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AIBU?

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AIBU to not see friend one to one anymore?

86 replies

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 30/07/2026 11:21

I have a long-term friend, Mandie, who still lives in the city we grew up in. I go back around every six weeks to two months, and she's always keen to meet up.

Mandie has always been a "living for the weekend" type, so as soon as Friday night hits, she's out. However, while her brain still thinks she's 21 and can do a big night on both Friday and Saturday, her body thinks otherwise, and she often ends up on the sofa on the Saturday as she's too tired/hungover to go out again.

The problem is, if I go home, she wants to come out with her on Fridays. This doesn't work for me, as it means either going out straight off the train and getting back to my parents' house really late, or dashing back there, dumping my bags and going straight back out - neither of which are very fair on my parents, who I've actually gone to see! So I've said I can meet on Saturdays.

However, a couple of times now she's bellyached about meeting on Saturdays because she wants to go out on the Friday. I've told her there's nothing to stop her doing both, but I get the whole "Awwh, but you know what I'm like" routine. Then the last couple of times we've agreed to meet on Saturday, she's cancelled last minute with "a touch of flu" or "an upset stomach". (Funny she never gets these on a Friday...)

As such, I only invite her out now if I can include her in existing plans. I invited her out with other friends a few months ago and she responded "I'd prefer it if it was just the two of us". I said I couldn't do that as I'd made plans. I did the same this weekend and got "Not up for meeting with a whole crowd. Would LOVE to meet up just the two of us".

Now I've had a message this morning saying she's been thinking about it and that it feels like I never want to see her one on one anymore, and that she's upset. It's not that I don't want to - it's that I never know if she'll actually turn up. My time at home is precious. I want to see my family, other friends. I can't afford to block time out for someone who doesn't bother. It wouldn't kill her to have a few Fridays off a year!

Should I message back and say as much?

OP posts:
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Lisheenss · 01/08/2026 14:54

OP, yanbu at all.
She's looking for someone to go on the piss with.
I would let this one drift, not worth the drama.

minipie · 01/08/2026 14:48

I think you’re probably right OP but I think you should at least give her the benefit of the doubt. Try suggesting a 1:1 Sat afternoon coffee or Sunday brunch and see what she says.

Have you invited her to stay with you in London/whereever you live? That would demonstrate to her that you want to see her for her own sake rather than fitting her around other plans (which may be her perception) ?

Ladybyrd · 01/08/2026 14:42

Yes.

Acg1991 · 01/08/2026 14:15

To me it sounds like the truth is this friendship has run it's course. You have moved on and have different interests/priorities these days. I'd recommend just continuing being friendly, but don't put yourself out. Invite her to events with mutual friends etc, but don't be offended if she cancels.

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 15:15

FrangipaniBlue · 31/07/2026 13:20

That’s exactly the point I and many other posters have been trying to make !!

you are BOTH being inflexible 🤦🏽‍♀️

You're deliberately misunderstanding me.

OP posts:
Chocolattecoffeecup · 31/07/2026 14:43

It seems obvious to me that you should reply and tell her why you're not making one on one plans with her.

Ethelspagetti · 31/07/2026 14:30

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 11:07

Thank you to those who have made sensible comments or suggestions. I think something this thread has really shown me, and that I haven't wanted to admit, is that Mandie says she wants to see me, but really, she wants someone to go out on the lash with.

Every time someone on this thread has made (perfectly reasonable) suggestions such as "Why not invite her for dinner/coffee/Sunday lunch instead?", I've found myself thinking "No, she won't be interested in that". And that's the crux of it. If she was genuinely interested in seeing ME, she would happily do one of those things. But no - it always has to be a Big Night Out.

I think it's time to reassess the friendship. Some people have called me judgemental on this thread, but whether you think that or not, the reality is I just don't want friends who are only interested in clubbing partners anymore.

