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The Basics

• Price: From £13,335
  


• 0-60 time: 11.7 secs


• MPG / LPG: 51.4 mpg (combined)
  

51 The AskMen Take

50 Performance

52 Design

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The Basics

• Price: From £27,560
  


• 0-60 time: 6.6 secs


• MPG / LPG: 34.9 mpg (combined)
  

80 The AskMen Take

82 Performance

77 Design

Mercedes SLK Aphelios

Nature has inspired man and his machines for centuries. Biomimicry was what inspired Leonardo da Vinci to develop an early version of the helicopter based upon bird flight.

However, designer Apostol Tnokovski's SLK Aphelios has taken inspiration for his Mercedes concept from a rather unlikely source.

The humble trout and its slender body shape were the basis for Tnokovski's car. From the side, you see the stubby, angled front, leading into a wider cockpit/main section before following through into a stretched tail with the rear lights forming a fin-like shape.

The only discernible feature on the car is the front grille with Mercedes' trademark single chrome strip suspending the three-spoke badge in mid-air.

Large vents in front of the rear wheels resembling gills provide airflow both along the SLK and through it. While the trout's body has been honed by nature to pass through water over millions of years, we're not sure how it would fare as a car cutting through thin air.

Still, the idea of borrowing from natural selection is a far better one than spending millions trying to discover ideal designs that already exist all around us.

First Impression This article makes me

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The Basics

• Price: £97,000 (as tested)


• 0-60 time: 4.2 secs


• MPG / LPG: 23 mpg (combined)
  

94 The AskMen Take

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The Basics

• Price: £42,355 (328i Modern as tested)


• 0-60 time: 5.9 secs


• MPG / LPG: 44.8 (combined)

83 The AskMen Take

83 Performance

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Columbia Pictures

"The news coming out of Skyfall certainly suggests a back-to-Bond-basics approach."

Exactly how big a role the car will play is being kept under wraps. The car cameoed in Casino Royale (Bond won it in a poker tournament), but recent 007 flicks have featured Fords and Jags among the latest Astons, while Range Rovers have also been snapped on the Skyfall set. 

The news coming out of Skyfall certainly suggests a back-to-Bond-basics approach, just in time to celebrate 50 years of 007 movies. The first official shot of the movie, as well as spy snaps taken on the London set, saw Bond wielding his iconic Walther pistol, which will no doubt see some action as he tries to defend MI6 from an assault led by bad-guy Javier Bardem. 

Skyfall will also feature the return of MI6’s much-loved Quartermaster, better known as Q -- the god of gadgets, from car ejector seats to the exploding attache case. Determined to keep things Casino Royale-fresh, they’re not going down the grumpy old codger route, instead casting 31-year-old Ben Whishaw. The fresh-faced actor has been acclaimed for his Hamlet on stage -- proper thespian alert -- as well as BBC drama The Hour. 

Skyfall will be released in November.

AMC

"Why should it take an apocalyptic scenario for a man with actual balls to have value?"

Where zombie metaphors aren’t obvious, people tend to use the undead horde as stand-ins for whatever group they currently don’t like. Hate the Tea Party? Zombies. Christian conservatives? Zombies. War protesters? Zombies.

Zombies, though, at their best are a natural disaster: a Hurricane Katrina, Haitian earthquake or Japanese tsunami. They are a worldwide extinction-level threat that forces the living characters to be stripped down to what they really are. Watching these plots unfold, you have to ask yourself how you’d handle a similar situation. Are you a leader or a follower? Are you strong or are you weak? Are you a man or are you a member of the indie-folk rock band Modest Mouse? There’s not much call for banjo and ukulele players in the zombie apocalypse is what I’m saying. Pick up a few survival skills, Isaac Brock, if you know what’s good for you. 

Zombies, Metaphors And Masculinity 

I think this speaks to a larger issue with men in the real world. Specifically, how society expects the modern man to be a sweaty, weak-kneed manchild who is overly concerned with ruffling the feathers of people who have no business being covered in feathers in the first place. A mangina who knows in his sensitive, bleeding heart that violence doesn’t solve anything and killing the bad guy, be it serial killer, murdering terrorist or genocidal evil dictator, makes you just as bad as he is. War, man, what is it good for? 

It would be awesome if that stuff were true, but it’s make believe. Sometimes the bad guys don’t stop being bad until they’re dead. Violence can and has solved lots of problems, and war, I’m sad to say, can serve a purpose -- like freeing an entire society, ending slavery or stopping a holocaust. And if you haven’t ruffled somebody’s feathers with something you’ve said, then you’ve never really said anything worthwhile in your life. 

Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln, is supposed to be the hero of The Walking Dead, but why? Because he’s a decent, sensitive man? Every decision Rick makes ends up with another member of their group injured or dead. Here come some spoilers: Merle, Carl, Otis, Sophia, Amy, Jim, Ed, and Jacqui have all died or nearly died as a direct result of actions Rick has taken in the show. 

Meanwhile, Shane, played by Jon Bernthal, is the guy the show wants you to think is too unstable and violent. But he’s the reason every single character alive on the show is still alive. That includes Rick’s harpy wife, his slackjawed kid and even Rick himself. Shane actually kills Otis so that he can get away from a group of zombies to save Rick’s kid, who got shot in the chest in the first place (by Otis, no less) because Rick was an idiot. 

The thing, of course, is that it’s a zombie show. People are going to be eaten once in a while, or you don’t have much of a show. Without hordes of cannibalistic zombies, gruesome kills and constant paranoid danger at every turn, you just have a show about a bunch of whiny, insipid white people sitting around on a farm, killing time between pharmacy trips by complaining about one other and shooting cans/logs as target practice. And, I mean, nobody wants that. 

The problem, I think, is the writers’ societal conditioning. The way they were raised in this man-hating era is causing problems within the story. There’s no question that if there were really a zombie apocalypse (like the one I’ve been planning and preparing for my entire adult life), a Shane will keep you alive and a Rick will have a zombie picking pieces of you out of its teeth. Why should it take an apocalyptic scenario for a man with actual balls to have value? Why should cowardice and conformity be accepted as virtues? 

Why would a guy who wants to calmly discuss the barn full of hungry zombies as if it’s some sort of zoning problem be a better leader than the guy who wants to kill them all immediately? I guess we’ll have to keep watching The Walking Dead to find out, but right now I’m not convinced.

- The Walking Dead, 10pm Fridays, FX

Sony PlayStation

"Tip: Asda's kicked off the PS Vita price war and has it from £197"

NEW MUST-HAVE APP: CLEAR
Looking for a next-generation take on lists? No, I wasn’t either. But this week, the five-star Clear has found it’s way onto my iPhone and now there’s no turning back. The app makes list-keeping simple, quick and – achieving the impossible – even satisfying to use.
Lists are priority-graded in colour from not-that-important yellow to list-topping, mega-urgent-red. It’s super-intuitive with swipes and pinches and… it’s British! Born in Brighton. So show it some love, as it’s a mightily reasonable 69p on the App Store. Here’s a video to convince you to stick it on the shopping list.

iCADE JR: ARCADE GAMING FOR iPHONE
The original iCade – an arcade-style cabinet gaming controller and dock for your iPad – was a sell-out success. Now its offspring is on the way: iCade Jr. It’s a similar set-up, only smaller to fit your iPhone/iPod Touch. The controls connect via Bluetooth and it works with all compatible game apps, including the 100-title Atari’s Greatest Hits app. Grab one, stick it on your desk and work will be a distant memory. Meanwhile, anyone with a 21^st century Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Gold membership can grab a free demo of EA Sports’ upcoming SSX reboot (ahead of the snowboarding title’s March 2 launch on PS3 and 360) now in the Xbox Live Marketplace, or get it queued to your downloads here.

25,000,000,000 APP DOWNLOADS
More app news for Man vs Tech this week, with word that Apple’s grip on Earth tightens as it hits a staggering 25 billion app downloads from the App Store (at least a billion of which may well be on my cluttered iPhone). To celebrate this milestone, whoever downloads the 25 billionth app wins a $10,000 App Store gift card. How do you organise ten grand’s worth of apps on your homescreen? Check out this fascinating new Pinterest board of random people’s iPhone homescreens for inspiration, and be sure to add your own.

AND FINALLY… HOW MUCH TO BUILD A DEATH STAR?
Students at Lehigh University in the US who run economics blog Centives have figured out how much it would cost to build the ultimate tech: the Death Star. Answer? Approximately $852,000,000,000,000,000 (and that’s just for the materials), equivalent to roughly 13,000 times the world’s GDP. Even if we could afford it (and we most definitely can’t), using Earth’s present steel production rate (they assumed it would be made from steel, like an aircraft carrier), it would take… 833,315 years to build.

