Local celebs talk about love

WITH Valentines Day just around the corner, Highway Mail wanted to find out what some of our local celebrities thought about the day.

Leading man, Jacobus van Heerden, is gearing up to perform in his one-man show, Superchop, at The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 1 March. The talented, gorgeous actor took some time out of his rehearsals to answer a few questions.

What nickname do you call your partner the most?
I don’t have a nickname for my partner so I just call her by her real name – Jennifer Lawrence (in my dreams).

What is your anniversary date?
I have been dating Jennifer Lawrence since the film Silver Linings Playbook opened. I can’t remember the date, but that’s our anniversary (in my dreams).

Where did you go on your first official date?
I took her to the Sundance Film Festival where a documentary about my life was premiering (in my dreams).

What is your partner’s favourite animal?
I am my partner’s favourite ‘animal’ (in my dreams).

What would your most romantic date be?
It would involve me taking Jennifer Lawrence to my Dad’s plaas in the Karoo, although she’s probably vegetarian and would in all likelihood be offended by all the biltong and livestock. I should probably rethink that one.

What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?
Liam Magner, the director of my show, Superchop, is born on Valentine’s Day. So despite all the disappointments and unanswered calls to Jennifer Lawrence’s agent, I can at least take solace in the fact that most years I will remember to give him a call.

Sports co-ordinator for Westville Girls’ High School, Sian Tarboton Gouws, is settling into the year with a busy schedule for her girls. The passionate teacher and coach is gearing up for a successful year on the sports field and in the pool, with high hopes for her hockey players in this years SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge.

What nickname do you call your partner the most?
Nunu

What is your anniversary date?
My wedding anniversary date is 10 December, 2011.

Where did you go on your first official date?
To Pavilion. We went for drinks at Café Gitano and the movies thereafter.

What is your partner’s favourite animal?
I’m pretty sure that it’s a dog.

What would your most romantic date be?
Sipping cocktails while on holiday on the islands in Greece.

What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?
It’s strange how the older you get, Valentine’s Day seems to not matter so much any more as you are growing together in a relationship and do not feel the need to buy things to prove your love to one another. There is always the stereotype that the male in the relationship must be the one to buy the flowers, for example. But to me, Valentine’s Day is more about being able to acknowledge your love for one another. Sometimes when you have been in a relationship for quite some time, you tend to forget or neglect the little things that remind you of how and why you fell in love with that person. So Valentine’s Day can give you the opportunity to rather show that you do still care and love that person, no matter how small the gesture.

Well-known jazz connoisseur, Neil Comfort and his wife, Nicola, run the iconic home of original jazz in KZN, Rainbow Jazz Restaurant in Pinetown. This is what he had to say:

What nickname do you call your partner the most?
Nix.

What is your anniversary date?
12 June.

Where did you go on your first official date?
A place called Tekwini Junction off Umgeni Road. Samp and beans and a couple quarts of beer.

What is your partner’s favourite animal?
Dogs.

What would your most romantic date be?
We had a great week in Paris for her 40th birthday – without the kids – so it will always have special memories. Maybe another visit to Caf Angelina would do the trick.

What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?
A day to appreciate what a lucky person I am to have her as a partner in life.

Point Yacht Club’s Commodore, Craig Millar, has travelled around the world in the Clipper Around The World Yacht Race and now is the helm at Durban’s thriving yacht club.

What nickname do you call your partner the most?
Babe…. Nothing to do with the pig.

What is your anniversary date?
6 January.

Where did you go on your first official date?
Café 99 in Musgrave.

What is your partner’s favourite animal?
Dogs, only big ones… I think that is why she picked me.

What would your most romantic date be?
Anywhere without the kids would be good at this time, though we love them dearly.

What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?
It helps me to remember how we were before the kids arrived.

• Tell us what are your plans for Valentine’s Day this Sunday.