It sounds an impossible challenge: to make love every day for a month. But a series of studies have found that as well as bringing you closer together, it could help improve your well being. SARAH KAVANAGH, 31, a project co-ordinator, and her husband Colin, 40, a builder, from Cheshire, decided to try it. So how did they fare? Sarah says:

每天都做爱，坚持一个月——这项挑战听起来似乎不大现实，然而一系列研究表明，这样的性爱长征不仅可以拉近夫妻感情，而且还有助于改善健康状况。31 岁的莎拉•卡瓦纳是一名项目协调员，她的丈夫科林是一名建筑工，正值不惑之年。这对来自切尔西的夫妻打定主意要试试这个挑战。欲知结局如何，且听莎拉道来：

On the eve of the 12th anniversary of our first date, I told my husband Colin that I'd got him a very special gift that would remind us both just how much we still mean to each other.

在我们俩即将迎来首次约会 12 周年纪念日的前一天晚上，我跟老公说我有一份特别的礼物要送给他，这份礼物可以提醒我们俩意识到我们在彼此眼中仍然有着不同寻常的意义。

As he tried to guess what it might be I assured him that this was something far more meaningful than a weekend away or a blown-up photograph from our wedding album.

我跟他保证说这份礼物意义非凡，远远超过一次周末兜风或者一张放大婚照这些小儿科。他就猜东猜西，十分好奇这到底是什么样的一份礼物。

His gift was, in fact, to make love with me every day for the following month.

其实我的礼物就是，下个月夜夜春宵。

Colin's immediate reaction, just as I'd hoped, was to look like a man who'd been told he'd won the Lottery.

科林的第一反应不出我所料，他看起来就好像是听说自己买彩票中了似的。

But almost immediately his face then fell.

但紧接着他却拉长了马脸。

'We used to have sex every day as a matter of course,' he said grumpily. 'Now you're offering it up as a gift and I'm supposed to be grateful?'  

“我们本来就是每天都上床的嘛，”他愤愤不平，“你居然拿这个当礼物，我还要对你感恩戴德是吧？”

This really wasn't what I'd expected, having just offered love on request to the man I married seven years ago and who is always bending my ear that we don't do it enough. Somehow my well-meant offer had suddenly brought us to the brink of a row.

这可实在让我始料不及。结婚七年，他天天就嫌我跟他上床少了。现在我顺着他主动提出上床，可我这份好心差点没让我俩吵起来。

I'd come up with the idea because, in common with so many couples, in recent years lovemaking had been relegated in my agenda.

之所以想到这么个点子，是因为我们跟千千万万其他夫妻一样，性爱早已从我的日程表里退居二线了。

Unlike the heady days when Colin and I first met, now there is always something else that takes precedence  -  from work to domestic chores and even the simple pleasure of a full night's sleep.

现在早就不是初恋时那种激情燃烧的岁月了，总会有这样那样的事情比上床更重要，要么忙工作，要么干家务，甚至就只是睡个好觉这么简单的借口。

When we met, I was 19 and Colin ten years older  -  the sexual attraction was mutual and instant. For the first few months, our passionate love life defined us, but as months turned to years and we got engaged and then married, things inevitably changed.

我们刚认识的时候我才 19 岁，他比我大十岁。我们俩一下子就被彼此身上的性引力捕获了。刚开始那几个月的热恋生活真的是激情燃烧，后来日子一天一天过下来，我们就订婚了，然后就结婚了，再然后生活难免就变样了。

Over time, familiarity, the stresses of work and day-to-day life and the fact my sex drive just isn't what it used to be have combined to dampen the passion we once took for granted.

时间一长，彼此的熟知、工作的压力、庸常的生活再加上我自己也不像以前那样热衷于性爱了，所有这一切都成了问题。我们想当然的激情就被这些给压垮了。

These days we make love about once a week. And, in common with many of my friend's husbands, Colin regularly complains that this just isn't enough.

现在我们大概一周只上床一次。跟我很多闺蜜的老公一样，科林也常常对此牢骚满腹。

Which is why I'd presumed that this gift would be welcomed rather than the cause of a row.

