We don’t do a lot to celebrate this day in my house. Cards are exchanged, but we refuse to fall into the pit of commercialism that demands overpriced roses or chocolates, cuddly stuffed toys, or heart-shaped mementos.
As usual on this day, I would ask everyone to consider the lonely, the unloved, those who have never known love, or been loved. The overwhelming nature of shop displays and the outpourings on all social media platforms must make this a day they would rather forget.
beetleypete 
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Julie! Glad to hear you enjoyed a glass of wine while cooking! Larry and I did too! Hugs, C
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I have one every night while I am cooking, Cheryl. Julie only drinks when we go out to eat. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Not even a bottle of wine? Warmest regards, Ed
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Julie rarely drinks at home, but I had a large glass of red while I was cooking dinner. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good Man. Warmest regards, Ed
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Thanks, Pete. In this part of the country, we celebrate more for St. George’s day (a rose and a book are traditional gifts of the day, and writers can be found signing books, and flower shops put stalls outside with roses and other plants). I much prefer it, but it is also becoming very commercialised. Happy Valentine’s!
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St George’s Day is England’s National Day. Some years ago now, it was hijacked by the Far Right, so is not celebrated much now.
(Sorry for the late reply, the comment was lost in the Trash Folder.)
Best wishes, Pete.
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I agree. Rooster and I spend the day together hanging out without all the comercial trappings.
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Glad to hear that, Molly.
Best wishes, Pete.
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“I would ask everyone to consider the lonely, the unloved, those who have never known love, or been loved. ”
I’ll take your advice to heart.
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Nicely done, David. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well stated Pete
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Thanks, John. Our local huge supermarket had 3 full aisles of Valentine products, as well as huge displays of flowers and plants. At a time of enforced austerity, it is somewhat obscene.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well said, Pete! We don’t allow the retail industry to dictate how or when we acknowledge our love either, nor do we exchange cards on this day. I wrote a little ditty about the whole thing:
“Valentine’s Day is almost here 🙄
The merchants rub their hands with glee 🙌
Silly people live in fear 😄
Don’t they know that love is free?”💕
©Debbie D. 2022
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That’s the perfect ditty, Debbie! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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We don’t even exchange cards, Pete, but that says nothing about the love we share. Best wishes for a lovely day, no matter how you choose to spend it.
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Thanks, Maggie. We don’t mind the cards, but the rest is meaningless to us now.
Best wishes, Pete.
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You have found your own way and that makes it perfect.
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XO across the pond. Have a pleasant day, Pete.
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You too, dear Cindy.
Best wishes, Pete. X
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I’m with you Pete. Everything has been turned into a commercial enterprise which takes away the whole point.
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Sad but true, Carolyn.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I agree with what you said about the unloved and the lonely. I have been in that predicament and I know how awful some holidays can make a person feel. Having said that, I am wishing you and your loved ones the happiest holiday ever.
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Thanks very much for that, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s another Hallmark greeting card holiday! The best valentines I ever got were homemade from my kids and grandkids, and the little ones we used to exchange at school when I was a kid. We each had decorated shoe boxes that we collected our valentines in, and our room mothers would make decorated cupcakes. A perfect kid school day!
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That sounds like a much more sincere Valentine’s experience, Dorothy.
Best wishes, Pete.
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We’ve exchanged cards this morning, but apparently my dozen red roses are on their way…
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I haven’t sent flowers on Valentine’s Day for 25 years. I did used to give special gifts, but we stopped that 10 years ago.
Best wishes, Pete.
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You are so right about need to be sensitive to the lonely and unloved today.
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It is easy to forget those who have never known love, Liz.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hi Pete, we don’t do much either. I bought each of my hubby, dad and mom a Toblerone bar and my mom some red tulips.
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Toblerones are good. At least you can eat them. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hear Hear Pete. Another day for retail & another day for the lonely. This should be a day where you visit the lonely.
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That would be a better reason for the day, I agree.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hai Valentine’s day
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Thank you.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I hope you and Julie have a great day…..chuq
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Other than the cards, it will just be Tuesday, chuq. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Same here. A chance for me to spread some history. chuq
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yes, so kind of you
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Eealer today, I chatted to an 83 year old lady who lives across the road. She never married, and has no reason to celebrate today. But a 15-minute chat is as good as a gift to her.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That’s a lovely gift 💝
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Yet you fall into the pit of commercialism that compels you to buy ‘suffed’ (sp) toys for a dog!! Seriously?
I’m taking the mick of course, yet somewhat serious too . . . xx
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The joy that Ollie gets from a new toy on his birthday is delightful to behold. It makes him so happy, that makes us happy too.
Love to you both, Pete. xx
(Found the comment in the Trash Folder for some reason, hence late reply)
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We don’t do Valentines day here not even cards, we reckon we’re romantic enough all year round! It must be horrible for the lonely people.
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We stopped the gifts ages ago, but still do the cards. At least I don’t send Julie one from Ollie! 🙂 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Spot on, Pete. If it weren’t for the fact that today is my older brother’s birthday, I would very happily ignore all the materialist blandishments that are forced on us with monotonous regularity; I felt this way when I was married, but paid lip service to it, for the sake of a quiet life 😉 Cheers, Jon.
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Did they name your brother Valentine by any chance? I used to know a man in London named Val. He told me his birthday was the 14th of February, and he wished he had been born on the 15th. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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They did, but only second to my father’s given name, Ronald!
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Good thoughts Pete
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Thanks, Sarada. So many people get carried away with all the hype.
Best wishes, Pete.
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