Be my Valentine, or not?

By Talking Heads on Feb 12, 09 12:41 PM in

With the crunch biting are you looking forward to the most romantic day of the year or perhaps are a touch cynical

JUST as most of us have recovered from the spending madness that is Christmas, we have to dip into our pockets once again for the sake of love on St Valentine's Day.

Whether you agree with it or not, there is no getting away from the padded cards, the mountains of chocolates, the fields of red roses and the army of cuddly toys on sale in the lead up to this Saturday.

Yes, Valentine's Day-the only day in the year when people show and say "I love you" is almost upon us.

A recent survey carried out highlighted that Glasgow is the fifth "Most Romantic City" in the UK, beating even our picturesque capital.

But with the city joining the rest of the country in the financial mire that is the credit crunch, can we afford to be romantic this year?

Or when it comes to romance, albeit that it's forced on us by the clever marketing ploys of big business, should we forget about our worries and say it with love? After all, fain the art never won fair lady?

This week The Glaswegian visited the city's west end to find out if our readers are Valentine's Day romantics or weary cynics? Here's what they had to say.

Partick student Lisa Wallace, 24, is certainly no cynic when it comes to February 14. She said: "I love valentines Day. There is nothing better than getting a nice card and a bunch of flowers - that's what it's all about."

British Medical Association worker Emily Walker, 33, from the west end, doesn't share Lisa's views on the big day. She said: "I am very much acynic. Valentine's Day has become way too commercialised.

"You can be romantic any day of the week. I don't see why it has to be on that one day."

Student Ian Henderson, 35, from St George's Cross, is another cynic of St Valentine's Day. He said: "I'm also asceptic. I find it all a bit too much of aploy to get us all to part with money. I think it's just a commercial cash in."

Model Marlen Goldie, 55, from Rutherglen, is a believer in the most romantic day of the year. Just as well as she's modelling mother-of-the-bride outfits at this month's Scottish Wedding Show at the SECC. She said: "I am definitely aromantic. I think it's a lovely celebration and I think it's nice to see young people in love. I am an older person and I am still in love."

Student Gavin Dunlop, 19, from Bearsden, isn't a fan of it either. He said: "I am a cynic. It costs way too much. Also, I haven't had a girlfriend for the last two years so I've not been too interested in the whole thing."

Robert Doherty, 29, a dance lecturer at Anniesland College, proved his prudence ahead of this Saturday.

He said: "Last year I was romantic. But with the credit crunch biting hard this year I've become more of a cynic"

Click here to watch our Valentine's Day video feature

TALKING HEADS..

I love Valentine's Day. There is nothing better

Lisa Wallace

Valentine's Day has become way to commercialised

Emily Walker

I am a cynic also. I think it's just a commercial cash-in

Ian Henderson

I think it's a lovley celebration - I'm an older person and I'm still in love

Marlen Goldie