With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, the pressure is truly on. There are no working hours to cut the celebration into brief post-work segments. There is no office desk to adorn with a supermarket bouquet and call it a day. Instead, there’s time and, with it, the expectation of spending that time together. For the certified lovebirds among us, this is no great feat. But if romance has forgotten your name, address and favourite colour, here are five easy Valentine’s Day dates to help you recover.
Make a mixtape – What is love without music? Wedding songs, the tune playing when the two of you first met or the mixtape you put together when mere words seemed inadequate. This Valentine’s Day, especially for veteran lovers, a date that will make them melt is a musical one. Put a playlist together, lay out some drinks and snacks and travel back in time, transported by the hits from your first year of dating or the playlist from your wedding celebration.
Paint and sip – For the lovers who like to get creative, why not paint and sip? Grab some inexpensive canvases/paper and paints from your local art supply store, pick out a nice bottle of wine, light some candles to set the mood and have some fun painting portraits. You paint them, and they paint you. Hilarity will most certainly ensue.
Cook together – If you’re reading this today and haven’t made restaurant reservations, it’s time to head to the grocery store. Forget the overpriced and impersonal Valentine’s Day events and enjoy an intimate evening cooking for or with the person you love. Pastas are easy, inexpensive, romantic and pair beautifully with wine. Dress up a little, have some candles out and channel your inner sexy chef.
Visit an art gallery – A date that may delight art enthusiasts is a visit to an art gallery. Take some time to see what’s on show, choose an exhibition that sparks your interest and pair this date with coffee or drinks after to reflect on what you experienced. Additionally, a piece of local art may very well make a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift. On Saturdays, you can visit the National Art Gallery of Namibia in Windhoek from 09h00 to 14h00, The Project Room between 10h00 and 13h00 and Bellhaus Atelier & Galerie is open from 09h00 to 13h00.
Rest together – While some people may see this as a cop-out, I believe rest can be incredibly romantic. All the more so if you’re busy parents who haven’t had a night to yourselves in years. In this case, perhaps the sexiest thing you can do is carve out some quality time for you and your partner. Ship your children off to a trusted sitter and watch a movie, read books side-by-side or simply take a nap together. Rest is romantic, and the children will be home soon.
–martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com
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