There’s likely no ‘just dinner’ with this old flame

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/12/2025 (268 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I ran into a man from my past who has just moved back to Winnipeg. This is a problem, because I’m very attracted, and he’s also feeling it — but he has a partner of the male variety right now.

Yes, he’s a little bisexual. But he also says he wants to take me out to a great place “just for dinner.” I’m afraid to get together with him privately and maybe end up in bed with him — when he already has a lover.

This puzzle is giving me a headache. Please help me.

— Competing With a Guy? St. Boniface

Dear Competing: There are too many uncertainties in this puzzle. Plus, it sounds like a lot of hard work with a small chance of reward.

So, step back and ask for a “just lunch-friends” deal with this man from the past and stop putting real effort into working at anything beyond friendship.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: My life exploded when my wife told me she was pregnant again!

Now I’m looking at serving a longer life sentence — raising a bunch of kids and staying married to her.

We don’t have a great marriage; our kids are young teenagers and under.

So, why did I marry this woman in the first place? She’s great in bed, got to hand her that, but it’s just that when she’s not in bed with me at night, she’s yapping away at other people, gossiping on the phone until midnight.

She says some mean things that deeply embarrass me — and we fight about them later. Help!

— Baby on the Way, Tuxedo

Dear Baby on the Way: If necessary, you can declare a definite limit to more kids from your end by getting a vasectomy.

It’s clear you don’t want any more children, so you really need to start a conversation on this touchy topic, even though it’s too late for the new baby.

To spend more time away from your wife, you could volunteer to take your kids to more of their sports or arts activities.

Become an enthusiastic promoter of the kids’ interests because they will soon get pushed right out of the limelight by the new sibling.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I just received a threatening letter in my mailbox. It has no stamps, so somebody from my development must have shoved it through the mail slot, which is inside my secured building.

I have an idea who did it, because her ex-boyfriend is now seeing me and we all know each other. What should I do?

— Worried New GF, West Kildonan

Dear Worried: Talk to your new boyfriend and ask him to straighten this out with the ex-girlfriend because you are now being forced to call the police to report the incident, and show them the unsettling letter as evidence.

Then break it off with this young man.

It’s simply too dangerous to have an enemy residing too close to the place where you close your eyes at night.

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.

   Read full biography