DEAR Jasminda, How do you leave a party in a socially acceptable way without insulting everyone? If you do the rounds and say goodbye, it can add another hour to your expected time of departure. Mrs Kate W. Dear Kate, I rarely have this problem because I avoid large social gatherings like the plague (now

  DEAR Jasminda, I live in shared accommodation where there is only one laundry. What is the acceptable time frame to allow before you remove the previous person's washing? I waited five hours the other day and it was still there. Mrs Wendy P. Dear Wendy, The stages of washing are never-ending, so to have to wait

  DEAR Jasminda, Now that the flood waters are starting to subside, I have a new problem - swarms of blood-sucking mosquitoes. What earthly purpose do they serve and what can I do to avoid the bites and potentially Ross River Fever? Mrs Tina W. Dear Tina, It is quite hard to love the humble mosquito,

  DEAR Jasminda, My neighbours’ cat prefers living with me. It suns itself on my deck, follows me in the garden and if the door is open, and curls up on my lap and falls asleep. The neighbours are at work all day and so they are unaware of this behaviour. The thing is, I’ve

  DEAR Jasminda, Last night my son asked me why there wasn't an International Men's Day. What should my reaction have been? Mrs Olivia T. Aaaargh. Olivia. Did you wallop him over the head with the white school shirt you'd just ironed so he looked the part at the school you are forking out thousands

  DEAR Jasminda, Whenever my teenage daughter gets in the car, she always switches the music to her playlist which raises my anxiety levels. I admit we have very different tastes in music. What is the answer? Mr Doug K. Dear Doug, I wish you could have given me a bit more information about your musical tastes. I’m

  Dear Jasminda, Last week my husband and I set our New Year’s Resolutions. Mine was to do at least 10,000 steps a day and eat more fruit; his was to try to be happy in his body and drink more alcohol. I just can’t see this working. Mrs Miriam H. Dear Miriam, Your resolutions

  Dear Jasminda, My husband has suggested we get a shared present this Christmas and he has decided that the shared present should be a barbecue. I was hoping for something a bit more personal. Do I just go along with it? Mrs Tara F. Dear Tara, Normally I complain about any conversations to do with Christmas