Katie Holland: This is not a Valentine's Day column

FAB V DAY: Sweets, flowers and romantic dinners - where's the harm?PHOTO/FILE

THIS week's column was going to be about Valentine's Day.

Which is today by the way, but don't worry, there's still time to grab some flowers from the servo. Trust me, it's better than nothing.

But after a few aborted attempts at writing something first serious, then light hearted then somewhere in between, I gave up.

Turns out it's quite tricky to write about the day of love and flowers and romantic dinners when you're currently a singleton.

You either sound wistful, cynical, or like a bitter old spinster, when in reality you're actually just fine thanks very much and think V Day is actually quite fab.

But wait, now it sounds like the lady doth protest too much. Okay, I admit it, I am surrounded by my 10 cats, throwing darts at photos of my ex-boyfriends. Cackling maniacally.

So all I will say is happy Valentine's Day to you, whether you're currently in love, in lust, or just loving life on your own terms. Imaginary kisses and candy from me. There.

Anyway, I've decided I quite like doing my own thing. Whether they admit it or not, and many friends of mine do, it's all too easy for people to lose a bit of themselves in a relationship and lose the ability to enjoy spending time alone. Why travel alone, eat out alone or spend days alone when there's a guaranteed companion to do it with? Well, because sometimes it's nice.

With no one else to consider, I can do things on a whim. As I did when I woke up on my day off this week with no plans and decided to go on an outing to the Mount. I planned to treat myself to some holiday wardrobe shopping and soak up some sun on the beach with my book.

The plan was going swimmingly until I handed over my credit card for my first purchase. Card expired. Oh dear.

Never mind, I'll just head down the beach. Ignoring the gathering clouds, I spread out my packed lunch (because if you take a packed lunch you can justify driving 70km to spend who knows what on summer frocks, obviously). Before I'd even opened my book, the spitting began. Foiled again.

Things briefly looked up when the nice young boy in the bank not only sorted out the credit card, but engaged in a bit of flirtatious banter. With me! Us old spinsters eh, we take what we can get.

Trying to get out of Tauranga was infuriating. First, a little lost. Second, stuck in traffic. At 3.30 in the afternoon it was at a standstill. Rotorua, we have no idea how good we have it - and I shall try to remember that next time I hit the school run traffic at the Westend lights. Once I had to wait a whole five minutes - and that was on a day the lights were actually working.

So, all in all, not the most successful day trip.

Still, it was an outing and it's lovely to have an outing, isn't it?