所以我就觉得这份礼物他应该会喜欢的，没想到会让我们俩拌嘴。

Later that evening, we talked it through.

那天晚上晚些时候我们俩彻底地谈了这个问题。

'At least when we do it, it's spontaneous,' Colin told me. 'You putting it into your diary isn't exactly a turn on.'

科林跟我说，“至少我们上床都是自然而然的，你把这些写成日记并不会让我们睹字性起。”

But despite his reservations, we decided to give it a go.

虽然他持怀疑态度，但我们还是决定要试一试。

Somehow I felt certain that in the years ahead he would look back on this as the most intimate gift of our marriage.

我总感觉，在以后的岁月里当他回想起今天的时候，他一定会认为这是我们婚姻中最私密、最亲切的一份礼物。

DAY ONE

第一天

There's no time like the present, so, for the first time in at least five years we make love on a work day before I've even put the kettle on.

这是个无与伦比的时刻，就这样我们五年多来第一次在工作日上床，我连水壶都没来得及放到炉子上。

So much for Colin worrying about this taking the spontaneity out of sex: this feels impulsive and slightly wicked.

科林老是担心我们这样会让性爱变得做作：这个决定稍嫌冲动，而且有那么点儿邪恶。

I arrive at work with a smug smile on my face (though guiltily note that this also means I'm off the hook at bedtime, having done the day's deed already).

去上班的时候，我满脸笑容，沾沾自喜（这也说明我今日事已经今日毕，我可没欠什么床上债。想到这一点让我有点内疚）。

DAY TWO

第二天

Home from work later than usual, I walk in to find the table beautifully set with candles and flowers and dinner in the oven.

今天下班回家比平时晚了点，一到家发现餐桌布置得精美绝伦。烛光摇曳，花香宜人，烤箱里还飘出阵阵饭菜的香气。

The last time Colin did this was our wedding anniversary, but this is just an ordinary evening. It's amazing what the promise of frequent sex brings out in a man.

上次可是结婚纪念日的时候科林才不辞劳苦准备了这么一大套出来，可这次只是个平平常常的晚上啊。一句夜夜春宵的诺言居然能让男人表现这么棒，太神奇了！

DAY THREE

第三天

Home to find the table set and Colin's cooking again  -  I could get used to this. I feel spoilt, especially when he refuses to let me wash up and sends me upstairs for a soak in the bath. This is beginning to feel as much a gift for me as for Colin.

回家发现餐桌已经备好了，科林又下厨了，我要适应这种生活。有人宠的感觉真好，尤其是他不让我洗碗，而是要我上楼泡个澡。我开始感觉到，这既是给科林的礼物，也是给我自己的礼物。

DAY FOUR

第四天

I've stayed late at work and missed the last bus home, so I've had to fork out for a taxi when I'm dangerously close to payday. I'm in a foul mood when I walk into the house and am greeted by the same scene as the last two days.

加班加得太晚了，没赶上回家的末班公车，所以我只好花钱打的了，好在马上就该发工资了。一进家门又是跟前两天一样的场景，这让我心情很糟糕。

'God, this is starting to feel like Groundhog Day,' I snap unkindly. We eat in silence, and I start to feel guilty when I think how much effort Colin is making. 'Leave the dishes,' I tell him. 'It's time for your present.'

“天啊！这怎么感觉像是土拨鼠日似的，”我没好气地撂下这么一句。吃饭的时候我们都没说话，一想到科林付出的这么多心血我就很内疚。“我来洗碗吧，”我跟他说，“你也该歇歇了。”

DAY FIVE

第五天

Last night could so easily have ended with us going to sleep not speaking after I arrived home so tired and grumpy.

昨天到家的时候又累又烦躁，晚上本该二话不说直接睡觉的。草草收场就行了。

Instead we slept wrapped up in each other's arms, just like the old days. It's Saturday, so we're less restricted on when we can make love. We decide to get our chores done: the house needs cleaning and Colin needs to tackle the garden.

