On rainy days
1. Clear out the garage, attic, cupboards
or wardrobes* - it really doesn't matter as
long as you do it together.
2. Go charity shopping. While away the hours
browsing for books, CDs, games, retro clothing,
bric-a-brac. You could try a carboot sale or
trawl round some antique shops.
3. Get some exercise. Go swimming or ice skating,
or enjoy a walk in the rain.
4. Enjoy a movie marathon.* Visit the video
shop, stack up on snacks and spend the day being
film critics. And if you're stuck for inspiration,
take a look at www.youtube.com
to find out which new releases should be top
of your list!
5. Visit an art gallery. Find an exhibition
in your area.
6. Step back in time and visit a museum. Many
of the buildings themselves deserve a look and
you never know you might learn something at
the same time!
8. Discover yourself. Bookshops and the internet
offer a wealth of personal-profiling tools,
which can help you find out your personality
type, your IQ or your relationship style.
9. Make something,* such as a coffee table,
some shelves, a bird table, pottery dishes,
vases, face sculpture, candles or soap. Craft
shops are full of ideas.
10. Go to the football or rugby.* Even if you're
not into the sport, you'll find the atmosphere
electric. Especially if your team is playing
their arch rivals!
11. Have an evening of pick'n'mix. Take a look
at the TV listings and create a night of entertainment.
On sunny days
12. Go for a stroll* - anywhere you like.
13. Take a hike. Find a nice big hill and see
who can fall into an exhausted heap at the top
first.
14. Go for a bike ride.* Like walking, cycling
can be energetic or gentle - it's up to you.
But either way it's sure to give your health
a boost!
15. Hire a boat. Choose from an energetic canoe
ride, a romantic row down the river or the wind
in your hair in a sailing boat.
16. Visit the park.* Spend the day on the swings
or play a game of tennis. If you're really adventurous,
you could even try out your skateboarding skills
on the half-pipe.
17. Take to horseback. Look in your local directory
for places that offer riding lessons (you may
need to book in advance). Or better still, along
a beautiful beach!
18. Be risky. Try some exptreme sports - skydiving,
rock climbing, potholing, ballooning, motor
racing... the list is endless. (You'll definitely
need to book ahead, though.)
19. Visit a stately home.* You might even get
some inspiration for your own love nest!
20. Obey your animal instincts by visiting
a zoo or farm.* Relax as you wander round the
park. And if you don't like spiders you can
always go and talk to the monkeys!
21. Remember the picnic.* To make all the above
even more enjoyable, don't forget to pack some
gorgeous food and wine. Let FoodTV
show you the way.
At the weekend
24. Take a city break. Look at US options as
well as those in Europe and Asia.
25. Book a themed weekend break. There are
plenty of options, from murder mystery tours
to salsa dancing to yoga.
26. Go camping,* either in your own back garden
or at one of the hundreds of specialised sites
around the country. Staying put will give your
children the chance to learn more about their
surroundings...
27. Visit friends or relatives.* Take the chance
to spend time with people in another part of
the country. If they can't put you up for the
night, book into a B&B.
28. Indulge and pamper yourself at a health
spa.
29. Pick any room in your house and give it
a complete makeover.
30. Spring clean the house or give your garden
a serious sort out. Make sure you take regular
breaks and treat yourself to a delicious takeaway
or meal out in the evening.
When the children are in
bed
31. Play games,
whether they're board games, computer games,
card games or naughty games...
32. Work your mind with brain-teasers, jigsaw
puzzles, crosswords or quiz books. See how your
IQ rates against the rest of the nation!
33. Pamper each other. Give your partner a
massage, manicure and pedicure. We all need
a little pampering sometimes!
34. Rent a film to suit your mood, be it a
comedy, weepy, romance or horror movie.
35. Star gaze. Lie in the garden and see if
you can name the constellations.
36. Have a blind food tasting.
37. Enjoy a romantic dinner for two: light
those candles, put on some soft music and get
out the posh crockery. As if you needed an excuse
to indulge!
38. Have a picnic in the garden.
39. Put on a themed evening. Try a little Eastern
promise or a sushi night.
40. Drag out the duvet, make two cups of hot
chocolate and snuggle up on the sofa or in front
of the fire.
41. Read the same book and compare notes. If
you're stuck for inspiration, why not see what
everyone else is reading?
42. Dig out the photos and enjoy a night of
nostalgia. Or if you want to get more involved,
why not take some of your own portraits? You
could be the next icon!
43. Try a new recipe together. Have a go at
Thai, Indian, Greek - whatever tickles your
taste buds.
44. Learn a language. With a language course
you can be confident in no time!
45. Go internet shopping.Why not treat each
other to a surprise? Buy online and then wait
for it to arrive!
46. Compose something: a poem, a story or -
if you're feeling musical - a song.
For an evening out
47. Go to the theatre. It could be the
IMax or, if the budget's tight, your local am-dram
group. Find out what's near you or pack your
overnight bag and make a weekend of it!
48. Get some exercise. Go swimming or to the
gym, or play a game of raquetball.
49. Have an evening of ten-pin bowling.* Or
join your local bowling club. Many are opening
their doors to a wider range of participants!
50. Attend a concert. Try something different,
such as jazz, classical or rock.
51. Go to the dogs* - but agree before you
go how much you're willing to lose in bets.
52. Enjoy a few drinks at your local pub, and
keep a look out for quiz nights and local bands.
They say music is the food of love!
53. Join an evening class. There's a huge range
available, from poetry and dancing, to local
history, cooking and wine tasting.
54. Have a leisurely dinner. Whether it's cheap
and cheerful or top-class nosh, enjoy the chance
for uninterrupted conversation.
55. Go to the cinema. Slip into the back row
and enjoy the latest blockbuster. Find out what's
on in your area.
When you've only got an hour
to spare
56. Have a fight* - with balloons or pillows
rather than words. Or if you're worried to be
more loving, why not indulge in some sensual
touching...
57. Have a bath with oodles of bubbles.
58. Eat in bed, whether it's breakfast time
or not. Make it all the more special by preparing
an aphrodisiac meal!
59. Use your limited time to plan what you'll
do when you have a whole evening to yourselves.
60. Start researching your family tree, then
add to it every time you have an hour to spare.
61. Bake a cake* or anything you'll enjoy eating
together.
62. Do a fitness video together, whether it's
aerobics, Pilates or yoga.
63. Do an online quiz.
Romantic gestures
64. Say "I love you"
65. Give each other a hug
66. Leave a love note, in a briefcase or on
the TV screen. Or request a love song on the
radio.
67. Blow a kiss - or just start flirting outrageously!
68. Give flowers.
69. Keep in touch. When you're apart, send
a text or email, or pick up the phone.
70. Write "I love you" in lipstick on the mirror
or in glow-in-the-dark chalk on the front wall.
* Child-compatible activities (depending on
the age of the child)
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