Valentine's Day

I know Valentine’s Day is tough for many, and believe me I’ve been there, but I thought I would write about my last ten years of this romantic day, and what it means to me.

First of all, I’m of the opinion that people shouldn’t wait to the day, to have a day or evening expressing love for each other. Organising a romantic weekend, day, evening or gift doesn’t need to be based around ‘Valentine’s Day’. Flowers and cards can and should be sent at any time of the year, on a random day and without warning! I’ve sent flowers to my girlfriend’s work before, and other people have said, ‘what has he done wrong?’

Being romantic doesn’t need to be ‘scheduled’, even if you are busy, and there are many ways to be romantic. We often have candlelight meals, accompanied by music, not because it is valentine’s day or a birthday, but just because we want to.

Also Valentine’s Day shouldn’t have to follow a pattern, and rather than mirroring what umpteen other people are doing, you should do what you want on this day, even if it means you don’t want to hold a romantic evening! In the past we’ve gone out the day before for a meal, to enable us to find a seat and have a quieter evening out.

A bit of planning is often called for, as we’ve found out when we spontaneously decided to spend the weekend in York, but our favourite hotel was fully booked. Though we didn’t let that stop us from having a lovely time, and whether spending money or staying home, for us it is about being together.

Once I created a ‘Valentine’s Week’, with a card being sent each day to my girlfriend’s work, and another waiting for her at home, coupled with flowers and a romantic evening. Another time my wonderful girlfriend sent a card to my work with hundreds of little hearts inside, which promptly went all over my desk, under my desk, on the floor and the surviving hearts were still being found some days afterwards, by myself and colleagues. I’ve also had little notes left for me, without knowing where one was going to turn up next.

This year it is a quieter romantic evening, with a favourite meal being made at home and a movie. No Barry White music will be on or rose petaled baths and flowers filling the apartment. Just a lovely meal, time spent together and knowing how much we love each other.