When I was about seven years old I told my parents that when I was older I was going to marry the perfect man. My father — blessed with the parental knack of bringing me firmly back to earth — replied: “Well, the problem you’ve got there Sarah is that the perfect man is looking to marry the perfect woman . . .”

It is good to have a father who has prepared me so well for the life ahead. It has left me well equipped to deal with the less than perfect moments.

Take, for instance, the year I was given a (admittedly stylish) kitchen bin on Valentine’s Day.

I may be some decades past my seventh birthday but I am still a bit of a dreamer. So, here are some Valentine’s Day ideas for the perfect man, who is looking to deliver the perfect day for his perfect woman.

You could start with a Champagne — rosé, of course — breakfast. But please, no strawberries. They are not in season and are typically tasteless at this time of year.

Instead, you will prepare a wafer thin, freshly-made crêpe with caramelised pears and the tiniest drizzle of melted chocolate on top.

There is nothing more romantic than spontaneous creativity and, if we have still got snow, a spot of snowman-building could be just the thing.

No snow? Well, there is no reason not to head into the great outdoors for a nice, long walk.

What will make these things extra-special is a little bit of forethought. A bottle of wine that has been chilled in the snow and is whipped out just as the carrot nose is being put in place will be a melting moment.

Or, a discreet little picnic stored in your backpack can be filled with all sorts of treats. (Don’t forget the corkscrew!) In my perfect universe, Valentine’s Day dinner is cooked for me at home. The risks in going out are too great.

The perfect woman does not want to be narked by wine waiters who think that only men should see the wine list. She also knows that her perfect mask will finally slip when the wine she has ultimately selected is still poured into her partner’s glass for trying.

In fact, as I have been writing, I have realised than any sort of aspiration to perfection is altogether too exhausting.

It is never going to happen and I think that, even if it did, I would find it all pretty boring and really rather twee.

Still, every girl has got to have standards so I am sending an advanced version of this article to my loved one in the hope that we can maybe upgrade the kitchen bin to a nice bottle of bubbly this year . . . fingers crossed!

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