Valentine’s Day

Dear Teenage Girl…

February 13, 2018 By Ellen

Dear Teenage Girl, I don’t know your name or even what you look like. I don’t know if you’re tall or short, or fair or dark. I might have passed you in the road even just this morning without knowing who you were. And you might wonder what the connection is. What have you got […]

Is this really what Valentine had in mind when he was martyred?

February 1, 2018 By Ellen

It’s everywhere. Revolting swathes of pink and red nonsense filling shops, magazines and TV screens. There’s hype everywhere about getting The Perfect Gift for the object of your affection or you face a one-way journey to Doghouse-ville. If you haven’t booked a table for an overpriced dinner on Feb 14 by now you […]

Keep St Valentine out of our schools, for the kids’ sake

February 14, 2015 By Ellen

“I’m very sad, mummy,” said Boy Three from his seat in the back of the car. We were on the way home last night – the night before St Valentine’s Day. “What’s the matter, honey bun?” I asked. This isn’t an unusual exchange. Often it’s the Worst Day in the World. […]

Romance as a new parent: Or don’t bring me flowers, the kids would only knock them over.

February 12, 2015 By Ellen

I wrote this a couple of Valentine’s ago, but it still applies, or some bits of it do. The shops are full of pink stuff, restaurants are already booked solid and florists are raising their prices by the minute. It’s nearly Valentine’s Day and the pressure is on to make a romantic gesture that […]

45/365 The heart of a sneaky move

February 14, 2013 By Ellen

When I picked Boy Three up from nursery today. He did his usual, wonderful hurtle through from whatever game he was playing to grasp me around the thighs. Then he led me to the table where today’s masterpieces were waiting for collection. Red fairy cakes were individually wrapped in little bags beside pink decorated cards. “To […]