EA Sports

For the most part, it succeeds admirably. Start, menu and loading screens are indistinguishable from those in FIFA 12. But it's the gameplay that really showcases what the Vita can and can't do. One of its major successes is preserving FIFA's core gameplay undiluted – moving, passing, shooting, all remain unaltered.

In-game visuals are fairly impressive throughout, with player likenesses remaining strong and stadiums looking impressive. This impressive continuity, however, doesn't extend to all aspects of the gameplay. Defending remains unchanged – you'll still be containing the opposition through a hectoring mix of applied pressure and jockeying. Precision dribbling, however, seems to have suffered. Players don't seem to have the same degree of close control. It's not a major fault; it just niggles slightly if you've made it a big part of your FIFA 12 game. It also serves as a reminder that while this looks and, for the most part, plays like FIFA, it's not the same game.

And nor should be. FIFA Vita isn't a slavish reproduction of its console cousin; it takes full advantage of the unique hardware at its disposal, using both the front touchscreen and the rear touchpad (although both are entirely optional), with varying degrees of success. Using the touchscreen to pass and switch between players simply does not work as a viable alternate control scheme. While basic passing between players is possible, anything more ambitious or attacking is too tricky to pull-off, even for the most digitally dextrous. Try it, and you're liable to lose possession and/or drop your brand-new toy. Furthermore, once you start tapping the screen, you're no longer able to see the overall field of play.

In contrast, the use of the rear touchpad for shooting is inspired. The conceit is rather elegant: given their comparable dimensions, the touchpad represents the goal. To shoot, simply tap on the pad where you want to aim your shot. The longer you hold down, the harder the strike. It's simple, and once you get your head around using the touchpad within a game, from a side-on perspective, it's a really fun addition to FIFA, and it makes it a much more accessible game.

Once mastered, the rear touchpad shooting mechanic turns everyone into vintage Paul Scholes – you'll be regularly smashing in shots from the edge of the box into the top corner. This is both a good and a bad thing, of course, depending on what you want from a FIFA game.

For those wanting something a little bit more in-depth, there's Career Mode. The interface, again, is entirely in keeping with FIFA 12, and loading/advance times are mercifully short, actually making the mode enjoyable on the Vita. Other FIFA standards – Be A Pro, Virtual Pro – are also present, but fans of Ultimate Team will disappointed by its absence. But you can't have everything, and there's certainly enough crammed into FIFA Vita to make it a must-have launch title.

Online multiplayer is also present. While at times online matches suffered from some minor lag issues, it never really affected gameplay, though it made timing slide tackles a little precarious.

Fotolia.com

"When you're feeling unsure about the change in your life, turn to those close to you for a fresh point of view and to help make your change seem more familiar."

Keep in mind that change, even if it is tricky to maneuver, is not always bad. New girlfriends or changes in relationships, new jobs or relocating for a new career are changes that may enrich your life. I’ve outlined some tips on how to accept, deal with and embrace such changes as they come your way. As you read, keep in mind that changes in life mean that you’re growing as a person.

Focus on the good things

Involve those around you in the change

Be open-minded about the change

Dealing with change doesn’t mean you should burn your bridges… Next Page >>

Yes Man - Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

What follows are some ways that will help teach you how to be an optimist.

Set boundaries on downers

Limit your exposure to pessimistic people and heaps upon heaps of upsetting media. The truth is that you can find both in great abundance these days, and they do nothing for your sense of optimism. Try to trim the Debbie Downers out of your life, and choose a single source for news and media and stick to it, as opposed to jumping from site to site and story to story. Doing the latter, one is bound to chronically come across awful stories that, when taken cumulatively, breed pessimism.

Smile more often

Believe in the best possible outcome

In discussing Ronald Reagan, George Will, writing for the Washington Post, said that optimists, like Reagan, "do not deal in unrealities… [they] create realities that matter -- perceptions, aspirations, allegiances." While it's important to face facts as they are, it's also important to approach them in creative ways and to communicate them accordingly.

Learn to respond constructively

How to be an optimist continues after the break… Next Page >>

Thinkstock

"We're talking complementary activities here, like law and accounting, not law and ceramics."

So, logically, in the professional world, especially in tough times, it makes sense to get really, really good at what you do. Right?

Wrong. Those in the know (business leaders, recruitment professionals, career coaches) are pushing a new buzzword: cross-train.

What is Professional Cross-Training?

