How to buy last minute gifts your loved ones will love…

With Christmas looming, the festive season is in full swing. From dashing around Bond Street to having your personal shopper at Harrods on speed dial, some of the more organised amongst us have already completed their Christmas shopping, with the help of Christmas fairies and long lists.  However due to all the Christmas parties and social and work commitments in the festive season, it can be hard to be keep up with it all, and Christmas shopping can slip away. This can leave even the best of us in a last minute spin for great goodies. Never fear, the Matchmakers at Seventy Thirty are right here, with a list of top tips to buy the ultimate in luxury last minute gifts which promise to steal the show.

 

·       Buy a Memory – buy something that is an experience and can build a memory rather than an item to hold. The gift of a memory can be a precious present, especially if it something you can do together. Some ideas for this include a hot air balloon trip across the dessert at sunrise, a safari in Africa or an adventure activity such as sky-diving or bungee jumping.

 

·       Personalise – it can sometimes be seen as a cliché but it can mean the world to give a personalised gift, something that is truly and uniquely theirs. This can be done using letters such as initials or engraving a special message. Some wonderful ways to do this include a personalised Burberry scarf from a Burberry Scarf Bar, or a Tiffany’s Alphabet pendant.

 

·       Show them you know them - buy something only you would know. Sometimes those you love share details with you that are closely guarded. Maybe they have a secret love of disco and rollerblading – buy them a disco music collection and take them to a rollerblading rink. Maybe they collect rare stamps or love bird watching. Use that knowledge to your advantage and give them something that shows you pay attention to the small personal details.

 

·       Give the gift of time – it is one of the most priceless commodities in the modern age. Make up a voucher for a weekend away just with you, or an afternoon of uninterrupted personal time.  It can mean more than anything you can buy, and then you just need to make sure to put that time aside.

 

·       Diamonds – you can never ever go wrong with diamonds. Be it classic cushion cut diamond studs for a lady, or classy cufflinks for a gentleman, diamonds always promise to bring a special sparkle to Christmas.

 

Hopefully this can help you spoil the nearest and dearest to you without too much toil on your behalf. With your shopping taken care of, go out and have yourselves a marvellous and merry Christmas. 

Single this Christmas? Embrace and celebrate.

Being in the ultimate relationship rather than any relationship is the goal for most of our elite clients, and is certainly our aim as matchmakers here at Seventy Thirty. However, that’s why we can often find ourselves single and holding out for the right person when Christmas comes around.  For some of us, this can be a tricky time of year when it seems like everyone else is paired off and with a range of Christmas festivities to look forward to.  However, with planning and the right attitude, Christmas can be a time of anticipation and excitement whether we’re attached or still dating.  Here’s how:

 

Plan and prepare

The best approach to Christmas and New Year’s is a pro-active one.  Without prior-planning, we can default to staying home and channel-surfing, a pass-time which quickly loses it’s charm.  Planning early enables us to build a schedule with plenty to look forward to.  The key point is that, paradoxically, those who are the most happy and fulfilled with a life they love when they are single are those that have most to bring to a relationship and subsequently build a rewarding partnership.  Therefore creating great times for yourself, whatever your status and whatever the time of year, is vital for your own success and well-being.

 

Accept invitations

How often do you regret accepting an invitation?  Probably rarely if ever.  Usually there are always experiences, introductions and conversations which make us feel glad we made the effort to engage in the social scene.  As Oscar Wilde once said, “Nothing annoys people so much as not receiving invitations”, therefore take every opportunity of enjoying new places and social encounters which could prove to enrich your life.

 

It’s not what happens, it’s how we respond to it

People can often fall victim to thinking negatively about the Christmas period if their circumstances do not match their ideal.  Try and avoid the thinking trap of ‘compare and despair’ where we feel that our situation does not measure up to those of others, and avoiding ‘over-generalisation’ with thoughts such as ‘it looks like I’ll be single every Christmas’.  These styles of thinking are distorted rather than reality-based, so challenge these thoughts if they arise and focus on what you can do to make this a special time.  

 

Do something completely different

If you are free from obligations over the Christmas period, it can be a great opportunity to travel, volunteer or do something completely different than in previous years.  This can be especially helpful if the festive period is associated with painful memories which will be reignited by being in the same setting.  In day to day life, our brains get accustomed to similar experiences and routines, therefore a complete change or a new adventure serves to ‘re-boot’ the system.  Doing something novel not only engages all the senses but can also restore and inspire, which is an excellent way to begin a new year.

 

A time for reflection.

Following on from the last point, this is a great time of year to reflect on what to take from the previous year and what hopes, aspirations and goals we have for the year ahead.  Throughout the year, we often long for time to reflect on our lives and have time to ponder, but pressing engagements, business, and family all place great demands on our time.  Therefore, this is a good time to contemplate and plan in readiness for the psychological boost that comes with beginning a new year.  On New Years Eve, remember the words of Brad Paisley, “Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365-page book.  Write a good one”.

