Advice please.
We moved to our current home 2 years ago , not long before lockdown.
We didn't know anyone but ,as is our practice, joined a church and various groups.
I joined a craft group where there was a lady who lived quite near me . A single mum of a teenager who is " disabled due to ill health "
Occasionally we walked towards our homes together and she seemed ok .
However, during lockdown , she decided she was in " my bubble " and took to try to see me daily , messaging me constantly, clearly able to see on her phone when was on line .
She talks of " our friendship " . She then moved and lives at the end of my street.
She did go to another church but then decided to come to ours . She is now in our home group.
She asks for lifts to church every week , lifts to other places , wants to meet for coffee, constantly messages asking " how are you ?" If I don't answer it becomes expression of concern and " are you stressed " . She just does not get it !
She also borrows money, which I have lent her because I have plenty and she is on benefits. She does also pay it back exactly on time .
I don't want to be rude or uncaring, or , indeed ,unchristian but she is driving me mad .
I have tried ignoring, saying no , not answering personal questions .. all to no avail.
The trouble is she is lonely and she also irritates many others with her manipulative ways .
How can I stop her ?
Every so often I do go with her for coffee. Whilst I would think that one coffee session would be enough for 2-3 weeks she completely misreads this and seems to take any gesture of kindness as encouragement.
One coffee will result in a deluge of requests for meet ups , lifts , company etc etc
How do I cope , apart from moving church and house?
If she attends my church I feel I will look really awful if I refuse to give her a lift there ( there is a bus outside her door but that is mean and childish of me , I feel )
It's getting me down, on my mind day and night yet I feel really selfish .
Help !
New house and a sloping garden