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TheLove
LETTES
The love industry is booming. Online dating sites across Europe attract nearly three million registered users annually, and, as Valentine's Day approaches, UK romantics are set to spend around £50 million on cards and £35 million on flowers. But is there more to modern romance than getting us to part with our cash? Karin Goodwin provides an A-Z guide to love in the DOS
I fresco sex Scots are happier than ever to admit doing it outdoors. Whether it’s about getting back to nature [.m/v ('liurrerlev’v [fiver—style. or something a little more sordid (think Stan Collymorel. 6*)"; of us claimed to have had sex in the open air in last year‘s Sex of the Nation survey.
it] busting According to the [K Greetings (‘ard Association we send 23.7million Valentine's cards every year worth £47.2m and spend £34m on
flowers including 9m on red roses.
12 THE LIST 3,1 Jan—ls: Fet‘ COTS
lassical romance
Nothing swells the heart
like an orchestra. The Royal Scottish National ()rchestra‘s Valentine‘s Day concert (in (ilasgow on Thu 14 Feb and lidinburgh on Fri l5 Febl is guaranteed to do what it says on the tin — it's packed with romantic classics from Chopin. Ravel and 'l‘chaikovsky' among others.
_. . Love is not always enough to 13* keep couples together — at least not physically. Long distance love is a modern phenomenon. According to researchers. at
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significant proportion of the two million people ‘living apart together' — LATs —4 are committed twosomes living in separate cities due to study or work.
nvironmentally
friendly sex toys
This is not just about fruit and veg. These days cheap and toxic PVC is out. while sleek. silicone. glass and eco—lube are in. ll‘ you want to go green. Edinburgh‘s ()rganic Pleasures stocks a host of ethically—prodUced and hypo—allergenic adult toys and accessories. Alternatively. check
out (‘oco de \ler's tairtrade wooden spanking paddle. But perhaps leay e the solar powered vibrator l‘or sunnier climes . .
llms for lovers
\Voody ..\llen may be
notoriously hopeless in love. but the gala opening oi his new lilnt. ('trvvtmt/rtt'v Dream. starring liwan .\lc(iregor and (‘olin Farrell at the (ilasgow Film Festival. on l-l Feb. makes a great alternative date and ticket price includes entry to the party afterwards. ()i‘ try Billy Wilder's romantic comedy The Apartment at the Filmhouse. lidinburgh.
.»\ccording to the experts.
‘gender play' is big news in zoos. with women particularly keen to explore their masculine side in the bedroom. l’ossible props include boxers. ties and lake moUstaches. while the more adventurous could try pegging apparently a popular pursuit in the ['8 this year which involves a strap on and a little imagination.
umanist
weddings Since
Humanist weddings were recognised as legally binding in 2005. Scots who want to say ‘I do‘ without involving (iod are growing in number. Last year a rise in demand of 59‘} was reported. Recent venues have included a windswept beach and the top of a Munro. See www.humanism-sct)tland.<)rg.uk
nfidelity Said to he a
‘growing epidemic‘ among
married couples. inlidelity is the most common reason for divorce with l lm Brits admitting to having an affair. The stats also