Many people only romance their partners at certain times of the year for example valentines day or Christmas, so national rekindle romance week came about to help the UK keep romance going throughout the year. This is your chance to show your partner what they mean to you, whether you take them for a weekend away, take them for a meal or even something as simple as running them a bath but make sure you romance your partner.

Living in the countryside provides you with beautiful locations to rekindle the romance in your relationship, why not take your special someone for a scenic walk and have a picnic in a picturesque location. You should also think about making a personal effort to romance your partner, why not run them a relaxing bubble bath and cook them a romantic meal. These options do not cost much at all but can quite often be the best when romancing your partner as they show thought and effort which is always appreciated by a partner and can have a better effect than grand expensive gestures.

You both obviously enjoy the countryside so why not make the most of it while romancing that special someone. You could go for a romantic horse ride or take an afternoon rowing boat trip, thus combining your mutual love of the countryside and doing something special together which will make your day even more special.

If you are feeling you would like to do more to romance your partner why not take them away for a weekend to a country hotel. As you know there are hundreds of beautiful hotels set in charming locations all over the UK. Romancing your partner with weekends away can be expensive but you can find there are great discounts available online for countryside hotels. These could save you up to 50% on your booking, giving you more money to spend on romancing your loved one once you are there.

You could also romance your partner by taking them for a romantic meal. Why not ask when you book your table for something special. This could range from the best table in the house to your partners favourite wine or flowers and a candle to be on the table when you get there. Simple things like this can make the difference between your meal out being an everyday occurrence and a real romantic evening. Most restaurants are happy to oblige with your requests and some will even go as far to suggest other romantic ideas.

Although it may not seem romantic you can also save money when taking you partner out for a romantic meal, many online voucher sites now offer restaurant discount vouchers. These can get you up to 50% off in many country pubs and restaurants. You could use a voucher to make the most of your money on your romantic evening, it could enable you to have that extra bottle of wine or get a taxi instead of one of you having to drive. The majority of restaurants are discreet, if you do not want your date to know you are using a voucher it is possible to slip the voucher to your server discreetly or pay away from the table. However if you have gone to the effort of having a surprise on the table when you arrive at the restaurant as mentioned earlier and have had a special romantic evening with great food and conversation, I very much doubt your partner would even care you used a discount voucher. They will appreciate being made to feel special for an evening!

However you decide to show that special someone how you feel about them it is important to remember romance is very important when you are in a relationship and it should not be a one off effort. Enjoy rekindle romance week but don’t make this the last time you romance your partner before Christmas! The more you romance your partner the stronger your relationship and love for each other will become, so go on rekindle your romance!

A romantic moneysaving guide by Jessica Bourne at Moneysupermarket.com

Usually about 6 to 12 months into a serious relationship the magic tarnishes and people can begin to feel a little bored in each others company.

This really is a normal process, as the excitement of getting to know each other drifts into familiarity.

While we are first dating we work hard to entertain each other, to think of funny stories, interesting places to go and how we can present ourselves in the best light.

The most successful long term relationships involve continued effort after the honeymoon period has faded.

You have to continue to admire each other, find the right balance so we neither ignore or smother each other, and remember to regularly compliment each other.

Whether you choose a “date night”, a hobby you can share or just take time to communicate each day. Don’t come home from work every day and just complain, tell your partner if you saw something funny, heard something interesting on the radio or just remembered a good joke.

We often hear people say how much they like a new dating partner because he/she “makes me laugh”. This is entertainment and it is important to keep that aspect of dating alive in a long term relationship.

When you were dating you wouldn’t dream of turning up to a date in sloppy old clothes and either moaning all evening or ignoring your date … so why do it in a long term relationship?

Of course we share our troubles with our partner and we all need some “me” time but don’t let it become a daily habit.

A relationship which is the same old, same old every day, without an element of entertainment, will quickly begin to sour.

Even if you are not in a good financial position (who is in the current recession) a little imagination can produce entertaining but <a href=”http://www.country-couples.co.uk/datingtips/10-inexpensive-dates-%E2%80%93-cheap-date-ideas/” target=”_blank”>cheap dates</a>. Just because you are in a long term relationship doesn’t mean you can stop dating or entertaining each other.

