The alternative Valentine's Day post - things you find romantic that aren't flowers or chocolates

[GunpowderGelatine]

For those of us that chocolate and flowers don't float our boat - What things that are "unromantic" (in the traditional sense) that your OH does that you actually find very romantic.

For me it's

• He picks me up from town after a night out, even if it's at 4am (rare these days)

• if I'm on the sofa watching TV he'll bring me a blanket and some snacks without me asking

• I won't get flowers tonight (don't like them) but he has ordered Domino's Pizza to be delivered 10 minutes after I get out of work.

• He comes to shows with me that he would never dream of going himself, like Riverdance and Macbeth, so that I don't have to go alone (my friends aren't fans either!).

• when I gave birth to the kids he was a model birth partner. He STFU when I was in labour, held my hand, did as he was told, stayed calm and centred me in everything. He also turned away impromptu visitors after I had DD (I was very ill and recovering from a serious PPH, as well as trying to establish breastfeeding). I'd been home a day and really didn't feel up to anyone, we had numerous people show up unannounced and he said no sorry not today. It's small but it made a real difference to me at the time, I'm a serial people pleaser so would never have done it myself and he knew this.

• not something for me, but someone at a petrol station asked him directions to the crematorium a few weeks ago, they had a funeral in 20 minutes. It was about 6 miles away and impossible to direct so he drove (out of his way) and had them follow so that they weren't late. He didn't post about it on social media, or want glory, he only told me because he was a bit late for our lunch as a result, and I was thought it was extremely kind

DH is very thoughtful. He helps around the house and does his share with our DC.
I like unexpected little gestures.
A cup of tea & a biscuit when DC in bed.
A back massage.
A hot bubble bath.
Breakfast in bed.
He will do the school run and let me lie in if I'm up during the night with DC.

Out of the blue bought me a really random painting that I liked. Everyone who see's it goes but I love it.

Lovely thread

Mine is that he’ll always go to the shop for me, he cooks me dinner every night, he knows when I’m feeling down and will provide comfort even if I don’t say, he’s amazing with our children. Our youngest is 1 and I still get given the weekend lay-ins as I did the night feeds for the first few months alone (bf)

So romantic

When DH buys me Dinky Deckers, my favourite chocolate, for no reason

He has a mug of coffee ready for me every morning when he hears me get up. Goes out to defrost the car for me if it's icy.

Gets in my side of the bed first to warm it up before I get in and let's me stick my freezing cold feet on his legs

Coffee and porridge in the morning.

And breakfast in bed sometimes at weekends.My all time favourite treat.

He kisses me on the forehead every morning before he goes to work, even when i'm asleep (i've startled awake to his beardy face millimetres from mine many times!)
He is really kind to me.

I didn't get a card or flowers today (do usually get a card) but while I was napping on the sofa earlier he kissed me on my cheek and stroked my hair, even though he thought I was still asleep.

He times my morning coffee to perfection literally handing it to me as I walk into the kitchen. At the weekend he always brings me tea and buttery toast in bed.

If a song he knows I like comes on the radio he always turns it up loud for me.

Basically he just makes me feel cherished every day.

He took me seriously when I said I wanted a tool kit for Valentines rather than saying it wasn't romantic enough, I could use his etc. I got one and I love it. I was very independent when I lived on my own and had to leave all of my tools behind.

Mine got me a gravy jug fat/juices separator and some towel reviver. This might seem crap but I've been fretting about the fluffiness of the towels and I've wanted that juices/fat separator jug for about 10 years, so I am well pleased. I nothing else it shows he listens to me wittering.

He will pick me up anytime day or night (even if I’m annoyingly pissed), and he will never ever make me feel shit.

He cycled half an hour to help me find the car when I had forgotten where I’d parked it in a massive multi-storey car park...and didn’t think that I was a div when I found the car just before he arrived.

He tells me I’m funny even though I know that he wants to be the funny one in the relationship as that’s what he prides himself on.

Having a 3 course dinner cooked (or rather bought from M&S and re-heated) for me along with a bottle of my favourite wine to accompany it.

Awww this is a lovely thread!

The fact that my hubby never complains that i fall asleep on the sofa snuggled into him every night (but that might be because he gets the tv and peace 😂) he just makes sure im all tucked in with my blanket and lets me sleep.

He got me a slightly inappropriate valentines card but it was very funny and made me smile.

My DP is generally great and has been extremely supportive throughout my pregnancy (getting up with our toddler more during the night and just doing more around the house, even though he does loads anyway)

In the last week:
Last weekend, he cooked and washed up both nights, bathed DS and put him to bed (we normally take everything in turns).
Run me a bath when I was aching yesterday, put my PJs on the radiator, got the bed ready for me then brought me up a cup of tea and some chocolate.
Bought me a bunch of daffodils as he knows they're my favourite and have been looking forward to Spring
Let me have a bit of a lie in this morning as I've not been sleeping much lately

We had a £5 or less limit on Valentine’s Day gifts this year. He bought a photo frame and put all of our train/ theatre/ gig/ restaurant receipts in that he has kept over the years. Lovely & blew my packet of his favourite sweets for him out of the water.