If you’re a journalist, learning photography would be an effective compliment. If you’re a yoga teacher, then dance or meditation might be useful. A business consultant might consider picking up skills like public speaking, social media proficiency or HR negotiations.

Why Cross-Train?

In addition, the more skills you possess, the more your expertise is apparent and accessible to colleagues and management. Cross-training promotes versatility, giving you the edge in a dynamic economy, where layoffs and belt-tightening mean that fewer employees need to know how to do more. Building new strengths is more important, they say, than improving on known weaknesses -- unless you’re training for the Olympics.

How do you start a skill-development program? That's next... Next Page >>

Jacques Louis-David/Wikipedia

"The result showed that narcissistic bosses are better leaders than the average humble guy."

Having a huge ego, a need for attention and being an overall narcissist doesn’t sound like a trio of compliments but shows that those qualities can make you a good leader, found the study.

A quartet of professors from IMD business school, Penn State, and Erlangen-Nuremberg University found that the aforementioned qualities tend to lead to innovation and daring decision-making.

The professors doing the research examined how 78 CEOs and 33 major American pharmaceutical companies did in the biotech boom from 1980 to 2008. They accounted for narcissism by measuring how often the CEOs’ photos were found in annual reports, how frequently they were mentioned in press releases and their overall compensation compared to the person second in command.

Then the professors evaluated how fast and intensely the CEOs had adapted to the rise of biotechnology.

The result showed that narcissistic bosses are better leaders than the average humble guy. That’s because they tend to see a shot at glory where others might see excessive risk, and that aggression to make a move is where the narcissists are more rewarding to their companies.

More on AskMen:

The One Thing You Should Never Do At The Gym 

Why It's Actually Good To Be A Workaholic

Getty Images

• Nothing gets people invested in a sport more than a friendly wager.


• Make her look the part with her own feminine jersey.


• Buy beer for you, but whip up girly cocktails for her.

"Money, as a wise man once noted, is a wonderful motivator."

This article is sponsored in part by Pillsbury (What's this?) 

Want to throw a party your friends will be looking forward to every year? Learn the recipes, entertaining tips and sports facts you need to make it happen with our guide to The Ultimate Game Day.

There are few things that divide the sexes quite like football. To most men, the game is a borderline religious experience, while to many women, it’s 60 minutes of unabashed violence punctuated by quaint little committee meetings. So, how do you mend the gender divide and convince your girlfriend to actually watch a game with you? The answer is easier than you may think. Simply follow our suggestions below to get your significant other interested in -- or at least, willing to accept -- America’s most popular spectator sport.

Sign her up for a football pool

Buy her a feminine-cut official jersey

Make girly drinks during the game

Draw her in with colorful gossip

Throw the football around with her

Our final tips on how to get her to like football...
Next Page >>

Credit: Getty Images

"I locked myself in the bathroom for an hour just to escape his simpering strumming. I mean, who takes themselves that seriously? (answer: plenty of you. Stop it.)"

I'll be honest, when I was first approached to write this column I was fairly alarmed. Dating? Relationships? Men in general? None of these are my Mastermind topic of expertise.

As a women's magazine writer I've spent the past three years writing a section entitled, Men, Sex and Love (essentially: me asking psychologists, male friends and unassuming strangers on the street how the male psyche – and their sex lives – operate).

I've listened to endless rants from disgruntled girlfriends about their other halves, dissected male behaviour with colleagues and friends for hours in feature meetings and wine-fuelled nights out, I’ve even worked with 25 blokes on a men’s magazine. Really, I should be a f**king expert on men. Yet, you never cease to amaze, surprise and shock me on a weekly basis.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. A lovely ex-boyfriend once picked me up from work with a bunch of flowers, completely un-prompted, as he “just knew” I'd been having a hellish work week. The flowers weren't the focus, of course. It was that he'd thought about me, considered my feelings and wanted to cheer me up (guys, take note: we love this).

On the flip side, I’ve also been left stumped when a guy hasn’t called, when he’s gone all distant after a few weeks of romance and, once, left solely to foot the dinner bill after a first date. “This is embarrassing,” he mumbled, wholly unconvincingly. “I’ve, er, left my wallet at home. I swear this has never happened.” “No worries,” I thought. “How embarrassing for him! We’ve all been there!” When what I should of course have been thinking was: “What sort of mindless buffoon would ask a girl out and leave his damn wallet at home? Is he that honestly that stupid? I let it slide, there was a pleasant goodbye and I never heard from the guy again. No phone call, apology or explanation.