可我们俩搂着就睡着了，就像从前那样。因为是星期六，随便什么时候上床都无所谓。我们打算把杂务活给干了，屋子该打扫了，科林也该把花园修整一下了。

We're shattered and fall asleep on the sofa. Colin's snoring wakes me up just before midnight. 'Quick,' I tell him, as I shake him awake and push the cats out of the room. 'Otherwise it won't count.'

我们俩精疲力尽，都睡倒在了沙发上。就在午夜前的几分钟我被科林的呼噜声给吵醒了。“快，”我一边把他摇醒并把猫赶出门，一边跟他说。“要不然就作不得数了。（过了十二点就成周日了，那周六就没上床，所以要快，抓紧这最后几分钟，orz——译注）”

DAY SIX

第六天

Sundays in our house are normally lazy affairs, but today we've got a christening to go to and we're running late.

照例我们家的周日是懒着过的，但今天我们要去参加一个洗礼仪式，我们差点迟到。

We vow to make love as soon as we get home, but while Colin doesn't drink, I'm partial to champagne, and it's been flowing all afternoon.

我们俩立誓说一到家就上床，可是虽然科林不喝酒，我却爱喝香槟，整个下午香槟就没停过。

Back home, all I want to do is go to bed and sleep, but, of course, I can't.

回到家我脑子里只有一个念头：上床睡觉。可是，这当然是不行的。

DAY SEVEN

第七天

I'm beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea.

我开始怀疑，这个点子真的有那么好吗？

Last night, love-making felt like a chore for the first time, and because neither of us was particularly in the mood we just went through the motions.

昨天晚上，我们第一次感到做爱像是一件家务活。我们俩都没那个心情，所以我们就只是走走过场而已。

I'm not looking forward to bedtime and Colin admits he's not interested either. Sure enough, we fall asleep without any marital relations taking place. Looks like this could be over before it got started.

上床时间对我并没有吸引力，科林承认他也没兴趣。果不其然，我们没发生任何夫妻关系就睡觉了。好像这事还没开始就已经结束了。

DAY EIGHT

第八天

I wake up cross with both of us that we've given up so easily, and tell Colin we've got to make up for last night by making love twice today.

一醒过来我就对我们俩恼透了，居然这么轻易就放弃了。我跟科林说今天得做两次，必须把昨天的给补回来。

We tackle the project with renewed vigour before work and then again straight after dinner.

我们俩重燃激情，再上征途。上班前一次，晚饭后又一次。

'At least now we can go to bed and go straight to sleep,' says Colin. I feign indignation, but he's only said exactly what I was thinking.

科林说，“至少现在我们可以上床直接睡觉了。”我摆出一副愤慨的样子，但实际上他说出了我的想法。

DAY NINE

第九天

Colin wakes up hoping for a repeat performance of yesterday, but I'm not playing. I have to be in work early. 'Tonight, I promise,' I say as we kiss goodbye.

早上一醒，科林就想来个昨日重现，我可不跟他来这一套。我得早点去上班。“晚上吧，我保证。”我用这话跟他吻别。

What's normally a brief kiss turns into a passionate one  -  not bad considering we've been together more than a decade. I think about Colin regularly through the day.

平日里亲个小嘴再平常不过了，可今天却情意绵绵。想想吧，我们在一起已经十来年了，真好。我想他想了整整一天。

DAY TEN

第十天

My sister calls to remind me that I've promised to baby-sit my 11 and 14-year-old nieces this weekend. I tell her that I'm worried this might impact on our lovemaking.

姐姐打电话来了，让我别忘记我的承诺：两个外甥女这周末归我带，一个 11 岁，一个 14 岁。我跟她说这恐怕会耽误我们的床课。

'Welcome to my world,' she scoffs, before telling me I can't back out on my sisterly duties. I tell Colin that we have to practise being very quiet.

“欢迎来到我的世界，”她打趣道，然后又跟我说不准赖账。我跟科林说我们俩必须得悄悄行事了。

DAY 11

第十一天

The girls arrive armed with DVDs and bags of sweets, and announce they want to stay up really late, just like they did last time they stayed over. By 11pm, I'm pleading with them to go to sleep.

