Playing the field will be hard this summer

Miss Lonelyhearts 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 13, 2016

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I'm a 75-year-old man and my plumbing works just fine. I have my own house and lots of privacy. When the snow goes, two widows who live out of town come to the city to see me. I had quite a thing going last year with three different women who stopped by on appointed days only. I'd tell them stories about how busy I was with my hobbies and clubs, and there was only time to see them on a certain day every few weeks.

This worked perfectly last year. Now I have a girlfriend living next door. I met her in the fall and shovelled her walk after the first snowfall. She invited me over for dinner and we got into it hot and heavy. Now she thinks we're serious. But I've had two calls in the last week from the ladies who live further away and are used to making visits in the summer to my house and cabin.

I realize I'm not as into the woman next door as she thinks I am. I intend to get together with the woman who lives near my cabin this weekend. The woman who lives south of the city dropped in unannounced with my favourite brownies today and I let her stay for some playtime. Luckily the woman next door was away visiting her daughter.

You see the problem I have. The only woman I'll ever love was my wife, but she passed away. Who can I afford to keep and who must I throw away? I'm not an old coot, but I am an old hippie and I don't intend to spend my last 10 years with just one woman. What is your advice?

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Kat Kettner, from left, Katelyn Sawatzky and Cici Davies — members of Childfree Winnipeg Women — have coffee at The Forks on Tuesday. Sawatzky founded the social group Childfree Winnipeg Women for women who don’t have children to connect, share experiences, and build meaningful friendships.

Childfree Winnipeg group gives women without kids a place to gather

AV Kitching 5 minute read Preview

Childfree Winnipeg group gives women without kids a place to gather

AV Kitching 5 minute read Yesterday at 4:48 PM CDT

Katelyn Sawatzky founded Childfree Winnipeg Women in 2021 to bring together women who don’t have kids — be it by choice or circumstance — and do not plan on raising children.

The group is designed to help them share experiences and build meaningful friendships.

The community welcomes cisgender, straight, transgender, bisexual and lesbian women. Parents, including empty nesters and men, are turned away.

“Our group is a safe space where women can hang out with other women without being asked when you’re going to have kids or why you don’t have kids … where you don’t feel like you have to validate or defend your choices in any way, because everyone gets it,” Sawatzky says.

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Yesterday at 4:48 PM CDT

MAGGIE MACINTOSH / FREE PRESS
Alexis Enns, 17, left Tec Voc empty-handed on Tuesday due to a miscommunication about the free Winnipeg Transit pass rollout, but she said she’s excited about securing a pass later this week to get to and from class during her senior year.

Bumps in the road as students collect free bus passes

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Preview

Bumps in the road as students collect free bus passes

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2026

Alexis Enns left her guidance counsellor’s office empty-handed, but no less excited about starting Grade 12 — even though she still didn’t know how she would get there or her timetable — on Tuesday.

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Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2026

Forgo faceoff and augment wife’s self-esteem

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m married to a woman who’s older than I am, and it’s the second marriages for both of us. She’s beautiful, even after having what she calls “a few nips and tucks.”

Seriously, it was more than a few.

Her former husband insisted she had to appear a lot younger than him — so ridiculous!

I’ve never seen even one picture of her when she was not wrinkle-free.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
The Winnipeg Jets’ newest netminder Stuart Skinner said he’s already built some solid chemistry with the team’s goalie whisperer: goaltending coach Wade Flaherty.

Ferraro, Skinner getting lay of the land before training camp starts

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Ferraro, Skinner getting lay of the land before training camp starts

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Yesterday at 5:45 PM CDT

They’ve both been around the NHL block a bit, but make no mistake, Stuart Skinner and Mario Ferraro are experiencing some “new kid at school” type jitters this week.

The pair were prized July 1 free agent signings by the Winnipeg Jets and are now quickly trying to get the lay of the land — from teammates and systems and structure to restaurants, schools and the best routes to the rink — in what is a frantic time on both a professional and personal level.

“It’s a big change, right?” Ferraro said Wednesday following a pre-training camp skate at the Hockey For All Centre.

“Like moving cities, getting settled somewhere else, with my family, my wife, my daughter, our two dogs. But I think it’s gone really well and smooth. We found a great place here, and we’re really happy with where we’re living.”

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Yesterday at 5:45 PM CDT

Scrounging bestie overdue for reality check

Maureen Scurfield 5 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m almost 40, and one of my closest friends who was jobless for three years is once again earning decent money again — but she’s still acting like she’s broke!

I don’t care how people spend their money, but she still expects me to pay for her. For instance, if we go out for lunch, she’ll ask if we can do a 75-25 split, with her paying the lower amount. She also comes to potlucks with nothing to share, and then has the nerve to ask to take food home. She will also ask me to cover something and promise to pay me back, but then I have to hound her for weeks to get the money!

But it really took the cake recently when we went to a concert and she asked me to cover her ticket. Then she bought two T-shirts at the merch table! It feels underhanded to me — and insulting to my intelligence. It also feels weird to have to bring it up to her. We’ve been besties since high school —many, many years ago. Please help.

— Taking Advantage, Riverbend

September 10, 2026

Playing the field will be hard this summer

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