There’s nothing quite like the looming pressure of a romantic get away to highlight any crack in a relationship, right? How many times does it happen that you decide it's time to end things when you're on the Eurostar on your way to Paris and filled with dread about a weekend where you're expected to have all the sex you've sort of stopped having at home? (Just us... please say no...)
Well seems that was certainly the case for 21-year-old Jake Dodridge, who was left broken hearted after him and his long term partner broke up just a few weeks for they were set to jet off on the £650 Venice holiday he had booked as nice way to break up the winter months. If that wasn’t bleak enough, when Jake contacted lastminute.co.uk and told them what had happened, they refused to give him a refund.
As a result enterprising Jake has refused to let the holiday go to waste and is now advertising his girlfriend’s place on eBay, with bids starting at a (very reasonable) 99p. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck – the package includes flights and a stay at a four star hotel. But in order to even be in with a chance of going Jake is insisting that women supply a photograph of themselves. Oh, and only women between 18 and 30 are allowed to bid.
'This isn’t something I would normally do, but when life gives you lemons you have to make lemonade,' Jake, an IT consultant from Newbury, Berkshire, has said. 'I was upset when my girlfriend dumped me, but looking back it was the right thing to do. It just wasn’t meant to be.'
He goes on to admit though he's rather pleased with his cunning plan. 'But what is the point of wasting a perfectly good holiday? I want someone fun to come with me, who is up for a laugh. I will obviously get their number before we go so I can chat to them and see if we get on. It’s not about making money, I just want someone to go with so the holiday will go to the highest bidder. It will be a great first date.'
Unconventional it may be. But with the weather being as grim as it has been over the last few days – and considering Jake is actually quite fit – well, who's in?
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.