两个孩子带着一堆的 DVD 和成包成包的零食光临了。两人一上来就宣布说要熬夜玩，非得跟上次住我这儿那么尽兴。到了晚上 11 点，我还在求她们上床睡觉。

'Forget it,' I snap at Colin when I finally get under the duvet. There's no way I can do that with the girls awake on the other side of the wall.

最后我总算可以进被窝了。“算了吧，”我没好气地跟科林说。隔壁俩孩子都还没睡，我实在做不来。

DAY 12

第十二天

Little wonder couples with children complain they don't have enough sex: finding an opportunity with these two in the house is all but impossible.

难怪有小孩的夫妻会抱怨上床太少了。有这两个孩子在家，要找个机会简直就不可能。

In the end, I send them out with a long shopping list, set the timer on my phone to go off in ten minutes and drag Colin upstairs. 'Look on it as a challenge,' I tell him.

最后我开了个长长的购物单才把她们打发出门。然后用手机定了个十分钟的闹钟，拉起科林就上楼。我跟他说，“把这当做一次挑战吧。”

DAY 13

第十三天

The girls go home and we've got the house to ourselves. Midmorning I say breezily: 'I'll just vacuum and then we can go to bed.'

孩子走了，这个家又是我们自己的了。十点多的时候我高兴地跟科林说，“我拿吸尘器打扫一下屋子，然后咱们就可以上床了。”

Bad move. I accidentally suck up one of the girl's hair bobbles and it gets stuck in the machine.

孩子扎头发的小绒球被我不小心弄到吸尘器里了，机器卡死了。真要命。

It takes Colin an hour to get it going again, by which time love is the last thing on either of our minds. But we do it anyway and then go out for lunch, something we realise we just don't do often enough.

一个小时后科林才把吸尘器修好，这时候我们俩都已经没了性趣，但我们还是上了床。午饭是在外面吃的，因为我们发现自己很少出去吃。

DAY 14

第十四天

I go out for a drink after work with a girlfriend and tell her about our project. 'You must be mad,' she says, before warning me that our friendship will be ruined if Colin or I tell her husband what we're up to. 'Don't you dare go giving him any daft ideas.'

下班后跟闺蜜出去喝了杯咖啡，我跟她讲了我们的长征。“你们疯了吧，”她说，然后她又警告我说，要是科林或我把这事告诉他老公的话，我们俩就没的朋友做了。“可千万不敢让他想到什么歪点子。”

DAY 15

第十五天

I'm going to be working late tonight, so I set the alarm for 6am so we can get our duties out of the way before the day gets started. Colin grunts when I try to nudge him awake. 'I need my sleep,' he groans.

今天晚上恐怕要加班到很晚，所以我闹钟定的是早上六点，打算一大早先把我们俩今天的任务给完成。我把科林从呼噜声中叫了起来，他嘟囔道，“我要睡觉。”

Maybe he'll be a bit more understanding when he's in the mood for love and I say that I'm too tired.

等到他想上床而我说累了的时候可能他就会理解我了吧。

DAY 16

第十六天

Friends come round for a midweek dinner and comment on how attentive we seem to each other. I keep quiet about why, having taken note of my friend's reaction earlier in the week, but throw Colin a wink.

有朋友来家里聚餐，他们说我们俩彼此体贴得很。我可记着闺蜜前几天的反应呢，所以我什么都没解释，只是冲科林眨了眨眼。

We're definitely a lot more tactile with each other, and have started flirting again.

当然，我们俩跟以前相比要亲昵得多了，而且又开始调情了。

DAY 17

第十七天

I spoke too soon  -  we've had a huge row over the fact that Colin forgot to put out the bin last night and now we're up to our eyes in rubbish.

我结论下得太早了。科林昨天晚上忘了倒垃圾，现在我们焦头烂额忙着清理垃圾。我们俩因为这个大吵了一架。

He can't see why I'm making such a fuss, which only makes me madder. The last thing I want to do is to make love with Colin. Normally something like this would be the perfect excuse to withhold sex, but that's not an option.