So todays A-Z of love tip is to continue to entertain each other.

The letter A stood for Admire in our A to Z of Love.

We looked at why it’s important to take time to admire your partner both mentally and physically and how this continued practice can help sustain a loving long term relationship.

Then the letter B stood for Balance in our relationships.

We suggested finding a healthy balance between work and home life, between caring for your children and caring for your partner and balancing our own sexual needs and those of our partner.

The letter C stands for Compliment. Whether you are about to go on your first date with someone, have been dating for 6 months or been married for 20 years, it is important to remember to offer sincere compliments occasionally.

If you are in a long term relationship it is really important to offer regular compliments to your partner. Whether you compliment them on a nicely cooked meal, their parenting or work skills, their abilities at a hobby or if you just regularly remind them of one attributes that makes you love them … everyone enjoys being told what makes them special.

We not only have to learn how to give a sincere compliment but also how to receive one.

Rules for offering compliments:

Be sincere

People have built in radars for insincere compliments so don’t just stand around wracking your brains trying to think of anything you can say to offer a compliment. Yes it’s nice if you can offer a compliment when you first greet someone but it’s better to say nothing at first and wait for inspiration to grab you so you sound sincere.

Use Sparingly

If someone compliments you every ten minutes, even if they are being sincere, it becomes meaningless or they begin to look a bit creepy. That doesn’t mean compliments should be reserved for Birthdays and Christmas but keep it to a maximum of one sincere compliment a week.

Be Specific

“You look nice” is a seriously over-used compliment and is pretty meaningless, as is using compliments the person has heard a thousand times before. Compliments should be personal and should make them feel 6 inches taller. “That shirt looks nice on you” should be “That shirt suits you, the colour brings out the blue in your eyes” (he’ll feel great next time he puts that shirt on) and “You look really pretty” should be “That hairstyle really suits your features”. Pick something specific about the person and use that to compliment them for example “You have a really infectious laugh” or “You have a really good eye for colour/art/interior design”.

Be Original

Try to compliment people on personality traits or physical abilities rather than just the way they look. What is it you like about the person, is it the way they love their pets, their kindness to others or can they swim like a fish or sing like a bird? Do they have a great memory or can they finish the daily crossword while you are still on the first clue? These are the compliments that mean the most because looks are not something we can control but personality traits or physical abilities are things we put effort into learning.

Ask a Question

Many people find it very difficult to accept a compliment, so if possible end your compliment with a question to allow them to answer you instead of responding to the compliment. For example “I really admire the time you give to charity work. What got you involved with it?”.

Practice Giving Compliments

Many people find it difficult to give compliments because they don’t do it very often. Learning to give compliments is so simple, whether it’s a shop assistant, dentist, colleague at work or your next door neighbour .. when you think something nice about them simply say it. It’s easier if you start with your own gender. I just love the smile on someones face when I pay them an unexpected compliment and the more you see the reaction to compliments the more you want to do it.

Rules for accepting a compliment

No Negativity

If someone says your hairstyle suits you do not reply with “I think it looks better shorter/longer/a different colour”. If they say your shirt suits you don’t say “It would look better if I lost a few pounds”. Never respond with “Are you blind”. Negatively responding to compliments will deter people from complimenting you in the future and shows your low self esteem.

Say Thank You

Look them in the eye, smile and say thank you.

That’s it, there’s nothing else to graciously accepting a compliment.

The letter A stood for Admire in our A – Z of Love and now that we have returned to admiring our partner we can move on to the next letter in our Love Alpahabet.

Next in our A – Z of love is the letter B.

B could stand for beauty, besotted, bedazzled or believe but in order to keep love alive in our relationships B is going to stand for Balance.

Doesn’t sound very romantic does it but balance is so important in a strong relationship.

We must learn to balance our work and home life. If we become too involved with work then our partners will feel neglected.

If you have children you must find a balance between caring for your children and caring for your partner. Many partners feel excluded once children arrive and feel their emotional needs are not met.

