Saint Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day. As "Day"'s go it ranks for me a long way behind Boxing, my birth, and Christmas, but somewhere ahead of Independance and Mon.


Whilst I would love to spend a blog reflecting on my current personal situation, detailing my fears, angers and soul-destroying emptiness, I have instead opted for the less emotionally draining option of having a go at Valentine's Day instead.

Because it's not just the rampant commercialism, dear reader, and it's not just the love-sick sentimentality that affects people who would otherwise refer to their partner as the troublesome constraint on their freedom and parents of their semi-neglected and futureless children. No! (well, I suppose technically Yes! But! Also!...) The problem I have with Valentine's Day is the acting surprised.

Surely now, if you're going to make an overblown surprise romantic gesture then Valentine's Day is the most terrible possible day to do it. Because any other day (apart from perhaps the subsequent week after VD, because you'll just appear to have forgot) then it will be a genuine surprise that will make your partner feel good.

But on Valentine's Day it's in the back of your mind anyway. In fact it's pretty much what is least expected. A bunch of flowers and a romantic meal on any other day would be a wonderful surprise. But a bunch of flowers and a romantic meal on Valentine's Day just feels that you're doing pretty much the bare minimum in your relationship.

David Wells, Love Advisor
Relevant and practical since 2012.