Love is in the air …..

Another year , and here we are again- St Valentine’s Eve! How do I know I hear you ask – aahh, it’s because the DB is furtively disappearing on mysterious shopping trips, hides himself away in his study with the door closed as if to say “Do not enter”, the credit card statement records ridiculous sums of pecuniary to the local florist ……keep on dreaming you lot…! The answer is no – St Valentines always occurs on February 14 th every year , and today surprisingly is 13 th February!!

Now if I wasn’t sure it was tomorrow, I saw in an online newspaper today, a young woman standing with all the “in trend” gear outside a very “up market” address. She was seemingly overawed by the arrival of a tow truck carrying a red Ferrari completely over run with red roses! Now I must admit, my first thought was “ ok so what’s he done?”……then my second thought was “ someone’s got more money than sense!!” Please don’t think I’m jealous- I am not. Firstly how on earth would I, a sixty something year old ruminating rambler, ever get out of such a vehicle ( should I be able to get into it in the first place), then should I manage to get in, how on earth would I know how to make it work ( have you seen the steering wheel of such a vehicle???) You see I’d need the DB to guide me and he’d never get out of it – well he’d never get in it in the first place!!!!

So much for fancy Valentine presents. I say – who needs them??? Well if I did – as Diana Ross famously sung “ I’m still waiting!”

Now, that’s not to say that I’ve been bereft of love tokens. Indeed the DB is famous ( or should that be infamous) for them ……………sporadically !!! The first Valentines Day spent together was , as you would expect, romantic ! Of course, I hear you say…, well , after a meal the night before THE day , we sat enjoying a bottle of wine. Suddenly the DB disappeared into the garage – reappearing with a single red rose ! “Happy Valentines Day” said he. Well I had clearly previously been deprived of Valentine’s Day gifts – so was slightly overwhelmed! “Wow – that’s so lovely” – Then I looked at the rose – there were two price labels on the cellophane, one £5.00 the other “ reduced to £2.50” – I looked at the DB ( well he was the B then – beloved) He could see what I had seen ( though as I know him now , I’m sure he left the two labels on, on purpose!) I suggested to him that some people might receive 12 red roses on such a day, though I was very happy with the one ! Before I could say anything more , he said “Well there were two others at the garage do you want me to go and get them?!!!”

So the next year arrived uneventfully, and there was great expectation- from the children, friends and work colleagues. What would he do next? So the day dawned and I was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. I was quite overwhelmed- “Wow – thank you!” “ Well” said he “ I chose the flowers and they said the box of chocolates was free” ……….What can I say !!!!! Since then, precise memories of annual gifts are not clear ( which probably means either no Ferrari or no gift !!!!) although one year ( about fifteen years ago) is as clear as if it were yesterday! When I was working , I used to get up at 5.45 to walk our Golden Retriever before going to work. So February 14 th dawned and into the kitchen I went only to be astounded by a vase of red roses, the size of which I had never seen before! It was dark so completely overwhelmed, I took the dog out and when I came back counted the roses – 50 in total!!!! Now I should say , they were very tasteful artificial red roses- and I really couldn’t believe my eyes….So completely enamoured by this gesture, I made the Beloved ( to be honest I’m not sure when he progressed to being the DB!!) a cup of tea and took it up to him. “ Well you’ve completely blown me away” I said “I mean 50 red roses, I can’t believe it!!”

“ So you like them then?” said he.

“ I love them, thank you!”

“ Good” said he “ I’m really pleased” ……. “Well make the most of them, they’ve got to be back in our showroom ( oh I forgot to say the DB worked for a cane furniture company) for 9 o’clock!!!!!

Now, we talk about recycling a lot these days …………but whoever thought I’d be recycling red roses 🌹 The DB has been excused any such purchases since ….

I was allowed to keep 12 – don’t count, there are only ten here, who knows what happened to the other two! All I will say is red roses, red Ferrari – who cares which? Both are very lovely- but no gift is also completely okay. What matters is each and every day – I wouldn’t change my Valentine for all the tea in China . Well actually there is Yorkshire Tea ……now let me think….. OK still wouldn’t change him!!!!!

So to all of you tomorrow expecting wonderful gifts, don’t be disappointed if you don’t get what you think you want , look at what you’ve got and realise how lucky you are, and be thankful for it !

Whatever you’re doing I wish you all love and happiness on this St Valentine’s Day !

Until next time ……