It takes understanding and compromise to create a healthy balance in any relationship. Few loving relationships can survive living in each others pockets without feeling smothered but if we are too distant from our partner their emotional and physical needs are not being met.

We must balance our own sexual needs and our partners. Many people believe the frequency of their sexual relationship should be based purely on ‘when they are in the mood’ … why? What about your partners needs, find a balance that suits you both. Perhaps you have to accept a little less or more frequently than would be ideal for you but a relationship is not all about one person and what they want or need.

Write down a typical day on a sheet of paper and then add times next to it and whether your partner is involved, like this:

• work – 8 hours – No
• children (playing/homework)  – 2 hours – No
• sleeping – 8 hours – No
• cooking/cleaning  – 1.5 hours – No
• gym – 1 hour – No
• internet browsing – 0.5 hours – No
• television – 2 hours – Yes
• travel – 1 hour – No

Do this for a typical week and be honest. Do you eat together, share a hobby together or do homework with the children together?

It is a way to visualise the time you spend devoted to each other and each others needs. If you see you are not spending enough time with your partner then work out where you can make time for them.

Could you go to the gym together or miss a night and spend that hour with your partner, could you switch off the television and communicate with each other by doing an activity together or just talking about your week.

Some couples have an evening or day a week they spend together, basically they continue dating each other after they are married and it does help to keep the romance alive but it would be better to find a way of naturally spending time together without having to pencil it into your diaries.

So B is for balance in a relationship, keep the love alive in your relationship by finding a healthy balance.

The letter A stands for Admire. Take time to admire your partner both mentally and physically.

When you first start dating you spend a lot of your time admiring each other, you watch their every move, visually learn every line on their face and listen intently to every thought they utter.

Have you heard the saying ‘familiarity breeds contempt’? Unfortunately over time we start to take our partner for granted, we know what they look like, their thoughts are no longer new to us and gazing lovingly at them for an hour seems like a waste of time.

Well it’s time to get back to admiring your partner. Take time every day to stop and look at your partner, don’t think about anything just look at them.

This is a person that loves you, they have invested their time, trust and love in you so appreciate it.

Fair enough they no longer seem as exciting as they were in your dating days but be honest, are you still as exciting?

You may even look at other people and think “I wish I was single again” but believe me after some time with that person you would be in exactly the same boat.

Your partner has seen you at your worst, they have listened to your boring stories and bad jokes, they took care of you when you were ill and they devote much of their life to looking after you … yet they are still there.

They may have a few more lines on their face or a pound or two extra on their hips but those changes have come with time together.When did you last admire your partners beauty, the beauty that attracted you to them in your dating days.

Your partner still has hopes and dreams … when was the last time you asked them about their ambitions in life. When did you last spend time really listening to them and admiring their thoughts?

Take some time, have a good look and remember why you fell in love with them in the first place.

Go on, have an admire of the person you love.

It can take hours trawling through the net to find a half decent romantic ecard to send, so I have taken the hard work out of it for you.

Whether you are looking for a last minute ecard as an expression of your love or just want to spam everyone in the office with a valentine day card so nobody feels left out then this is where to find the best:

My Punch Bowl have some beautiful Valentines cards that can be customised and for those that like to say “bah humbug” they even have anti-Valentine’s Day cards. I just love this site.

Jimpix has some great flash Valentines and Romantic ecards and I particularly like ones that are interactive, give the blue heart a go it’s such fun (just run your mouse over it).

Fun Punch has some really funny free ecards for Valentine’s Cards and love cards.

Hi Greetings have a mixed bag, from funny to cute to romantic that can be used as Valentine’s e-cards.

February 14th is a day to celebrate love, whether you simply admire someone you have never been out with or have been married for 60 years.

The secret to a well received valentine gesture is originality, that doesn’t mean do something that has never been done before, just make whatever you give personal. Anyone can send a free ecard or buy a box of Thorntons chocolates but with a little thought and next to no money, if any at all, you can make that special someone feel even more special this valentines day.

