What’s your love language? I’ve been married to my husband for almost 15 years (together for 21), so things can sometimes feel a bit too safe and familiar where an unprompted change of the bed sheets, seems like a big romantic gesture.

To stop feelings of apathy setting in, we focus on tuning in to each other's love languages. 

My husband is a feeder. After a friend suggested he get into cooking as a creative outlet, when his then job didn’t satisfy this, I bought him a kamado-style smoker (the dupe version is super!) for Father’s Day. He likes nothing more than planning a big cook up, spending literally hours slowly cooking a brisket or pork butt, prepping, setting alarms to spritz hourly (often through the night), wrapping and finally devouring. We fill our home with friends and family to share the joy. It’s usually very social. He’s branched out and prepares delicious currys, pasta dishes, paella and is currently planning a Thai feast (my favourite!) next week before he heads off on a long work trip. I can’t wait.

 We’ll often cook together (I’m the sous chef and chief washer upper…) and love the connection, giggles and focussed time it provides us. If you or your significant other need some motivation in the kitchen, check out our cooking classes which make great gifts for your loved ones with the added bonus that you get to savour their efforts!

Now, my language, and please bear with me, is... Organisation. Whether that’s getting a team together for our local pub quiz, inviting friends and family over for a meal, planning a mini break (I like nothing more than a cheap and cheerful glamping escape), or planning a little jaunt, just the two of us. We like to keep busy. Our shared experience strengthens our bond and that with our children.

 Now, we all need a little date night or day date inspiration sometimes so here are my top 5 from the The Indytute collection. These also make brilliant wedding or anniversary gifts.

✅ The Sweet Escape - We LOVE pudding and treasure hunts so this was right up our street. Fun clues, delicious desserts and a really lovely afternoon spent in London.

✅ Paired Oysters at Swain’s Lane and a Hampstead Heath Walk -. A good stomp across Hampstead Heath, a cheeky dip in Hampstead mixed pond (weather permitting as I’m a fair weather swimmer unlike Calypso) and on to the delightful Swain’s Lane for a trio of oysters beautifully paired with 3 glasses of wine. Yum!

✅ Deluxe Cheese and Wine Tasting - Now, my husband is a heathen and doesn’t really like cheese (more for me!) but this is one of my favourite things to do with basically anyone who’ll come with me. A stunningly decked out Barge in the Paddington Basin, serving delicious British Cheese and wine. I can’t stop going back

✅  Food Lovers Market Tour - You may have spotted a theme here. We love our food. This is a fascinating (and delicious) tour around the culinary history of Bermondsey. Our guide, Emma, was full of knowledge and knew the best spots to tantalize our tastebuds.

✅ Table Tennis Masterclass. We are known to be a touch competitive so this had the potential to end badly, but we had a simply joyous couple of hours learning new skills with Alberto at Bounce in Farringdon. It’s a lively venue and Alberto kept the session fun with games and challenges. I considered myself a table tennis master until my 10 year old niece destroyed me in a recent game. Never mind!