Then – and this story still amuses my friends at length – there was Singing Man, an aspiring songwriter (sweet Jesus, this should’ve been my first clue) who insisted on breaking into earnest ballad whenever more than six seconds of silence would pass. This tuneless dirge would arrive without request, encouragement or remote interest from my part. On one supposed romantic weekend away, Singing Man proudly brandished a guitar from his car boot with the glee of a fisherman who’s just caught a prize cod. I locked myself in the bathroom for an hour just to escape his simpering strumming. I mean, who takes themselves that seriously? (answer: plenty of you. Stop it.) It was beyond uncomfortable. Gents, please note: it is only ever acceptable to serenade us if you are a) in a legitimate, signed band or b) you are Ryan Gosling. (That scene of him playing the banjo in Blue Valentine floors us. Sorry, but it does.)

Don’t get me wrong, men can be pretty great - and I’m lucky enough to remain friends with some gorgeous, funny men I’ve dated. And I know that women are not always measured, balanced and understanding saints. One mate, Dan*, actually had to ring his girlfriend every hour on a night out because she was so mistrustful about who he was (completely innocently) drinking with. Another, Ed*, was set up on a blind date. She arrived 20 minutes late, with no apology, and demanded they move bars so she could be closer to where her mates were hanging out.

There are dating disasters across the board. And I’m here to share my - and my willing friend’s – dating stories, whilst hoping to somehow explain the peculiarities of male and female behaviour. But for now, I am sure of one thing only. We will never truly understand each other. And to that I say: ‘Hallelujah!’ Long may we continue to amaze, surprise and shock each other on a weekly basis. Because isn’t that half the thrill of dating anyway?

Valentine's Day Myths Revealed - Credit: iStockphoto.com

While a few of you may actually relish this time of year, most of you are probably confused as to what your girl expects of you. After all, Valentine's Day is when she's waiting to be pampered and, like it or not, she may even be using the day to test your interest in her.

However, don't let the pressure get you down. Along with the stress also comes an invaluable opportunity to impress her. A quick review of the following Valentine's Day myths might surprise you -- they may even burst some of your long-held beliefs about the holiday. So, read on and you'll be in good shape to minimise your effort and maximise the advantages that Valentine's Day can afford you.

Myth No. 1

It's OK to skip Valentine's Day

What to do instead: You can keep Valentine's Day low-key and celebrate it in your own way. Plan an activity that you both enjoy and declare it your own celebration -- like ice skating or hiking. Any activity that you do together will show her that you gave the day some thought.

Myth No. 2

What to do instead: Pick another day in the week to plan your date and declare that day your own personal Valentine's Day. Places will be less crowded and you won't be made to feel like another sheep in the crowd. She won't care when you celebrate as long as she sees you've put some thought into it. She may even appreciate mixing it up.

More Valentine's Day myths revealed next...

Heineken® is helping ignite romance this Valentine’s Day with the launch of a fun new Facebook application called ‘The Serenade’. To start serenading click here: www.Facebook.com/Heineken Next Page >>

Shutterstock

"The holidays are over, the dreary winter days will stick around for a while, and when happy couples are on full display on Valentine's Day, it's the final straw."

Furthermore, you may realize that Valentine's Day falls on a weekday this year, which means you may have to change things up a bit. The traditional pick-up locales -- bars and clubs -- may not be a hot spot on this evening, so perhaps it’s best to widen your search radius. Some women might opt to spend the day shopping, for example, so the malls could present some surprising possibilities. But no matter how you look at, Valentine’s Day isn’t a typical day of the year. This one is only for the veterans, kiddies.

Know Who You're Dealing With

Speaking of depression, there’s the other kind of lady, the one who can’t find the brave face and would much rather succumb to moodiness. For her, the approach matters most; you absolutely cannot represent her male savior. As desperate as she may be to find him, you’re not the “one,” and you need to make that clear.

What you are, however, is a companion for the evening. In fact, you could even play the “take care of each other” card by simply offering to keep each other company on the loneliest night of the year for single individuals. Of course, the first step is confirming the target is single, but provided you’re not hitting up a woman waiting on her date at a romantic restaurant, you should be able to manage.

It’s just another day

More on how to score on Valentine's Day...

The Scarlett Letters - Credit: Getty Images

"Even if you think she's not bothered about Valentine's Day, make some effort. If you've just started dating, dinner is fine. Long-term girlfriends need a little more consideration."

