Saint Valentine! Why do we commemorate this saint in the way we do? The association with romance escapes me, there's no record of his life at all (or his death), except for what Geoffrey Chaucer wrote, but that was plainly concocted. Chances are, like other early saints, that in order to be sainted, he had to suffer some sort of horrifically gruesome death. Then later once he was departed, somebody probably prayed to him for help, was cured of some boils, and verily, sainthood was assured! You see now, I know how these things work!So why all this romantic nonsense on the 14th February? I laughed today at the way in which some of my fellow students felt obliged to give their partners cards, chocolates, flowers and other presents, and still take them out for a meal as well. The suggestion that they watch the football tonight instead (Aberdeen 2 : Bayern Munich 2) literally scared most of them. Their girlfriends would kill them. Why? Because someone hundreds of years ago got disembowelled for refusing to deny Christ? That's a good reason to commemorate the event with a Chicken Biryani! I'm sure St. Valentine would appreciate that token of respect to his memory! I might take the wife and kids hill-walking tomorrow, that's more romantic in my opinion!
I've never seen so many cops on the street before as I did this afternoon. I was on the bus heading down King Street and they were all heading the opposite way, towards Pittodrie. I wonder where they ususally spend their time, because you never normally see any police in the city centre, or anywhere in the North East generally. But, stage a European football match, and suddenly they're out in force. Don't need tickets to see the match either, how convenient!
