Not only do I love the prospect of browsing through multiple shops, scouring the internet and generally thinking of the perfect gift, but I seek solice in the knowledge that, regardless of what my other half receives, there’ll be a smile and we’ll do the usual “oh you didn’t have to get me this / your love is gift enough” game. Ultimately a 7p valentines card from Asda probably won’t cut it but I was thinking about getting a nice personalised stuffed dog toy in memory of our recently deceased canine and then taking her for a nice meal. The problem is I can’t decide between a local italian restaurant that we’ve been dying to try or hopping on a plane after work and spending the evening in Paris.

With the advent of cheap air travel, both will cost as much as each other. The reality of the situation is that we’ll probably both end up either at TGIF or with a bucket of the colonals finest and a bottle of wine watching Friends re-runs. I love my life.

Then you might want to think about what it would be like to not only replace your own vehicle but one that belongs to a stranger as well if you are at fault in an accident. Believe me this can be extremely expensive especially if there are injuries to the driver or passengers in either car.

Cheap Car Insurance is a great investment in the everyday world of protecting those we love as well as ourselves from the catastrophic effects of an automobile accident that nobody is ever completely prepared for.

Having spent endless evenings watching all manner of craft come and go below, from cruise ships and Abramovich-sized yachts to small put-put launches and Biblical-looking fishing boats, I was suddenly struck by the realisation that, as a landlubber, I was missing an important dimension to this fascinating isle.

Menorca is only the third-largest of the Balearic islands, yet it has more beaches than Mallorca and Ibiza put together. A fair few of these are only really approachable from the sea. My wife and I joined a catamaran day-trip to one such deserted cove; there was a delightfully Robinson Crusoe-like feeling to weighing anchor, diving in and swimming ashore, where a paella was cooked for us on a bonfire of driftwood.

Menorca shares many blessings with its visitors. The island is 10 degrees closer to the equator than the southernmost point in Britain, on a par with the far south of Italy. The Mediterranean minimises the extremes of climate – but has maximised the cultural intensity. From enigmatic stone structures built by pre-historic man, to dazzling 21st-century Spanish architecture, man’s impact on Menorca is fascinating.

And I am part of the latest, and mostly benign, invasion: tourists. Many of us are in search of an accessible yet discreet island whose strongest suit comprises beautiful, shady coves that serrate the southern coast. But it has plenty more on offer.

The strikingly handsome port of Ciutadella, at the western end of the island, is steeped in naval history but now provides moorings for pleasure craft. It feels as cosmopolitan as St-Tropez or Capri Town, minus the bling and high prices. Ciutadella also provides a good location from which to explore the stone structures of San Catlar (including an impressive wall), and the cliff-side caves of Xoroi. At the other end of the island lies the capital, Mahon (or Maó in the local dialect). This is another pretty port, which seems frozen in mid-tumble to the harbour. It has the distinction of being the first place in Spain each day to welcome the sun – don’t miss the fascinating Churrigueresque touches in the church of San Francesc.

And then, of course, there is learning the ropes. Having made my first forays into dinghy sailing on the slate-grey waters of a reservoir near the M3 in Surrey, I can vouch for the fact that the warm, blue lagoon at Fornells makes for an altogether more enticing arena for the inevitable capsizes. I hired the dinghy by the half-day, but for those wanting a more single-minded nautical experience, various companies offer specialist sailing holidays.