Put the spark back into your date nights with A Year Of Dates

by Natalie
Mums Off Duty, A Year Of Dates

When did you last have a ‘date night’ with your partner? Like real, quality time together just the two of you? We all know how important it is to spend time together as a couple away from the kids but finding the energy or inspiration to do anything other than sit in front of the telly with a takeaway can often feel like too much of an effort.

If this sounds like you, I know someone who can help put that spark back into your date nights. Let me introduce you to Kate Greenhalgh, mum to two-and-a-half-year-old Phoebe and and wife to John. Kate has got your date nights covered, I promise.

Mums Off Duty, Christmas gift, Directory, A Year Of Dates

Two years ago, inspired by a gift from her (very clever!) husband, Kate set up A Year Of Dates – beautiful gift boxes packed full of unique, colour-coded date ideas for you and your partner to enjoy together. There are plenty of other brilliant gift ideas too – A Year Of Play for little ones (perfect for school holidays if you’re stuck for ideas), milestone boxes for those big birthdays, and the fab just-launched New Parents box.

Meeting Kate, owner of A Year Of Dates

Even though she’s super busy, Kate made time to have a little chat with us so that we could find out more about her, her family and the lovely story on how A Year Of Dates came to be. Hopefully it will inspire you to turn off the TV for an hour and make proper date nights a regular thing again.

What is the best thing, and the hardest thing, about being a mum?

The best thing is now that Phoebe can talk, she tells me I’m her best friend. I can actually have a conversation with her. I’m constantly amazed at her language and how much she understands!

The hardest thing is the lack of sleep and the lack of personal space while trying to sleep – she appears in our bed at some point most nights!

I remember being ‘tired’ when I got home from a day at work (sitting in front of a computer, not actual physical work!), then I’d lie on the sofa watching TV all night and sleep for eight hours…

Are you a hopeless romantic?

No…I like to think I could be but John is the romantic one! He always gets it just right with presents or the little gestures. Not annoying at all!

What’s the best date you’ve ever been on?

I’d have to say my first ‘official date’ with John. We met online so had stalked each other for a while on Facebook, then started chatting. We met up three times before the official date, and he’d even met my friends.

Then when we were due to meet up he told me to bring a jumper. I spent all day wondering what he had planned, so when we set off on the motorway I was a bit confused. A friend was texting me to ask if I knew his car registration!

We ended up in Blackpool for the illuminations, and he had a convertible so we had the top down – that’s why I needed a jumper!

What was the inspiration for starting A Year Of Dates?

Mums Off Duty, A Year Of Dates

The idea was born from a Christmas present from John. He made me a date jar containing over 70 sealed envelopes – he kept thinking of better ideas so just kept adding them in.

The idea was to open one a week and do what the card said. It was brilliant for making us make an effort. It was pre-Phoebe so we’d meet for dinner after work, go to the cinema and come home to candlelit dinners!

Fast forward 18 months and I was on maternity leave. I told a friend about the gift and she had the same response as everyone else: “I wish I had time and the ideas to do that.” And I had a lightbulb moment!

We used our savings to buy enough stock for 100 sets and planned to sell them at craft fairs and markets in the run-up to Christmas. At the end of September 2016, I attended a Pitch Up session for Not On The High Street, they signed me up as a partner and I’ve not looked back.

What’s it really like to run your own business alongside having a family?

It’s tough! You find ways to speed up jobs and I often work into the evening but I love it.

Until recently I had a part-time job in a design agency as well. I left there in April as we realised I needed the time to grow the business and get out to events and courses. I have no idea how to run a business so I now have an advisor and have been taking part in a business development programme.

Was it a tough decision to give up your day job?

The dream had always been to be self-employed by the time Phoebe started school, so the fact I have been able to do it two years earlier is amazing. Giving up the day job was scary but it was absolutely the right time and we could see the potential if I gave it my all.

Which is your favourite product from A Year Of Dates?

Mums Off Duty, A Year Of Dates, New Parents

That’s like asking which your favourite child is!! I think it would have to be the New Parents box at the moment. It was a seed of an idea that I just ran with and I’m so pleased with the result.

