Have dance ‘maestro’ step up before referring

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: A big handsome man recently moved in next door. He’s been chatting up both me and my girlfriend (she lives on either side of him).

His wife just arrived from B.C., and she’s delightful and fun. She says, “Don’t mind my husband, he ‘s a bit of a flirt. He knows I’ll hire someone to break his legs if I catch him actually doing anything!”

She’s already working full-time in finance downtown. He tells us he’s an experienced dance teacher and he plans to offer lessons or dance-related workouts for women in his big basement space. I told him I know a lot of women who might be interested, and now he’s asked me to put him in contact with those people.

Whoops! I feel awkward doing this — giving an almost-stranger my blessing and helping him launch his biz. I don’t really know what he’s like as a teacher. Should I help out or not?

— Nervous Neighbour, Fort Richmond

Dear Resident: Tell this “dance instructor” you can’t recommend him until he demonstrates his classes to you and a couple of friends. See if he snaps out of the flirting but is still a good teacher. Some home-based teachers are excellent, and the small scale of their classes is liberating for people who may be a bit out of shape and shy about their current bodies.

Others may not prove to be so good, so you wouldn’t want to sign up for 10 classes and shell out a big whack of money right off the hop. But trying out a class or two would give you a pretty decent idea as to their quality (and legitimacy) and whether you’d feel comfortable recommending him.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I was on my phone and not paying attention when I rammed into a big car downtown recently. So much for the fancy grille on my antique ride! I already have points on my licence and it’s going to cost a bunch to fix my vehicle.

My husband said this morning in a snotty voice that I’ll need “refresher driving lessons” from him, before I can drive my car again! I told him what he could do with his holier-than-thou advice, because he’s had a few car accidents of his own. What do you think?

— So Annoyed, North Kildonan

Dear Annoyed: Being on your phone and not paying attention when you’re driving is a shortcut to a serious accident that could cause you and other people serious harm. So take the best refresher lessons you can get from a professional driving instructor — not your husband. Also, pay for them yourself so they mean more to you.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I’m a divorced man and I’m free as a bird getting ready to fly south with my single buddy real soon. We’re going to an island in the sun to have ball!

My jealous ex-wife wants to know where we’re going, and I told her: “What for? You don’t have to know where I’m going anymore!” And, she said, “Yes, I do! What if anything happened to our children while you’re away?”

She has a point, but I don’t like the feeling of having to check in about where I’m going on holiday now that I’m single again!

— Free to Travel… on a Leash? Westwood

Dear Free on a Leash: You don’t owe your ex-wife a lot of detail, but you are still father to the children you share. It’d be important to find you quickly if something bad should happen with the kids while you’re away.

If your ex-wife is the type who might even try phoning the hotel to interrupt any “fun” you might be having, you could leave “emergency-only” contact info with an adult family member she isn’t overly close with. Bon voyage!

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.