1. Love List

Write out all the reasons you love your partner, from the funny way they wrinkle their nose when they laugh to how special they make you feel when they tell you they love you.This is a far better way to appreciate your partner than copying a poem off the internet.

2. Computer Art

Grab your laptop and start designing. You can design a personal Valentine card, a newspaper, a sales leaflet (with you as the object for sale) or an old fashioned love letter. No need to be artistic, there is plenty of software to help you along. No imagination? Just print out I love you 100 times in different colours.

3. Kitchen Roll Love Letter

With a black marker pen write love messages along the length of a kitchen roll. Unroll it along the floor from the door they wil enter to where you are .. it’s a treasure trail and the treasure is you.

4. Music Mix

Whether it’s a cd or mp3 file, put together a great mix of love songs and slip it into a drawer or their bag .. a great one if you fancy someone in the office but haven’t told them yet. Don’t forget to record a personal message at the beginning.

5. Love Vouchers

Write out a few personal vouchers for your sweetheart, they can include such favours as breakfast in bed, a massage or your turn to do the dishes. Let your partner cash them in over time but be prepared to accept the vouchers and do your bit whenever they are cashed in.

6. Box of Hearts

Line a gift box with red tissue paper and then fill it with loose love heart sweets. While you are snuggled together on the sofa you can read the silly messages as you eat them.

7. Naughty Notes

Write out a number of naughty notes and hide them … not too well, you do want him or her to find them. Pop them in coat pockets, under the windscreen wipers of their car, their desk drawer or their fridge.

8. Paper Petals

Get some red paper or thin card and cut out hearts and rose petals, scatter them over over the dinner table or on and around your bed. Add some candles for mood and you have a romantic night for two.

9. Romantic Ringtone

Download a mobile phone ringtone and pop it onto their phone, every time someone calls them they will think of you.

10. Short Story

If you are feeling creative write a short story, make sure you and your partner are the lead characters destined to find love. Each year together you can add a new chapter to the story.

Your thoughts and emotions are your own, your Partner cannot feel them or experience your emotions. You can say one hundred times a day that you love your partner but if you then beat them once a day those words become hollow and unbelievable.

Your partner cannot guess how you feel about them and they may be unconvinced by your declarations of love, so it is important in a healthy relationship to show your love.

Here are 5 ways you can easily show your partner you love them:

1. Don’t overdo the affection …. sounds like a strange thing to say but it’s easy to slip from affection to habit. A kiss on the lips or cheek at 7:42 every morning is simply habit and does not show love. Don’t allow your relationship to get into a routine or affection becomes mechanical. Go on be daring, have sex on the sofa on Tuesday night instead of every Saturday in bed.

2. Be playful …. life is very short and most of the time quite mundane, so play with your partner. Be spontaneous sometimes, just grab them and kiss them or pinch their bum as they walk by. While your partner is discussing something unimportant start to undress them, they may be a little shocked but just look into their eyes and say “I can’t help myself, I love you”.

3. Respect your partner. Your partner may hate lace curtains or leather sofas but because they loves you they will put with them but you both live in the same home so if you want to show your love you will compromise for something you can both enjoy living with.

4. Discuss your thoughts about your relationship, don’t allow things to get bottled up inside you if your partner is doing something you don’t like. By discussing it with them, while hugging them on the sofa, you are showing you care about them and your relationship.

5. Share, share, share!! Share the household tasks, share some of your leisure time and share your love by drawing them a bath or giving them a massage … in other words share yourself.

Rather than just nipping in to the local petrol station or buying forced flowers from the supermarket, put a little effort in to selecting and sending flowers. However beware of what you are sending, red roses say I love you but yellow roses say we are just friends or denote jealousy. I have included which colour of flowers is the most appropriate for romance.

Most women are unaware of the meaning behind flowers so whether you send flowers yourself or through a florist make sure the card holds the information to the meaning of the flowers being sent.

Any good florist will know the meaning of the flowers, so if buying through a florist tell them the message you want to send and they will advise you on which flowers are appropriate.

