Balance February 18 - 57

Rather than force happy (and unhappy) couples to be uncomfortably cosy, why
can't Valentine's Day be a time to embrace being single? asks Edith Bowman
photography by BE N D U F F Y

HAIR & MAKE-UP: MALIN COLEMAN STYLING: SABRINA HENRY EDITH WEARS: DUNGAREES, PEPE JEANS; STRIPED POLO-NECK, PETIT BATEAU

T

he last time I really enjoyed, or got
excited about, Valentine's Day was
when I was about 10, filling every
available space on an enormous card that was
never going to make it through a post box.
What was all the anonymous effort for? I still
can't work it out.
Now I'm very happily married, my husband
and I have been together for 12 years. I
wouldn't say we would win any awards for our
romantic tendencies (we are big fans of the
couch and an early night) least of all when
faced with societal pressure. We certainly
don't enjoy sitting uncomfortably close to
couples in the same boat, who would much
rather be at home catching up on the last
episode of Mindhunter. 

Share your
thoughts with me
@edibow and
@BalanceLDN

Being single on Valentine's Day is viewed
as the worst. I've had to endure many such
days over the years and still have single mates
who head into hibernation for the entire
evening. Nobody needs a day to remind them
they've not yet found 'the one'. Add in your
mum or grandma sending you an anonymous
card to make you feel better (I'm talking from
experience here) and few things will more
ostracise you from your fellow man.

ALONE TOGETHER  
I may be sounding a little like the grim reaper
of love, but really, love has little or nothing to
do with it.  I love my husband all year round
thanks very much, I tell him every day.
Valentine's Day needs to be updated,
modified to do something positive, not
commercial, and encourage love, harmony
and, God forbid, relationships.
Restaurants should close their
doors to couples and arrange
singles nights. Get the
aphrodisiacs out and do
something with your happily
single friends. I would really
have appreciated that; dinner
with a lovely bunch of people
where I could have had fun
and met new friends.
Do that, and who knows,
maybe then you'll
encounter your first
genuinely happy
Valentine's Day. B

NOBODY NEEDS A
DAY TO REMIND THEM
THEY'VE NOT YET
FOUND 'THE ONE'
A NIGHT TO ENDURE 
Restaurants always squash in as
many people in they possibly can.
It makes it almost impossible to
have any kind of intimate
conversation, let alone crack
into any sexy talk. I promise you
that half the couples either don't
like each other any more or are
on a highly-anticipated first date
that would be much better served
in a pub actually having a chat or
getting drunk and dancing.

Edith's free podcast
'Soundtracking' can be
downloaded weekly from
edithbowman.com

February 2018 BA LA N CE

57



http://www.edithbowman.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance February 18

Balance February 18 - 1
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