他不理解我，说我大惊小怪。听他这么说我就更恼火了。我死都不要跟他上床。要是以前的话，发生这种事他就别想跟我上床了，可是现在我没得选择。

It's difficult to stay cross with someone you've made love to  -  Colin promises to make a trip to the tip and all is forgiven.

想要跟一个刚和自己上完床的人生气可也挺难的。科林保证亲自把垃圾丢到垃圾场去，那我就原谅他了。

DAY 18

第十八天

I've got a streaming cold and a headache. Colin is keeping his distance. 'What about a cuddle?' I ask as I splutter into a tissue. 'No thanks,' says Colin. 'I'm sleeping in the spare room.'

我头疼感冒流鼻涕。科林得跟我保持距离。“抱一个好吗？”我一边拿纸巾擤鼻涕一边问他。“谢谢，不要，”科林说，“我睡那个空房间去。”

DAY 19

第十九天

Still poorly, so I stay in bed. Colin spends the day bringing me hot drinks and homemade soup, and does all the housework so I can rest.

病情不见好，所以我就在床上躺着。科林一整天都在忙着给我端茶倒汤。所有家务他都全包了，我一直歇着。

He's never been this attentive when I've had a cold before  -  all this lovemaking has made him a changed man.

以前我感冒的时候他可从来没这么体贴过。上了这么些天的床，他完全变了个人。

DAY 20

第二十天

The weekend has been a write-off on the sex front, yet Colin and I feel closer and more relaxed than we have in a long time.

这个周末我们算是从性爱前线上撤下来了，但我和科林感觉更亲密也更放松了，这种感觉久违了。

It brings it home to me how important regular sex in a marriage is to nurture the bond you share.

我终于明白婚姻里有规则的性爱对培养夫妻感情有多么重要。

DAY 21

第二十一天

Back to work, and I'm almost restored to full health. I send Colin a flirty text hinting at the fun we'll be able to enjoy when we see each other later. I can't believe I'm chatting up my own husband.

病情基本已经全部恢复，又开始上班。我给科林发了条短信来挑逗他，说待会儿我们一见面就可以如何如何享受人间极乐。我竟然跟自己老公都能聊起来，真难以置信。

DAY 22

第二十二天

I notice that my trousers are a little looser, so I step on the scales and discover I've lost 2lb. All this extra exercise is doing me good.

我发现裤子穿起来有点松，一量体重居然发现我减掉了两磅。床上运动好处多多哦。

DAY 23

第二十三天

A friend is in town and stays the night. I'd emailed her at the start of the month and told her what we were doing, which she brings up over dinner, joking that we'd better not keep her awake tonight.

来了个朋友，晚上要住家里。月初的时候我就给她发过电子邮件，跟她讲了我们的事情。吃晚饭的时候她拿这事来开我们的玩笑，说我们俩可别让她一晚上睡不着。

This puts Colin in a bad mood because I've let slip what we're up to, and when she goes to bed he has a go at me for being indiscreet. I try to laugh it off, but he's really cross about it. He refuses to make love. I lie awake fuming  -  isn't it supposed to be the woman who withholds favours?

科林心情很不好，原因是我泄露了我们俩的秘密。等朋友睡了之后，科林数落我嘴太快了。我本想一笑而过，可他却对这事真的很生气。他碰都不碰我。我干躺在那儿，气得睡不着：不应该是女人才会拿性作为要挟吗？

DAY 24

第二十四天

Colin wakes feeling guilty and suggests we make up for missing out yesterday. I realise that the argument will only escalate if I refuse. Instead, we make love and the grumpiness vanishes. We make love again that evening, our row long forgotten.

科林醒过来的时候觉得内疚了，提议说把昨天缺的一课补回来。我懂，拒绝他只会让事态升级。于是我们就上床一做泯恩仇。晚上我们又做了一次，吵嘴的事就算过去了。

DAY 25

第二十五天

I meet my mum for lunch and she comments on how fresh-faced I appear. 'Have you discovered a new foundation?' she asks.

今天我跟妈妈一块吃的午饭，她说我看起来面色红润。“有了新的滋润？”她这么问我。

I must say I feel more attractive and better about myself than I have in years. Feeling desired does wonders for a woman's self-esteem.

