Head off flirty handyman by hiring help

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This article was published 06/01/2022 (1670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My wife has an “old friend” who comes over to do what she calls “men’s work” at our house while I’m at work. He happily clears snow off her car, shovels the area where we park, and takes care of ice on the sidewalk so she won’t slip. And he’s funny! The kids think he’s a riot, and quote his stupid jokes to me.

I’d like to kick his butt, except I work hard all day to earn for the family, and it’s dark when I get home. So, truth be told, I’m relieved I don’t have to shovel at that point.

I just find this guy suspicious, as he’s an old boyfriend of my wife’s, and I stole her from the jerk way-back-when. Her comebacks when I grumble about him are, “Well, we need the help, and you can’t do it,” or “What’s your problem? You got me in the end, didn’t you?”

The thing is, he might be back for another round — wouldn’t put it past him. What should I do?

— Suspicious Husband, Transcona

Dear Suspicious: Right now, he’s in the perfect position to flirt with your wife. She needs the snow cleared, and you can’t do it. She may also be feeling lonely, as many people are, during COVID times. So here comes Sir Galahad with his shovel!

She’d be rude not to invite him in to warm up when it’s -20 C or worse. This gives him the opportunity to flirt with the woman you stole from him. You can block him, and it’ll cost less than losing your wife. Hire somebody ASAP who is in the business of snow clearing — and then your wife’s helpful ex loses multiple opportunities to try to even the score with you.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: We’re going stir crazy around here. After two years of COVID, we’ve done just about everything we could do to amuse ourselves. We’re sick to death of always eating, sleeping and working at home. I’m bored senseless. My husband I live in suburbia and have two kids, six and eight years old, and have a fenced yard. What can we do to get through this winter, that’s just starting to rear its ugly head?

— Mom Pulling Her Hair Out, Charleswood

Dear Hair Puller: So what would intrigue you enough to bundle up everybody and go out in the cold? It can be lots of fun to build a skating rink, string up lights and pipe in some music. If you and your husband are not builders, you can buy backyard rink kits in different sizes. Yes, it may be hard on next year’s lawn but being bored with kids in the house is hard on the nerves. Luckily, grass seed is cheap and the kids can help you scatter it.

Building one snowman isn’t enough, as it only take an hour or two. But building a “snow family“ with Mom, Dad, the kids and the family pets represented, could take a few weeks, and is an experience the kids will never forget.

The kids may also get a kick out seeing all kinds of birds landing to feed outside your windows. Research what kind of feeders or food will attract the many different kinds of birds who winter here — not just the sparrows. Of course, hungry squirrels will show up when there’s food to be had, but you can get squirrel-proof feeders to keep them at bay.

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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Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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