Q
Dear Auntie Pearl, I’m in a real pickle over here, soos die mense sê. I’ve been with my girl for about five years and we’ve got a laaitie
together and alles.
She’s my everything, but I know I’m not always the best boyfriend.
We don’t want to get married and we talked about it. We’ve both been married before and it didn’t end well.
But now I thought I want to give her a smart something for Valentine's Day. Do you have any good ideas for me? I really want to make her feel special, man. She does everything and takes good care of me.
I don’t have a lot of money but I did manage to save up a bietjie here and there. You always have such lekker ideas, don’t you have any for Valentines?
I’m sure there are other mense out there who are also stuck with what to do for their special persons.
From Cape Flats Romeo.
A
Auntie’s put together a list of some lekker gedagtes– some can be done on the cheap-cheap, others you can spend a bit of kroon.
Remember, Valentine’s Day can be a great chance to reconnect with your liefie, or even a friend, or your family, but it doesn’t mean you need to break the bank or feel k@k if you don’t have a bank full of money.
Money and dinge don’t equal love.
Show your Valentine how much you love them by making them a personalised “What I love about you” book or letter, or small notes in a pretty box. Decorate it nicely with things you know your partner likes, in her favourite colours, and write things like, “I love it when you…”; “I love how you… every day”; “I love to watch you…”
If you want to spend some money, don’t buy roses that will die, buy a plant or a tree that will keep on growing as a symbol of your love.
Write them an old-school love letter – there is nothing as romantic as someone writing down on paper how they feel about you. Tell them exactly what you love and appreciate about them. Nothing says I love you like your own words – from the heart.
Hide small love letters and your lady’s favourite sweets and treats, maybe small gifts of flowers where you know she will find them. For example, in her cupboard as she gets dressed in the morning, by the mirror as she brushes her teeth or by her handbag as she leaves for work.
You can even turn it into a treasure hunt of love, where your girlfriend has to answer riddles to reach the next clue.
You can also go dancing! Take your sweetheart jolling at the club, or even try out a dance class.
Cook your favourite meal together – even if you don’t like cooking or have ever made it before.
Get all the ingredients and the recipe of your favourite dish, put on some lekker tunes, pour some wine, light some candles and get hot in the kitchen.
Check the weather forecast a few days before and plan a surprise picnic – here in Cape Town we have so many incredible places that the Mother City has to offer – and most are for free!
Think of the beach, Newlands Forest or any of the other kwaai parks, or spend some money and enter Kirstenbosch Botanical
Gardens.
Pack your mandjie with your girl’s favourite things to eat and drink, remember a nice blanket to chill on and some drinks. You can even take some board games or cards along and have some fun game time.
If you want to surprise her, at least tell her to dress comfortably and bring a sunhat – you don’t want her dressing for a night out on town if you are going for a picnic.
Go for a fun activity – think ice skating, a hike, a romantic seaside stroll, a bike ride along the Promenade (you rent the bikes there). Get active, get sweating, get sexy together!
Do a romantic movie night – you have many options: make it nice and romantic at home and borrow movies from a tjommie or rent movies for free at your local library.
Buy some dite and make it nice with candlelight, a soft blanket and alles.
Show her that her love is out of this world by visiting the planetarium. What can be more romantic than watching the stars?
Now Cape Flats Romeo, Auntie hopes these ideas will make your girlfriend’s heart happy, and that it helps you and all the lovebirds out there. Happy Valentine’s Day.