I think the message you sent was perfect. Maybe it will give her a moment to reflect on how many times she’s let you down lately. I have done similar in my twenties and a friend explained how upsetting it was to let her down often. It gave me a reality check and since then I only accept meet ups if I’m genuinely going, and cannot cancel unless I’m at deaths door! I did have a friend in my younger days who only wanted a wing man for drinking on Friday nights. She never wanted to do anything different and would be annoyed if I asked to change it to Saturday lunch/evening. Not sure what her obsession was with drinking on a Friday night?! That friendship naturally ended when I was pregnant as I couldn’t be that drinking buddy for her! Not sure she’s your friend really?!

ForDucksSake · 31/07/2026 14:03

I don't think the OP is being inflexible at all. She's available on the Saturday, her friend says she is then cancels. The reasons why the OP isn't available on a Friday are completely irrelevant; when I first moved away I would want to see my family first when I returned so never went out the night I got there. I get it OP.

Serenstar1 · 31/07/2026 13:55

I think you're right Op. It definitely sounds like the friendship has run it's course. It's sad when it happens, but sometimes people just grow apart and want different things.

I had a different, but in some ways similar situation. For background I'd moved to an area where I didn't know anyone (I moved for work). My parents lived about an hour and a half from where I moved and my sister about 4 hours. I also had two really good friendship groups who were scattered over the country (one from sixth form, the other from University). I made a friend when I first moved to the area (I'll call her Eliza) who lived in a nearby flat. We would go out on nights out together. She was one of those people who once she was in a relationship wouldn't see her friends. She would regularly have boyfriends so there were long periods of time I wouldn't see her. It wasn't a problem, but I never really saw her as a close friend because of this. I was happy to spend time with her when she was about though. Eliza ended up meeting someone and getting married. She moved with him a couple of hours away. She regularly visited the area I lived as all her friends and family were there. She contacted me to say she couldn't fit me in when visiting the area, as she had lots of people to see. That I would need to travel to her to meet up. I didn't really respond. It wasn't annoyed as I didn't see her as a close friend. More a bit perplexed, she couldn't find an hour to catch up with me every now and then while she was visiting, but expected me to do a 4 hour round trip to see her. Especially when I already needed to do a lot of travelling to see family and friends. Needless to say I never went to see her. The only time I've seen her since is at the evening reception to my wedding. In hindsight I'm not really sure why I invited her. Maybe just I felt bad not inviting her at all as I'd been to full day of her wedding.

dumblydork · 31/07/2026 13:35

YANBU to explain the issue. At this point, I think you have nothing to lose and might as well be honest. If she's not happy, maybe it's time for this friendship to change or fade out entirely. She wants things her way or no way at all, and that simply doesn't work for you any longer. If she really cared about seeing you, she'd be capable of changing her Friday night plans when you're in town. All she'd have to do is dial back the drinking a bit or postpone it until Saturday night. Not such a huge sacrifice to catch up with a friend, you'd think. She sounds selfish and immature.

ETA: And I don't see you as being inflexible. You're only in town rarely and need to prioritise seeing your family. She's there most of the time, so most of the weekends you're in town shouldn't be anything special for her—except that you're there, which would be the right time to make the supreme sacrifice of not getting hungover for once. 🙄Sorry, I think she only wants to see you on a Friday night out, and since that doesn't work for you, the friendship has run its course.

FrangipaniBlue · 31/07/2026 13:20

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 30/07/2026 23:29

Then it would be even less of a big deal if, for the few weekends a year I'm in town, she had a quieter Friday night and came out when I was actually available.

That’s exactly the point I and many other posters have been trying to make !!

you are BOTH being inflexible 🤦🏽‍♀️

Netcurtainnelly · 31/07/2026 11:27

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 30/07/2026 11:21

I have a long-term friend, Mandie, who still lives in the city we grew up in. I go back around every six weeks to two months, and she's always keen to meet up.

Mandie has always been a "living for the weekend" type, so as soon as Friday night hits, she's out. However, while her brain still thinks she's 21 and can do a big night on both Friday and Saturday, her body thinks otherwise, and she often ends up on the sofa on the Saturday as she's too tired/hungover to go out again.

The problem is, if I go home, she wants to come out with her on Fridays. This doesn't work for me, as it means either going out straight off the train and getting back to my parents' house really late, or dashing back there, dumping my bags and going straight back out - neither of which are very fair on my parents, who I've actually gone to see! So I've said I can meet on Saturdays.

