After last week’s date not going to plan (see Date Night #11: Pie in the face – A Pi Day special), I was all set to continue our adventures out and about in Singapore. But life had other ideas. This week, my husband was completely taken down by the flu, so instead of dressing up for a fun night out, we swapped our date-night outfits for PJs and I stepped into my new role: nurse.
And you know what? It turned out to be exactly what we needed.
Where?
🏠 Home Sweet Home – Complete with a duvet, a steaming bowl of comfort food and some very questionable TV choices.
What?
When one of us is sick, the other automatically takes on caretaker duties—it’s an unspoken rule in marriage, right? So, this date night was less about fancy food and cocktails and more about TLC (and yes, I know I’ll probably catch the flu too, but hey—we’re in this together!).
The food: homemade comfort in a bowl
There’s something about being sick that makes you crave the food you grew up with. For my husband, born and raised in Hong Kong, noodle soup is his ultimate sick-day remedy. For me? It’s Heinz tomato soup with crusty, buttered bread—nothing else will do.
So, like the devoted (and clearly underappreciated) wife that I am, I whipped up his go-to comfort dish: chicken noodle soup. It’s ridiculously simple but packed with warmth and goodness:
🥣 Ingredients:
- Fresh ginger (because nothing clears a blocked nose like ginger!)
- Garlic (because… well, garlic fixes everything, right?)
- Chicken
- Mushrooms
- Spring onions
- Chicken stock
- Thin noodles
- A splash of soy sauce, sesame oil and secret ingredient: Worcestershire sauce (but now I have to kill you)
Everything simmered together into one big, soothing hug in a bowl. And I have to admit—it’s delicious. So much so that even the kids wanted in on it.
That said, I still firmly believe that nothing beats Heinz tomato soup when you’re feeling under the weather. But this is definitely a close second.
The entertainment: reality TV rubbish at its finest
Once the boys were tucked into bed, we curled up on the sofa under a fluffy blanket, with the monsoon rain providing the perfect cosy backdrop for a cuddly (and coughy) date night at home.
Our show of choice was The Apprentice (on BBC iPlayer). There is something deeply therapeutic about watching overly confident contestants make absolute fools of themselves on national television. It’s a whole event in our house—shouting at the screen, calling out their terrible decisions and confidently declaring that we would do SO much better (despite having zero relevant business experience).
While my husband nursed his flu, I paired the entertainment with a few little treats of my own—wine and cheese, and a chunky white chocolate Kitkat. Just because he’s sick doesn’t mean I have to suffer too, right?
The little things that matter
Here’s the thing: not every date night is going to be exciting, adventurous or Instagram-worthy. Some nights, it’s just about showing up for each other, even when life gets in the way.
It would have been easy to write this week off, cancel date night and just do our own thing. But these are the moments that matter most.
💛 Bringing someone their favourite comfort food when they’re feeling awful.
💛 Choosing to cuddle up together, even when one of you is a snotty mess.
💛 Laughing at ridiculous TV together and knowing that the best part isn’t the show—it’s the shared reactions and inside jokes.
Love isn’t just about the big, romantic gestures. It’s in these tiny, seemingly unremarkable moments — a warm bowl of soup, a shared blanket and the familiar comfort of just being together.
WOW Tips:
- When your partner is sick, food is love. Whatever their go-to comfort dish is, make it for them (even if it’s just toast).
- Cuddle anyway. You might catch the flu, but then they can look after you! (Tomato heinz soup, come to me!)
- Rubbish TV is great bonding material. Find a show that’s easy to watch (and easy to mock) and make a game out of it.
- Still make an effort. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just intentional. The little things count.
- For more home-based date night ideas, check out my blog post: Home Based Dating: 10 cozy date night ideas for couples stuck at home
Worth it?
6/10.
Not the date night we planned, but a reminder of what really matters. And let’s be honest—shouting at The Apprentice contestants is just more fun after a glass of wine or two!
What HE said…
He’s giving it a flu-induced 3/10—WHOA. So low!!! (By the way, this is less than the number of bowls of chicken noodle soup he ate. Yup, he had four. So at least something was good about the evening!)
“Nothing to do with the company or entertainment… I just feel so ill.”
Upon hearing such a devastatingly low rating, I obviously had to ask: Why did you even bother with date night? Why not just stay in bed?
His answer? “Because it’s important to keep the tradition alive.”
(Awww, he gets it!)
Wrap-up
Sometimes, date night isn’t about grand gestures or perfect plans — it’s about showing up, even when the night is far from ideal. This wasn’t the best date night by any means, but it was still important. We made the effort, shared some small moments of connection over some terrible TV (and a lot of soup) and reminded ourselves that love is in the little things—even when one of you is a snotty mess on the sofa.
Would you still make an effort for date night when sick? And what’s your go-to comfort food when you’re feeling under the weather? Let me know in the comments!
And as always, stay tuned for next week’s date night adventure—hopefully, one that involves less flu and more fun!
Wanna see?
For more photos, check out Instagram.
