DEAR Jasminda, I often start the New Year by goal setting, only to realise by February that I've failed. How can I achieve some goals that I can actually keep? Fiona W. Dear Fiona, Happy New Year. As we ease into another year, tenderly patting expanded waistlines created by batches of rum balls and

DEAR Jasminda, EVERY year our extended family gets a bit bigger and the cost of Christmas is becoming too expensive for me, particularly now I'm retired. How can I reduce costs and still make everyone feel important? Doris W. Dear Doris, Can you remember the Christmas gifts you were given five years ago? I

DEAR Jasminda, Every time I go through airport security, I get checked. It’s now a family joke that I’ll be held back. I’m starting to get a complex. Harry B. Dear Harry, I’m not sure if you are seeking my help here or merely stating a fact. There could be a

DEAR Jasminda, WE left our cat with friends who live a ten-minute walk away while we went to Europe for six weeks. When we returned, they told us they'd bonded with the cat and couldn't bear to part with it. We refused, of course, but now the damn cat keeps running

DEAR Jasminda, My new flatmate has an aversion to creepy crawlies whereas I'm a live and let live sort of person. How can I convince her that bugs and insects have a right to survive too? Adele B. Dear Adele, We need insects. There's no doubt about it. They play a huge role, not

DEAR Jasminda, Earlier this year we contacted a local recruitment agency seeking a maths tutor for our son. They sent us three resumes and we made our decision based on the one with the most experience. When we met the tutor, it quickly became apparent that she wasn't just a maths

DEAR Jasminda, WE are going on a holiday with another couple -- my best friend and her obnoxious, bigot of a husband. Normally I stay away from him, but we are sharing accommodation. My best friend laughs off his behaviour and says he's harmless. To me his comments and opinions aren't

DEAR Jasminda, After many years of hard work my husband and I have finally bought our dream home which is a waterfront in a lovely location. A couple of months ago a long-distance friend who I haven't seen in about 20 years sent me a message wanting to reconnect. Now she's

DEAR Jasminda, Friends recently invited us to their home for a wood-fired pizza night. As committed pizza makers, we were excited to show off our skills and arrived with toppings for a spectacular salmon pizza. After spending time arranging red onion rings, slivers of salmon, bocconcini, arugula, a secret mayonnaise

DEAR Jasminda, Friends recently invited us to their home for a wood-fired pizza night. As committed pizza makers, we were excited to show off our skills and arrived with toppings for a spectacular salmon pizza. After spending time arranging red onion rings, slivers of salmon, bocconcini, arugula, a secret mayonnaise