Stick to the science with forthright neighbour

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This article was published 19/08/2020 (2234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My old neighbour is lonely, retired and home because of COVID-19. It seems she’s had enough loneliness and has taken to knocking on surrounding neighbours’ doors to try to get invited in for a visit.

She plants her feet apart and stands right there on the step until you answer the doorbell. I’m so fed up with having to get rid of her I told my husband I was thinking of putting a sign on the door that says ‘No visitors until there’s a vaccine!’

My husband bellowed at me “No way!” and asked me how I could be such a cold-hearted neighbour. I suggested he answer the dang door when she comes then, and that shut him up.

What can I do? She tries two or three times every week and it’s annoying hanging onto my doorknob, so she can’t get a good hold on her side. I hate making up excuse after excuse, which she often refutes with an argument! Why doesn’t she get the hint?

— Tearing My Hair Out, Fort Rouge

Dear Tearing: She doesn’t “get it” because she’s found a cure for her loneliness. In fact, sometimes she may get invited in for tea and cookies at other people’s houses — quite rewarding, all in all. She may also think she’s helping out the neighbourhood with her cheery visits.

Surprise her with the truth. Tell her you are self-quarantining inside the house until all this is over and only see a few very close relatives in person.

Then say very clearly: “See you after we’re all vaccinated!” and let her go off to the next house on her route — thinking you’re a big hypochondriac. Her poor opinion of you, is a small price to pay when the constant visits irritate you so much.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I just ended an office affair with my longtime boyfriend of two years. The relationship was over last week when he sat outside his house in the driveway, phoned me at home and kissed me off on his cell. He said, “I might as well try to make a go of it with the wife, because now we’re both working from home.”

I started to cry and he said, in an annoyed voice, that he was at home and could be seen from the window, and had to go into the house for dinner.

That was it. He has not called me since. What was I to him — nothing?

As for me, I’m 36 and have no sex life now. I used to have half a relationship with him, and that was enough because I was working hard at two jobs, trying to save enough money to buy a house.

Now I just work! Being single in COVID times is the worst thing possible. Please help me.

— Dying of Loneliness, Wolseley

Dear Dying of Loneliness: This could end up being a gift. Your affair guy has gone back to the marriage he didn’t enjoy before and you are finally free to meet someone who is not married and could spend lots of time romancing you.

That means you have to get yourself in shape and research the best way to get good results on dating apps. Also look for the best ways to date while social distancing. Also consider a face-to-face meeting through Adventures for Successful Singles (adventuresforsuccessfulsingles.com) which has many outdoor activities in full swing.

You might quickly forget this married guy in a flurry of activities. He won’t have the opportunities you do, as he is making do with his wife, or perhaps he’s happily made up with her and just isn’t telling you.

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.

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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