insideKENT Magazine Issue 56 - November 2016 | Page 54

Have a Picnic

Romantic Meal

Chocolate Tasting

Reading

Film Night

Video Games

If the weather is being kind, why not use your
outside space to have a picnic? Lay a blanket
on the ground and serve up some finger food.
Nights are a bit chillier at the mo and the nights
are drawing in, so, better still, turn that picnic
into a cookout – fire up the barbecue, or make
a small fire then toast some marshmallows and
bake some potatoes. Wrap up warm and enjoy
dinner and a cuddle under the stars.

It may not sound like the most exciting or
enticing of date nights, but just give it a try
and you might realise just how relaxing and
romantic snuggling up with a partner and
a good book or two can be. Let the world
around you fall away as you tumble into
the story and, thanks to being in close and
peaceful proximity to your nearest and dearest,
your heart rate and stress levels will drop.
Good for your relationship and good for your
health too.

You don’t have to be a masterchef to create a
romantic three-course meal; it’s the effort you
put into it that makes all the difference. This is
your chance to create a special night with no
distractions (put those mobiles away now) and
just relish being together. Clear the dining table,
set out some candles and serve up your own
romantic creations. If you really want to make
a night of it, pick a course each and surprise
each other with your culinary skills.

Whether you delve deep into your DVD collection
and settle on a classic, or rent a brand new
blockbuster for the night, it doesn’t matter – just
as long as you both agree on the film you’ll have
a fabulous (argument-free!) evening. Or, make a
night of it, start a little earlier and have a double
bill; that way you can both choose a film. Dim the
lights, grab some snacks (popcorn, crisps and
dips, and ‘sharing’ packs of chocolate always
work a treat), and snuggle down on the sofa
under a blanket. Or, better still, bring the duvet
down from the bed and set up camp for the night.

Not all chocolate is the same, and the cheap
stuff is cheap for a reason. If you decide to go
down the chocolate-tasting route, you’ll soon
find that out for yourself. The best way to play
is to pick six or so different chocs, ranging from
high to low cacao percentages. Break them
into bits, pop the bits into bowls, and score
each one out of 10. Once you’ve finished, you
can nibble at the remaining chocolate as you
discuss why you gave the score you did!

When you want something a little more hi-tech,
why not plug in the games console and have
a good old video games battle? It doesn’t
matter what kind of games you’re into, it’s the
winning that counts, right? Joking. It’s about
playing together. Make sure you’ve got snacks
and drinks within easy reach as time flies when
you’re gaming.

Karaoke

The thought might make you feel silly, but a
good blast of karaoke always makes everything
seem alright. Really; try it. Go for some
romantic duets, or sing love songs to one
another. Try an epic rap battle, or perhaps go
back in time and pull out some truly classic
tunes. Anything that you can sing along to is
great, and you don’t need a fancy machine
either.

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