Valentine’s Day? After almost a year in lockdown I am loving it

It’s fair to say that the past year has been a challenging one for everyone. But with the Covid vaccinations starting to hurtle along, we can all start looking forward to a return to some form of normality and to feeling a little more positive about our lives.

And, with today being Valentine’s Day, it seems somehow fitting to begin to embrace that love of life once more.

Valentine’s Day might be a bit too much like a commercial gimmick for some, or too soppy for others, but after almost a year of lockdown, I can’t help but welcome it and reminisce about my first experiences of the day.

Writing a Valentine’s Day card for that boy you fancied or the thrill or receiving one from a secret admirer. It wasn’t always so rosy of course. I don’t think I will ever live down the embarrassment of the time I was sent a huge Valentine’s Day card at university – only to quickly recognise the handwriting as my mum’s.

But, let’s face it, we all yearn for a bit of passion in our lives.that is why the nation has been glued to the screen watching Bridgerton, the big-budget period drama about the life, love and infidelities of an aristocratic family.

Our cover star Polly Walker, who plays the scheming Lady Portia Featherington in the show, says on pages 6 & 7 that those passions are fantastic to work with:“the fact Lady Portia has such big, bold emotions and experiences within the show, is fun to play out as an actor.”

And if that doesn’t get you in the Valentine’s Day mood, we have to two heart-warming short stories, starting on page 34, about finding romance that you can indulge in to your heart’s content.