When you have a baby everything changes and your life is focused on this new little being, rightly so, and the people you were before can get lost. Once I had the idea it just felt like a great gift for new parents because, let’s face it, the dad is often overlooked!

Each box has 26 envelopes. The idea is one a fortnight but really it’s whenever it feels right! They are a mix of things you can do at home while the baby is asleep, days out where baby can go too, and five silver envelopes which require a babysitter. Each order is colour-coded – cream things to do at home, silver for a babysitter and a choice of pink, blue or purple for getting out of the house.

A portion of each sale goes to The Smile Group who support families dealing with PND in Cheshire.

What one piece of advice would you give to new parents?

Take your time. There is no rush to get out to groups, have visitors or do anything until you feel ready. Just because other people look like they are out swimming and having days out, don’t feel pressured.

Aside from your husband, who would be your dream date and what would you do?

James Corden – and we’d have to do carpool karaoke!

Do you think your relationship can ever be the same after having a family?

I think it takes time but yes. It’ll never be exactly the same because you mainly talk about the kids! We’re two and a half years in, and we make an effort to go to gigs and have nights out like we used to.

Do you and your husband always make time for date nights?

We try, but the irony of this business is that we are often working on it in the evenings! We do try though – the original date jar is still sat on a shelf and every so often we take out a card and book a babysitter.

What advice can you give to busy mums who don’t feel they have enough time or money to book in a regular date night with their partner?

Mums Off Duty, A Year Of Dates

You don’t have to get dressed up and go out! Most of the date cards are things you can do at home, like make a playlist together or watch the sunset. You just need an hour or two when you’d be scrolling Instagram or watching TV.

Of course putting on your best clothes and going out for dinner is lovely too but it’s not realistic every week! We have a colour-coded date box so you can plan the type of dates you choose in advance.

Dating the father of your child/ren shouldn’t be a chore!! 

www.ayearofdates.co.uk

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!

Whoop, it’s time for a giveaway courtesy of the fab A Year Of Dates! Enter below to win your very own ‘Box of Dates‘ from A Year Of Dates – worth £25! Good luck lovelies!

‘A Box of Dates’ from A Year Of Dates giveaway

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post.

 

Cuddle Fairy

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106 comments

Lisa July 24, 2018 - 2:46 pm

What a great idea!

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:10 pm

It’s brilliant isn’t it!

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Jade Karly Staff July 24, 2018 - 6:49 pm

What a fantastic idea! I know as a parent, date night is sadly something that doesn’t happen anymore, so this is fantastic!

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:10 pm

I know, it’s so hard to fit date night in but so important to try and plan it if you can!

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Karen, the next best thing to mummy July 25, 2018 - 8:52 am

Gosh, this has made me realise that sadly we haven’t been on a date night for so long that I can’t actually remember the last one, must arrange one for this weekend #bloggerclubuk@_karendenbid199@gmail is

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:11 pm

Lol, hope you have a good time whatever you end up doing!

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Denise Johnson July 25, 2018 - 9:59 am

This is such a good idea. I have tried to make a date night jar in the past but I never really have the time to think of many different ideas so the fact that this is all done for you is great! #BloggerClubUK

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:12 pm

Exactly, I love that you don’t have to do any thinking, just the doing!

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Sarah Cooke July 26, 2018 - 7:26 am

This is such a fab idea. We often get caught up in the every day and life with kids and realise it’s months before we’ve had a date night. Would love to win this and get some inspiration

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:13 pm

Good luck Sarah!

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Squeeze July 26, 2018 - 11:21 am

Date night…. not had one in six years but wouldn’t change it for the world. If we had one it’d be close to home, probs a small restaurant or the cinema (to see a grown up film) or picnic on the tailgate by the beach.

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:13 pm

Wow, six years! That sounds lovely, hope you get to have one soon!

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Jennifer Hull July 26, 2018 - 1:56 pm

fab competition and great prize happy days…. dates

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:14 pm

Good luck!

