Sideswipe: Stone the crows

Say what? The Australian Consulate in New Zealand has a day off?

Genuine heartfelt messages

Five things to do on Valentine's Day:

* Bake or buy eight cupcakes, and decorate with the letters I LOVE YOU - serve with champagne or a nice dessert wine.

* Create your own cocktail (best to tweak the recipe of your beloved's favourite) and name it after your valentine. Serve cocktails for two with a hand-written recipe to accompany.

* Write a love letter. On actual paper. With a real stamp. And post it so it actually arrives on the day.

* Leave post-it notes around the house where your beloved will find them throughout the day, and on each write one reason you love them.

* A recession Valentine's gift: one day of your undivided attention redeemable on a day of their choice.

... and things to avoid:

* Treating your beloved to a 'two for the price of one all you can eat' buffet meal.

* A Happy Valentine's last minute email.

* Organising an expensive dinner at a fancy restaurant and expecting your beloved to pay for half.

* Taking your beloved out to McDonald's then off to see Saw IV.

* Saying 'Valentine's Day? It's just an excuse for commercialism' right after you've just been given flowers, a card and a box of chocolates.

(Supplied by Romance Writers of New Zealand)

Multi-tasking mobile users

Drivers on phones may not be the problem, Karyn writes: "Last week, as I waited to cross a pedestrian crossing, four cars drove through without even noticing me. None of the four were talking on phones, but the fifth driver who stopped for me was yabbering away. Perhaps driving and talking on a phone while watching out for a cop and being extra careful not to hit anything is exactly the sort of awareness that's needed?"