St Valentine’s Day does not send only single people running for the hills. Two couples tell Veronica Stivala they refuse to conform to a marketing stunt which loses all the spontaneity and the charm.

Maxine and Nathan Brimmer

Nathan Brimmer is the epitome of hopeless romantic, with the focus being on ‘hopeless’ – luckily, his wife Maxine has the ability to overlook this. Photo Jacob SammutNathan Brimmer is the epitome of hopeless romantic, with the focus being on ‘hopeless’ – luckily, his wife Maxine has the ability to overlook this. Photo Jacob Sammut

Nathan is 25 and Maxine just turned 26. They have been married for eight months, but started dating in December 2007 when Maxine worked up the nerve to ask Nathan out when they were doing Panto together.

Nathan puts the hopeless in hopeless romantic, in that he regularly attempts spontaneous acts of romance, but tends to overlook a crucial factor in its execution, thus failing, more often than not. True love, however, is Maxine’s ability to overlook this factor, appreciate the effort and reciprocate successfully without rubbing it in too much.

We don’t celebrate St Valentine’s Day because…

We feel love should be celebrated all year round. It’s a cliché, but people shouldn’t make an effort on just one day, especially when it’s become expected of them. It loses the spontaneity as well as the charm.

My most memorable St Valentine’s Day

Maxine: They’re not particularly memorable for me. I remember receiving a couple of cards when I was a teenager, but I was never into the holiday.

Nathan: I don’t have one; it’s a day like any other. It’s like asking me what my most memorable July 18 was.

St Valentine’s Day is…

N: A nice sentiment. Love should be celebrated. However, having it on a specific day cheapens it. Did I buy my wife flowers because I wanted to or because it has become expected of me?

If I could, on St Valentine’s Day I would…

M: …spend some time with my fabulous single friends. I think there is far too much pressure put on people to have a date on this day or for things to be perfect and magical. I hate seeing people get upset or disappointed over a silly arbitrary day.

The most annoying part about St Valentine’s Day?

N: People who look down on us because we don’t celebrate it. We get quite a few ‘They’re not as good a couple as us’ looks from people.

This St Valentine’s Day this couple will…

Nathan will be at the opening night of a play he is performing in and Maxine will probably be there watching him. Perhaps drinks afterwards, who knows?

St Valentine’s Day should be…

M: A holiday! If it was a proper holiday maybe I’d appreciate it a little more. Otherwise, it should be treated like any other day. But it would be nice if every day you have together is special.

Love is…

N: …missing someone when you’re not with them for long. It’s talking to someone for hours without having to think of what to say and being in one another’s company for hours without having to say anything.

Being romantic is…

N: … the occasional breakfast in bed. It’s getting her favourite chocolate. It’s the “I love you” SMS in the middle of the afternoon for no reason whatsoever. It’s a hot meal when she gets home, or Chinese delivery and a movie when she’s under the weather. It’s being able to make her laugh when she needs it most. Being romantic is taking note of everything your partner loves and reminding them that you care and are there.

The only redeeming aspect of St Valentine’s Day is…

M: There’s more chocolate around? I suppose it’s nice to see other people make the effort to be romantic and caring to their partners.

Gisèle and Carl Degiorgio

Gisele and Carl Degiorgio have a non-traditional idea of what is romantic.Gisele and Carl Degiorgio have a non-traditional idea of what is romantic.

Gisèle, a music educator and pianist and her husband Carl, an engineer, have known each other since sixth form, where they became friends. They became a couple in 2006 and initially spent the first three years in a long distance relationship since Gisèle was studying in Manchester. She returned to Malta in 2009 and Carl proposed in 2011. Before they knew it they were planning a wedding and got married on October 13, 2012.

We don’t celebrate St Valentine’s Day because…

We don’t need all the hype to remind us about the ‘L’ word. We certainly don’t wait for St Valentine’s Day to celebrate or prove our love to one another.

My most memorable St Valentine’s Day?

Gisèle: …going to a Valentine’s concert by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra some years ago. It’s nice to do something different, and what better way to indulge in some romanticism other than listening to the great Romantics themselves.

Carl: …catching two buses to Sliema with an overpriced bouquet of roses.

St Valentine’s Day is?

C: …a marketing stunt.

The most annoying part about St Valentine’s day?

C: …is being asked what my plans are, which most of the time never seem to meet other people’s expectations.

This St Valentine’s Day this couple is…

Staying at home and treating themselves to a nice meal, as they would on any other Friday night.

St Valentine’s Day should have been?

G: …a day to reach out to those children and youngsters who are deprived of love and happiness. We are ready to think of those people who mean a lot to us but tend to forget those who are neglected or depressed.

Love is?

G: Care, mutual respect, communication, understanding, affection, appreciation, passion, devotion, patience and kindness.

Being romantic is?

C: …doing something unexpected. The trick is to not do it too often; otherwise it is expected of you, especially on Valentine’s Day.

The only redeeming aspect of St Valentine’s Day is?

G: …that Classic FM plays the best orchestral music by some of the world’s greatest artists. And that’s exactly what I will be listening to on my drive back home from work.

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