Friday 9 February 2024

Dates to remember in February 2024 – 2

 

Dates to remember in February 2024 – 2

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Almost as soon as the New Year has been ushered in and Burns’ Night has been observed, everyone is reminded that 14th February is approaching.  St Valentine’s Day has been overtaken by commerce, when the cost of things, like fresh flowers and restaurant bookings, rises. Red hearts appear everywhere, on soft toys, holding chocolates, on countless variations of cards, for Him, for Her, for Kids to each other and from their parents. I’m sure there are Valentine’s cards for pets, too.

Cadbury has produced a special 110g bar of chocolate. It is wrapped in a cardboard sleeve bearing the words, ‘I Love You’ and costs £4.99 – an ordinary 200g bar is £2.00.

Stuck for ideas? There are any number of sites anxious to part fools customers from their money. People can spend a small or a huge amount. Here are a few suggestions:

A mug covered in hearts or lipstick kisses

Heart-shaped cushions/soaps/tea bags

Heart-shaped jewellery encrusted with diamonds/rubies/emeralds . . .

Vintage champagne/whisky/brandy . . .

An ‘experience’ day . . .

the 'holiday of a lifetime'

There is no end to what a person can spend if s/he feels so inclined.

2024 is a Leap Year and tradition holds that on St Valentine’s Day in a Leap Year a girl may propose to her boyfriend. Hearts a-flutter for all the wrong reasons . . .

There are seven International Dark Sky Reserves in the UK, in the Brecon Beacons, Cranborne Chase, Exmoor, South Downs, North York Moors, Snowdonia and the Yorkshire Dales. These areas are some of the darkest places in England and host Dark Sky Festivals. The Yorkshire Dales and North Yorks National Parks festival will take place from 9th to 25th February and will include night-time fell running, astro-photography and kayaking as well as talks about nocturnal wild life and stargazing.

The South Downs Darks Skies Festival is scheduled for 10th to 18th February. It will include Star Parties, which are an opportunity for amateur astronomers to set up their telescopes and look at the skies, night-time adventure walks on the Downs, a ‘walk the planets’ trail and pop-up planetariums, among other experiences.

On 25th February, our youngest great-grandchild will celebrate her first birthday – well, her family will. To her it will be just another day, with the addition of some exciting parcels and new toys.

 . . . and then it will be March!

 

16 comments:

  1. Lots of dates to remember - the most exciting must be the 1st birthday of the great-grandchild!
    We don't tend to do anything for Valentine's Day. This year I won't be with husband either. It is, however, usually the time of the month that we go away for our Winter Up-North Trip. Husband drives and I take photos of the ice and snow lol. It's a fun time we usually have and I shall miss it this year!

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    1. Now that's a sensible use of time. We don't do anything for Valentine's Day - I dislike the whole commercialisation of it.

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  2. Fools? Haha.. every time there is a food ad on tv, there is no mention of obesity, diabetes, damaged teeth etc. Just slim, sexy models having a fun time.

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  3. I don't believe Valentine's day should be for kids and pets. It should be for teenage sweethearts and married couples.

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    1. I agree about the teenage sweethearts but what's the point for married couples? As for Valentine cards from fathers to daughters, the thought makes me shudder (likewise for mothers to sons)

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  4. I just mentioned to my partner that it is a leap year. He already knew. I then said I wonder if it makes much difference to anything? I mean like will I live a day longer? He replied, no you will die a day earlier (It would be a fib for me to write that he added, and that's not a bad thing). The jury is still out on that one.

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  5. I can't remember the last time we did anything romantic to mark Valentine's Day. P reckons he is romantic every day.
    We are also a Dark Skies site, although not in the UK, just next door!

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    1. Romance comes in different forms and I appreciate the more practical versions, like an unexpected dish of strawberries or the laundry basket being taken upstairs.
      I was surprised at the number of Dark Skies sites and actually rather cheered.

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  6. We do nothing on 14th, too commercial, we stay at home have a nice meal and a glass of red wine, time together. No flowers or tatt, we even reuse old cards, have been for about 3 years, adding a new message each year.

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    1. We don't celebrate Valentine's Day, never have, but some of our grandchildren push the boat out.

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  7. I knew about the two Valentines but not the (rather daft) following seven days.

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  8. Jos and I aren't celebrating Valentine's Day ...
    I had no idea there were seven International Dark Sky Reserves in the UK. Belgium being visible from outer space due to the country being all lit up, I doubt there are any here. xxx

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  9. I didn't know about Belgium being visible from space. x x x

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