We don’t do Valentine’s Day….
14 February 2012 in Uncategorized
Like Ishay from Food and the Fabulous I was also asked to write a Valentine’s Day piece for the City Press iMag. Strike one was when they wanted it from The Older Married Couple point of view, strike two was after I submited my pearls of wisdom the editor said they wouldn’t be using it because she had mistakenly assumed I was a man! Who knew I wrote so butch?!
This is what I submitted….
We’ve been married for 31 years and I would be lying if I said our marriage was full of romance, love and humour certainly, romantic gestures? nah!. Indeed, every year on our Christmas Eve wedding anniversary we toast each other and one of us will say “well that’s another year down the drain then?!” did I mention humour? We have never felt the need to celebrate Valentines Day, to us it’s how you treat each other throughout the year that counts.
If I were to make a romantic dinner for us, it would be at home, bear in mind he would see the candles on the dining room table and ask who’s coming for dinner? The menu would be a mix of our favourite foods from over the years, he adores my Peri Peri Chicken Livers with crusty bread, making that is truly a labour of love on my part, not only do I not like liver, I hate the texture and feel of it *shudder* I would just chomp daintily on the bread you understand.
Main course would be Chateaubriand with a Béarnaise Sauce, we both love beef fillet and I rarely make the sauce as it’s a heart-attack on a plate….and I do need to hang on to the old codger for a bit longer!
Dessert would be our hairy-old-family-favourite of Strawberry Rolled Pavlova, it’s a light pudding which would be perfect after the beef.
Click here for step-by-step instructions for a rolled pavlova.
Actually I lied, we do have the odd romantic gesture, someone got heart-shaped sarmies today…………large pause for everyone to go aaaaahhh! *rolls eyes*
Michéle said on 14 February 2012
OMG … I get VERY worried if all-sorts get invovled with the real foodster realm. No darling, you do NOT write butch-like and THANK you for sharing with us the piece that you prepared for nothing. DO SHARE also himself’s comment on the little hearts in the box … xxx
Sous Chef said on 14 February 2012
Thanks for reassuring me that I don’t come across as a bloke! I think Himself will be vastly relieved, one year I cut paper hearts and stuck them INSIDE his sandwiches
foodandthefab said on 14 February 2012
Hey Sue! I loved your answer – so full of humour and real. Lucky other half there. Have a wonderful day
Sous Chef said on 14 February 2012
Thanks Ishay, wouldn’t be without him!
Tandy said on 14 February 2012
silly them for not using your post! it rings true for most couples
Sous Chef said on 14 February 2012
They wanted an even number of men and women apparently and when they discovered I wasn’t a man they had too many women.
browniegirl said on 14 February 2012
Oh you are such a bloke….ever heard of a man named Sue? Hehehe….I think they lost out big time for NOT using your submission. I can imagine all the giggles in every home reading that and breaking the ice in some awkward situations. You and Himself ROCK! Well done and Happy Valentines Day. I love the heart shaped sarmies haha….xxx
Sous Chef said on 14 February 2012
I think it was a boy named Sue Colly
Oh well, you win some, you lose some hey? Happy V Day to you two also.
adinparadise said on 14 February 2012
I love your piece, and don’t think you look at all butch.
Lucky Roger with the heart shaped sarmies, but that “romantic dinner” sounds to die for, especially the Bearnaise sauce. 
happy valentines day to you both. xxx
Sous Chef said on 14 February 2012
Hahaha! butch WRITING AD!
Ja shame he’s not getting it……the dinner I meant! *winks*
Healthy Vegetarian Foods By Usha Singh said on 14 February 2012
Hi Sue–their and their million readers loss, but it was a gain for all of us at Food 24. Thanks & all the very best
Sous Chef said on 14 February 2012
Aw thanks, I appreciate all the support.
Blondie said on 14 February 2012
If they’d actually taken the time to read your blog, they’d have known after the first few lines that you’re not a bloke!
I’ve been told that it’s unconstitutional to discriminate against a person on the basis of their gender … would you like me to, er, ‘sue’ them for you? *grin*
I think you & Dodge make an awesome couple, regardless of whether it’s VD (oops, I meant to say Valentine’s Day) or not, and I’m proud to be able to call you both my friends!
Sous Chef said on 14 February 2012
Thank you my learned friend but I won’t go the litigation route this time!
I don’t know why I bother, I asked him if he liked his sandwiches and I got a blank look. Then a light bulb came on and he said they were very nice…..all the time looking at the tv with a remote in each hand!
Blondie said on 16 February 2012
ROTFLMAO!! He’s such a gem, you can’t help but love him!!
Sous Chef said on 16 February 2012
Heehee that’s for sure
sideview said on 14 February 2012
sounds like an amazing dinner
maybe you have to make teeny portions?
Sous Chef said on 15 February 2012
I must actually make for us sometime, and small portions work for me.
Mandy - The Complete Cook Book said on 15 February 2012
Too funny – writing butch. Silly people for not using your article. Good to know Pete and I aren’t the only “normal” people who don’t celebrate Valentines Day. Your menu sounds absolutely heavenly!
Mandy
Sous Chef said on 15 February 2012
Thank you Mandy and I am glad to hear there are other couples just like us!
colonialist said on 15 February 2012
Water nidget! I wonder if the editor knows she has earned bad press?
I am getting the hang of commenting on your site. All I have to do after following the link is ignore all the guff about ‘Page Not Found’, click on ‘Home Page’ in the green strip, ignore demands to sign up to get started, and go straight to comments where my name and email already appear from previous visits … Dead straightforward.
Debbie said on 16 February 2012
It is a pain finding them hey……also struggle,but now have the page saved to my desk top so much easier
Sous Chef said on 16 February 2012
I hope they sort all the glitches out soon and bring you guys across.
Sous Chef said on 15 February 2012
I thank you for being so polite and making the effort Col.
Debbie said on 16 February 2012
Love the article,so many poeple are like this,pity the thought it wasn’t to their liking.
Himself is like LO …everytime I make pudding she asks who’s coming over!
Love the rolled pavlova…must give it a bash.
Love the heart sarmies so cool
Sous Chef said on 16 February 2012
Thanks Debbie, do try the pav it’s very simple to make and only takes 12 mins in the oven as opposed to the traditional pav that takes over an hour.