Wanting to unfriend a "friend"

Life has probably changed for her since retiring,she may be not coping with it well,her rambling as you call it might well be something else..if you don't want to stay friends that's your choice but sometimes things are not always what they seem..you never know what's going on in someone's life

One of my friends changed in a similar way in that she would hold court with stories as if she was doing a presentation and not really gave a conversation, even one to one.

She also got muddled about times and dates (most notably my husbands funeral, but that’s another story 🙄).

However, she then had a massive stroke and it turned out that she had been having many mini strokes that were affecting language and social awareness parts of her brain.

I’m just wondering if your friend is struggling in some way, because you say she has changed enormously in quite a small space of time.

Wait until Bonfire Night before you send her birthday card……..just saying🤷‍♀️

I think if this friend also drives your other friends up the wall when you all meet up is perhaps time to call time on these meet ups and maybe see each other without her in a less formal/organised way so she doesn’t find out and get upset. If she asks just say you all decided to give it a miss. Would just send a card when is her birthday.

I have a friend like that. I would get cards and presents sometimes nowhere near my birthday. She was good in other ways though and supported me through rough times.
If your friend rambles on when you meet I can understand how annoying that can be.
You have to decide if she is worth keeping and it sounds as though you don't think she is so ease out of the friendship by not being available.

Since she made so little effort for your two birthdays, I'd say just put a card in the post - 2nd class! - with a basic greeting. No visit, no present and no group lunch meet-up. Sometimes, old friendships do simply die away and it sounds like this is what's happening here.

How do the other friends feel? It is only 4 times a year, if it were me I would be inclined to carry on meeting, it is regular but not often. It also sounds as though she may have health problems and is becoming forgetful, turning up at strange times etc. I would not resent someone like this but try to understand their behaviour.

I agree fancythat.

I would get through her 70th, and then consider unfriending her.