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Relationships

Friend ?

(56 Posts)
Katewrites Mon 01-Jan-18 14:27:32

I get invited round by this woman who lives me but often she does not make me a cup of tea and I need a drink if I am talking and the room is hot
.She was swigging water from a bottle once so I asked if I could have some
I phoned her just after Xmas ; when she picked up the phone she immediately began telling me she had got an iPhone and went on for 25 minutes about it without me speaking or saying why I rang her.Then when I mentioned my best friend's husband is very ill, she told me not to think about them.She has lived here all her adult life but grew up in another country.So maybe the customs are different.Sometimes she is ok but basically she talks most of the time.What do you think ?Shall I stop seeing her.She won't come here as she says she hates being in another house

Cherrytree59 Mon 01-Jan-18 14:52:15

Sounds a bit of a one-sided friendship.
I would be wary of any person that had no empathy for my sick friend.
If you do however get any enjoyment out of visiting her I would recommend that you take your own
water/ juice in a bottle.
This will quench your thirst and keep you cool.

Life however is too short to be talked at rather than have a chat with.smile

Katewrites Mon 01-Jan-18 16:43:42

Thanks,I had thought of taking a flask!

Scribbles Mon 01-Jan-18 19:01:09

It sounds as if you're not really getting anything from this "friendship". In your position, I think I would just let it wither. Don't phone her, don't go round there and, from the sound of it, she'll be too busy playing with her iphone to notice!

lemongrove Mon 01-Jan-18 19:41:31

Doesn’t sound like a friend to me.
Who doesn’t offer a visitor tea and biscuits?

Niobe Mon 01-Jan-18 20:44:50

Good grief, our German Shepherd had better manners than your friend. When we had visitors she would wait a few minutes and then sit looking at the kettle and give a sharp 'woof'. If ignored she would wait then give a few more woofs looking at me then the kettle. Once it was switched on she would settle down and generally ignore the visitor.

M0nica Mon 01-Jan-18 20:51:43

Whether she spent her childhood in another country or not is irrelevant, if she has spent her adult life in the UK she should know our customs by now.

Perhaps she is lonely and has failed to make friends because of her odd behaviour and doesn't realise it. Whatever the reason, I cannot see this relationship going very far, unless you are willing to accept a relationship based on pity and sympathy (you for her) rather than a meeting of minds and common interests

nanaK54 Mon 01-Jan-18 21:47:07

Honestly life is too short to spend time in the company of people like this, not really a friendship is it?

Cobweb01 Tue 02-Jan-18 10:06:52

I echo all of the above - wait for her to contact you but if she shows no or little interest in your life then you won't be losing anything if you choose to no longer spend time with her.

EmilyHarburn Tue 02-Jan-18 10:07:46

This person is not likely ever to be good company. She does not appear to have the social skills to chat nor the hostess skills to offer a cup of tea or even a drink of water. Its the New Year now do you have time to give to a relationship which will never be rewarding? It's up to you.

Coconut Tue 02-Jan-18 10:08:27

Friendships are just like any other relationship, it’s all about what both people want from it, not just one ! Yes, let her go.

radicalnan Tue 02-Jan-18 10:13:22

Why are you bothering with her? She is being rude and doesn't sound like scintillating company......drop her.

craftynan Tue 02-Jan-18 10:16:09

I noticed that you didn’t describe this person as a friend in your post. That makes me wonder whether you consider her to be a friend or whether visiting her is more of a habit. I have to make myself remember to offer drinks as I don’t get thirsty so don’t think about it. My close friends know this, as I always refuse drinks when visiting, and will ask whether I’m going to put the kettle on!

Jaycee5 Tue 02-Jan-18 10:16:26

I don't think there are Amy cultures that wouldn't offer a visitor a drink. Some people just don't think but that can't be the case when someone is drinking themselves.
I agree with Scribbles. The question is, what do you gain from this relationship?
She just sounds rude. I had a friend who I always had to visit but we did often go out to places together but it still got on my nerves eventually and became more trouble than it was worth.

Jaycee5 Tue 02-Jan-18 10:17:24

Any cultures not Amy.

henetha Tue 02-Jan-18 10:20:27

It depends how much you are willing to put up with. She sounds hopeless to me and is rather self-centred. Is she worth bothering with any more? Real friendship is a two-way thing.

Lynnebo Tue 02-Jan-18 10:23:56

'All the lonely people, where do they all come from?'
It sounds like you are a valuable friend to her - she has lots to tell you and enjoys your company. Maybe she doesn't understand about refreshment and is unsure of etiquette when visiting someone else. If you stop visiting does she have other visitors? Yes, life is to short to waste but what is it worth if we can cast aside those who don't always fit to a 'perfect' ideal?
It's your choice whether to continue the friendship of course, but it makes me sad when so many people say you should cut her out of your life without a second thought.

Katewrites Tue 02-Jan-18 10:24:16

Thank you so much.I feel a bit down but you made me laugh!

Katewrites Tue 02-Jan-18 10:29:08

I will definitely see less of her.Thanks for your thoughts

ajanela Tue 02-Jan-18 10:32:03

Again gransnetters are uncouraging members to isolate people who don't behave in the proper manner. The Statistics are that 1-100 people are on the autustic spevtrum and don't pick up social pointers. These people become very lonely and isolated. Last year there was a big campaign About mental health and loniness

My thinking would be either to take your own drink or ask for one when you arrive and say why. If she is talking for 25 minutes about her iPhone or anything, cut her short by saying something like "your phone sounds great but I phoned you for a reason ....."

When she told you not to think about your friends, tell her that is unkind and would she expect you to behave like that if she was ill or had a problem.

If you suffer in silence she will except this as acceptable behavior. If she takes offence then you have tried to help her and she might reflect on what you said and she knows you will not tolerate this sort of behaviour.

Katewrites Tue 02-Jan-18 10:34:23

I think if I do go I will ask her for a cup of tea.Then see how things progress.I did regard her as a friend but I have realised how she dominates the conversation .I don't mind listening for a certain about like 70% but otherwise it is too one sided
Thank you for your comments.I am glad to get a few ideas from you all

harrysgran Tue 02-Jan-18 10:34:58

Maybe the friendship has ran it's course take a step back and see if this friend actually is a friend or someone you could do without in your life

sarahellenwhitney Tue 02-Jan-18 10:36:23

Sounds self centred.You are someone she can off load onto.Do you need this?.
We don't have or should not have others for just what they can do for us or be for us but I do not see these visits anything more than this person may be lonely and you appear in my opinion to be a good listener.
Would love to have you visit me and I make a nice cup of tea.grin.

Jaycee5 Tue 02-Jan-18 10:37:36

Lynnebo and Ajanela Those are good points. Maybe when being invited, Katewrite could say that she will go but will need to be given something to drink while she is there or she will have to leave early. There must be a reason for her friend's behaviour. It could just be the way she was brought up or it could be something else - and there must be some reason for the friendship in the first place.

Bridgeit Tue 02-Jan-18 10:44:05

It is said we cannot help others unless we first help ourselves, so I would say take a break, tell her you won't be over for a while. When & if you go again, be sure to say you only have half an hour what ever, & would she like you to make you both a drink , Good luck