mention a nice thing he did lately. Then he will do something to make you happy.

6: Say darling/honey/sweetheart, can you help me with this, please? Start with something small, reward him with a small victory.

The key is to recognize their effort in the the way you like to be recognized.

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Dear Rachael,

You may not remember me – my name is Jacqueline, one of your old clients. When I first came to your office a few years ago asking for your help, you lent me this book to read.

I have learnt a lot from this book, and I want to thank you for everything. As I was going through my book collection recently, I realized I had not returned the book to you!

So here I am, delivering this book back to you. And I’m sure you will be thrilled to hear that I’m married and have a 22 months old boy, I’m also expecting another baby in Feb 2019. We will be moving to Singapore soon!

So thank you once again!

And all the best!

Jacqueline

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If you and your partner are both extrovert, you will both enjoy an evening out. Wine and dine.

If you have just started seeing someone, ladies, these days feel free to say something like “There is a new restaurant …..would you like to try it with me on Friday?” Do not worry about being rejected. If that person turns down the invitation he is not for you anyway. Choose to spend the evening with friends or family – you will be equally happy.

For guys, if you are at the courting stage, in case you want to send flowers, that day most flower shops only guarantee to deliver during office hours. It’s better you take an hour off and bring them yourself. Any girl who receives that will appreciate it. Book a restaurant that is close to her office in case she can make it for lunch. Book a table for dinner too, but no need to tell her. Surprise her. Do it without expectation. Then you won’t get disappointed.

If you want to spend the weekend together, go to Shek O (call Uber if you are not driving) for a nice long lunch. Book a hotel (2 rooms if you are not at that stage yet). With most hotels, if you book a room, you enjoy the spa, gym and swimming pool there. At around 6 pm, watching the sunset at Ritz Carlton Lobby lounge will be romantic. A glass of Bollinger to start the evening is always nice. There is a Japanese restaurant at 103/F ICC; the chef will demonstrate his special cooking and serving skills.

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Age is no hurdle to finding love again.

My chance encounter with Jonathan, 65, my former client a decade ago, at the gym has opened the door on dating for him when he has all but given up on romance.
He told me his daughter urged him to look for a serious girlfriend. He said he chose Rachael & Smith due to my track record in matchmaking.
I matched him with Catherine, 52.
Divorced with kids, both work in management and finance. Jonathan is intuitive and full of ideas, while Catherine is observant and keen to put ideas into practice.
On their first date, Jonathan mentioned his birthday was two weeks away. Catherine offered to treat him a dinner as celebration. Always the one who pays the bills, he was impressed by her generosity. Without checking his phone even once, his total concentration on their dinner left a good impression on her.
Having only slight physical attraction to her, he had doubts at the beginning whether their chemistry can sustain in a long run.
I explained to him it takes long time for mature daters—single males over 50 and females over 40—to develop romantic affection.
Jonathan told me he wants to take her seriously and won’t rush for anything physical.
They are going to have the birthday dinner and more dates to get to know each other.
Jonathan later told me he had actually given up on dating. “But then I bumped into you who introduced her to me.”

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1. If you are a Westerner, meeting Asian girls … instead of giving a kiss on the cheek, test the waters out to see what makes the lady comfortable.

2. Shaking hands only happen when you are meeting someone for business – DON”T DO THAT ON A DATE. Most European, France, Spain, Italy, and UK men like to greet friends by kissing on both cheeks. Dutch and Belgium will give a cheek kiss 3 times.

3. If you don’t know how to react, just smile which is the near-universal friendliness. Do not act like you never have been kissed on the cheek before. Act like nothing has happened.

4. Make sure you spray cologne/perfume, and that your face is clean and neat, not oily. About perfume: many people are allergic especially to cheap perfume.

5. In Asia, generally speaking, no physical contact on the first date when greeting each other (best to wait until things are more relaxed – a few drinks definitely helps!).
In conclusion, a hug, a gentle touch of the shoulder, a smile on a first date.

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He said “Study and practice!”

This applies to all professional jobs, dating, and relationships. Someone also said: I found the harder I work, the luckier I get.

Therefore let’s keep studying and practicing how to be good at dating, a good gentleman/lady, or a good spouse.

You will find the harder you work at it…the luckier you become, and the closer you will get to what you want.

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Based on our consultation and the profile information, we introduced a very sincere European gentleman for her to meet on her first date. The chemistry was so amazing that he has already asked her out for dinner on Valentine’s Day. Without knowing, he made a booking at exactly the same place where she is planning to celebrate her upcoming birthday with friends. She was also amazed that when they shared photos of places they had traveled to, they were almost exactly the same. They have so much in common in many aspects of their lives that she found it almost unbelievable.

That’s just one of our more recent successful matching stories. If you haven’t made any plans for Valentine’s Day, please join us and meet some new friends over a delightful dinner paired with fine wine. Who knows? You may be meeting your date for the next Valentine’s Day.

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We’re hosting a Pre-Valentine’s Day Party on Saturday, February 3 to celebrate our singledom together. Who knows, you may meet someone that you’d want to spend V-Day with.

Here are some tips for a Valentine’s Day dinner date:

1: Don’t pick an over-priced restaurant for V-day. It’s not good value and there’ll be too much pressure on both of you.

2: If it’s a first date, gentlemen should ask if she has any food preferences and present 2-3 restaurant choices, then most importantly, MAKE THE RESERVATION. Keep communicating with her throughout the process.

3: Manage your expectations. Enjoy the moment, and don’t take things for granted. Remember the other person chose to spend this special day with you.

4: If you’re early in your relationship, a small, thoughtful gift may be appropriate. Show appreciation.

5: Look your best. If you’ve been single for a while and not sure what to wear, ask a friend to go shopping with you. But also keep in mind that the prettiest thing you can wear is a smile.

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