In the weekly survey slot comes new German research which the Margin feels duty bound to pass on.

It seems that men who buy their loved ones jewellery or perfume as a special treat have been getting it wrong all along. Women, in fact, prefer a holiday, a weekend away . . . or even simple cash.

The survey of more than 2,000 women by the Emnid institute showed that jewellery was only fifth in their wish-list of favourite treats.

Top of the list was a holiday (43 per cent) and second was a weekend away (20.8 per cent). Jewellery was 14.2 percent.

Men who think their nearest and dearest prefer a new scent are also wrong - not even one in 10 women would choose perfume, the survey showed. Money is well ahead, with 18.9 per cent of women preferring cash.