I absolutely hate meanness and mean-spiritedness. So it’s with trepidation that I tell my story of today. I was out and about at lunchtime and I was bombarded with ‘gift ideas’ for Valentine’s Day. I got back to my office to have a discussion with my friend Ginny where she asked me what I’d bought for David for Valentine’s Day. I replied ‘nothing’ – it’s not an occasion for gifts. It seems though that I am alone in this.

Somehow it seems to me as though the meaning of celebrating Valentine’s Day has been lost. (Along with most other holidays/celebratory days.) Rampant commercialism now makes you feel mean if you don’t buy your loved one a gift for this occasion.

So, this is my little protest.

Valentine’s Day is a day to declare love – that thing that costs nothing. That thing we can all truly give for free.

On Monday, DM will get from me two things…..a home-made card and as much love as he can handle. That’s all. No fancy or expensive pressies in shining wrappers, no holidays, nothing else at all. And do you know what? I’m feeling good about that. I’ve not yet worked out my plan for the card but it will have required nothing more than a bit of effort and some imagination. It’ll be fun and exciting to do. I’ll feel good about giving it. One year I made him a jigsaw puzzle from red card. I put it into a home-made fake leather envelope and when he put it together he got my message. One year he made me a scribbly heart.

Is my love any less real because he’s not getting a pressie off me? No. Am I mean because of this? I don’t think so. Is my defiance of the commercialism that surrounds me mean-spirited? Again I hope not.

Retailers see this as a way to make more money. They started it. They propagate and nurture the sense of being incomplete if you don’t give or get a gift on Valentine’s Day. I see it as a depressing statement on life and love that the only acceptable way to declare love is through gifts. I also know that I’d much prefer for DM to love me than for him to fork out a small fortune on something to try to demonstrate it to me.

So I'll carry on in my own sweet way and make something Blue Peter style.

Love costs nothing. It happens and grows and sometimes dies but it costs nothing. Well, until you realise that it costs everything……….

Last year, I was reflecting on gambling.