Can’t lose with warm welcome for neighbour

Opinion

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This article was published 20/01/2025 (263 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m a woman in my 30s, and my female neighbour next door has me intrigued. She had a girlfriend in the summer, but now she doesn’t. We were just over-the-fence friendly then.

She is beautiful and has a nice backyard pool that she was busy around all summer with friends and her girlfriend. I know they were lovers from how they talked and touched. I could hear them sometimes. Now that girlfriend is gone.

With the leaves off the trees, I can see my neighbour walking around inside her house when she gets home from work. Lately, I’ve really only said hello to her out by our cars, but then I ran out of conversation because I’m shy.

I have a big crush on her. I’m not a drinker or party person, but I can bake. Would it sound too strange to invite her over to sample some of my newest cookie recipes? Or does that sound like too obvious a ploy?

— Shy Neighbour, Birds Hill

Dear Shy: Who wouldn’t like to get invited over to sample a neighbour’s baking inventions? You can’t lose — but just be casual. Tell her you need some feedback on your latest cookie concoctions, and ask if she could help you out with that.

Turn some fun upbeat music on and make sure to have one batch of cookies still baking at her arrival time, so the house smells wonderful. If it doesn’t work out romantically with your neighbour, at least you may have made a nice new friend.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: My large, long-legged pup has grown like crazy in two months and still wants to sleep with me on my bed. He gets behind me and pushes with his legs. By 3 a.m., I end up heading for the spare bedroom to get some shuteye before morning.

If I kick him out of my bedroom he whimpers and cries at the door. If I put him in the spare bedroom and shut the door on him, he just howls like the puppy he is. Putting him in the basement to sleep was even worse — a terrible weekend experiment where neither of us got any sleep.

I’ll never get a serious girlfriend with this going on. I got a puppy because I love dogs and also to help ease my loneliness.

Could it help to get a second dog? I’m living in my dream house on an acreage now, so I have the space. I just want to be happy and rested.

— Howling Dilemma, Charleswood

Dear Howling: Strained sleeping situations often arise in households with young animals who desperately want to bed-in with their humans — and not be left alone in the dark.

You could consult a dog trainer on how best to handle this and possibly set up a more comfy situation in your spare room for your pooch to sleep, but it may take some time to achieve.

You mention you have ample space, so you definitely could take in a second pup, and with the two canines interacting, it may help your current dog focus on you less in the dark hours.

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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