Will You Be My Valentine?

Save yourself! Say no to the commercialisation of romance that is Valentine’s Day

- Seema Goswami

IT’S THAT time of year again. When we are exhorted to up our game when it comes to gourmet dinners, expensive gifts and mushy greeting cards. When we are asked to break out the fancy chocolate and those overblown hothouse flowers.When we are encouraged to go for the extravagant gesture that translates as excessive expense.

Yes, Valentine’s Day is around the corner and suddenly we are required to see life through the rose-tinted glasses of romance. Whisk your girlfriend away for aromantic mini break. Surprise her with a diamond. Book a band to serenade her over dinner.(Sorry guys, but this is one time when you are expected to do all the heavy lifting while your better half sits back and prepares to be pampered!)

As I may have mentioned before in these pages, there is nothing I hate more than all this palaver. It’s bad enough to suggest that one day should be set aside to celebrate romance (if you ask me, given the hate we see all around us, we should celebrate love and lovers every single day.)But it’s even worse to take that day and commercialise the living be jesus out of it.