Dear Janice, my son and his sister are football daft. Trouble is, one is a Celtic supporter, and the other is a Rangers supporter, which means usually either one ends up in a foul mood. Pre-match starts off as friendly banter but when the final whistle blows, all hell breaks loose and the mood in our house changes from banter to hatred with heated arguments, door slamming, etc, and the atmosphere is awful. Even outwith the football season, their constant jibes and name calling continues and it’s getting me down as I’m caught in the middle. I dread the season starting up again. Sheena.

Dear Sheena, poor you, I’m sure the United Nations Peacekeeping force would have difficulty sorting this one out! Listen, this is your home where you should be able to live a quiet, peaceful life, so let’s take some action.

Firstly, sit them down like five-year-olds (because that’s the way they’re behaving), and tell them exactly how their behaviour is affecting you and that you’ve had enough.

They are probably too wrapped up in their own tribal fury to even notice how their Old Firm rivalry is affecting you.

Give them options. They either stay over with friends on match days or learn to be civil to each other when at home. If they can’t be civil then a complete ban on Old Firm conversation in YOUR house will be put in place.

If things don’t improve then it might be time for one, or both of them, to start looking for a home of their own.

That way they can let off steam without you being in the crossfire. This might sound harsh, but the thought of years of Old Firm clashes is enough to wear anyone down.

Dear Janice, since lockdown I’ve become good friends with a neighbour who lives in the flat opposite me in our block of flats. We’ve had drinks in the gardens together, helped each other with shopping, putting the bins out etc. I thought it was a huge bonus having such a great neighbour during such a difficult year however, now lockdown is lifting, and I am doing more of my own thing, she is constantly texting me, and its mostly about trivial stuff. I swear she looks out for me coming home as she appears out of nowhere and I can’t get away from her. I thought she was just being neighbourly, but my friends said they’ve heard she is gay and trying to get into my pants! I’m not gay, don’t fancy her, but don’t want to fall out with her either. Steph.

Dear Steph, so what if she fancies you, take it as a compliment. I think your friends are teasing you for a reaction from what you have said, and even if she does have a bit of a crush on you, you have been in this girls’ life constantly for the last year and it sounds to me that she is more likely just lonely since you’ve moved on.

Do you see her with other friends? She may not have any, so don’t cut her off. Steph, she has been a good friend to you when you needed someone, so be there for her.

Perhaps next time your friends are round at yours, you could invite her to join you.

It can’t do any harm and that way they can get to know her too instead of assuming all sorts.

Dear Janice, my older brother died in a road accident ten years ago and since then me and my sister can’t breathe. We feel like our mum is stifling our every move. She scrutinises everything we do and when I told her I was considering moving from Glasgow to Aberdeen University (I’ve got a couple of friends there), she went ballistic. I thought she’d be happy to see me move on. My sister and I understand she worries about us, but we need to get on with our lives. Taylor.

Dear Taylor, I’m sorry to hear about your brother, and I understand the grief you and your sister must still feel at losing him, but your mum’s grief is at a whole other level.

You were young when he passed and will never forget him, but you’ll move on with your lives.

Losing a child is life changing in every way and will be with your mum every single day of her life.

I can only imagine she wants to keep you both wrapped up in a cotton wool homely bubble to keep you safe, but you do need to fly the nest and be independent at some point.

I have no doubt she is aware that she is being overly protective, but she may not know how it is affecting you.

Sit down as a family and have an open and honest chat about how you feel, how she feels, and how you can move on with your lives without causing each other the stress and anxiety you are experiencing.

It’s easy, especially with new friends and a new life, to go off to university and forget to keep in touch, which will be crucial for your mum, so if you make a vow to communicate regularly, this’ll go a long way to helping you both accept this move and enjoy your freedom and future. Good luck in your new life.