We started with the most benign of the four worst dates: getting joint manicures. Not a bad one, especially from a female perspective. I don’t mind a good manicure. Feedback from girlfriends was along the same lines: what a great date idea! Which makes me suspect it’s the men that have been voting it down… and Den wasn’t too impressed with the idea.

Nonetheless, we forged on. Being that we are all about the $30 Date Night, we had to find a manicure place that would do them for $15 a pop. In Australia, this is a little hard to come by. I understand that in the states, manis and pedis come a lot cheaper.

We ended up at the local beauty college. Our first mistake. You know what would have made it better? If we’d spent more than $30 and went to a proper day spa.

For a start, the manicures were hardly “joint”. We arrived at the beauty college, and were told to sit on a dilapidated couch to wait.

I was taken first to one side of the room for my manicure while Den was left sitting bereft on his own. No conversation to be had across the room.

Den’s therapist was running late due to a waxing crisis with her previous client (I shudder to even think!) so I was nearly done by the time he got started.

My therapist (Nail technician? Person?) was okay until we got to the color bit. I was going to go for my signature pale pink (plus, people, pale colors look better if you’re unsure of the quality of the craftsmanship!) but Den urged me to go for something a little more drastic. “Orange!” he insisted. So I relented and went for a reddy-orange shade.

Bad idea, Den. It was gooped on thickly, bleeding into my cuticles and onto my hand. She went back over every finger with an orange stick and some nail polish remover to take the bleed from my skin. I have known this to happen once or twice before in my manicure history – but not on every finger!

Meanwhile, this entire time Den was on the other side of the room looking seriously underwhelmed at his beauty treatment. And by the end of it, his cuticles looked just as bad as when he went in.

But you know what? It could have been a really good date, I think. Just not a good $30 Date one. If we’d spent $50 on the date, we could’ve gone to a great little boutique salon like French Pink, where we would have been sat next to each other, could’ve laughed with the therapists and our nails would have looked much better.

Nonetheless, I do quite fancy my bright nails. They made me feel very va-va-voom all weekend!

And ladies, if you do decide to organize this date for yourself and your beau? I hear from my reliable sources over at Twitter that men appreciate a pedi much more than they do a mani. Just a little hint there.

Next week? Swimming at the Local Pool, me thinks. Which I’m kinda excited about! What gives with it being on the crap date list?

If you have any of your own date ideas (crap or otherwise) that you’d like to share, we’d love to hear about them.

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Lately, Melbourne has had a heatwave, a series of 40 degree days (104F). The nights have given us perfect weather to go star gazing… warm, calm and clear skies. I had it all set up… the picnic rug, water, star maps (constellation guide), tiny torches to read the constellations, and even icy-poles… all was complete except for the location.

We had to drive out of the city… which was a good 90 minute drive and that was no issue. My proposed location was good in theory, a water reserve out of town… no lights to dull the sky view, but who would have thought that the entry gates would be locked! We drove around for a while trying to find another location but nothing really worked for us. And so, we arrived home by 12.30am tired and date-night-less.

Sometimes you don’t get date night right… and sure when expectations are missed you’re disappointed, but its cool. There will be more warm nights this summer, and this time I’ll be ready with a location that wont disappoint! I took Em’s to Yan Yean Reserve last night – then drove around King Lake looking for another location but didn’t find one… Currently, in Melbourne Australia… I’m thinking the beach would be good, Torquay or Mornington Peninsula, or even Dandenong Ranges or Sunbury?

Where would be your perfect star gazing date idea? Name your city / state / and country.

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I found out an important truth about ice skating that night… it became very real to me that there are those who can skate, and those that cannot! I am staunchly set into the later group when it comes to skating on an extremely hard and slippery surface.

Ice and I do not mix… I crawled across the rink one hand held firm on the rail while my head trying to work up a rhythm to keep me skating – it didn’t work for me! One eye was jealously fixated on the others people on the ice effortlessly gliding around… and a bunch of speed skater teenagers playing tiggy on ice – are you kids mad??? That stuff hurts when you fall over!!!

Emma had a blast on this ice… she can skate (something that I never knew about her!).

My take on date night on the ice… MEH! I’m glad that date nights are not repeated – I’m not going to rush back to the rink anytime soon – BUT – I believe my problem is that I put high expectations on the night and screwed myself over because of that. If I look deep and hard I could possibly say that I had fun.

