Love is all around us
What lengths we go to for love.
"I even cut his toenails and that's real love for you," declared poor Adria Fareham of her husband Brian, whose proud boast is he's Britain's least romantic man.
I wonder...
His long-suffering wife of 40 years says: "He hasn't got a romantic bone in his body but he's loyal."
So that's OK then.
And what the heck if he floats her boat even if he's never forked out for any love token except for a fork so that she can dig the garden.
She who expects nothing is never disappointed. And as Adria, a mother of three, who still dotes on their dad says: "It might sound old fashioned but it's worked for us all these years and I wouldn't want it any other way."
Just as well because he ain't gonna change, Adria.
And maybe this Barnsley couple's relationship is not so extreme. There are Brians and Adrias everywhere. Maybe you are married to a man who could rival Brian and give him a run for his money.
What we all love are hearing extremes of love – whether lacking or loaded with overwhelming wonder.
What, I wonder, is the most romantic gesture you've ever received. For some it's him fitting a new bathroom, for others finding surprise "I Love You" messages in the misted-over bathroom mirror or even on the bed where he's used umpteen pairs of his socks to spell it out.
Where do these women find these men? That's another mystery. Men who never fail to surprise and who will go to any lengths to profess their undying love.
Take Gary Newman, a 22-year-old lance corporal in the 39 Regiment Royal Artillery, who is getting ready for a six-month stint in Afghanistan.
He's full of surprises. And since finding his childhood sweetheart, Kayleigh Johnson again – they were classmates at Houghton Kepier School – he's never faltered in taking her breath away.
Four years after last seeing Kayleigh and meeting up on facebook, he confounded her completely.
During a fortnight break from Iraq two summers ago, Gary flew after her to Ibiza where she was on holiday.
"We ran and cuddled each other and I just knew straight away," says Kayleigh. She fell in love there and then on the spot.
Twenty-three today, she told me: "He's such a romantic man. He just went down on one knee and proposed on Roker pier.
"It took him a few times because people kept coming until he could get down properly and ask me. I was crying."
Now she wears his platinum and diamond ring and the couple, who have set up home together at Fence Houses, are hoping they have an extra special Valentine's Day to celebrate by winning the 25,000 dream wedding in a prize draw at the wedding fair at the Stadium of Light this Sunday.
Kayleigh, who works in a call centre, knows that, wonderful as that would be, she's struck gold in finding the perfect match with Gary and says: "I think it was meant to be."
And if you do too, let's hear it, especially if he pops the question this Valentine's Day.
* Cracking good idea booting the lapdancers out of Bud Biggalows, a stone's throw from Sunderland Minster, and transforming it into a champagne bar.
Cheers Tony Griffiths of Wylam Leisure, for scrapping cheap drinks promotions and the poledancing bar.
I'll float an opening night party idea of Tony offering free champers to all with the heady cocktail of names – Dom Perignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Shiraz – or anyone who has named their baby after a bottle
A little something for those who can't be bothered to think for themselves
How pathetic, having to turn to Tesco for a love message on your mobile. You'll be daft if you fall for this one.
And holy moly, look who is dishing out the words for those who can't think for themselves.
It's Maureen, their newly-appointed romance guru, a dead ringer for Barbara Cartland, whose trashy romances she devours nightly.
Anyone pitiful enough to call her this Sunday will, of course, pay a fee for a romantic text message which they can send on to the one they love – unless they are Tesco mobile customers.
A nice little earner for Tesco – cashing in on Cupid and those who can't string two words together, never mind three.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Sunderland’s astonishing rise even surprising Martin O’Neill
- Sunderland striker Campbell fresh to face Middlesbrough
- Derby train wrecked
- Martin O’Neill defends David Meyler after criticism from Tony Pulis
- Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it
- Sunderland striker Campbell fresh to face Middlesbrough
- Sunderland’s astonishing rise even surprising Martin O’Neill
- Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it
- Martin O’Neill defends David Meyler after criticism from Tony Pulis
- Kieran Richardson says there is plenty more to come from James McClean
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
