Last Valentine's day my Mother died. So there was a pitiful little bunch of us (seated mainly M&F, M&F, M&F) sitting together with tears constantly streaming down our faces, in a corner of a country 'foody' pub, otherwise filled to capacity with lovey dovey Valentines couples.

And my Uncle says: "All these people here must be thinking - those couples at that table, must be having a the most crappy Valentine's dinner ever.."

Fortunately I never was that interested in Valentine's day.

I'm much more a fan of spontaniously imposed little gifts. Those worthless tiny little trinkets, which when spied and captured (or indeed other insubstantial 'gifts' created, imagined or otherwise facilitated) by someone who truly intimately 'gets' your tastes and inclinations, and will send you in a sparkly childlike whirl of glee.

Now that's romantic to me. Dates are not interesting to me. But really sensing someone and intuiting how to touch them ...gets you everywhere.

If you feel lonely. Get into some poetry sites. Join some clubs with other lonely people. I've heard it does wonders for your love life...