Cupid’s Corner: Sharing Cardiff Students’ Love Notes

An Ode to friendship in women. There is a special type of magic laced in the love between friends, my heart five pounds heavier in the company of my own. Only one ring away from all the right people at all the right times. Silent pacts sealed in shared bathroom stalls and the warmth of living room lights. The simple intimacy of knowing and being … Continue reading Cupid’s Corner: Sharing Cardiff Students’ Love Notes

Valentines vs Galentines: Commercialising Relationships?

We asked our contributors if they were team Valentine’s, Galentine’s or against the holiday altogether: Personally, I love both Valentine’s and Galentine’s! Any opportunity to spread love and positivity to those close to me is always a winner. For many however, Valentine’s can be a lonely and stressful time for those not in relationships and this is not helped by the commercialisation of Valentine’s. The … Continue reading Valentines vs Galentines: Commercialising Relationships?

Valentine’s and Food: Do We Love or Hate Dinner Dates?

Step aside restaurant dinner dates, make way for coffee shops, picnics, and activities. This Valentine’s Day our contributors have shared their opinions on dates over dinner, and it seems that, generally, the good old-fashioned rendezvous is falling in popularity. That said, Wiktoria offers the traditional dinner date all the hope it needs. words by Wiktoria Jazwinska: What has happened to the good old-fashioned dinner date? … Continue reading Valentine’s and Food: Do We Love or Hate Dinner Dates?

First Date Outfit Ideas

Illustration by Shafia Motaleb (@artsyfifi) Words by Maggie Gannon This yearÔÇÖs ValentineÔÇÖs Day, whether itÔÇÖs something you choose to celebrate or perhaps ignore, is certainly going to be different. If you found yourself chatting over zoom calls or making the most of those FaceTime dates, the time has now come again where this holiday, like many others, can happen in person. Unfortunately, though, wearing pyjama … Continue reading First Date Outfit Ideas

For the love of instruments

Words and Images by Octavia Graham Header Image by Elijah M Henderson The soft, or sometimes not-so-soft, lull of music accompanies each and every memory I hold close. Every essential encounter and every experience. From the CDÔÇÖs spinning around my stereo at night to the slight sound of lessons taking place downstairs. The gigs of parents and friends of parents or busking in the street. … Continue reading For the love of instruments

A Single Valentine’s Day

By Dominic Bramley-Carr ValentineÔÇÖs Day. Whilst a date often associated with red, romance and a bouquet of roses, it can also knock the self-confidence of the most level-headed individual. It seems to be fairly widely accepted that the construction of ValentineÔÇÖs Day, by films and television, as a day of clich├® love that is more special than any other, is a marketing ploy which puts … Continue reading A Single Valentine’s Day

‘If Music be the food of Love, play on’

Words Anonymous As we access our favourite songs through YouTube or streaming services such as Spotify, it is very hard to avoid songs associated with the themes of love, heartbreak, desire or passion. Love songs have sold millions of copies worldwide over the decades, and even today, the most popular songs in the charts often explore what it means to be in love, or at … Continue reading ‘If Music be the food of Love, play on’

Valentines x Dinner Date Disasters

Image by Anna Kerslake With Valentine’s Day just behind us, we thought it would be fun to look back on some of our contributor’s worst date experiences, where food has been the main source of embarrassment. So, let the shocking see the cringe: awkward dates, reveal yourselves. Sad steak – Megan Evans Being an incredibly clumsy person, it really doesnÔÇÖt help in my favour when … Continue reading Valentines x Dinner Date Disasters

A couple wearing masks are in tehe centre of the pages with flowers between them. They are surrounded by images of a girl in a bathrobe reading, a pink dildo, a heart shaped box of chocolates, roses, a cocktail and a gay couple on a video call

How to Look After Your Mental Health This Valentine’s Day

Illustrations by Rahima Bhatti, @rahima.creative on Instagram Valentine’s Day is a difficult day for a lot of people. The pressure to be happy and in love can really take a toll on your mental health. Today we wanted to give you some advice for ways to look after yourself, and put you first this Valentine’s Day. Catarina Vicente’s Advice As everything else this year, ValentineÔÇÖs … Continue reading How to Look After Your Mental Health This Valentine’s Day

Valentine's in Lockdown

How to Spend Valentine’s in Lockdown

Finding inspiration for what to do on Valentine’s day is never easy and this year, with lockdown, there are extra obstacles in the way of having a fun Valentine’s. We asked our contributors to give us their ideas for the best ways to spend Valentine’s day whilst respecting measures in place. Here’s what they had to say: Spa and Cocktail Night By Shannon Bowes-Cavanagh A … Continue reading How to Spend Valentine’s in Lockdown

Poem – Valentine’s Surprise

By Kimberley Jones To my lover,In my whole lifetime I will never be able to express how much you mean to me,And I hope that my efforts will make you believe in our forever.Strange times have taken their toll on you and me,And has made it difficult for us to find happy memories from the year,But I have not given up, eternity we will be.I … Continue reading Poem – Valentine’s Surprise

Dydd San Ffolant yng Nghaerdydd

Gan Si├ón Jones Mae Dydd San Ffolant yn ddiwrnod hudol, diwrnod i ddathlu cariad rhwng partneriaid, aelodau teulu a ffrindiau ehangach. MaeÔÇÖr diwrnod yn cael ei ddathlu ym myd-eang, a miliynau o bobl yn gymer bwys yn eu bywydau prysur er mwyn cryfhau eu perthnasoedd efoÔÇÖr rhai mwyaf pwysig yn eu calonnau. Ar gyfer Dydd San Ffolant eleni, rydw i wedi creu rhestr eang o … Continue reading Dydd San Ffolant yng Nghaerdydd

ValentineÔÇÖs Day: The Marmite Holiday

Phoebe Grinter – Columnistgrinterpm@cardiff.ac.uk As ValentineÔÇÖs Day has crept round once again, I discuss my love-hate relationship with this commercial holiday. Here we are again: ValentineÔÇÖs Day, the most Marmite day of the year. The mere words ÔÇÿValentineÔÇÖs DayÔÇÖ make me feel indifferent. IÔÇÖve never been one to celebrate ValentineÔÇÖs Day, whether I was seeing someone or not. This isnÔÇÖt necessarily because I have had … Continue reading ValentineÔÇÖs Day: The Marmite Holiday

Valentine’s Day – It’s Just Not That Big A Deal

By Alex Channing ItÔÇÖs inevitable that anyone who isnÔÇÖt in a relationship this ValentineÔÇÖs Day is going to feel a degree of frustration. Some more than others, but I truly think everyone will at least slightly. People around us in relationships are getting excited and passionate about all the ways they can show affection to their other half. Gifts, roses, dates, chocolates, fancy restaurants, breakfast … Continue reading Valentine’s Day – It’s Just Not That Big A Deal