DEAR Jasminda, My eldest daughter is flying the coop and I am feeling empty nest syndrome. What is the best way to deal with it, while still encouraging her independence? Tara G.   Dear Tara, There are so many different rites of passage we must navigate when it comes to children. The first night they manage to

  DEAR Jasminda, At my brother's wedding, our mother insisted on leaving my new boyfriend out of all the professional photos because she doubts the relationship will last. It was humiliating and a bad start to what he and I feel will be a long relationship. I couldn't say anything as I didn't want

  DEAR Jasminda, How do we deal with friends who want to come and stay over the holidays who are not vaccinated? I'm not so much worried about our health, but we are in contact with vulnerable people, and I would be devastated if they were to contract COVID. Mr Jordan P.   Jordan, I have

  DEAR Jasminda, IS it wrong that I just don't feel like putting up Christmas decorations this year? It has been such a weird 12 months and the thought of dragging out the Christmas tree is just too much. I really can't be bothered. Laurie N. Dear Laurie, It seems that people fall broadly into two

  DEAR Jasminda, I am always confused about the appropriate sign off in an email. There are so many options, and none of them feels quite right. What do you recommend? Yours, Mr Andrew G.   Dear Andrew, Well, for a start, I wouldn't sign off an email to a person you don't know as 'yours'. I mean, you're

  DEAR Jasminda, I THINK my kids are taking advantage of the new rules for staying at home with any sign of a COVID symptom. They are fine on weekends, but suddenly have a headache, slightly sore throat and a bit of a sniffle on Monday. Mr George R. Dear George, You just took me back

  DEAR Jasminda, Yesterday, peering down from my balcony, I saw my neighbour with her dog, which proceeded to defecate on my lawn. When I went down later to inspect, the repulsive mess was still there. I later approached my neighbour and she said there was nothing she could do because her dog had

  DEAR Jasminda, My wife has started a plant-based diet to reverse the effects of our overeating during lockdown. Though I find this admirable, I'm starving after each meal, so I've taken to making up an excuse to go for a drive, and then heading to the nearest drive-through fast food outlet

  DEAR Jasminda, Whereas most people are rushing to the hairdresser now they are open again, my husband says he has come to terms with his new, unkempt look and has accepted this as the way he should be. My problem is he is starting to look like Mick Taylor out of Wolf

  DEAR Jasminda, Well, here we are - opening up week. It should be a time of excitement, but I am actually thinking I quite enjoyed lockdown. The place was less congested. The kids were happier being at home. Learner driving instruction was a breeze with less cars on the road. We realised the importance of