The Sunday Times' columnist Roamer, who goes all grumpy at the very mention of Barack Obama, would have a fit if he were to know that I made my two-year-old watch the Obama inauguration.

But I really wanted her to witness this huge historical moment, so Fireman Sam got the day off as we tuned in to Uncle Sam.

I'll skip the lauding on Obama's political skills, but I'll write my heart away on how he appeals to the hopeless romantic in me. Here's an ordinary man, with an ordinary family, who lived an ordinary life and is now a president, and a black one at that. Isn't that extraordinary? That's enough to make him an ideal boss - because he leads by sheer example.

And the example stretches to his and his wife's relationship. Isn't it brilliant to watch a political couple who look like they actually enjoy each other's company? These two weeks I couldn't get enough of Barack and Michelle: as she smilingly and proudly looked on her husband as he was fluffing the swearing-in bit; them dancing intimately, laughing and giggling and nuzzling.

At his first public dance as President, he said: "First of all, how good-looking is my wife?" At another ball he joked it is "time to dance with the one who does everything that I do except backwards and in heels."

If only we all took a page out of their book, I sighed, each time I came across their footage on the news. So that's what I'm going to do right here - a pre-Valentine's column, if you like - on relationship rules, inspired by the Obama couple:

B and M are each other's best friends. When in a relationship, be a boys' boy or a girls' girl. You have to be the only female best friend your boyfriend has and vice versa. Of course there'll be loads of other friends, but only one special one.

B and M look out for each other. Words have to match actions, so in a relationship empathy is of utmost priority. If, say, you're sick, your partner has to show concern and spoil you to bits, and not rant about his/her own heartburn/headache/ back pain.

B and M knew what each wanted from life. Don't just get together to pool in enough dosh for an apartment. Ideally, when you decide you want to share a life, you both have your own home or at least the means to buy or rent. It means that both of you have been through the 'finding oneself' journey and know what you want from life.

B and M share common aspirations. Share your dreams, but make sure they're on the same wavelength: there is a difference between you wanting to travel the world to passionately feel and trod and smell the different cultures, and your partner saying they enjoy travelling with Hamilton-Euro Tours.

B and M are content with their lot. Be content with life and happy in your own right. A more positive outlook makes us stop moaning about the bad day we're having because we woke up to a flat tyre. Enjoying the simple things of life makes a couple sunnier.

B and M like each other. Fancy the pants off your partner. This may sound pretty obvious but when I look around me it seems it's no longer a prerequisite for a relationship.

Bars and restaurants seem to be teeming with couples on dates looking like they actually can't bear looking at the person in front of them, let alone touch their hands, but would rather text or watch the TV on the wall.

If you've ticked all the above rules, hurrah for you. I bet that even if you don't say anything, your eyes smile at the sight of your loved one, and as B and M demonstrate, there is nothing more beautiful than the fusing of two happy souls who find each other and share their lives.

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