I've just picked up on this thread and am wondering if I've been a bit hard on a 'friend'. I'm putting her in inverted commas because I'm not that sure if she or I have been real friends to each other.
Her DH and mine worked together many years ago and we did socialise a bit in those days, but they didn't have the sort of money worries that we had, and it sort of tailed off. Eventually the friendship picked up and as by this time, we'd moved north, they used to come and stay with us for holidays. Her DH died about 5 years ago and for the succeeding years, she used to come on holiday by herself. Now, this is where some of you may think I'm really mean and horrid: she never, ever helped towards paying for anything while she stayed and this could be for as long as 2 weeks at a time, which left DH and I seriously out of pocket! When she phoned in the spring I knew she was hoping to visit again, so I slipped into the conversation that we no longer have a car - to which she replied, "How will I get from the airport then?" I suggested that she came up by train, and we would meet her at the little station here in the village.
Well, to cut this story short, I haven't heard from her again! DH thinks it's because she's realised that as we now have no car, we won't be driving around the countryside with her, and although we'd be able to use our bus passes for all over Scotland, hers won't work here, and she'd have to pay fares for every journey. I must add here, though, that she is very well-off, but rather careful in her spending!
Now I've started to wonder if she's ill - or worse., and my conscience is pricking me. Maybe that's why she's not been in touch (no Christmas card, either). I think I may bite the bullet and phone her.