Advice for young Romeos

There is a distinct lack of love in the world so we should celebrate what we have.
Valentine’s Day must be the natural time to express more than usual affection to your wife, husband or partner, but its commercial ramifications have got out of hand.
Taking out a mortgage would be necessary to buy all the range of Valentine gifts on offer each year.
We men are used to happily giving a carefully chosen card, chocolates and a dozen roses at twice the usual price. Perhaps a little perfume or scented soap too.
But nowadays we are pressured by advertising into buying a cornucopia of other goods like champagne, personalised mugs, personalised underwear, iPods, iPhones, iPads, silver lockets, fluffy pets, Valentine’s Day crackers, biscuits, soft toys, virtual roses by email and long weekend breaks at exotic foreign hotels.
We seem to be copying North American trends in the same way we have allowed Mothers Day and Fathers Day to become commercial spendfests.
I know parents across the pond who give Valentine’s Day cards and presents to their children. I thought it was meant to be a time for romance.
Next we will give flowers, chocolates and soppy cards to our pet dogs, cats and gerbils.
May I offer advice to young Romeos: for cost-effective and successful romancing just make her laugh, preferably not when you take off your clothes.
Philip Welch