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St Valentine…..did you get a card or gift?

(112 Posts)
Sago Tue 14-Feb-23 11:45:11

Over 30 years ago on this day I gave birth to our second child our first son.
My husband left the hospital at 4.00 am and returned at lunchtime with a courgette in a brown paper bag, he said the flowers were all outrageously priced because it was Valentine’s Day!
Never been quite sure why a courgette, it remains a mystery.
Since then I have always told him not to bother despite our finances being in much better shape now!
It is now just our sons birthday but perhaps secretly I would like a card, flowers or a little treat😉

cc Thu 16-Feb-23 11:25:24

I never get a present or card on Valentine's Day, though once he took me to see Cats as a late birthday present. The date was pure coincidence. He doesn't do Mothers' Day either, though some of my children remember.

LizzieL Thu 16-Feb-23 11:27:33

Cards and gifts exchanged, as we have done for over 40 years! I received a box of 10 x fortune cookies, each of which had been carefully opened and resealed with a new and romantic message in them, one to be eaten each day. Today's message: "Love does not consist of gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction".

Gwenisgreat1 Thu 16-Feb-23 11:28:13

I get a card and also give one, but I cook the meal but no romantic gestures, he doesn't know what they are and after being married for nearly 53 years it's a bit late for him to learn now!

TanaMa Thu 16-Feb-23 11:41:07

Had the usual unsigned cards when very young - order of the day! but never had a card from my late husband as he didn't believe in it. However did get taken out for a nice meal. Until his recent death I did get a card and flowers from my best friend's widower husband. He liked to think he was making up for my loss and his. Must admit it was always a lovely surprise when the local Florist delivered his gift.

sharonarnott Thu 16-Feb-23 11:57:56

Nope it's just one big money making scam. My partner and I have always been of the opinion that we choose how and when we show how much we love each other. Not wait for a pre-set date on the calendar every year!

Twopence Thu 16-Feb-23 12:05:42

For the past few years we've exchanged the same Valentine, birthday and anniversary cards. DH now has Alzheimer's disease so needs prompting or I wouldn't get one, but it's nice to have a card to display on these occasions.

madeleine45 Thu 16-Feb-23 12:21:01

I miss my valentine very much, but can look back at many wonderful and romantic days we shared. Taking a trip to visit where we first met, a winter picnic on the moor, messages in the Guardian Memories are a help but still a hard day. Thinking of all who are in the same situation

faye17 Thu 16-Feb-23 12:21:53

Four year-old grandson burst through the door with his handmade card for me, featuring a photo of himself blowing a kiss- very sweet.
Few minutes later he gave me a pretty posy of spring flowers; I was charmed especially as I'd forgotten it was Valentine's Day.
Even more charmed when I realised 'Granda' had organised the flowers 💐

kittylester Thu 16-Feb-23 12:26:16

sharonarnott

Nope it's just one big money making scam. My partner and I have always been of the opinion that we choose how and when we show how much we love each other. Not wait for a pre-set date on the calendar every year!

Who said that the rest of us 'wait for a pre-set date'. It's a reason for a little extra fun.

Lizzie44 Thu 16-Feb-23 12:28:01

Not a fan of Valentine's Day or any other over-commercialised celebratory days. That said, DH and I exchange cards and it's become a jokey test of our compatibility. We shop at our local book/card shop and often end up buying the same card for each other. We draw the line at flowers at inflated prices and enjoy the rhyme: "Roses are red, violets are nice and today I can buy them half price!"

grandtanteJE65 Thu 16-Feb-23 12:28:45

Never seen the point of Valentine's day once you are married.

We have both a wedding anniversary and the anniversary of the day we became engaged if we feel like celebrating US, plus a birthday each and Christmas for giving presents.

CazzJazz Thu 16-Feb-23 12:37:10

We gave each other a lovely card with romantic verse in it. Small gifts given. It is a second marriage for both of us and we have only been married for nearly 6 years so romance is still there grin

Growing0ldDisgracefully Thu 16-Feb-23 13:05:20

Yes, cards and a gift as Valentines day is also our wedding anniversary. The flowers followed the next day deliberately, as they were half price the day after valentines day!

Oreo Thu 16-Feb-23 13:22:09

Nah! DP says he doesn’t believe in it🙄
I used to know someone who got a massive bouquet and chocs every year and taken out somewhere, their marriage only lasted ten years tho, as he found somebody younger!
My DH in the past sometimes remembered the day and sometimes didn’t.

Coco51 Thu 16-Feb-23 13:27:21

We don’t bother, don’t feel the need for a celebration one day a year, we’re together 24/7 and still happy every day after 24 years. Haven’t married (if it aint broke don’t fix it) and still wonder at our numerous shared interests and meeting by living next door to each other. We don’t even have an ’anniversary’ - we can’t remember when we actually got together!

Sawsage2 Thu 16-Feb-23 13:33:43

I'm disabled and can't get to the shop easily but partner (of 15 years) went m&s for chocs, flowers, big card. Lovely but he spent too much money.

knspol Thu 16-Feb-23 13:38:47

First Valentine's in over 50 years without a card from my DH. Very sad occasion for so many of us. These 'firsts' are so difficult.

bobbydog24 Thu 16-Feb-23 13:45:34

I used to get a card with a lovely verse and always a dozen red roses and he cooked the evening meal. He’s no longer here but my lovely daughter now does it, even though it’s her wedding anniversary. I feel blessed.

Treetops05 Thu 16-Feb-23 13:55:02

No, we've been married nearly 40 years and gave up when our daughter moved out a few years ago - as she generally reminded him! Plus my birthday is a few days earlier and he claims that uses up his imagination smile

Anrol Thu 16-Feb-23 14:26:13

I bought us a Valentine’s Day afternoon tea which was delivered in a lovely pink box together with a frozen cold pack.
It was delicious and gave me a day off cooking: breakfast (scotch egg each), lunch (scone,jam&cream) & dinner (mini quiches & cakes) and we had love heart sweets in the evening. Result, but I’m back on the diet now!

Retired65 Thu 16-Feb-23 14:29:38

We exchange Valentine Cards and I get a Valentine meal deal to cook.

Anneeba Thu 16-Feb-23 15:05:28

We sat at the dining room table and painted each other a card whilst listening to all our favourite songs on Spotify. Then took dogs out for an extra long walk, got back had a G&T followed by a special home cooked meal. That's all I'm going to disclose...

Bellasnana Thu 16-Feb-23 15:16:48

My late husband always took me out for dinner on Valentine’s Day and we exchanged cards. He died in 2015.

This year I received this lovely card from my twin grandsons, and some flowers from my son. Made my day.

Flo122 Thu 16-Feb-23 15:23:34

I suggested we make each other a card this year, they were quite successful, although our six year old grandaughter did look a bit bemused. She made me a "better" one. DH gave me a chocolate medal

Flo122 Thu 16-Feb-23 15:25:10

So sorry to hear that