Give it a go – don’t think you’re going to be an Olympic skater and you may have fun on the ice.

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Last Wednesday, Melbourne had put on a particularly hot, dry summer day. 33 degrees (91.4f) of sweltering sun. It was the perfect weather for a Fish and Chip picnic. I jumped on the internet to search for user reviews of the best Fish & Chips to be found in Melbourne. Luckily, there was a great one just a 15 minute walk from our apartment (Kiwi Fish & Chips East Melbourne… yum!) that has gorgeous gardens nearby for the picnic. We picked up our takeaway and a couple bottles of beer and headed to a little gazebo in the park to relax nearby and kick off our shoes. Just as the last chip was being devoured, the weather turned nasty, cold and windy.

We watched the rain come in across over the city and for a few moments thought it had missed us. Unfortunately, seconds later we were drenched. Bucketing down. And we were ages away from home. At first, I thought “great – two dates in one!”… someone has recently posted the idea of dancing in the rain on the $30 Date Night site… it sounds romantic in theory, and all I could think of was that kiss from the Notebook (I’m full of silly idealistic notions like that) so rather than complaining about my hair or being cold, I giggled like a schoolgirl and grabbed Den’s hand. Unfortunately, being the practical man that he is, he was having none of it and whinged like a banshee the entire way back across the park. Kind of killed any romantic vibe that might have been going on. He was cold and wet and didn’t think twice about complaining about HIS hair.

So instead of embracing the moment we dashed for cover and hailed a taxi, got home and jumped into the spa downstairs to warm up. Which was rather nice in itself anyway… and definitely a hell of a lot warmer…

So it got me thinking I can’t be the only one suffering at the hands of practicality, can I? Any other romantics out there with a way-too-practical-partner? The kind of partner that don’t like to buy flowers because “they just die after two days” or the kind that doesn’t like to spend a morning lying in bed for hours because “there’s a whole day out there – we should GO OUT AND GRAB IT WITH BOTH HANDS!” (woo… just try and stop me.) The last time I had the house set up with candles and romantic music, waiting for Den’s arrival, he walked in the door and asked “why is it so dark in here?”, flipped on all the lights and switched on the telly…

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Last night I took Emma for hit on the driving range as our date… it didn’t pan out so well! We got 100 balls and lined ourselves up amongst what looked like professionals with their white gloves and Ping golf clubs, I could see this was making Ems nervous.

I once heard that GOLF is known by some as an acronym standing for Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden. Whether that’s true or not, last night I should have taken it seriously. Emma’s form was shocking, but that’s to be expected – we’re not golfers!

I couldn’t help but laugh for the entire time we were at the driving range… Emma would swing and miss, then swing again and just tip the ball to watch it roll off the plastic grass and onto the driving range. With each swing of the golf stick Emma’s eyes got redder! She was pissed, and it was my fault!

She didn’t say it was my fault, but I could feel it… I was uncomfortable, uncomfortable enough to laugh myself silly – I’m sure it didn’t help.

Now I’m no golfer either, actually my first real hit was only 5 days ago… and I do my fair share of shitty shots. Not to mention that I almost tossed my club into the guy on the left of me last night… too funny (it wouldn’t have been if I actually let go). I felt out of place giving Emma tips, like I’ve got any golfing skills to pass on. We’re coming to last of the balls, and I thought, fuck it… I’ll tell her what I see, “try getting some rotation in your hips, you look stiff and uncomfortable, and stop being focused on having to hit a good shot!” Emma swung and crack, this ball went straight out onto the driving range.

Emma turns her head back to me and draws the hair from her face… the red eyes were gone, she had a huge smile on her face, and bleated out “that felt awesome!”

OMG, like… thank you!!!!!!!!!! There will be no tears tonight. Emma went for another swing… she had rotation in her hips and was looking relaxed, the ball was moving! Great another good shot! Now we’re not talking Tiger Woods, it’s getting 50 yards or so, but trust me that’s much better than before. Em’s now giggling and relaxed.

Whack… another great hit! And another smile on her face… 3 more balls to go, “they’re all yours babe, go for it, whack away!” Em’s ripped through the last of the balls with relaxed shoulders and a happy face. I was saved!

