Despite being sandwiched between National Tortellini Day (Celiacs look away now) on February 13th and, ironically, Singles Awareness Day on February 15th, Valentine’s Day has a much higher profile. I’m not making this stuff up – see What day is it?
The identity of the Saint who inspired this most hallowed occasion in our annual calendar is uncertain. One theory is that he died in Rome in the 3rd century (AD) and is the patron saint of lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers. Honest! Another claim to the fame is a Roman priest and physician who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Claudius II Gothicus in about 270 AD. According to legend, St. Valentine signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness. Another says Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war.
Another theory says all these theories actually refer to one and the same person.
Whoever he (or even she?) was, he has a lot to answer for, including petrol-station bouquets, corner-shop chocolates and Waitrose ready meals.
But in the spirit of the occasion, I have decided to warm everyone’s hearts by reporting on some good news. Valentine’s Day is no time for depressive narratives, anger, sarcasm or point-scoring. Love thine enemies, and all that. (Am I getting confused with Christmas Day?)
So here goes.
"If you finish you beat everyone who doesn't," said Jamaican skier Benjamin Alexander before finishing the men's giant slalom at the Winter Olympics. What a refreshing attitude. He finished 46 out of 46, but another 41 skiers failed to complete the course. Well done that man.
A woman went to her own wake: "Instead of sorrow it's a chance for me to have a party and savour life in the moment,” she said on organising her own wake after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. What lovely memories for her nearest and dearest.
Two ‘green freeports’ are to be established in Scotland, thanks to Brexit and the levelling-up agenda. That’s not point-scoring; it’s two-point-scoring.
A man with a life-long love of dustbins has documented his passion in a collection of photographs. Think I’ll leave that one there.
Prince Harry goes to the Super Bowl. Why is that good news? Because when he’s over there, he’s not over here.
An Anglican PR chief claimed there were “some good things about colonialism”, quoting a former bishop in Borneo who said, “If it wasn’t for colonialism, we’d still be headhunters”. Do I agree with him? That’s not the point. Is it good news? Hell yes. He had the courage to say it and has therefore, theoretically, prompted modern-day thinkers on this topic to stop and bloody well think. Woops, sorry. Shouldn’t swear on Valentine’s Day.
The SNP is telling porkies on pensions. Looks like Bombastic Blackford (well he is) is telling Scots that Westminster will continue to pay the Scottish state pension for 50 years after Independence. This is such an outrageous lie, at the expense of Scotland’s future pensioners, that Sturgeon et al are bound to lose an Independence referendum. Now that IS good news.
A 5,000-year-old human thigh bone has been discovered by the River Thames. What I like about this story is the chap who found it hopes to send the bone to the Museum of London; he said. “I want to be respectful because this was a person.” What a nice man. What a very nice man.
Netflix is now Sexflix — and we’re gagging for it. Apparently. Not sure if this is good news, but it’s appropriate for the day, I suppose.
West’s energy failures have given Putin his chance. Eh? What happened to the good news promise? This IS good news because once again I've been proved right, having warned of something like this for years. One reason I’ve been supporting the proposed new coking-coal mine in Whitehaven is that it would make our steel industry less reliant on Russian coal. Game, set and match to us Marrers!
I wonder how I'll blog about St George’s Day. Must mention the dragon – good excuse for another pop at Sturgeon.
In the meantime, have a happy VD.
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