Is Derry a romantic place, what makes a good first date and what makes a good Valentine's Day present?
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00:00I'm Mitchell McLoughlin, as far as I can remember.
00:04I'm from the Bogside.
00:10I think for visitors it is. I'm not so sure about the people who live here.
00:19No, I'm 80 years of age. Are you kidding? I was only 10 at the time and I can't remember her name.
00:25Well, I suppose something that you...
00:27If you're able to say at the end of the day that you had a very good night, you enjoyed yourselves,
00:31both of you enjoyed yourselves, then that might qualify.
00:39Oh no, I usually gave presents if I remember back in those days. I didn't get any back.
00:44I discovered that was, you know, the war of the sexes and all that, you know, you've got to remember.
00:49They expected presents, I didn't.
00:55Derek.
00:58The Watershine, just.
01:05I wouldn't really say it's a romantic place, but it does have lots of nice spots for couples and people to go.
01:14What did you say, sorry?
01:17No, not really, no.
01:20What do you think makes a good date?
01:23Well, I'd like to man the planet, and then just surprise you and take you out somewhere nice.
01:30And what do you think makes a good Valentine's present, or if you had a good Valentine's Day present?
01:36Just, like, flowers or something, and a wee teddy bear and chocolate.
01:42First off, could you just introduce yourself please?
01:44I'm Roisin, from Belfast.
01:46Nice to meet you, Roisin. And can you tell me, do you think Derry's a romantic place?
01:51Well, it's very cold. It's very hard to be romantic in this cold.
01:55Yeah, it's a lovely place. I like it down here. I prefer it in the summer.
01:59Can you remember your first date?
02:02That was a long time ago.
02:05It can't be that long ago.
02:07God, no. We've been married for a lot of years, so.
02:11Can you tell me, well, how about your date with your husband then?
02:15Yeah.
02:19Yeah, got Hill Kilmer.
02:23I think it was in the town in Belfast. Yeah.
02:27Or it could have been Banker. I'm really lucky.
02:31What do you think makes a good date?
02:37A sense of humour, being kind, and good manners.
02:45And have you ever got any really good presents on Valentine's Day?
02:49What do you think makes a good Valentine's Day present?
02:52Just something thoughtful. Doesn't really matter what it is.
02:56Perfect. That's it.
02:57First off, could you just introduce yourself please?
03:00My name's Arlene. This comes from Belfast.
03:03And where are you from?
03:04Kilkeen.
03:05Count you down.
03:07And can you tell me, do you think Derry's a romantic place?
03:10Yeah.
03:11Yeah, we do like it. We've been here a few times, so.
03:15Lovely place. Very friendly. Very, very friendly people.
03:20Can you just remember your first dates?
03:25I remember the first time I met him.
03:28Before I was out with my friends, and my friend knew him.
03:32And she introduced me. She says, I think you'll like this fella.
03:36Hello, meet Leslie. Hi Arlene.
03:38He turned around, walked off and talked to his mates. Nice as well.
03:42That didn't go down so well. A few years later we met somewhere else.
03:46I think I remember you from somewhere, so that's it.
03:49And it went from there.
03:51And how long have you been together?
03:54We're married. 31 years in May.
03:57This May we'll be 31 years married.
04:00And what's the secret to keeping a marriage alive, I guess?
04:03Do as you're told.
04:05That sounds good. That sounds good, doesn't it?
04:09Do as you're told.
04:11Yeah, well.
04:13Last question. What do you think makes a good Valentine's Day present?
04:18Each other.
04:21Probably. You know, just be...
04:24There's so many people aren't happy, it's nice to find somebody that you're happy with.
04:28Whether you have money or whether you only have each other, you have what you need.
04:33Valentine's Day should be every day.
04:36Except when he doesn't say yes to me.
04:40First off, could you introduce yourself please?
04:43My name is Alicia O'Kane.
04:45And where are you from, Alicia?
04:47The Waterside.
04:49Lovely. And can you tell me, do you think Derry is a romantic place?
04:52I think it's very romantic, I have to say. I think Derry people are special.
04:56And they show love in many different ways.
05:00It's a very, very special place, absolutely.
05:03Very romantic, myself included.
05:05Can you tell me, do you remember your first date?
05:08My first proper date?
05:10Your first proper date.
05:13Was that long ago? I don't know if I can.
05:19I don't actually remember.
05:21If not, well, what do you think makes a good first date?
05:23A good first date.
05:25Well, I suppose the first thing is that they turn up.
05:28I'm not sure.
05:30I think I've been stood up a few times on the belt.
05:33But the first thing is they turn up, and on time.
05:38That the arrangements are made.
05:41And that there's a bit of crack, I think you need a bit of crack.
05:47You need plenty of conversation.
05:50The rest will follow if you have that spark.
05:53And instead of a laugh, you do need a laugh.
05:56And of course, the man has to pay.
05:58The man has to pay.
06:00That's very important as well.
06:03What do you think makes a good Valentine's Day present?
06:10I suppose maybe the stage I'm at now.
06:13I tell my husband what to buy me, I suppose.
06:16How long are you with your husband?
06:17How long am I with him now?
06:20Cheaper. 17 years?
06:23No, sorry. 2009.
06:2615 years.
06:28Coming up in March.
06:31Go on are the days where I would have let him choose my present for now.
06:36I'll tell him what I want.
06:38But something that is meaningful.
06:40It doesn't have to cost an awful lot.
06:42Something that the other person likes.
06:44Can you tell your name, please?
06:45Ella.
06:47And I heard today that you exchanged some Valentine's presents.
06:50Can you tell me what you got each other?
06:52I got him a wee fluffy and also a wee lollipop and a wee keychain.
06:59I got her a wee sausage dog today.
07:03And I found money aids.
07:08And a wee card for me.
07:10Lovely. And what does Valentine's mean to you?
07:13I don't know.
07:15You don't know?
07:17I don't know.
07:19Well, what inspired you to gift each other some presents?
07:22Well, I think it's just kind.