"A colleague was talking about how he had to make sure he got his girlfriend a Valentine's card or his life wouldn't be worth living. Another (female) colleague said she wholeheartedly agreed with this and came out with a series of 'I should bloody well think so' type comments. Not only was it the strong insinuation that the pressure was on the men to make the effort for the women in their lives, and no suggestion of vice versa, but also that there is some kind of obligation in a relationship to observe Valentine's Day, that offended me.

As the single singleton in a room full of people in relationships (all discussing their plans for Feb 14th) I don't really have a leg to stand on when it comes to speaking out against Valentine's Day. However, I'd like to take this opportunity to state that I do believe Valentine's Day to be the most unromantic of concepts. Since when did it become generally accepted that romance should be confined to one day of the year?

Surely if you love someone you should express this in whichever way feels natural and appropriate to the both of you, and whenever the mood takes you.

All spontaniety and sincerity is sucked from romance when it's assigned one day in the calendar, and therefore all involved feel obliged to buy a card/book a table/send some flowers, just because 'their life wouldn't be worth living' if they didn't.

What's wrong with showing someone you love them whenever you feel like it, when it means so much more? Or am I just being bitter 'cos I'm single?"

Hayley from Hull