There is no doubt that Eros and Mercury work a nifty and highly successful business partnership these days thanks to the near instantaneous power of the Internet and the highly successful distribution networks such as Interflora inter alia in linking together an international band of brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers - more commonly known as your local, friendly neighbourhood florists - in a huge multi-partner effort to ensure that your tokens of love, celebration, concern, shared sorrow or mourning, remembrance and thanksgiving reach those you want to reach out to on time and to specification.

From selection through presentation, to the writing on the card and the tying of the bow, to the creation of beautiful set pieces to the addition of creative gifts - whether stuffed, cute and furry, dark, chocolate and yummy or sweet smelling and expensive - every aspect of choice is catered for in a 24 X 7 drive to enhance the emotional life of those you care for with a deep felt sign of your affection.

And amazingly all this can be done from any part of the globe to any other part of the globe and - one suspects - from outer space as well (should inhabitants of other Earth like planets also have broadband), all for the same reasonable rates and with the promise, on most occasions, of same day or even same hour delivery to any location you desire.

What other business in the world promises credit card awards in the form of kisses?

So you will understand if, perhaps, coming up to this celebration of celebrations for lovers everywhere, these determined deliverers of love's sweet signs ask for a little indulgence in their long hard rounds. Much as they would love to cater to your every whim and deliver, even up to the very last minute and however late the call; unlike other donators of celebratory munificence, they possess neither FTL bunny feet nor magical reindeer at their disposal.

Therefore, it behooves you to plan ahead a little. Where will your loved one be on Valentine's Day? What is the perfect time to surprise her? And what is the perfect gift to surprise her with? The web is your friend in all this. There is an endless variety of flowers and gifts to select from, each vying to be the ideal accompaniment to your message of true love, heart's desire or risqu devilment with the promise of more to come.

Perhaps, she has dropped you a hint of what to send. Perhaps you will choose something that matches her hobbies and interests or that will surprise her with your indulgence or romantic aspirations.

But if you want your lover to get the message on that special day, whatever it is you want to say to your lover on Valentine's, don't just say it with flowers, say it today.