love is in the air but where is the romance?

Love is in the air! This Sunday, it's Valentine and Chinese New Year on the same day. What a great combo, both red but on either end of the spectrum. Lanterns & roses, drums & Barry White, lion dance & copulating, dim sum & chocolates, family & couples - priceless. Gents why not get her a rose and bring her out for a Chinese. Even better, get her a rose carnation from Tesco Express and order in a Chinese takeaway at home. Suave!

I'm no scrooge to love but all these overdose of prefabricated l'amour is just too much. It is cringe-worthy. I was walking in the City yesterday and I can't help notice the amount of suits queuing outside several florists to order their shrub of Rosacaeae. Ever the cynic, I'm sure some are bought to conceal guilt, loathing, anger, hope, forgiveness and last but not least love. This phenomenon is contagious and we were indoctrinated since young and I blame Pope Gelasius I for this. I wonder if his descendant would have Intellectual Property rights to Valentine's Day, I doubt it. If they did, imagine the amount of royalty they would receive every year for as long as humanity exists. The 14th of February would be like Christmas, Bonus, Pension, Jackpot and Windfall combined! A whole lifetime of free funds paid by smucks like us (not me thankfully!). Personally, I think it is the ONLY time a man can buy flowers for his lover/wife/girlfriend/partner without them questioning what you have done wrong.

I've read somewhere that we are left at risk of a large happiness gap. Unlike attraction, when it comes to happiness, opposites to do not attract. Several economist have shown that romantic partners tend to be equally happy when they get together. Also, when one partner is much happier than the other, trouble is often within sight, i.e. quote 'A happiness gap in any given year is correlated with an increased probability of separation in the subsequent year' unquote. It is worth remembering that when a happiness gap expands, it is usually the woman who initiates the divorce proceedings. Happy Valentine's Day y'all!

It is also the Year of the Tiger. Frrrrrrrrr!! People who are born with this sign are notorious for being unpredictable, rebellious, colourful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be cold, restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, ruthless, selfish, aggressive, unpredictable, moody. I wonder if I know of any Tigers. I'll have to check my MS Office Outlook contacts. Other than that, it should be a good year for me and the office. Let's hope there are more projects to come, more places to visit, better health, more beautiful women to connect with and more fabulous wines/spirits/cocktails to enjoy.

Hmmm....I wonder how true this is: 1980 - Year of the Monkey - Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious. A few truths here I see...

Meanwhile, Dragons - Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, jealous, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.

I could sense her eyes getting smaller with suspicions now....