show women are just as likely as men to play away. In the [K we take cheating more serioUsly than other lit' nations: 40"} of Rtissians claim it's not wrong and many French citizens don't consider it taboo.
ust friends t'p m
(M of adults in Scotland
claim they have never had sex. and across the [K l8"? are living without it at any one time. Sometimes it's about choice. other times circumstance. But if the real reason is unrequited love. beware. Psychologists claim you really can die of a broken heart.
lndred spirlts lt's
cheering to discover that.
while we might drool over Daniel (‘raig or Angelina .lolie. a study by [TS psychologists found that positive personality traits can make tip for what is lacking in the looks department. Those described as honest. amusing and intelligent scored highest for both sexes. liven in terms of appearance we're looking for kindred spirits — potential partners that mirror our own features get the thumbs up.
adies choice
(ietting married hasn't
been so unpopular since mid—Victorian times — fewer than 30.000 couples made it tip the aisle last year. Come on girls: waiting to be asked is so uncool. This is a leap year. so there's no excuse not to propose.
useum The L'K‘s first sex museum — Amora. the Academy of Sex and Relationships. which
opened in London last summer — aims to ditch slea/e in favour of interactive exhibits that help visitors understand the act of love. lts six /ones cover everything from erotic fantasies to sexually transmitted disease. Future expansion outside the capital is planned. Watch this space.
ational Review of
Live Art This could
be your chance to tell your Valentine how you feet. 011 9 Feb. performance art company ‘t'ninvited (iuests‘ are staging ‘Love Letters from the Heart' at Glasgost Tramway. a show exploring the cast’s feelings towards their loved ones. with song dedications. Audience members are invited to send in their own dedications to infota‘uninvited—guestsnet. which will be used in the event.
nllne dating While
surveys tell us that only a
quarter of people using online dating services are confident of success. that doesn't put them off. According to Jupiter Research the number of paying users in liurope is set to rise from the current 2.8m to 6m by 201 l. catering for an anticipated singles population of tom in 20l8.
almstar Poppy
Composer David Patti
Jones‘ sumptuous cycle of SUIth in Search ()fLUt'e 1.0.8"! at Sea. at Edinburgh‘s Traverse theatre from Isl—lb Feb. takes you on a journey across a landscape of high hopes and heartache. The story of a sailor's voyage in search of his dead lover. for piano and voice. it‘s full of lush melodies.
uirkyalones Don't worry if you don't have a Valentine — you're not a sad single. you're a quirkyalone. The movement. founded by LS author Sasha Cagen. is about choosing to fly solo rather than settle for the sub—standard coupledom offered by Mr or Mrs Wrong. It also offers an alternative to Valentine's Day — International Quirkyalone Day — also on H Feb. which celebrates love in all its forms.
emains of St
valentine Glasgow
may be known for its kiss. but is not renowned for romance. Surprising. then. perhaps. to find the supposed remains of the patron saint of love at the Blessed St John Duns Scotus Church in the Gorbals. Said to have been a priest who was beaten and beheaded for
refttsing to give tip his faith. the church claims St Valentine's bones. display ed in a casket. are a reminder that martyrdom is the highest form of love.
cience of scent
The jury is out on how
pheromones work in humans but w e’re fascinated by smell. Scientists have found everyone has a unique signature scent that's capable of driving the opposite sex wild and yet we spend L' 1 bn on perfume and aftershave in the [K each year. e it":_i;,‘ 1.? How did we hold down . relationships before the text message‘.’ liarly text flirtation is tantalising while heated picture messaging and no—holds barred texts can get hearts racing later on. lfeverything goes wrong. let‘s hope your paramour has the decency to tell you to your face. Text dumping is the height of bad manners.
"L.-: :‘cmr: st}:
tter Gutter (iet
yourself down to t'tter
Gutter's Broken Hearts Fancy Dress ball at Glasgow School of Art on 9 Feb. Glasgow's leading alternative gay (but hetero—friendly) night instructs you to ‘stop giving Hallmark your money" and ‘come find yourself a real honey in time for Valentine‘s.” Alternately. give Burlescapades Valentine's Venetian Masked Ball a whirl. at Edinburgh‘s Voodoo Rooms. 15 Feb. It features Missy Malone. Leyla Rose and (iwendoline Lamour.
alert-2 ine’s verse
Poetry and romance have
a chicken and egg-like relationship. making this February‘s events at the Scottish Poetry Library a perfect celebration. Bring along your favourite poem to read aloud at a lunchtime session on 14 Feb or join John Hegley the following evening for a Valentine‘s Poetry Patty. complete with flowers. candles and kir royales.
’UVVVUUV..............UUUVUUvUUVVUVUUVUU‘WOQ
ine tasting ‘()nly
somebody w ho really
takes the time to understand pinot's potential can then coax It into its fullest expression.‘ So stt} s .\l1les in the wine tasting road movie Sit/nuns. ('laire Blackler of Case Studies \Vine School also reckons pinot noir is the most romantic of grapes. t'ncoy er its sensitiye side ill the school's candlelit dinner and tasting on l4 Feb at Henderson's. lidinburgh.
‘24 1‘: i 'i I""~‘-¥" ' ‘ .-\ recent stll'\ ey of H.000 211-, i . people by Brett Kahr and
You(ioy found a third of the population have low frequency sex (less than once a month t. 44‘; medium (between once a month and twice weekly t and 20‘; high (three times per week or motel. Men have an average of l5.7 partners in their lifetime and women have 14.0. though LSmillion people had oy er l00. But all is not fair in sex: 7l‘i of men reached orgasm every time and only 28‘} of women.
ounqer men
Research shows women
still averagely opt for a man 3.4 years older than them (and men prefer their women to be 3.6 years younger) but hay ing a toyboy is no longer taboo think Madonna. Sadie Frost or Demi Moore. Last nionth. speed dating agency ‘l’ocket (‘hange' launched in New York. which invites women to become the rich old codger snaftling up young talent. ()nly women over 35 with a minimum annual salary of $500,000 need apply. Boy s mttst be young and beautiful.
inc ('onsidered an
aphrodisiac. linc plays an
important role in male sexual function. making it a key ingredient in any St Valentine‘s Day meal. (‘ue the entrance of oysters and asparagus. which are rich sources of zinc. Sales of both rocket in February.
’1‘ Jam—‘4 Pet. 2%": THE LIST 13