Don’t hide from neighbours after hot-tub humbling

Advertisement

Advertise with us

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I was woken up in the middle of the night to a weird sound. I went to check on it — and it was my new neighbours in their hot tub, fooling around! I just couldn’t help myself and peeked out.

Read this article for free:


By clicking the button above, an account will be created and you will begin to receive some of our recommended newsletters. You may opt out of any newsletter by visiting your Email and Communication Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of any email.

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $1.44 a week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $5.77 plus GST every four weeks. After 52 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/07/2024 (829 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I was woken up in the middle of the night to a weird sound. I went to check on it — and it was my new neighbours in their hot tub, fooling around! I just couldn’t help myself and peeked out.

Then it happened: they noticed me watching them and motioned for me to come over! I ducked behind my curtain feeling so embarrassed — and then I flopped onto the bed and hid my head under a pillow.

I have no idea how to approach them about the incident. I’m not into threesomes or anything like that, and I don’t want any problems with my new neighbours. Should I just pretend like nothing happened?

— Drowning in Embarrassment, Silver Heights

Dear Drowning: The new neighbours are probably still enjoying the memory of catching you peeping! There won’t be any problems, because they flipped things around, so they were in control of the situation. So, relax and wave back if they wave at you, and smile in a friendly way. If they ask you to come over to play, you just say, “I’m not as brave as you may have thought, but thanks for the invitation, and do have fun!”

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: My wife got drunk at a party we had at the lake, and afterwards we had some very uninhibited sex. She was so relaxed she muttered, she “hadn’t had an orgasm in months!” I contradicted her and told her I definitely remembered a number of times she almost woke up the household with her excitement.

Then she said, “Oh that was just to get you going — and get it over with, ha!” I wasn’t laughing then, and I’m not laughing now. Believe me, if we were still just dating and didn’t have a marriage and kids, I would have said, “Well then, since everything has been phoney on your side, and some kind of joke, I’m out of here!”

But I can’t do that. There are kids and debts and responsibilities that need carrying out by the adults who created them. It’s just that I feel so used and tricked and possibility laughed at for being fooled into thinking this marriage and family were real.

Now what does a man do when he finds out his married life has been a bad joke? How do you make love to someone, when you can’t trust it being real anymore?

— Hurting, Embarrassed, Winnipeg

Dear Hurting: The first question to ask yourself before you invest in counselling is this one: “Do I actually want this marriage enough to fix it?” Possibly your wife threw that cruel statement in your face because she’s ready to split.

More likely, it was bravado and the alcohol talking.

You’ve lost trust — especially sexually — at least for now. One thing is certain — you need strong counselling with a referee situation. You’d possibly do best with a counselling couple who work together, for the male-female balance.

It may be hard to trust your wife again as she was so convincing, putting on that big show to get sex over with. Now you need to find out if that was true or was it just bravado and the liquor talking?

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: What am I going to do? I ran into an old high school friend I had the biggest crush on, while at a mall. We were both on our own and free, and a little bit lonely, so we decided to go for a quick dinner and drinks. Quite a few drinks!

One thing led to another and we went to his apartment made the most passionate love I have ever had! I can’t think about anything else but our night together. Problem is, I haven’t heard from him and it’s been just over a week. I feel confused and used! Should I message him?

— Loved and Left, St. James

Dear Loved and Left: First you need to rename what you enjoyed together with this old high school friend. It was fun and intense, but it should not be labelled “making the most passionate love” in your mind and your memory. It was probably also a lot of fun for him, and maybe even a fantasy fulfilment, but not something more.

Don’t be angry with him, or with yourself. Just tell yourself it’s a sign from the universe that life goes on and that you will find a new “real love” someday, where you can incorporate this kind of amazing sex long-term.

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

Maureen Scurfield
Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Province chips in $15M to bring Pantages Playhouse back to life

Gabrielle Piché 4 minute read Preview

Province chips in $15M to bring Pantages Playhouse back to life

Gabrielle Piché 4 minute read Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

A string quartet performed at the Pantages Playhouse Theatre Tuesday in celebration of a $15-million contribution from the province to raise the curtain at the historic landmark again.

