Longer term fun in the sun

If you have been dating for a while you might want to share your favourite outdoor pursuits with your loved one that have been neglected by the short, dark days of winter. If you love hiking, try taking your date on one of your favourite but less challenging walks. Remember, as with any pursuit that you can do well but they haven't done before, what looks easy to you might be more difficult for them. Work out the route together, taking into account how long it will take and how fit they feel. Make sure you are not hiking for the whole day as this will be exhausting to someone new to the sport. Be sure to build in an intrinsic reward, like stopping at a lovely pub for a refreshing drink, or taking a picnic lunch so you can relax together, take in the scenery and recharge your fuel supplies.

If you want to share your date's enthusiasm for running, climbing, sailing, surfing or any other physical outdoor pursuit, always plan the first few outings conservatively. There is nothing worse than being over-faced on your first adventure into the unknown, however supportive your date is being. Much better to have some gentle exploratory trips together first to see how you manage, building up your stamina.

If after a few attempts you decide that your date's favourite pastime of hang-gliding, orienteering, white water rafting, riding horses or bungee jumping just isn't for you, then don't assume this means you are not compatible. Although it can be hugely rewarding to have shared hobbies, it is not a prerequisite of a successful relationship. It can also be healthy to have your own hobbies and pastimes that are separate from your relationship, giving you both space to pursue your own activities. It will give you something interesting to talk about when you next meet and you can share in each other's successes and adventures. If it does work out and you take to their sport or activity like the proverbial duck, then you have the start of something really special where you can enjoy a shared passion.

Pastures new

Summertime also presents opportunities to try out new things together. A great way to grow in understanding and deepen your relationship is to try something that is fresh to both of you, starting a mutual adventure in a completely novel endeavour. This can be a great way of building strong foundations for a really satisfying relationship. Be careful if you go for something that has competition built in, like learning to play tennis or golf, as this can sometimes cause friction if you both have a rivalrous streak. You might want to buddy up with other friends, learning whether it is best for you to be on the same or different sides. Some couples like being in it together, others get on better if they are on opposing teams. Experiment and don't take it seriously, it is all supposed to be fun and if you take up something that doesn't suit you both, let it go and explore something else.

The fun of having a partner to play with is that it makes the simplest of things all the more pleasurable through being a shared experience. It is through the mutual sharing of yourselves - your effort, your support, your humour, your insights and of course your love - that dating enriches both your lives.