我必须得承认，这些年来我从没有像现在这样觉得自己如此迷人，自我感觉如此良好。有人渴求得到自己的感觉会给女人的自尊心带来神奇的魔力。

DAY 26

第二十六天

I'm having to factor in an extra ten minutes into my daily grooming regime so I can shave my legs, and I'm wearing more make-up than usual.

我现在必须得在日常的梳妆打扮里加十分钟的时间来修腿毛。我比以前更注意化妆了。

I'm going to continue with this after the month is up  -  it's nice to feel groomed, whether it's with sex in mind or not.

这个月结束之后我会继续这么做的。精心妆扮自己的感觉真好，这跟想不想上床没关系。

DAY 27

第二十七天

We're near the end of Colin's gift, so we decide to spend the entire day in bed, just as we did on Sundays when we first became a couple. It's not just about sex  -  it's about relishing shutting out the rest of the world. We'd like a family, so we need to make the most of days like this.

科林的这份礼物就快要结束了，所以我们决定就在床上耗他一整天。记得我们刚结婚的时候，每逢周末总是耗在床上。在床上并不仅仅就是上床，而是享受这种远离尘嚣的二人世界。我们总是要生孩子的，所以我们应该让大部分时间以这种方式度过。

DAY 28

第二十八天

We've made love 25 times in 28 days, and there's no question that we've grown closer as a result.

我们俩在 28 天的时间里上了 25 此床。结果嘛，毫无疑问，我们的感情更亲密了。

I thought I might be relieved to get to the last day, but I'm just determined to make sex far more of a priority than it used to be.

本以为到最后一天我会如释重负，但我现在却决定，我要让原本不受重视的性爱成为生活中的重头戏。

My friend has lent me a DVD I've wanted to watch for ages, so I put it on after dinner. Colin and I cuddle up on the sofa together to watch it  -  normally he spreads out on one chair while I take over another.

朋友借给我了一盘盼望已久的 DVD，吃过晚饭我就打开了它。我和科林在沙发里抱作一团看电影。要知道平日里我们俩可是各坐各的椅子。

'When did we stop doing this?' I ask him. We go to bed tired and we've got work in the morning.

“我们什么时候开始连拥抱都拒绝了？”我问他。我俩精疲力尽上床睡觉，明天还要上班。

'Let's just cuddle,' says Colin, and as we drift off to sleep it feels like the perfect end to the present that ended up being a gift not just for Colin, but for our marriage, too.

“抱一抱，”科林说，我们就这样慢慢进入梦乡，如此的感觉给这份礼物画上了一个完美的句点。而这份礼物不仅仅送给科林，同时也送给我们的婚姻。

译后记：“夜夜春宵”，这四个字听起来香艳，想不到实际效果如此惊艳。鄙陋如我，听到这个提议的时候真的会感觉不太靠谱，有点夸张。但实践是检验真理的唯一标准，文中这两位“性”福伴侣身体力行证明了感情与性爱之间的正比例关系。如果排除文化差异的问题，此例足资国人借鉴。七年之痒？别怕，赶紧行动起来吧，夜夜春宵！
下面来扯两句原文后面的评论。莎拉和科林的长征只有短短一个月，而评论中有牛人已经夜夜春宵了十四年，更有大牛在二十四年的时间里居然能做到每天两次！别吃惊，别认为这不可能，“夫妻俩晚上不做爱还能干嘛呢？”有热心的读者还总结出了三定律：1. 晚上没爱做的男人必然睡不安寝；2. 同床不同房的夫妻算不得夫妻；3. 如果有一天你的 Ta 不想跟你做，那说明 Ta 在别处做过了。于是就有读者根据第 2 条定律推论出自己还是单身汉。另外，广受指责的一点在于莎拉将性作为一份“礼物”送给科林，多数读者对此持反对态度。性的享受，对于双方是平等的。它不是某一个人相对于另一个人所拥有的特权，更不应该被用作“武器”或者“报复”。总之，这篇文章很有趣，文后的评论更有意思。我在这里稍作撮述，难免挂一漏万。但愿我们的评论会更有意思！