Do you feel no-one listens ro you?

I only use a mobile now because you can put it on loudspeaker, put it down and get on with something else whilst the monologue is going on😬

In lockdown I used to do my daily exercises that way.

It’s not you. It’s them.

I sometimes do that Lathyrus!

Honestly, I think it's quite common, maybe it becomes more apparent as we get older. I have one friend, we've known each other from school days, whose main topic of conversation is her one child, she spends an inordinate amount of time with her daughter, they holiday together, they dine out together, none of these things she does with her husband and the daughter is without a partner. When we meet for lunch and she arrives first she'll be on the phone to her and then she'll also be the main topic of conversation. Increasingly, I find I'm just listening, like you have stated, little opportunity to interject. I think she's forgotten that conversation is only really worthwhile when it's an exchange and sometimes it should be incumbent on her to be the listener. I don't meet her so much anymore for that one reason, I'm bored with it! I'm finding I'm enjoying meeting up with my new found group, or another friend where numerous topics are covered and no one person dominates.

Try WhatsAping friends, briefer, but at least you can have your say!

Yes I know and isn't it frustrating. Some people only want to hear their own voices. I always listen , I never overspeak , I wait till they are done , then I try to say something, I get 12 words out and boom they come back with a vengeance.