Musings

Our Perfect Valentine’s Day

By Shelley Banks

Valentine’s Day, for many, is all about grand gestures and lavish dinners. For us, though, it’s something much more relaxed.

Instead of dining at a high-end restaurant—which often raises prices for the occasion—we choose to visit our preferred seafood shop and carefully select a variety of fresh seafood. The thirty-minute drive is well justified by the opportunity to handpick premium options, such as prawns, bugs, lobster, scallops, or crab.

When we get home, we cool a bottle of crisp Australian white wine, which goes perfectly with seafood. We arrange everything on our verandah overlooking the suburbs and watch the sky change to shades of pink and purple at sunset. Our dog always joins us, sitting by our feet and hoping for a treat—though since we’re both such big fans of fresh seafood, that’s not likely.

Once the sun has gone, we carry our plates to the verandah and enjoy the meal together, accompanied by our dog relaxing nearby. Time passes slowly with good food and wine.

To us, Valentine’s Day isn’t about bouquets or boxes of chocolates. It’s about making time for each other, sharing a meal we both love, and soaking up the simple joys of home. The night-time breeze, the clinking of glasses, and the soft nudge of our dog’s nose — these are the things we remember.

Every year, as we raise our glasses and tuck into a feast of fresh seafood, we’re reminded that love lives in these small moments. On our verandah, with our dog by our side, we celebrate a Valentine’s Day that’s uniquely ours.

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