DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: When my Winnipeg girlfriend got tired of me in the spring I got a summer job out of the province and recovered in the arms of another woman. She and I were great pals and sex buddies, but not a forever love match.

My old girlfriend lost her summer love in September, so she took lonely old me back. It’s just all right this time, but really not what the relationship was before at its best. I still love her, but I don’t like her or trust her so much now. Deep down, I’m still angry.

And now, my sweet summer sex buddy has taken a job in Toronto and contacted me to see if I would be interested in joining her there for a week holiday from Christmas to New Year’s Day.

I’m really tempted. I love the huge fireworks shows on New Year’s Eve in major cities. Should I jump back in with her? We’re probably not permanent, but she gets a big kick out of me and it’s good for my ego.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m in a long-term lesbian relationship, or so I thought. My wife came home from a business trip in Asia and was acting strange — kind of skittish if I tried to touch her.

I asked her what was wrong and she said she didn’t feel well from travelling and was going to sleep in the guest bedroom from now on. What?

She turned in early, but I could hear her voice immediately talking on her phone again for almost an hour.

I finally knocked on the door and she hung up the phone. I asked who she was talking to, and she said, “Oh all right, you might as well know sooner than later. I have another woman in my life who I met through work.” I was totally devastated.

Canada’s loss of its measles elimination status this week is more than just an international embarrassment. It’s a sign of how badly our public health infrastructure has eroded and how far we’ve slipped in protecting one of the most basic tools of modern medicine: vaccination.

For the first time since 1998, the Pan American Health Organization no longer considers Canada measles-free. The reason? Outbreaks across several provinces have lasted more than a year, and public health officials haven’t been able to stop the virus’s spread.

That’s not because measles suddenly became more infectious. It’s because our systems — from vaccination tracking to public education — have broken down.

Experts say Canada’s fall from grace was preventable. The science hasn’t changed. What’s changed is our politics, our public health funding and the spread of misinformation that’s convinced far too many people that vaccines are something to fear.

Farm organizations took longer than usual to react and were remarkably nuanced in their response to this week’s long-awaited federal budget.

When the news releases did flow into inboxes, the responses were measured. None gave this budget a failing grade. There were no ringing endorsements either.

The Canadian government has come up with measures that will put real dollars into farmers’ pockets at a critical time. The impact of some of the “takes,” however, is less tangible. The consequences won’t become visible for years.

The government officially backed down on measures such as the enhanced capital gains provisions that would have increased the collection on land transfers by millions due to the relentless appreciation in farmland values.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I spotted an old lover at an annual Halloween bash, and he was in a full pirate costume. I recognized him right off the bat because the pirate thing is an act he’s been pulling off for years — and succeeding to the max with me, I must admit.

I was dressed as a sexy black cat to catch his eye. I waited for him to make his move. He likes to sneak up on me at parties and growl in my ear. It’s predictable, but still a turn-on.

His wife couldn’t make the party, as usual, so he came on his own in his van. It’s the way he travels best — a sneaky guy with a bedroom on wheels so he can make a quick getaway when he’s ready.

Why doesn’t this pirate leave his boring wife for someone like me, who could match his fire?

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: Christmas is approaching again and this time I’m demanding my diamond engagement ring. I moved to Canada to be with my man, and when we moved in together, he promised me a ring for Christmas — and then it didn’t happen. I got a cheap coat instead.

Now, he has promised me an expensive trip home to visit my family overseas during the holidays instead of an engagement ring to get me off his back.

Sometimes I think I just want to go home to my family and stay there. I’m feeling so hurt and frustrated. Last night I asked him how he would feel if we both bought each other engagement rings — and he laughed in my face saying, “What’s the rush?”

— At Wits’ End, Garden City

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I love to see Halloween trick-or-treaters in their costumes. I also dress up every year to greet the kids who come to my door. I’m a 34-year-old woman with no kids of my own.

Our whole yard is lit up in orange lights and my husband and I had a great time hanging ghosts and goblins from the tree branches two weeks ago.

However, our neighbour hates it. Last year we bought a scary sound show to go with the yard decorations and he went nuts. He came running out last week when I tried out my spooky soundtrack. He yelled that it sounded like a “pagan circus” at our place.

Today he growled at me there would be “stupid kids” running across his yard again and said he was going to call the police on us this year.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: You may think I’m crazy, but I’m going to a Halloween party as a glamorous witch to run into this special guy and put my spell on him.

He’s co-hosting it with his housemate and it’s a big bash. You can’t get into this party unless you’re wearing a full-on costume. I don’t want to wear a complete Halloween mask, though, because I want him to recognize me and be attracted.

Can you give me any magical ideas?

— Need to Bewitch Him, West End

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: Today, I accidentally stumbled on a couples costume package my crazy girlfriend bought for us for Halloween. It comes with props. She tells me she gets right into the Halloween spirit and the sexiest costumes she can find. I’ve seen some of them from earlier years in her closet. Whoa.

After giving out candy at the door, she says she likes to have wild sex with adult costumes on. I’ve decided I want this with her. I led a dull life before I met her and she says we have to learn to take chances in life. I agree.

It’s trying to figure out what she wants me to say and do when in costume that really gets me worried.

I’m not much of an actor. I’m a weightlifter and just look the part of a warrior or biker, or something tough. My new girlfriend is more of an actor and has some scenes for us to try this Halloween.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: This week I got a real kick in the face! It came from someone I thought was a great young friend. It turned out, she just liked hanging out with me for what she could get in terms of influential friends and invitations.

I thought this new friend liked charming old me for myself, but all she wanted was to jump over my head, to be buddies and hang out with bigger “players” in the charity world. She wanted to get deeply involved in this upcoming charity season’s dinners and parties, and obviously saw me as a person to use for that.

This week I heard what she really thinks of me, from a close female buddy. Ouch, that hurt! Now I’m really angry. I don’t want to let this young “friend” get away with using me and hurting me! What can I do?

— High Heel in My Face, Charleswood

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My girlfriend and I — lesbians in our 30s — get along famously. But whenever I come home from my parents’ house, I’m depressed. My mom always manages to give me a shot about never being able to provide a grandchild for her and my dad (I’m an only child).

When my dad hugged me goodbye last time, he whispered, “I do try to make her stop this nonsense.” I just don’t feel like going there anymore. She hits me with the guilt grenades every time, like maybe it will be enough to make me adopt and get her the grandchild. Ha.

Seriously, what should I do? It doesn’t even help when I bring our puppy, who’s so small she looks and acts like a baby.

— Failing to Supply Grandchild, Fort Richmond