The musicians provided the backdrop to Premier Wab Kinew’s announcement of the cash injection to “help bring the Pantages Playhouse back to life.”

The theatre — which opened in 1914 and was once a hub for vaudeville performers, including Charlie Chaplin — has been closed for eight years.

“This is a tremendous project to advance arts and culture in Winnipeg and across Manitoba, but it’s also a big investment in our downtown,” Kinew said.

Read
Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

Election results: Winnipeg mayor, council and plebiscite

2 minute read Preview

Election results: Winnipeg mayor, council and plebiscite

2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018

Below you'll find all results for the ward, mayoral and plebiscite in the 2018 municipal election.

MayorBrian BOWMAN

53.30%

114,222 votesJenny MOTKALUK

Read
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018

Ottawa earmarks another $60M for national sport organizations

Joshua Frey-Sam 3 minute read Preview

Ottawa earmarks another $60M for national sport organizations

Joshua Frey-Sam 3 minute read Yesterday at 3:35 PM CDT

Another chunk of cash earmarked to increase participation in sport and develop homegrown athletic talent is being wired across the country.

On Thursday, the federal government announced an additional $60 million in financial backing for national sport organizations (NSOs).

Some extra wiggle room on mid fiscal-year budgets was not expected by Canada’s 63 NSOs, which were slated to receive a combined $112 million in core Sport Support Program (SSP) funding, and will now see north of $150 million in total.

“Sport has the power to shape lives and bring people together in a way few things can. Today’s announcement reflects a new era for sport in Canada, one where more kids have the opportunity to get out and play, and Team Canada athletes have the support they need to compete and win,” Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden said in a statement.

Read
Yesterday at 3:35 PM CDT

WAG-Qaumajuq names first Indigenous director, CEO

Jen Zoratti 4 minute read Preview

WAG-Qaumajuq names first Indigenous director, CEO

Jen Zoratti 4 minute read Yesterday at 5:16 PM CDT

WAG-Qaumajuq has appointed its first Indigenous director and CEO.

John Mahli Lawa’ Hampton has been selected to take the helm of Canada’s oldest civic art gallery, WAG-Qaumajuq announced Thursday.

The appointment follows a national and international search led by Arts Consulting Group. Bill Elliott, WAG-Qaumajuq’s deputy director and chief financial officer, has been serving in the role on an interim basis since longtime director and CEO Stephen Borys departed the gallery in 2025 after 17 years.

Hampton, who uses they/them pronouns, will begin in the role on Dec. 10.

Read
Yesterday at 5:16 PM CDT

Berry opens at Olympic trials: 'I want to impact the world'

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Berry opens at Olympic trials: 'I want to impact the world'

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Jun. 24, 2021

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Gwen Berry raised her fist, then thumped it against her chest two times and set off on her quest for an even bigger stage to spread her message.

The hammer thrower, who forced the U.S. Olympic world into an uncomfortable conversation about raised fists, kneeling and other demonstrations at the games, finished sixth in qualifying at track and field trials Thursday. She'll be in the final Saturday competing for one of three tickets to Tokyo.

“Today means a lot to me,” said the 31-year-old mom, who wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Activist Athlete.’ “My message is very powerful. I want to impact the world.”

She's hardly the only athlete using their platform to send a message.

Read
Thursday, Jun. 24, 2021

Don’t hide from neighbours after hot-tub humbling

Maureen Scurfield 5 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 16, 2024

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I was woken up in the middle of the night to a weird sound. I went to check on it — and it was my new neighbours in their hot tub, fooling around! I just couldn’t help myself and peeked out.

Then it happened: they noticed me watching them and motioned for me to come over! I ducked behind my curtain feeling so embarrassed — and then I flopped onto the bed and hid my head under a pillow.

I have no idea how to approach them about the incident. I’m not into threesomes or anything like that, and I don’t want any problems with my new neighbours. Should I just pretend like nothing happened?

— Drowning in Embarrassment, Silver Heights