I met a group of expat ladies from all over the world this time last year, and made a couple of really good friends out of the group.
One of the ladies is American, but is married to a Brit, and has lived in the UK and brought her children up there. So we had the UK in common and she asked to swap numbers.
Since then we've seen each other a few times (separate to the group) and have even gone out as a 4some.
Unfortunately she managed to get herself involved in the Afternoon Tea fiasco back in May and I felt, as a friend, she could have offered more support rather than actually causing more problems, which she did.
Anyway, we moved on from that and things got back to normal, and I forgot about the Tea debacle.
Fast forward to last Friday.
I was upset over all the family stuff over the wedding and needed to get out of the house. I took myself off to have a quiet lunch by myself so I could wallow in my own self-pity and comfort eat (if you can call black-bean soup, a salad and an apple comfort food!). She was there having lunch with another good friend of both of ours, and as soon as I walked in she called me over. She said 'I can't believe it - we were just talking about you and then you walked in right on queue!' We had lunch, had a chat and that was that.
Fast forward again to Tuesday night.
Went to a function and she was there. She admitted to me that when I walked into the restaurant on Friday she was having a rant about me because I'd not been in touch. Other friend was explaining to her that over summer I'd been back to the UK twice, had daughters over for nearly 2 weeks and then friends over for 3. So all in all I was busy! Her actual words were 'I'm cross with you ... ' ?
I thought I'd push aside my surprise (and anger) and not do what Mr P suggested, which was to cull her, and to suggest we go out for coffee or lunch sometime. The only date I have free is the 4th September and I emailed her to tell her this saying something along the lines of 'I'm sorry you were cross, and the reason I've not been in touch is due to .. ' and explained. Which surely I shouldn't have to, but there you go, I did.
The reason I'm wondering if she is being OTT or I'm being unreasonable is that not only has she replied to this email, but she has rung me 3 times today and left messages, all saying the same thing - that she is free that day and that I should return her call and am I free to do something on the 11th etc.
Is it me or is she a bit over the top? I'm feeling a little bit suffocated, but that's perhaps because I've got so much going on in my head and I just can't cope very well with her.
UPDATE
So I had lunch with said friend today.
She really is a bit strange. And such a gossip ? I wonder what she is saying about us behind our backs! ?
I soon realised it was best to just listen as she clearly wanted to get some things off her chest (moans about other friends, her husband, hairdresser etc.) But she asked me a strange question .. out of all the friends I'd made since moving here, how many would I call in the case of an emergency. And then said she would call Mr P if she was in dire straits! She's only met him twice!!!
Culling won't be necessary, but she's going to get a wide berth. Especially after saying she 'could have raised a knife and killed him' when talking about another friend's husband who only gives his wife $25 spending money a week! What's it to do with her?!?!
Anyway, that's the update
