Ages ago, when St. Hallmark created Valentine’s Day, I’m sure he intended it to be a celebration of love and appreciation. Unfortunately, modern times have convoluted this original and liberating message. Being in a romantic relationship is no indication of how full someone’s life is, but contemporary Valentine’s Day has made the 14^th of February for couples only. Here is a list of few things to do if you find yourself alone on Valentine’s Day:

1. Emotionally eat. This is how all the best people deal with overwhelming emotions that are completely self-manufactured. Hang out with Ben & Jerry—they understand and so does double chocolate chuck. There is nothing that goes better with pie than another pie. Spoil yourself, you deserve it. That bathrobe is looking a little tight. Undo that belt and get yourself another bowl. Good.

2. Watch the saddest movie you can find. Suggestions: Requiem for a Dream, Sophie’s Choice or Schindler’s List. In fact—just turn off all your lights and make it a day-long marathon.

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I was recently lucky enough to attend the European film premier of ‘Valentine’s Day’ in Leicester Square, London. I say lucky, but it will probably be the last film premier I attend, as although it was a great experience, it doesn’t half make you feel insignificant.
My girlfriend got the tickets from a contact that couldn’t make it, and it sounded very exciting when she broke the news to me that we would be hitting the red carpet with all the celebs. It was unfortunate that the film was Valentine’s Day, but I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

The evening started off quite stressfully actually. The tube at London Victoria was closed, the queue at the taxi rank was a good 30 people long, and we had about 20 minutes to get to the Odeon in Leicester square. We eventually got a taxi, but had to grind to a halt when driving down The Mall to let Prince Charles and his police escort out of Clarence House where he lives. I promise I am not making this up; it seems Charles had somehow wangled some tickets to the premier as well, and no one in London was going to stop him getting there. With the traffic at a halt we had to run the rest of The Mall, through Trafalgar Square and arrived at the cinema in our finest attire with bright red faces and panting like huskies.

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