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Rosie July 26, 2018 - 2:28 pm

This is fab! I need inspiration sometimes – and you’re right. It’s easy when you’re tired after a long day and the kids are tucked up in bed to class watching TV as ‘our’ time x #BloggerClubUK

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:15 pm

Yep, we do that too! But it’s nice to do something different occasionally! x

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Lucy July 26, 2018 - 2:43 pm

I don’t know where I would choose to go! But I think this is such a nice idea 🙂

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:15 pm

Good luck Lucy!

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Angeline Gregory July 26, 2018 - 3:42 pm

I would go somewhere really peaceful and beautiful, maybe a summer meadow at sunset with a blanket or two, some cushions, decadent picnic food, a little wine and a radio playing Motown where we’d sit and watch the sun set and the moon rise and talk and kiss endlessly like we used to do when we first met.

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:16 pm

Aaah sounds lovely!

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Katie July 26, 2018 - 4:38 pm

This is such a good idea! I would love to go to a restaurant on a beach, on a hot and sunny day, of course…

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:16 pm

Perfect! Good luck.

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Solange July 26, 2018 - 6:07 pm

A romantic, candlelit dinner at our favourite restaurant.

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Natalie July 26, 2018 - 8:16 pm

Lovely! Good luck Solange!

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Sarah Mackay July 26, 2018 - 9:40 pm

To go to the cinema and the out for pizza.

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Tee Simpson July 26, 2018 - 10:08 pm

I think I would just go bowling and for pizza afterwards. Been a long time since we went on a date night.

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Jessica Powell July 26, 2018 - 10:24 pm

My dream date would be going to see something historical and then out for a meal. 🙂

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Margaret Gallagher July 27, 2018 - 1:17 am

Fly to paris for the evening – a dream id love to come true

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Megan Williams July 27, 2018 - 6:33 am

I went on my dream date recently. I’ve always wanted to go on a date to the zoo and it was amazing!

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David Fendick July 27, 2018 - 10:35 am

This is such a fab idea

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Tubbs July 27, 2018 - 10:46 am

What a wonderful, quirky and fun idea 🙂

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amanda w July 27, 2018 - 12:16 pm

my dream date would be a day at a fun fair followed by a romantic stroll down the beach and a picnic on there in the moonlight!!

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judy kennedy July 27, 2018 - 1:47 pm

We never really ahd date nights before kids. Prefer it when things just come up that we like to do, like trying a new restaurant or going to se live music

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Tiffeny Brown July 27, 2018 - 3:45 pm

Great idea! My dream date would be going for a drive in a super car with my fiance 🙂 x

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Carolyn E July 27, 2018 - 4:02 pm

An Italian restaurant so I could see how they ate spaghetti. Manners are important, but so is enjoying good food!

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Sheena Batey July 27, 2018 - 5:15 pm

Fish and chips out of the newspaper at the seaside

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Paul Meulen July 28, 2018 - 10:12 am

paris

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Lyndsey July 28, 2018 - 12:01 pm

I would like to go and have a date at the top of the Eiffel tower

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Catherine Stewart July 29, 2018 - 7:33 am

I’d love to go on a ghost walk!

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Claire Woods July 29, 2018 - 8:26 am

I’d love to go to Paris and see some of the sights.

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Amy Miatt July 29, 2018 - 8:28 am

My dream date would be camping out in the countryside under a sky full of stars. Cooking food together under a canopy and cuddling up with a campfire. Sounds cliche but camping always brings the worst out in people so you would get a good idea of what your (possible) other half would be like in a bad mood because the air bed has a puncture!

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ADEINNE TONNER July 29, 2018 - 12:23 pm

My dream date would have to be in Italy eating pizza and going sightseeing

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Natalie Crossan July 29, 2018 - 6:59 pm

Such a quirky idea, my favourites are very intimate dates. Like, candle lit dinners walks on the beach etc

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Sally Rowland July 30, 2018 - 8:52 pm

To an observatory to look at the stars

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Lisa Faulks July 31, 2018 - 6:09 am

I’d go out for a lovely slap up dinner in London

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Ruth Harwood July 31, 2018 - 9:25 am

I know we’d do something silly like ice skating, bowling or bingo lol! Fun to pretend we don’t have responsibilities for a few hours, we haven’t done this in ages, thanks, we’ll be doing a date night next week now!!

