It’s Valentine’s Day! Most married couples opt to spend the day going out to a fancy restaurant for a romantic dinner, perhaps a movie and of course, dessert… the adult version! But for Durban’s zaniest couple, Lisa Bobbert and Aaron McIlroy, it’s a very special day since it’s also Lisa’s birthday!

For those who do not know, Aaron McIlroy and  Lisa Bobbert are one of South Africa’s most popular entertainers with a string of stage blockbusters under their belts, not to mention a multi-award winning husband and wife entertainment team. East Coast Radio posed some questions to the couple on what their plans are for the day, on ‘love’, marriage and keeping the ‘flames burning’…

How do you keep the ‘flames burning,’ and how many years are you guys married?

Lisa – We have been married 17 years this year.

Aaron – Guys, remember if you keep doing things wrong, you’ll feel the burn.

What special plans do you have in place for this particular day of love?

Lisa I will be doing a show Twitch, at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, but will hopefully wake up to lots of presents, cards, flowers and go for a nice romantic breakfast at some place smart like the Oyster Box.

Aaron – or maybe the Wimpy…

2013, is this the year that entails more ‘me’ time or ‘couple’ time for the both of you or not?

Lisa – Aaron is going on tour with the comedy production, The Rise of The Insanity League so he will be away a lot. So when we are together we will make each other a priority.

Aaron – yes, what she said!

Do you both have any particular celebrity crushes?

Aaron – No.

Lisa – That’s the right answer.

Are the both of you hopeless romantics?

Aaron -If you mean do we believe in love, yes. But hopeless, no.

Tell me what your plans are for 2013 in terms of work?

Lisa – I’m doing Twitch at the Sneddon at the moment and Shirley Valentine later on in the year.

Aaron – The Rise of The Insanity League with Ben Voss and John Van Der Ruit. We are doing a national tour, P.E, East London, here in Durban, Joburg – Monte Casino and at the Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town.

Funsunzi is the place to be, do you find there’s lot to do as a couple in sunny Durban?

Lisa -Yes, we love walking in the morning along the Umhlanga Promenade and taking the kids to the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Aaron – There is no place like Durban for an outdoor lifestyle, all year round.

If you had to advise a couple on a thrifty date in Durban, which places would you recommend as great spots to eat or visit on a budget?

Aaron- A picnic at the Japanese Gardens – I mean the half of Phoenix can’t be wrong…

The couple, who have four kids ranging from seven to 15 years old, stressed their house is always very busy. They run the office from home, rehearse at home and there is always some sort of crisis going on that needs their immediate attention.

“People are always welcome to pop in for tea – but they may find they are put to work. Our routines are always changing because it depends on if we are rehearsing during the day or performing at night or touring. Sometimes, I feel like a single mom when Aaron works away from home for days, but you just have to get on with it, this is the life we have chosen and we are not qualified to do anything else,” added Lisa.

Do you have any romantic story which you may have experienced together or before marriage?

Lisa – Sorry, but we are really not that romantic. I think I don’t trust it. I always thought Aaron had done something wrong when he bought me flowers.

Aaron- The best times we have together are when we connect and talk.

The secret to a happy and healthy, marriage and working relationship is…

Lisa – Forgiveness, knowing that no-one is perfect and being able to overlook irritating flaws. And lots of laughter, of course.

Aaron – Become less irritating and make them laugh.

What made each of you fall in love with the other?

Aaron – I can’t remember, am still trying to figure out what happened. All I remember is I drove a poo, brown Mazda and lived in my parent’s granny cottage, the rest is fuzzy.

Lisa- We started off as friends and I would always bum lunch off him because I was a broke actress. He made the best honey and cheese toasted sandwiches and he could make me laugh till I cried.

If you had to advise other couples on the secret to a good marriage, what would you say is the key ingredients?

Lisa- Don’t put the bar too high, remember he is only a human and not God.

Aaron – If you want to have the last word… apologise.

Lisa did add that the word ‘love’ is so limited in the English Language.

“You can say I love my car, I love that dress and I love chocolate and mean completely different things. Just remember that romance and all that stuff has a lifespan but true love – Agape (the Greek word) is a gift from God and it never dies,” she said.

On that note, Lisa and Aaron wish everyone a special Valentine’s Day and hope those hopeless, love creatures find their true, soul mates!

Did you know:

• Birds and fowl select their mates on February 14th.
• The first box of Valentine’s candy was given in the late 1800′s.
• A Frenchman sent the first Valentine after being captured in 1415. He sent it on Valentine’s Day to his wife.

Article courtesy of East Coast Radio