WARNING! Valentine’s Day is approaching…

I have come to the conclusion that it’s pretty much impossible to deny the existence of Valentine’s Day.  We Brits love a good commercialised holiday.  Or maybe that’s just the people who make cards and balloons?  Anyway, Valentine’s Day is here to stay: FACT.  In all my single glory I have so far managed to avoid eye contact with the small army of teddy bears that glare at me every morning and evening from the window of my local gift shop.  You know the ones – they have ‘I love you’ stitched onto their paw and their expression promises you eternal devotion in a kind of weird-psycho way (ever noticed that their eyes are fixed on you at all times?!)

Teddy bears aside, I ask myself this question: why, as a singleton, should I have a negative attitude to Valentine’s Day?

Yes, the PDAs (Public Displays of Affection) are enough to make me reach for the nearest bucket and yell “get a room!” in a half triumphant, half despairing way.  And of course, the unashamedly commercialised nature of the day is enough to make any sane Clinton’s employee want to flee the country.

But Valentine’s Day isn’t all doom and gloom if you don’t have a better half.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite!  It’s a well known fact that V-Day night is one of the busiest out there, with singletons across the country heading out with their friends to have a good ol’ barmy.

So, with this in mind I have compiled a list of Do’s and Don’ts for singletons this Valentine’s Day…

Don’t: Sit at home alone watching Bridget Jones Diary whilst working your way through a bottle of wine, blinking your way through tears and wallowing in self-pity.  Avoid at all costs.

Do: Throw a small gathering at your house!  Have a “bring a dish”/”bring a bottle”/”bring yourself” get-together with your friends to celebrate friendship, good times, and have an excuse to get crrunk!

Don’t: Go for a quiet meal with your Mum at the local Italian.  I think it’s safe to say restaurants are a no-go on Valentine’s Day if you’re single – unless you want to watch all the hand-holding and footsie going on…awkward if you’re caught staring…

Do: Go for a night out with the lads/ladies!  Clubs will be bursting with single people out to have a good time.  Why not join in the fun and enjoy yourself?

Don’t: Head to a small/intimate restaurant if you’re planning a rowdy meal en masse (8 people or more) – couples won’t appreciate the level of noise or the spontaneous chants.

Do: Hit the bars with a friend or a group of friends!  V-Day is one of the best days in the year to meet new people – bars won’t have couples having a quiet romantic time together, they’ll be full of singletons!  So get out there and be sociable, you’ve got nothing to lose.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all in advance!