What a bucket of free flowers taught me about love and money

It's the thought that counts.

- Dr Ali A Smith

So goes the saying. I like the idea that we are only really interested in the fact that someone cared about us.My experience of life indicates that it might not be a universal truth.

Sometimes what counts is more than just the thought.

For a year, I used to bring my wife flowers every week. She was always pleased to receive them and I enjoyed bringing them for her. It was positive.

The longer this pattern went on, the less she seemed to appreciate the flowers and the more she merely expected me to bring them on a Friday. I didn't mind. It was still positive and it made her smile.

I would pick up the flowers on a Friday because I went to buy croissants for my colleagues. It was something of a ritual at work and so the pattern of purchases on Friday was established. The croissants are freshly made and particularly good at Lidl.