Love and Marriage

Go together like a horse and carriage or at least, they should. Here's how to keep the spark alive.

When the two of you were dating, do you remember how every moment without your other half seemed like forever When you would wait endlessly on tenterhooks for that phone to ring And how the thought of seeing your love again would make you shake with anticipation Whatever happened to that wonderful courtship period that seemed like it was going to last forever

Here's what happened

You got married, children came along, and you took on the responsibility of running a household and a family - Who had the time, or the inclination to indulge in romance? Other issues were given top priority and your love life was delegated to the bedroom, two nights a week -- if you were lucky.

Keep the fire burning

A great marriage doesn't just happen automatically. Ever look at couples who seem so incredibly in love that they glow when they're together, and wonder how they do it? They work at it.

Here are some tips to get you started, and put you back on the road to romance:

• Pack an 'I Love You' note into his or her tiffin.
• Plan a surprise weekend out of town for just the two of you. If you cant get away, then book a room at a nearby hotel for the night.
• Get your mate flowers. And who says a woman can't give a man flowers Buy him the biggest darned bouquet your wallet allows.
• Dedicate a song to your mate on television or the radio.
• Learn to say I Love You in five languages - and say it as often as possible.
• Go shopping for expensive and exotic lingerie or funky boxer shorts. It's okay to splurge once in a while - and this is for a good cause after all!
• Buy a present - but not something practical like a wallet or blender, for heaven's sake. Be creative.
• Read up a book on the techniques of a massage, and give your mate a sensual back (or body!) rub.
• Pop open a bottle of champagne. There doesn't have to be a reason to celebrate - isn't love reason enough Get your partner drunk and get set to seduce!
• Surprise your partner with a kiss when he or she least expects it - especially when your partner is talking and you're in no mood to listen. Can you think of a better way to say 'Shut up and come here?'

Marriage DON'TS

• Don't talk in code. Marriage doesn't make you a mind reader. If you want to say something, say it directly.
• Don't go to sleep without resolving your argument.
• Don't criticize your spouse in front of others.
• Don't start arguments based on things that happened long ago. Don't bring them up at all.
• Don't assume that your spouse is personally attacking you just because he or she disagrees with you.
• Don't try to change your mate. If you don't like the way he or she is, you're with the wrong person.