Best for business to let bygones be bygones

Advertisement

Advertise with us

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: An old boyfriend of mine just got hired at the company where I work. Did he know I was working here? Will we get stuck working on projects together now? I’m freaking out.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/04/2025 (548 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: An old boyfriend of mine just got hired at the company where I work. Did he know I was working here? Will we get stuck working on projects together now? I’m freaking out.

We met in university and had a little romance that didn’t end well for him. I cheated on him, to be honest. He soon found himself a better job and moved to Toronto, but now he’s back here and married.

I don’t know if he went after this job or they headhunted him, but I know he definitely has the qualifications for it. I feel rattled having him here in the office. I also feel embarrassed because I wasn’t very nice to him at the end of our relationship, and I never apologized.

He’s going to be working above me in the hierarchy. Should I apologize for the way I treated him or just pretend nothing happened between us? I thought I might get away with saying, “You’re looking well. Congratulations on getting the job here.”

— Awkward at Work, Transcona

Dear Awkward: Good sportsmanship is definitely what’s called for when you end up suddenly working with an ex. If he tries to get your breakup out in the open, just say, “That’s water under the bridge. Welcome aboard.”

It might be hard to keep the fact you used to be a duo covered up at work, but no one’s going to fuss if you act professionally towards each other. People will see it as a non-issue unless you dwell on it — so don’t.

Also, with him in a position above you, don’t overdo the compliments to try to smooth things over. Be friendly and businesslike.

He will probably pick up on that and start relaxing around you — which is exactly what you two need.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I spotted a woman driving what was definitely my unique old European roadster I sold a couple years ago, and waved her over.

She asked what the problem was, and I said there wasn’t a problem, I just wanted to say hello to my old car and ask how she was driving.

She said, “Fine, but it’s a car, not a human, and if you don’t mind, I’ll just keep going.”

Then she gunned it, and took off.

Why did she treat me like a weirdo?

I loved that little car like a baby, but my wife made me give it up because we already had two cars.

It’s not weird to have love for a certain car, is it?

I made a lot of memories in that car when I was single — it was like one of the boys.

— Peeved at Attitude, St. James

Dear Peeved: Some people have cars that they become personally attached to — even love.

That often happens when one is young and it’s a first car, or they’re older and it’s their dream car. In some cases, they might have worked on restoring it themselves, or they saved up and spent all the extra money they had on it.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with loving your car. She just may have been surprised and felt uncomfortable with a stranger stopping her, but she probably didn’t need to make fun of somebody who has a soft spot for something they hold dear.

We can love all kinds of things besides humans — such as a car, a beautiful piece of clothing or a musical instrument — and sometimes they’re actually more reliable.

You’re not crazy for having those feelings towards your old car. The woman who scorned you was rather insensitive.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Maureen Scurfield

Maureen Scurfield
Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Dozens of Uber, Lyft drivers switched to cheaper insurance coverage: MPI probe

Erik Pindera 5 minute read Preview

Dozens of Uber, Lyft drivers switched to cheaper insurance coverage: MPI probe

Erik Pindera 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 6:09 PM CDT

Ride-service drivers have been defrauding Manitoba Public Insurance by improperly insuring their vehicles as for personal use.

The public insurer and the City of Winnipeg, which regulates ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, discovered the widespread fraud after MPI conducted a review in December last year.

“When a driver changes their coverage from ride-share insurance to a personal vehicle coverage and continues to operate as a ride-share driver, that is fraud, plain and simple,” said MPI chief executive officer Satvir Jatana at a news conference Thursday.

MPI’s review looked at a random sample of 408 ride-hailing vehicles and found 108 were operating without the proper vehicle-for-hire insurance coverage. In order to register with the city as a ride-service driver, a vehicle must have such insurance and proof must be provided to the ride-booking company.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 6:09 PM CDT

Letters, Oct. 9

6 minute read Preview

Letters, Oct. 9

6 minute read Updated: 8:29 AM CDT

People often say they don’t trust politicians because they believe too much happens behind closed doors. Kevin Klein’s latest revelation does little to change that perception.

Read
Updated: 8:29 AM CDT

Alberta’s gopher museum closed until further notice as owners find new facility

Daniela Germano, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Alberta’s gopher museum closed until further notice as owners find new facility

Daniela Germano, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 12:54 PM CDT

A quirky Alberta roadside attraction that has delighted travellers for decades with its stuffed rodents in tiny costumes is closed until further notice.

The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum, located in Torrington, a hamlet about 120 kilometres north of Calgary, made the announcement online earlier this week.

Laural Kurta, museum director, said she was forced to close the doors because the two historical buildings that house the exhibits need to be replaced.

"We have done every patch repair, staple, spackle, everything we could possibly do, and it is just at its end," Kurta said in an interview Tuesday.

Read
Updated: 12:54 PM CDT

Police on scene at Fairmont hotel construction site

1 minute read Updated: 12:19 AM CDT

At least three police cars were present at the under-construction Fairmont Winnipeg Thursday evening.

The nature of the response was unclear, but officers were guiding traffic outside of the construction zone at 2 Lombard Place while the response was underway. At 6:50 p.m., traffic was flowing normally.

Security on site provided no information on the response, but an individual working behind site fencing told the Free Press there’d be no comment from anyone on site as to why police were on scene at this time.

An SUV with a Government of Manitoba logo on its side was also present alongside personnel from Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health. However, it’s unknown if it’s connected to the police response.

Jets goaltender quickly taking on folk hero status with hot start

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Jets goaltender quickly taking on folk hero status with hot start

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:03 AM CDT

Stuart Skinner is giving the hometown crowd plenty to cheer about.

The Winnipeg Jets new No. 1 netminder came up with another brilliant performance, making 32 saves — including several of the highlight-reel variety — to propel his team to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night at Canada Life Centre.

With each save he makes and each win he records, Skinner is doing what he can to help turn the page on the Connor Hellebuyck era.

“I would say that they are big shoes to fill 100 per cent, but I’m not looking into the scenario of filling his shoes,” said Skinner, who lowered his goals-against average to 2.62 and raised his save percentage to .920 through three starts. “My job’s the same job as any other goalie in this league. So it’s a little bit of a difficult question for me to truly answer.”

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 10:03 AM CDT

Longtime voice of the Blue and Gold marks major milestone

David Sanderson 8 minute read Preview

Longtime voice of the Blue and Gold marks major milestone

David Sanderson 8 minute read 12:52 PM CDT

Bob McGregor made his debut as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ public-address announcer on June 7, 1997, during a pre-season game at Winnipeg Stadium between the hometown Blue Bombers and their western rivals, the Calgary Stampeders.

McGregor will be behind the microphone again this Saturday, detailing the action on the field in addition to leading a boisterous Princess Auto Stadium crowd through what has become his signature call, “And that is another Winnipeg Blue Bombers first down!”

The Bombers’ final home date of the 2026 regular season will mark a major milestone for McGregor, and the former newscaster feels it’s only fitting the same two teams as 10,717 days ago — the Bombers and Stampeders — will be the ones butting helmets.

“I knew at the start of the season I was closing in on 300 games as the PA guy, only it wasn’t until I went through the schedule that I realized my 300th would be Winnipeg-Calgary, which struck me as kind of cool,” McGregor says, seated in a St. James breakfast nook, dressed in dark trousers and a blue-and-gold Blue Bombers golf shirt.

Read
12:52 PM CDT