However, a couple of times now she's bellyached about meeting on Saturdays because she wants to go out on the Friday. I've told her there's nothing to stop her doing both, but I get the whole "Awwh, but you know what I'm like" routine. Then the last couple of times we've agreed to meet on Saturday, she's cancelled last minute with "a touch of flu" or "an upset stomach". (Funny she never gets these on a Friday...)

As such, I only invite her out now if I can include her in existing plans. I invited her out with other friends a few months ago and she responded "I'd prefer it if it was just the two of us". I said I couldn't do that as I'd made plans. I did the same this weekend and got "Not up for meeting with a whole crowd. Would LOVE to meet up just the two of us".

Now I've had a message this morning saying she's been thinking about it and that it feels like I never want to see her one on one anymore, and that she's upset. It's not that I don't want to - it's that I never know if she'll actually turn up. My time at home is precious. I want to see my family, other friends. I can't afford to block time out for someone who doesn't bother. It wouldn't kill her to have a few Fridays off a year!

Should I message back and say as much?

Pick up the phone and speak or go and see her.

SilverPink · 31/07/2026 11:25

I’ve read all your comments and to me she just sounds like a pisshead who’s only interested in someone else when they can help her prop up the bar. I would rethink the friendship as it sounds like it’s run its course to me.

EmpressaurusKitty · 31/07/2026 11:21

Mandie might not have admitted that to herself.

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 11:07

Thank you to those who have made sensible comments or suggestions. I think something this thread has really shown me, and that I haven't wanted to admit, is that Mandie says she wants to see me, but really, she wants someone to go out on the lash with.

Every time someone on this thread has made (perfectly reasonable) suggestions such as "Why not invite her for dinner/coffee/Sunday lunch instead?", I've found myself thinking "No, she won't be interested in that". And that's the crux of it. If she was genuinely interested in seeing ME, she would happily do one of those things. But no - it always has to be a Big Night Out.

I think it's time to reassess the friendship. Some people have called me judgemental on this thread, but whether you think that or not, the reality is I just don't want friends who are only interested in clubbing partners anymore.

OP posts:
gotmyselfintoapickle · 31/07/2026 11:01

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 10:52

You're just not getting that I'm simply not available on Friday nights. It isn't about preference - it's about practicality. Even if I leave work bang on 5 and get the first train I can (not cheap on a Friday at rush hour!), the earliest I could be in my home city is 7pm, at a real push. That doesn't leave a lot of breathing space.

Compromise would be fine if we were both free both nights. It would also be fine if we both had commitments on one of the nights. But there's nothing making it difficult for Mandie to be out on a Saturday - apart from herself and the amount she drinks on a Friday.

Presumably Mandie knows you can't meet until 7 - 7:30pm earliest and still wants to meet you at that time? Doesn't sound like a wild time to go out to me.

Look, I am not saying I personally think it's reasonable to prioritise getting pissed over seeing a mate but you are prioritising seeing your parents on Friday. You are both prioritising something else.

Tamtim · 31/07/2026 10:54

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all. Up until now, you’ve done it her way, now it’s her turn but, she’s choosing to get so drunk on the Friday night that she can’t get herself up and ready to meet you on Saturday. Your lives are no longer compatible because she won’t make the effort that you have made in the past.

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 31/07/2026 10:53

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 10:42

What makes you think someone who gets so drunk on Fridays that she can't make it out on Saturday night will be in a condition to meet in the daytime?

She may not. She may choose to keep drinking on Fridays and never see you. The point is that you’ve handled it in a dignified manner and politely explained to an old friend when you are and aren’t up for meeting her.

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 10:52

gotmyselfintoapickle · 31/07/2026 09:52

It sounds like they both want it on their terms - OP wants to meet Saturday, friend wants to meet Friday and neither is happy to compromise.

You're just not getting that I'm simply not available on Friday nights. It isn't about preference - it's about practicality. Even if I leave work bang on 5 and get the first train I can (not cheap on a Friday at rush hour!), the earliest I could be in my home city is 7pm, at a real push. That doesn't leave a lot of breathing space.