Matchmaking in Singapore

Our Exclusive Review of Singapore’s Dating Scene

 Singapore is the ultimate dating hot spot – with its sensual year round tropical weather, this island country is a haven of both natural beauty and definitive luxury, and this does not stop when it comes to its exclusive dating scene. Although its colonial history is evident in some of the distinctive architecture, today the city boasts a free and booming economy. Based on several indicators, the World Bank named it as the easiest place to do business in the world (2015), it has one of the world’s highest percentage of millionaires per households and accordingly boasts some of the world’s most expensive real estate. It is no surprise then that it has attracted an international and eclectic mix of affluent individuals, and this is reflected in its exciting and high-end dating scene.

There is a strong expatriate community, while the traditional patriarchal culture is still evident. In a diverse mix of cultures from Malay to Indian, Chinese, Australian and British, to name a few, this cosmopolitan city has an array of dating ideas and tastes. In many ways, the traditions of the gentleman hold true - men are still expected to pay for dinner and dates and behave with good old fashioned manners. Family values still play an important role and Singaporeans can be cautious before committing. Dating in Singapore can at times be a bit of a sweaty dilemma, with the clash between traditional values and westernised hedonism. Many of the influential trendsetters turn to elite introduction agencies, such as Seventy Thirty, to provide exclusive matchmaking as a means to overcome these challenges, providing high-end introductions between suitable and compatible individuals.

When it comes down to it, Singapore boasts some stunning backdrops for romantic dates. The singles in the city are truly spoilt for choice when selecting an elite date setting. For those looking to keep it more natural, a picnic or symphony performance along one of the lakes in the gorgeous 186 year old Botanical Gardens, is guaranteed to get the date off to a good start. However, when dressed to impress, the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel is the ultimate date destination. It has over 60 restaurants, including multiple celebrity chef offerings from Wolfgang Puck to Gordon Ramsey, and a wide range of the finest local and international cuisine, you simply can’t go wrong. Just try end the evening at the highest infinity pool in the world, overlooking the city for a truly magical touch.

Singapore itself is a sensory experience and dating in the city offers rich and exciting prospects with varied locations, cultures, cuisines, traditions and languages. It asks only for you to open your eyes and open your heart, and partake in all it has to offer, with equal portions of delight and decorum. 

Gay Matchmaking - How the A-Gays find Love…

What about when Harry meets Harry? Many men find themselves in the position where they have built a great life for themselves; being educated, successful at work, with a wide range of friends. However, being single and asking “where will I meet ‘The One’”.

With the Gay Community being smaller than any of us would like, Gay Matchmaking is becoming more and more popular, with over 249k hit results on Google in a boastful 0.38 seconds. As new pop up companies solely dedicated to gay matchmaking emerge on a daily basis and online dating for man-meets-man increases – the idea of finding ‘The One’ becomes less daunting and more achievable.

However, what about prominent gentlemen, of affluence or influence? Those who are in the public eye, outwardly having everything but a meaningful committed relationship? The gentleman looking for someone to compliment his lifestyle and looking to date without fear of ‘gold digging’ or of a ‘sugar daddy’ label? These gentlemen do not want to rely on online dating or on apps where the idea of relationships is secondary to sex and lust…

Seventy Thirty, which has been successful for over a decade, saw huge demand from our clientele within the gay community looking for love. We answered by developing a whole division that solely dedicated to working with gay clients – gay clients who are looking for those long and meaningful relationships. Lead by our MD, a Relationship Expert, who is gay himself – our Gay Matchmaking focuses on deep and meaningful relationships built on core values.

 

“We use the psychological model Seventy Thirty was built upon and with our true understanding of what it is like to be gay and single at the current time, we help members in the gay community find the person they are looking for…”

 

Although high profile companies are developing communities for the LGBT employees to socialise and meet one another to diminish stigmatism within the work place, a high percentage of individuals do not feel comfortable about being ‘out’ at work. This is due to individuals deeming it to have a possible detriment to their career. With limited gay bars where professionals can meet each other and avoid the power hungry prowlers or social climbers, the gay community finds itself with an issue – where it has limited places in which to meet successful, professional and of course suitable, singles.  Matchmaking creates a perfect environment to meet new people out of your social circle.

4 Top Benefits of using a Gay Matchmaker:

·      Confidentiality and Peace of Mind

Confidentiality is Key – we ensure all clients and staff sign a confidentiality agreement so your association to Seventy Thirty will never be disclosed. Due diligence checks means that the identity of the person you are meeting has been checked and verified – eliminating the worry that online dating creates - that you could be meeting a false person!

·      Finding the long lasting and sustainable relationship that you are looking for

Many of our LGBT clients report that their relationships lack the ability to sustain the length of time – often fizzling out too quickly or with the match only interests in one thing… sex. Although a healthy sexual relationship is important – it is equally as important to create a foundation on which an emotional relationship can be built.

·      Avoiding the Online Stigmatism and Fear

We are of a Generation were we can still remember the stigmatism of meeting someone online and dread telling someone how we met our partner – although it is diminishing, but it hasn’t quite gone yet!  A Matchmaker will make a personal introduction to you, will get to know you and your match, so when you meet ‘The One’ it’s like meeting through a mutual acquaintance, only better.

·      Having a Relationship Expert on hand

A personal contact to help you identify the right match for you and provide continued support. This really helps you speak about your past relationships and identify where things went wrong, what you enjoyed and what you’re looking for in a future partner. This helps you avoid making mistakes in your next relationship – such as choosing the same types of individuals, which may be incompatible with you and your lifestyle

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