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Dale Dow July 31, 2018 - 9:50 am

I would say whisk me off to new york but if I am being realistic a nice restaurant on our own would be greats, as we never get out for meals without the kids normally

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Laura Turner July 31, 2018 - 10:38 am

Levanto Italy

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stacey turner July 31, 2018 - 5:33 pm

I would love to go for a nice meal, and maybe the cinema. Just some time put aside for us both to spend together would be great

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Geri Gregg August 1, 2018 - 4:01 pm

Our date could be anywhere, as long as I’m with him 😊x

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Ashleigh Allan August 1, 2018 - 6:02 pm

A hotel stay with a nice meal

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eyeroh August 1, 2018 - 6:19 pm

lovely!

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A.E. ADKINS August 2, 2018 - 9:42 pm

We would go somewhere quiet and screen free – need to leave the house then!

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Emma C August 3, 2018 - 7:44 am

Picnic on the beach would be lovely!

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Lorraine Stone August 3, 2018 - 8:05 am

A walk around the Magic Kingdom in Florida, on a warm evening.

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Laura Atkins August 3, 2018 - 8:46 am

What a fantastic idea! My dream date would probably be a nice meal out at our lovely local Italian restaurant, followed by a walk under the stars.

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Danielle Spencer August 3, 2018 - 12:51 pm

A walk along the beach as the sun goes down, with a bag of chips would keep me happy.

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Monica Gilbert August 3, 2018 - 10:21 pm

My dream date would be to go to the restaurant in Japan where we had our first date (and other memorable dates, including my husband’s proposal). I really want to save up to take a trip back there.

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Ailsa August 4, 2018 - 7:29 am

Pizza and the pictures!

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Gemma August 4, 2018 - 7:45 pm

Such a good idea – it’s really important for us to spend some loving time together. I think our perfect date night would be a nice restaurant and then a long walk, just chatting and enjoying each other’s company.

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Susan Naylor August 4, 2018 - 10:04 pm

Paris in the springtime.

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Tracy Gladman August 5, 2018 - 9:09 am

I would love to go to London for a special day – we would go for a picnic in Hyde park before taking a shopping trip in Oxford Street. We would then go for some dinner before catching a west end show.

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jules Eley August 5, 2018 - 3:16 pm

I would love to go to New York and drink Cocktails!

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Clare Hubbard August 6, 2018 - 3:47 pm

I would love to just simply go out for a meal and have someone baby sit my children! Sometimes it’s the simple things 🙂

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Kiran August 6, 2018 - 7:41 pm

Omg this idea is flippin amazing. Me and hubby had our 1st weekend away for 6 years this weekend and it was AMAZING. it was hard remembering how to be just us 2 and for me not go keep looking at my phone at the kids pictures but this I need!!

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Jennifer Bruce August 6, 2018 - 7:58 pm

I do love a good meal out, and recently enjoyed a meal at Mowgli, Liverpool. I’d love to go back!

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Harriet Leonard August 7, 2018 - 8:43 am

I’d love a spa date. Somewhere my husband and I could relax, child free! Amazing!

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Mandy Betts August 7, 2018 - 9:01 am

A romantic meal in a Michelin starred restaurant

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rebecca martin August 7, 2018 - 4:28 pm

My ideal date is going back to where we had our wedding (and so far we have been back every year for our anniversary dinner). It brings back such special memories.

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Allan Fullarton August 7, 2018 - 6:19 pm

Great competition, thanks.

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Rebecca Whatmore (@0zzyhog) August 7, 2018 - 8:26 pm

The Caribbean for cocktails! Or would like to try the restaurant at the Shard.

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dina gregory August 8, 2018 - 6:15 am

would love to do white water rafting or hot air balloon experience or ghost haunt night o this is so hard to chose we have had 1 date in the 5 years we been together as find it hard to get someone to have little one he too hyper for people x

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donna l jones August 8, 2018 - 8:23 am

justin timberlake for me

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Tina H August 8, 2018 - 10:23 am

I’d go to bed for a smokin’ hot night in.