Compromise would be fine if we were both free both nights. It would also be fine if we both had commitments on one of the nights. But there's nothing making it difficult for Mandie to be out on a Saturday - apart from herself and the amount she drinks on a Friday.

OP posts:
TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 10:47

Iceandfire92 · 31/07/2026 09:43

Slightly off topic, but for some reason I have this image of Big Mandy from This Country throwing her weight around the village pub, hogging the fruit machine and the "locals" who are casual friends are just people enjoying a quiet pint who don't want to be bothered.

OP, I live in London myself, but in the adult world, coming back to your hometown every 6 weeks or thereabouts is a fairly regular visit. Treating it as though it is some special event with high expectations of others is a little grandiose.

Having expectations that you will catch up with multiple people over the course of a weekend is far too high. Expecting to catch up with Mandie, other friends and your parents over the course of a few days is essentially cramming them in. I can imagine that everyone feels as though they have to commit to a timeslot to catch up with you. Why not quietly return to see your parents one weekend without broadcasting it to your entire social circle back home? You could do the same for your other friends that you want to see and for Mandie if you truly would like to stay friends with her.

I'm really not sure why you think I'm turning my visits into a big event or "grandiose". Catching up with friends and family when you visit your home town is perfectly normal. I don't necessarily see everyone on every trip; there will also be times when they are the ones who are too busy rather than me. That's fine.

What isn't fine is pretending to be desperate to see me, but only as long as it doesn't disrupt the same routine they follow every week.

OP posts:
TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 10:42

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 31/07/2026 10:33

You could have handled this a bit less dramatically by saying you’re not up for meeting Friday evenings because xyz but you’d love to meet up 1:1 Saturday day times if she’s available.

What makes you think someone who gets so drunk on Fridays that she can't make it out on Saturday night will be in a condition to meet in the daytime?

OP posts:
TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 31/07/2026 10:41

Aliceinwonderland75 · 31/07/2026 09:11

Agreed she should not be flaking out on you when arrangenents have been made. You should call her out on it; but you are still coming across as inflexible, snooty and condescending.
And to suggest that the person who posted this must have been hurt by someone who moved to London is insanev😅

Edited

Well, we'll have to agree to disagree on what constitutes "insane". A bizarre rant on behalf of someone you've never met, coupled with "You think you're so special because you've moved to a bigger city", falls into that bracket for me.

OP posts:
InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 31/07/2026 10:33

TheOnlyWayIsYazz · 30/07/2026 14:25

I have messaged back saying:

"It's not that I don't want to see you when it's just us - but I never know if you'll turn up. You keep saying we'll meet up, but then you say you're ill, even though you've been out the night before. I don't have much time at home and if I'm going to make plans, I can't be wondering if you'll even come."

Let's see what happens.

You could have handled this a bit less dramatically by saying you’re not up for meeting Friday evenings because xyz but you’d love to meet up 1:1 Saturday day times if she’s available.

usernamecopied · 31/07/2026 10:28

YANBU

To dump and run or arrive late when you’re staying at someone’s house would be unreasonable and rude. If it was a special occasion like a birthday or something that’s a different matter, also going out straight after travelling is not nice for anyone. Your friend is being selfish. You’ve travelled back to see everyone and done the bulk of the work already she needs to accommodate that. This is coming from someone who’s been both people, however I always said to my friends “chill out, rest up, see your folks and we’ll catch up tomorrow”. If she’s wants to see you one to one, she needs to be there on a Saturday or travel and meet you where you actually live. Your parents are the ones putting you up of course they come first. If she was putting you up it may be different.

gotmyselfintoapickle · 31/07/2026 09:52

Lobelia123 · 31/07/2026 09:39

Sounds like she wants it all her own way. She wants to see you, but ONLY on her terms - on the day she wants, in the format she wants, doing what she wants...its all very me me me. You sound like youre just an accessory to her rather sad Friday night 'hanging on to my youth' sessions, which it also sounds like you have pretty much outgrown. This is one of those friendships Id let quietly fade out,

It sounds like they both want it on their terms - OP wants to meet Saturday, friend wants to meet Friday and neither is happy to compromise.