A Love Story

Hello, dear reader!

Love is in the air.

Well, it was yesterday, anyway. I think it probably still is today, too, although, to the best of my knowledge, there’s not a specific saint assigned to oversee it, so I think, for the purposes of this blog post, we’ll focus on the former

Ready? Let’s go.

On This Day
I don’t think it’s much of a secret, for those that struggle through these typo-ridden ramblings, that money is kinda tight in the Seated Perspective household. This isn’t, by any means, an isolated phenomenon, A lot of people are feeling the strain on their purses right now. It does, however, mean that things have to be assessed. Things have to be prioritised.

For instance, Valentine’s Day, that 24 hour period dedicated to romance, and all things mushy (Except, maybe, peas), massacres, the death of a Roman Catholic saint who was beaten to death and beheaded (which definitely qualifies as overkill), or the share price of Hallmark Cards getting a healthy boost.

Of course, in these modern times, Valentine’s Day seems, more and more, to be about spending money, be it on cards that will be thrown away by the middle of next week, or something a little more extravagant.

This year, we were determined to pull back on this expenditure.

A Quiet One
It’s not just the ongoing constriction of cash. There’s also the fact that we’ve just paid for a two day trip to London to see the Step-daughter and her chap. A chunk of money that could otherwise have been spent on as much heart-shaped frippery as the heart could desire. It meant we were destined for a quiet one. A non-Valentine’s Day.

This was a sentiment that lasted until around mid-afternoon on Monday, when we decided that the day needed marking in some way. It was, alas, too late to book any kind of restaurant (or at least the one restaurant we tried), so it looked like a meal-deal from the supermarket and the culinary pizzazz of yours truly were going to have to suffice.

Then Tina (my wife, and one true valentine) had a brainwave.

Instead of an evening meal in a restaurant, we would take the cheaper, and more available option of a nice pub lunch in a local hostelry.

A Way In The Life
The Blacksmith’s Arms (Kirkheaton) is a lovely place with a fantastic view, and an affordable but very tasty menu. It wasn’t a done-deal that we’d get a table, of course, not on this of all days, but, with heart (heh) in mouth, I gave them a ring and, with just two hours notice secured a table for two by the window.

The meal (two courses) was lovely, and it felt like we were pushing the boat out, even though we were actually doing it on the cheap. I think if we’d been more determined and more organised, an evening meal would probably have ended up costing twice as much.

And that was that. The day marked. It’s still, to my mind, a made up holiday, dedicated to reckless consumerism rather than true romance. That, I think, is better marked by the smaller things. Not cards and flowers, but moments of consideration. A look. A smile. A compliment. A hug. The surprise that has nothing to do with a pre-ordained date, made meaningless by mass-consumption, and everything to do with the personal and the intimate. That, I feel is the true meaning behind Valentine’s Day, or at least what it should be, and I’m not entirely convinced it can be contained within those few short hours.

Maybe Valentine’s isn’t a day, but a way of life?




Until next time.

***

Hey, folks! If you would care to take a look at some of my more creative writing, then the links below will transport you to the magical worlds of a few anthologies my short (and in two cases, very short) stories have been included in. Feel free to check ’em out!

New Tales Of Old: Volume 2

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TMVTX9H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Death Ship

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9198684140/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_TWEMTA3KWK7T89QEZPF6?fbclid=IwAR322Fx5nfgVUQAA62ZZ6CUsNnBm8pbSxPanzz6Qkjg3vAv4ESipq7iKKhs

https://www.waterstones.com/book/death-ship/david-green/s-o-green/9789198684148?fbclid=IwAR2gP4CXHSG7wTccO39wOqXFtI81k0259Ep8DUM48Ki6kTUdlKoF3yafojA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9198684140/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=A2XZ7JICGUQ1CX&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR2Wa6sGxb82_VCsC7l1CGXwHjsSwTheqba6jDX_G8EDsywZoGpC93nXr2w

Reaperman

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reaperman-Drabbles-3-Legends-Night-ebook/dp/B099NNPTQ1A

Pestilence

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pestilence-Revelations-Black-Ink-Fiction/dp/B09MDLZGHY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VP38WZDWJVAF&keywords=black+ink+fiction&qid=1654090896&sprefix=black+ink+fiction%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1

The Musketeers Vs Cthulhu

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Musketeers-Cthulhu-Court-King-Louis-ebook/dp/B09YQKQQB7/ref=sr_1_18?crid=2VP38WZDWJVAF&keywords=black+ink+fiction&qid=1654091002&sprefix=black+ink+fiction%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-18