10. Iris - Blue is faith and hope, purple means compliments or wisdom, white is purity and yellow is passion.

9. Acacia -Unspoken love, send these if you want to let someone know of your secret admiration.

8. Primrose – I can’t live without you (evening primose means happy in love).

7. Lilac - youthful or humility, also confidence.

6. Carnation -Fascination. Pink is maternal love, striped carnations mean refusal and say you cannot be with someone, yellow is rejection or disappointment but red means my heart aches for you or I am fascinated with you.

5. Orchid - Rare beauty, refinement, beautiful woman, long life, femininity or mature charm.

4. Lily – White is purity or virginity, yellow means walking on air but also falsehood and orange means I burn for you.

3. Tulip - Red is a declaration of love, multi coloured means you have beautiful eyes and yellow is hopelessly in love.

2. Daisy – Innocence or a loyal love.

1. Rose – Red roses say I love you but if you place red and white roses together it symbolises perfect unity. A thornless rose means I loved you at first sight. Each colour of rose has a different meaning but for love red is the only colour to send.

If a man were to send me flowers I would hope for orchids!!

Dating online often leads to long distance relationships and it may be some time before you are both able to bring your lives together.

It is quite easy to get into a routine, even when dating long distance. You visit every third weekend or a week every three months, you phone at 10pm every night or write every Saturday. You plan your time together in advance, down to what you will eat.

However with just a little thought you can keep the romance and excitement in your relationship.

Here are 10 ideas for gifts that will help the love flourish, no matter how far apart you are:

1. Swap Clothes

No you don’t need to start cross dressing. There is something very personal about sleeping in your man’s t-shirt. Guys if you are thinner than your lady then buy a big baggy t-shirt and sleep in it for a while before you give it to her, it needs to have that “lived in feel”. Girls give your man your winter scarf, as long as it’s not pink and flowery or if you are similar sizes then give him one of your t-shirts.

2. Use the Post

We have become so reliant on the internet, the speed of emails and texts makes communication so quick and convenient but it is far from romantic. You need to add a little surprise sometimes, post a romantic card, poem or a small gift.

3. Find a Colour

Send small gifts or pictures that all have the same colour theme. Is she passionate about pink or is he addicted to chocolate. While you are out and about find things to add to the collection, they don’t need to be expensive, something from nature or a picture from a magazine but using a theme makes it personal to you both.

4. Send photos

Make it interesting, start at your feet or finger tips and take a photo of a small part of your body, each week send a new photo until your partner has a full jigsaw puzzle of you. This can be as naughty or as nice as you like.

5. Swap Calendars

Fill in all the dates that are important to you, your family birthdays and anniversaries, important events at work or even silly things like the date your car needs an MOT. These all make them feel part of your life, they know what is going on with you even when you are not in touch each day. You can add things to the calendar when you find out what your partner has been or is planning to do.

6. Paper Chain

Make a paper chain by linking strips of paper in circles, add one link for every day you will be apart. This works best if you will be apart for over a month. Each day rip off one of the links and it is amazing how visually seeing the chain getting shorter helps the days fly by.

7. Plan a Weekend Surprise

Take it in turns to plan a romantic weekend but don’t give any hints to your partner, simply send instruction for what clothes they should bring. If you want them to go sailing then tell them to bring waterproofs.

8. Read a Book

Buy two copies of the same book and read it at the same time, you can discuss the book online and this helps you to share interests. If and when you finally come together you can make a small library for your shared home with one set of copies and give the second copies to a charity shop.

9. Swap Diaries

Buy two diaries and each day before you sleep write down a few thoughts. When you see your partner swap diaries before you part again but don’t read them together. You each continue adding your thoughts to the diaries but also have something to read from your love each night. They make a wonderful memory in future years.

10. Leave Surprises

Place small gifts or notes in their home, car, bag, wallet, etc. Don’t make them obvious, so they find them over time. Once they get used to this ask them not to go looking for them but wait until they come across them naturally. After a while start numbering them (eg 3 of 7) and they will have the anticipation of knowing there are more to find. If your partner leaves you notes or gifts please try to resist the temptation to find them all at once, you really will get more pleasure from finding them naturally.