On the other hand, said boss and Mum are awesome so it will actually, probably, be a laugh. And, without wishing to sound like a bitter singleton, Valentine’s Day is overrated, isn’t it? As one male friend aptly stated; “I couldn’t really care less, but I’m happy to play along to keep her happy. Plus, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see some exciting new underwear.” Quite.

So, what’s expected of men-folk on supposedly the most romantic day of the year? I’m afraid it’s a bit of a minefield and really depends on the lady in question. I’m sure there are some girls who do go in for bigger, lavish acts of kindness from their men. For me and basically all the girls I know, we’re not that bothered. But, the day has to be at least acknowledged, no matter how little or long you’ve been together. My best friend, Cat, summarised it perfectly; “It’s not about spending, but caring. Like mending a broken necklace or baking a cake. Making a card is always a winner. Something stupid is fine; just make it personal.” A female colleague maintains that a card is, “non-negotiable. A £2 way to avoid a row. Whether we’ve been going out two months or two years I’d always expect a card.” Personally, I couldn’t care less about a card. I just imagine some weary bloke searching aimlessly in Clinton’s for one that conveys ‘just the right’ meaning, when I’d much rather he scrapped it and cooked me a delicious dinner instead. And maybe bought flowers too. Personal, intimate, romantic – minus the pressure.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had lovely Valentine’s Days in the past. My ex, Mike, took me to a gorgeous little Greek (my favourite food) restaurant last year. Back at his flat were a huge bunch of flowers. It wasn’t pretentious, just really sweet. In a more extravagant fashion, the guy before him treated me to a pampering night in a five-star London hotel. I’d only been dating Jay a couple of months, so would never expect anything so generous, but loved that he’d made such an effort. And it’s not always up to the man. A mate of mine is taking her boyfriend to Cirque de Soleil this year.

My advice? Even if you think she’s not bothered about Valentine’s Day, make some effort. If you’ve just started dating, dinner is fine. Long-term girlfriends need a little more consideration. She’ll love something sweet, thoughtful and personal. A carriage ride through Hyde Park, poems or a man-sized bear holding a I Wuv You heart would all fall into the ‘over-the-top’ category. Having said that, Mike once gave me a bear of exactly that description - but it was given with total irony and I found it hilarious (who says women are complicated?!)

My most memorable Valentine’s ever was at university. A bloke I’d just started seeing planned to come over for a romantic night in. In a clumsy attempt to seduce the guy, I knocked over a candle and my duvet set alight. It was actually a few moments before we realised what was going on. Mid-kiss, he leapt up erratically, like a startled horse that’d just been given an electric shock. Standing in my underwear chucking cold water over my sheets at 1am was, I have to say, something of a romance-killer. But, very funny.

Heineken® is helping ignite romance this Valentine’s Day with the launch of a fun new Facebook application called ‘The Serenade’. To start serenading click here: www.Facebook.com/Heineken

auremar - Fotolia.com

"What is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for you on Valentine's Day?"

Emily
29, Web Producer
"One year my boyfriend duped me into thinking we weren’t doing anything for V-Day, and when we got back to his place, he’d sprinkled the bed with rose petals and got me a cute little personalised gift. I don’t think I’d got him anything, poor boy!"

Becky
26, Office Manager
"My best Valentine's Day was my first one with my boyfriend. We'd been been dating for 6 months - when I came home from work he'd set up a candle-lit scavenger hunt that eventually led me to my main present, an iPod Nano. It must've worked because we've been together 6 years now!"

Amelia
32, Creative Director  
"I was at work a couple of years ago when a singer-gram came in and sung to me at my desk in front of the whole office. It was a little embarrassing at the time, but equally very cool as I love anything theatrical. He left a bouquet of flowers and an invitation to an unknown address for that evening. A taxi picked me up from work and whisked me away to this venue where he had a candle-lit table waiting for me. The whole night was magical although I was a bit embarrassed about how much effort he’d been to. Made my card look pretty rubbish in comparison!"

Maya
30, PR Executive
"The best thing my (now) husband ever did for me on Valentine's Day was when he proposed. We were in Rome, eating pizza, drinking wine. He pretended to drop his napkin, popped down on one knee and then handed me my engagement ring. It's going to be really difficult for him to top that!"


Heineken® is helping ignite romance this Valentine’s Day with the launch of a fun new Facebook application called ‘The Serenade’. To start serenading click here: http://www.facebook.com/heineken?sk=app_137291299679912