DEAR Janice, since Celtic’s recent downturn in their fortunes, my husband has been in a dreadful mood. He’s never violent or abusive, and is a wonderful man, but it’s affecting every area of our lives together. The recent Dubai debacle put him off his dinner for about two weeks. Every time we talk it’s “We need to get Lennon out” and so on. He’s been so embarrassed to be a Hoops fan since it all went to pot for them, it’s even affected our time in the bedroom. Short of booting Lennon out and taking over the club myself to get it back to the nine-in-a-row glory days and the golden years of our relationship, how do I get him back? AM.

Dear Hoops widow, many readers will resonate with your issues.

Being an avid football fan promotes feelings of who to unconditionally love and who to eternally despise. It permeates feelings of pride, passion, euphoria and a sense of belonging and identity. This is all very positive so long as it’s a win-win situation. But when disaster strikes (and for him this is disaster), then bipolar reactions kick in and irrational feelings and turbulent emotions are often the order of the day.

Booting Lennon out is outwith your control, AM, so let’s think of other ways to lift your man’s mood and get his mojo back in the sack.

No point in trying to avoid the C word, so perhaps set him a lockdown project to create a Hoops-themed bar at home with Celtic legends posters and memorabilia. He can have nights of re-runs of old games when they were on a winning streak and he was in his “happy place”.

Hope for a better future is key, so freshen up his favourite Hoops top and reassure him that just like the Covid pandemic, his team’s recent downturn will end one day.

Dear Janice, my husband has been gambling for the last few years and he always promises me he has stopped; however, I was gutted to discover that he gambled again and lost a substantial amount of our money. No matter how I try and control this he still manages to place another bet. What else can I do? Nicola.

Dear Nicola, firstly, it is crucial that you take control of the situation and start by protecting your finances.

Giving him access to cash is like giving an alcoholic a bottle of vodka and asking them not to drink it. It’s unfair on you, and it’s unfair on him. Secure all forms of cash and give him weekly amounts. This might seem harsh, but gamblers will bet the last penny in their pocket on a “surefire win” time after time.

I’m sure you’ve been through his initial denial about this serious addiction and then had to deal with his promises that he can stop at any time, but these are key signs of most addicts and only lead on to a more complex web of lies to cover their tracks. He will no doubt ask you for money for things you hadn’t even considered, but you can bet (excuse the pun) where the cash is really going.

Remember, he will have lost control of the thing he needs most, so please seek professional help for him – but also for yourself, as these situations often lead to explosive arguments and fall outs. You don’t have to do this alone. Groups who will be able to help your situation include Gamblers Anonymous Scotland, which has a 24-hour hotline on 0370 050 8881 and website at https://gascotland.org

Good luck.

Dear Janice, when we went into lockdown again in December my girlfriend moved in with me. All is great except I’m allergic to her dog. I’m bulk buying antihistamine online just to keep things at bay, but the mutt is still affecting me in more ways than one. On top of everything, she expects me to let it sleep up on my bed with us! It’s an old dog and secretly I’m praying it pops its clogs soon, but how do I handle this in the meantime? John.

Dear John, supposing your wish came true and her beloved pet keeled over tomorrow, chances are she’d want to replace it with another, and you’d be back to square one, so let’s get practical.

If it isn’t obvious to your girlfriend how miserable this is making you feel then you need to have an honest chat and tell her that although you love her being there, her accessory is literally getting right up your nose!

Put in place a strict cleaning regime before the dander can build up. Wipe down all hard surfaces, vacuum all floors, steam clean carpets and upholstery and launder all bedding. Exhausted so far? Well, there’s more. Bath her pooch at least once a week and in between, wipe it down with a wet cloth or baby wipes. And remember, avoid rubbing your eyes at all times.

Children sometimes outgrow pet allergies but as an adult it’s a slim chance you will become accustomed to it, therefore action needs to be taken.

And as for sleeping in your bed, well ... if your girlfriend won’t compromise on this, it might be time to consider them both moving back to where they came from.