Happy New Year to you all. Chinese New Year that is. This year it has the fortune of falling on a day normally overshadowed by red for other reasons.

Over the years I have found myself becoming oblivious to the Valentine’s charade. Having been single (apart from some short lived romantic entanglements) for over six years it’s not a day I bother with. Even before my epic singleness I seemed to finish relationships just before Valentine’s Day or start them in the weeks after. I even managed a well timed seven day break from my boyfriend of two years spanning the week that included Valentine’s day. I believe I have only ever once actually been in a relationship properly for the event and that’s so far back in time I can’t even remember what happened.

It is so alien to me that the pink and red had just become a blur in my peripheral vision. But a combination of my reduction in retail activities (I am unofficially a recovering shopaholic), and the increase in marketing of this commercial holiday, meant I was unprepared when I visited Sainsbury’s yesterday. It could not be avoided. If I had managed to ignore the HUGE display of roses to my left, the ones ahead of me were not going to let me pass without acknowledgment. And by avoiding their eye line I was faced with a barrage of cards. As I navigated my way past what can only be described as Valentine’s warfare and into the fruit and veg section I was met with strawberries in heart shaped boxes. And as I made my way through the store there were Valentines offers left, right and centre. Even if all that could be avoided the scrummage in the chocolate aisle was enough to tell me that flowers, chocolates and booze are still the unoriginal gifts of choice on this day that is celebrated just because it exists.

Should I eventually rebound from my perpetual singleness and find a wonderful man to take me on then I’m not sure it would be enough to get me to participate in this Valentines stuff once again. Long ago I got over the hope I might get a card or two. I no longer expect anything from the postman. If I did have someone special to share things with I’d much rather be surprised on any other day with something more original and meaningful to the both of us. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong in future, but perhaps not.

I’d like to think if I had someone to share today with I’d be making the most of Chinese New Year. That would be much more fun. Having someone at my disposal to drag off to cultural events and celebrations. To me that is romance!