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Victoria Prince August 8, 2018 - 12:03 pm

I would go to the beach (in perfect weather, obviously!) and walk along the shoreline together eating fish and chips!

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Elizabeth Cooke August 8, 2018 - 6:37 pm

Mine would be on a sail boat sailing around some exotic islands

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Fran H August 8, 2018 - 8:22 pm

A picnic in the Wolds where we live. No rush to get back. Simple things 🙂

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lauren carrett August 9, 2018 - 2:02 am

laying in a beach with a sunset

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dorothy cavender August 9, 2018 - 2:17 am

a concert in the 02 arena in London would be great

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Angela Morgan August 9, 2018 - 3:37 pm

The Ivy Guildford

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Karen Dixon August 9, 2018 - 4:23 pm

A date night anywhere is fab as long it is just me and my husband , but if i had to choose a walk on the beach eating ice cream and holding hands

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Laura Pritchard August 9, 2018 - 6:22 pm

My dream date would be to a West End musical followed by a night in a lovely hotel.

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Cerys John August 9, 2018 - 7:50 pm

A lovely meal followed by a stay in a hotel 🙂

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Helen Rosbotham August 9, 2018 - 7:54 pm

I’d love to take a trip to Disney world for my perfect date as I’m a big kid

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Maria P August 9, 2018 - 9:03 pm

A midnight feast in a park with lanterns and the blue moon above us would be lovely and relaxing!

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laura stewart August 9, 2018 - 9:06 pm

a nice homemade cooked meal x

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Catriona Hutchinson August 9, 2018 - 9:07 pm

Liiiiiittle bit extravagant as a ‘date’, but really just a quiet moment alone on the Galapagos, if I could have anything.

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becci cleary August 9, 2018 - 11:53 pm

To be honest…anywhere…as long as my partner plans it….in the 10+ years we have been together we have never actually been on a date!!!!

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jacqui rushton August 10, 2018 - 3:02 am

A romantic picnic in the New Forest

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gaynor Vincent August 10, 2018 - 9:59 am

I would go back to river and have a quiet stroll

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caroline kelly August 10, 2018 - 10:01 am

A meal and theatre show

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Nathan Ellis August 10, 2018 - 10:46 am

For a walk along the beach

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Victoria Hayes August 10, 2018 - 11:59 am

I cant remember the last date I ever had with me partner so any date would be amazing.

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CAROL PATRICK August 10, 2018 - 12:39 pm

A romantic candlelit dinner for two at a posh restaurant

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Sarah Fielding August 10, 2018 - 3:45 pm

This is such a lovely idea, so romantic! Mine would be camping under the stars!

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Angie McDonald August 10, 2018 - 5:18 pm

My dream date would be a day trip to Disneyland Paris!

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Jo Hutchings August 10, 2018 - 6:14 pm

A dream date would have to be somewhere that you’d remember forever so maybe the top of the Empire State Building.

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Simone Griffin August 10, 2018 - 6:57 pm

I would go to a theme park to get my adrenaline pumping on the date!

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Monika Bascombe August 10, 2018 - 7:00 pm

I’d love to go to Nice italian restaurant with my hubby and not having to worry about kids

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Adrian Bold August 10, 2018 - 7:23 pm

A trip to Las Vegas with a LOT of money to spend on great food, great shows and some gambling.

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Hayley Berwick August 10, 2018 - 7:25 pm

The perfect date for me would be at the top of the Eiffel tower while it’s snowing. Odd I know!

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amanda greensmith August 10, 2018 - 7:52 pm

we love going for a walk and having a picnic

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Laura Lee August 10, 2018 - 7:59 pm

This is an amazing idea, I would love to go to a lovely resturant and try a taster menu followed by a lovely walk along a beach after. Then finish the night watching the sun come up drinking a baileys with ice on the beach LOL 🙂

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KARL BOROWY August 10, 2018 - 8:44 pm

My dream date is Austria in the Alps

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Stephanie August 10, 2018 - 9:52 pm

Australia

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LOUISE HEATON August 10, 2018 - 10:21 pm

My ‘dream’ date would be under the Northern Lights, taken there by husky sled, sleeping under the stars in a glass igloo….What a dream though!

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