A bit of ‘locus-pocus’ can help ward off party hex

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/10/2025 (310 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: Halloween is coming up, and I love it. My girlfriends and I are dressing up as coven of witches and were planning to celebrate in our friend’s backyard, dancing around their fire pit. (Her place only a few houses away from mine.)

Then a nosy neighbour got hold of this info and decided to put a stop to it, as it might “attract bad spirits.” That’s just superstitious thinking.

I want to go ahead with our party but my mother says she doesn’t want us to become the family in the neighbourhood whose teenager causes trouble with her friends.

One girl’s mom volunteered their yard instead, but it’s in a different neighbourhood far from where most of us live.

I also hate being pushed around by old biddies who call the cops on teenagers every chance they get. What should we do?

— Stand Up or Give In? Fort Garry

Dear Stand Up or Give In: Go the easy route and relax. Shift your party plan to the other yard and fire pit offered, and get your broomsticks ready. Then you can stop fretting about your cranky neighbour, get your fire-dancing moves on and find some fun props for all the photos you’re going to snap at the party.

By the way, how big is the fire pit? You may want to check the city’s website to find out if you’ll need a fire permit and to learn about safety measures.

Sometimes it’s better to forget being right and just fly with a new location, rather then being stubborn. Then you’ll be in the mood to really let loose and pose for some playful pics and not have to worry about a nosy party-pooper.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I don’t want my summer love anymore, even though I’m very grateful for it.

We’re both teachers at the same school. He separated from his wife early this year, so I went after him in June for a little summer romance, and he was great. He taught me so much about sex that I never knew before.

I was also newly free after leaving a failed relationship with another man. I was still a bit of wreck in the spring over my ex, but this summer relationship made me feel confident, strong and sexy for the first time in my life.

When I thanked him from the bottom of my heart in late August, and then shyly told him I was going to try to get back with my ex this fall, he just fell apart and lost it.

He yelled, “You used me as your sex coach. Did you think I was just looking for some holiday action? You seem to want to go back to before this summer and brush off all that happened between us.”

Today I sent him a message saying I’m sorry he’s hurting. He then phoned me to tell me to leave him alone and accused me of not even having the guts to say hello to him anymore at work.

Now what?

— Summer Bummer, Winnipeg

Dear Summer Bummer: The man you had a summer romance with is still hurting, but you’re not because you were just using him as a sex teacher.

Lots of men wouldn’t mind being “casually used” for a hot summer, but this man was falling in love and wanting a real romantic relationship with you. You probably knew this all along.

Now your summer fling (and now an awkward colleague) knows you’re trying to win back your old love since your confidence got a nice boost, so make one last attempt to call him and try to apologize and say how sorry you are.

If he listens to you, finish by saying, “Thank you for some lovely times.” Then leave this poor guy alone without being obvious about it to other staff members.

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
Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

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