I've been living in Canada for 18 months where I married my long-term partner of ten years, last year. We'd met while she was working in the UK. We spent a lot of time apart, and then decided to get married and be together.

Our next-door neighbors, living here for over 20 years, have three children. The oldest, 25, is boorish, loud, and disrespectful to his mother. The father has a respectable accounting job. Our two kitchens face each other.

The father has walked around butt naked when he knew my wife was in the kitchen. This happened several times and stopped since I've been living here. There's no doubt he was achieving some cheap thrill.

I'd like to take him to task, as I believe that this is tantamount to an obscene act. When I see him outside I cannot speak to him.

He appears very cheap - we put up a fence and his wife openly said they'd pay towards it. My stance was that any contribution would be appreciated. We've received nothing and he only speaks to us when he wants something.

It's a good neighborhood but this situation is unpleasant. Maybe we should just forget it and move on? But it doesn't excuse such appalling and unnecessary behaviour towards a single woman. He shouldn't be able to get away with it. (I'm not interested in telling and upsetting his wife).

Fuming

The man's a cowardly pig whose behaviour was obscene. It's understandable that you feel frustration and fury that this happened to your wife when you weren't around to defend/protect her and confront the man at the time.

However, you're unfortunately fuming about something you now can't prove, unless your wife took pictures, which seems doubtful. And there are no certainties about legal repercussions for nakedness in one's own home, without evidence of harassment.

Starting up with the father would surely arouse the boorish son's involvement, too. Living there could become far more uncomfortable.

Get window shades or blinds. Stay distant from the father. The message will be clear that you know what he did and won't tolerate it happening ever again.

Meanwhile, your wife should record the date and details of previous incidents, in case you need a report for police in future.

Unlike all my friends, I don't have a cell phone and I'm cool with that. I have this one friend who recently got a Blackberry. Whenever she comes over, she'll stay on her phone and act as if I'm not there. She also keeps paying more attention to her phone than to the people around her. And she can be very defensive if someone says anything.

I've already talked to her about it and she's just not getting the point that she needs to lay off the phone. Talking to her mom is not an option.

Frustrated Teen

She'll get the point if you stop inviting her over. Don't worry that you'll "lose" your friend - she's already lost in phone addiction. Tell her openly that there's no point to the friendship since she's not involved in any conversation or activity with you.

Meanwhile, find friends who are capable of disconnecting from their phones for periods long enough to hang out, share thoughts, have fun together.

After a short chill period, let your old pal know that you'd be happy to see her again if she can put her phone aside during most of the time you're together, and only check it when she leaves.

Dear Readers - Here's one reader's love story in which fate truly did seem to play a part:

Reader - "At 17, I met him (X), 28 and handsome. It ended when he discovered how old I really was. At 26, on vacation, I met some people who were on a sailing trip, but were delayed, as one was extremely ill. It was X!

"I nursed him back to health, then waved goodbye on the dock.

"Now 43, and at an acquaintance's funeral, I saw him again. I could barely speak. I'd been in love with him since I was 17. Yet we were both engaged to other people.

"We innocently exchanged numbers. That night, I broke off my engagement as my heart had always been with X. Two weeks later he was single, and three weeks later we were together. This was eight-plus years ago and we're still so happy!"