Love: A four-figure word

Cupid promises to sweep through the consumer platform once again as Sydney’s couples, and singles, share the love this Valentine’s Day.

Ahead of the day of romance next Thursday, Sydney’s most famous love ambassador, Mix 106.5 presenter Richard Mercer said love is a basic human need.

“I notice that people from all walks of life call me up in different situations. I get a lovely warmth off people who call,” he said.

While Mr Mercer is a ‘love guru’ on radio, he promises the title does not translate into real life.

“I don’t claim to be romantic; I’m hopeless at relationships,” he said.

After taking song requests for 15 years, Mr Mercer said there is one song he would request on February 14.

“I would dedicate to my partner Someone Like You by Van Morrison,” he said.

While flower shops are anticipating copious sales over the coming week, Sydneysider Callum Taylor will fly solo in a protest for what he calls “Singles Awareness Day”.

“I’ll be eating ice cream for one this year, then I’ll listen to sad ‘80s pop music and cry myself to sleep,” he said.

“While the day was designed for couples, it has its effect on singles as well. We may be alone on the day and be more aware of it than ever, but we can take solace in the fact that our wallets won’t be nearly as empty.”

Sydney couple Ryan Bishop and Ellie Smith will celebrate a different kind of relationship altogether: An open relationship.

“Ellie only sleeps with other women, while I only sleep with other men,” Mr Bishop said. “It works for us.”

“I think putting a specific label on love is redundant. When it comes in so many different forms, our set up may be unconventional on paper but in practice it works so well for us.

“We find that sleeping with people of the same sex tones down the jealousy aspect; it’s fine for her to see me with other men, as long as I don’t touch another woman. And for me … seeing her with another woman is really half the fun.”

In contrast to the open form of relationship, Sydney resident Mick Symons has been purchasing flowers for his wife, Dorothy, for 70 years on Valentine’s Day.

“We’re still soul mates,” Mrs Symons said. “We do everything together; he still holds my hand when we go for walks.”

Both 91, the couple met in Sydney in 1943.

“I would walk past the place Mick was working; he’d always try and get my attention and I’d always walk on by,” Mrs Symons said. “One day he spoke to a young man that happened to be my brother, saying how much he’d like to get to know me.

“My brother urged him to come to our house for a formal introduction, and that’s what he did – the rest is history.”