What to do about Skype friend?

Good idea - Beechnut !

You should have got yours out first Esmay ?

I have a number of foreign Skype friends through learning languages online, and these friendships have endured for many years. All these calls last for one hour and take place by appointment once a week. It even works for calls to my sister! These friendships thrive on one hour a week, and if there does not seem to be enough to talk about, then I would recommend picking a book both like and reading through it, taking turns. This is an easy way to make the lives of possibly isolated or lonely people more meaningful by putting a bit of structure into the week.

Esmay ???

Good ideas from gransnetters .
It's tricky when you really like the person and treasure your friendship, but dread the boring monologues and don't want to offend them .

If only I'd had Skype-
I used to meet up with an old friend ,who always had a huge collection of very badly taken photographs in her enormous handbag .
After lunch ,she'd get them out and I'd have to admire each out of focus blurred image with a long accompanying explanation .
"This is my nephew ,Robbie. Can you see the family resemblance - oh dear I've cut his head off ! "
"This is Doris -remember my chiropodist ?"
"No ."
"It's her ex SIL well not really ( long explanation ) - can you see the detail on her dress ,that I gave her ? Oh dear it's a bit blurry ? "
"And these are my new chair covers ,can you see the pattern ?"
Er , not really as they were completely covered in Lego , comics , clothes and books !

After two hours ,I'd get out a few snaps of my brood .

"Can't stay much longer . I've got a train to catch ! ", she'd excuse herself .

I would find that annoying. I don't even like long phone calls.
But it's difficult to cut someone off when it's someone we love, or is vulnerable. Some good ideas above.

I use ^your breaking up, can’t hear you, oh she’s gone ( to myself) ?

I have a friend similar to this in New Zealand who is on her own and I feel so sorry for her but she wants to talk early in the morning or after 11 pm which is convenient for her hours. The trouble is, it doesn’t matter if I say I can’t talk long or whatever I say, it’s always an hour and a half minimum. It doesn’t matter to her as she can just sleep in in the morning. So, consequently, I avoid talking very often which defeats the object of trying to jolly her along a bit! I’m overdue to ring her now and I’m leaving it and leaving it……..

Brilliant ideas. Thank you for your advice.

Set the timer on the oven and say it's been lovely chatting but you have to go, dinner's ready.

I would just go along with it if it’s only every couple of months but maybe tell her at the start you can’t talk for long.