Valentines, Cuppers and Montaigne

Is Valentines Day genuinely about love and red roses, or simply commercial exploitation? According to the Card Association, more than a billion dollars worth of cards are sold on the occasion, second only to Christmas Day in that regard. Apparently, Valentines Day is mostly a UK/US thing, with much of the world partially dismissing the occasion. It is a day when it is lonely to be single, as all your friends are cuddling away in their rooms, but then again, an opportunity arises, since most people out on their own, are single... Anyway, my valentines evening consisted of going to Rauls, a cocktail bar in Oxford which was pleasant, apart from the fact that two cocktails went for 13 pounds (2 hours worth of work). Well, at least Mr. Darling will be putting some of the days proceeds into closing the budget deficit!

Since being back in Oxford, 'Cuppers' the inter-collogial rugby tournament has being going on. By default, St. Peters got through to the quarter finals, but were well and truly shown our place, by a very strong Keble, who put a-wait for it-76 points past us! Anyway, a loss was expected, and we more than made up for it in the pub later that night...

I have been reading a book called 'How to Live' which is a series of essays by Montaigne, a French philosopher from the 16th century. I will be putting weekly synopsis on my blog, as I think it has useful lessons for all of us.