“Do you want to get another 100 balls?” Emma said. A quick check of the phrase and how it was used… hmmm… “do I want?” If she has phrased it with “let’s get” I would have said yes… but I’m thinking she may possibly still be pissed with me… for most of the time on the driving range I was public enemy #1. Golf cost us $21 for balls and clubs… she’s happy now so let’s not push it, her swing can turn to shit any second, so I thought… quit while we’re ahead, while she’s happy. The remainder $9 can get us coffee and cake in Acland Street – lets bounce!

In the End it all worked out, but damn that was close! I must admit, this date night was for me – I was thinking about myself as that’s the 3rd day this week I’ve been at a driving range (and I’ve been loving it). Not to mention, Emma was already in a pissed mood before we even left for golf.

I don’t think date night has to always be about your partner… I don’t think there is anything wrong with being a little selfish at times and make your partner do something outside the norm. Be careful if you push your partners comfort circles, you need to be prepared for the consequences and they are not always a success! Remember the key to this is that its ok if you SOMETIMES are a little selfish – not ALL THE TIME!

Also, don’t repeat the same date night twice! Today Em’s already told me that she would go back to the driving range for another hit with me… that’s great, and I’m sure we will, but not on a Wednesday night.

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That’s right, there was no date night. Sigh. We had originally rescheduled to Saturday but SOMEONE woke up with a sore head, feeling very sorry for themselves after a big night. Date night was cancelled.

Look, I know sh*t happens, but one can’t help but be a little disappointed… : (

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I must admit, Den did look pretty dubious when he realised where I was leading him. In fact, he seemed so unimpressed that I nearly aborted the entire mission and headed home. But, pressing on, we bought a game each and headed to the bar for some $5 cocktails (know how to pick your night, people. Know how to pick your night) in the hopes they would make the entire experience a little more bearable. Meanwhile I’m chanting in my head “Please don’t let this suck, please don’t let this suck” because then Den would forever tell stories to all our friends about “The Time I Insisted He Come Ten Pin Bowling” because I am a “Complete Loser Who Likes Things Like That” and we would all have a good laugh about it.

It didn’t suck!

We had a great time. Den completely wiped the floor with me, which I maintain I let him to do to protect his sensitive male ego (when in reality I just happen to be really unco), we had lots of laughs, we shared a few cocktails, we played some pool (again, I was obliterated. I just for the life of me can’t understand the stupid “angles” concept) and we all went home feeling happy and perky because we hadn’t sat on the couch all night, nor been glued to our computer screens.

Rate the Date

Romance Factor: 1/5
Cheese Factor: 4/5
Fun Factor: 5/5

Overall: Daggy, silly and cheesy but a bunch of fun. Try nightclub bowling if you want to up the glam factor a little bit; but even the cocktails there won’t make up for the lame bowling shoes! Great date if you don’t take it too seriously!

While we’re at it, here are 5 more great, cheesy date ideas that sound lame but are actually a lot of fun for couples, if you can just get over the embarrassment…

1. Go Ice skating
Glide around the rink hand-in-hand, twirl face-to-face in the middle, race each other up and down the ice… or, even sweeter, help your partner negotiate their way around if they’ve never skated before, then treat them to a hot chocolate for their efforts.

2. Have Fun at the Playground
Too big for the playground? I don’t think so! Release your inhibitions and be big kids for the day – swing on the swings, slide down the slides, make yourselves dizzy on the roundabout! Just don’t knock any toddlers out of your way in the process!

3. Camp in Your Own Backyard
Sure, the house may be right there, but if you’re hardcore about it, you won’t go inside ’til morning! Take everything you need into the backyard, pitch a tent, light a fire and roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories, gaze at the stars… zip your sleeping bags together and get frisky! Then get up early to watch the sun come up together and cook eggs on your little campfire for breakfast.

4. Go to a Video Game Arcade
Even if you hate the Nintendo like I do, a night at a video game arcade with a pocket full of change can be a blast! Go for the two player games and give out prizes for the winners of each (negotiate between yourselves before each game for what you will *owe* your sweetie if they win), try the skill tester to win stuffed toys and mount the motorbikes to have a bash at some interactive games. Then get a strip of pictures done in the photo booth and head home to claim your prizes!

5. Do a Jigsaw Puzzle together
Buy or borrow one of those huge 1000-piece jigsaws and spend a rainy afternoon putting it together over a mug of hot chocolate. Sure, it may sound boring but it will spark that problem-solving part of your brains which in turn sparks new neurons and conversation between you. Trust me, you’ll love it!

Visit our $30 Date Night site for more cheesy (and otherwise) date night ideas.

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