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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Friend has cancelled on me last minute

563 replies

hungryowl · Yesterday 12:21

Due to go away this weekend from Friday to Monday. Friend has been having rocky patch with husband. She has messaged me today saying she can no longer come as she needs to focus on her family and not have a boozy weekend away. I paid for the whole thing and she was going to cover activities. She has just done me a bank transfer for the full amount so I’m not out of pocket.

We have had many outings before but in the message she specified that at 42 she no longer really fancies boozy weekends and she feels that I haven’t made an effort to reach out at all in recent months and just doesn’t want to go anymore! I think she’s peri menopausal but it should be no excuse cancelling last minute. I wanted a break away from my family as well. I have told her she needs to prepare more for her kids going to uni this month and preparing for empty nest feelings. I don’t like her husband and have been questioning her relationship with him to her whilst they have been arguing and advising heavily to leave him because as she’s getting older she’s now going to pottery and walking groups and spending more and more time with him and I feel like we are losing our connection. I want to go out and be social like we normally are and she’s being extremely boring. Her husband has issues with me because I had an affair but was fine with me before now he seems to think I am a scary influence.

AIBU to just cut her off now?

OP posts:
PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · Yesterday 20:17

@hungryowl I'm not sure that you actually understand what becoming, and then being, an adult actually means - even though you purport to be 42 years old. The most common and usual pattern of our lives as healthy human beings, is that from the time of conception we take an average of 38 weeks to turn from a fertilized ovum into a fully formed tiny human being (40 weeks if you count from your last period). Of course, and incredibly sadly, some of those embryos and foetuses won't become fully formed and healthy babies - and for a myriad of reasons.

The healthy growth of a new born baby that thankfully continues all the way through to their adulthood, often appears, in retrospect, to have flown by - even though I do remember those seemingly endless sleepless nights when my first one was a new born!

As children we change rapidly in the first few year's, then the older we get, the slower it takes for us to keep on growing. By the age of 25/26 years, most of us will have matured enough to actually be considered an adult. Very young adults often enjoy partying and getting drunk, but sometimes, some of them can still behave irresponsibley - more like a 13 or 14 year old - than a 30+ year old.

However, most healthy adults will start to be at least a little calmer by the time they reach their 30s, which is the age when many young adults will start to think about maybe buying or renting a house for themselves for the first time, and maybe about settling down with the person they love. Or, on the otherhand, as their age creeps from 30 to 40 years old - and they officially become middle-aged - they might realise that they don't actually want the responsibilities of maintaining a home, or to ever share their living accommodation with another adult! That is just as reasonable a choice as wanting the whole of the rest of their lives to involve creating, and being enmeshed with another adult, along with possibly 'growing' their own children!

Imo, the worst thing we can do is to take the settling down route, with another adult and yet still expect to act like a 21 year old, unless, after indepth conversations between the couple, they both want to continue with their preferred lifestyles, and therefore they decide to not have any children, as the two things do not belong together. Anyone choosing to live either on their own, or in a like minded relationship, needs to realise that anyone else in their lives must be allowed to back away if they no longer want to live like that.

So you @hungryowl, are well within your rights to stay living as you have been, if that is what gives you pleasure in your life, and as long as you don't try to coerce someone else into behaving like you. Your friend has changed and grown and become the sort of adult who embraces their responsibilities, one who no longer gets any pleasure from a more hedonistic lifestyle. She no longer needs or wants to get drunk, and all that that entails, so going on the sort of holiday that you still want to have no longer appeals to her.

If she hadn't given you all your money back, I would have thought that her behaviour towards you was quite shabby. But she has given you that money, and you can easily go on the holiday alone, or with a friend. I think it might actually be good for you to go on your own, and for you to spend some quality time with your own thoughts, and wishes for the future.

Lastly, please stop bullying your 'probably' ex-friend, she has every right to have whatever kind of relationship with her husband that she wants! You are being extremely unreasonable OP to think that she should listen to you rather than to her husband.

cantthinkofagoodusername2026 · Yesterday 20:17

hungryowl · Yesterday 15:29

Half of them have controlling husbands who don’t let them come out to the pub because they think it’s immature.

Is it really the husbands being controlling? Or have the women decided that they no longer want to deal with a sloppy drunk?

MsPrufrockk · Yesterday 20:17

hungryowl · Yesterday 14:07

The holiday has been booked for months. She said I hadn’t been about these last couple of months prior and that I call her for everything but she can’t call me now she’s just told me because I don’t make it a safe space I make it an attack

Bulllllllllllshit. But quite entertaining.

Easterchicken · Yesterday 20:18

hungryowl · Yesterday 14:17

No

I am shocked

Mirsine · Yesterday 20:22

Hang on, is this a “weekend of drinking” or a holiday to Ayia Napa?

Because why the fuck would you fly 5 hours to Cyprus for a “weekend”? Thats bizarre.

Easterchicken · Yesterday 20:25

He's probs waiting for her to piss off so he can bring his side chick in to the house... You know because it's such fun

cantthinkofagoodusername2026 · Yesterday 20:26

This woman is willingly being out of pocket so that she doesn’t have to spend time with you. Leave her alone and move on.

LivingTheDreamish · Yesterday 20:26

But OP surely you can see that it’s you who is being controlling. She no longer wants a party lifestyle (most people don’t by their 40s) and she doesn’t want to leave her husband. She left it a bit late to tell you about the weekend (but judging from your responses on here I expect she was scared) but hardly last minute and she was honest and fully reimbursed you. She’s trying to make some changes with the help and support of her husband, and if she previously behaved like you then I’d say it’s about time. No one is asking you to change OP, but you need to find a new friend.

NavyTurtle · Yesterday 20:33

hungryowl · Yesterday 12:45

It’s been planned for months. Everything was fine before they started arguing and now they want to work it out I’m out of a trip! She’s also just stated she wanted a chill weekend and I’ve booked us into clubs and bars in town and she doesn’t find it appropriate. I’m fuming to be honest. I find her really selfish.

Look in the mirror love. You are the selfish one. You sound like a horrible 'friend '.

Imaginingdragonsagain · Yesterday 20:37

Elliania · Yesterday 17:43

Well if maybe you hadn't told her that she was wrong to want a spa weekend because she "needed to let her hair down" despite knowing very well she's been wanting to stop drinking and not party like she's a teenager anymore & is probably fed up to the back teeth of you being a drunken flirt she has to babysit then maybe she wouldn't need to be "rude" by cancelling.

This!

BeardySchnauzer · Yesterday 20:38

Fingers crossed your kids are almost old enough to become your clubbing partners

PyongyangKipperbang · Yesterday 20:40

I used to know someone like you, and she called any of her circle who didnt want to go out, party, sniff coke etc "boring". The irony is that there is nothing more boring than someone who can't have a good time without getting in a state. They are not good company and are still convinced that everyone else would love it if they just "let their hair down and party". She sounds like a chronic people pleaser who has finally been able to start saying no to you and doing what she actually wants to do instead. So...she probably thinks you are boring and lacking in imagination.

Clearly therapy has given her the gift of self reflection, why dont you give it a try?

Newusername2026 · Yesterday 20:41

It doesn't need to be as dramatic as cutting her off. Just do your own thing and be there when she wants a friend. Which she probably will as it sounds like she might be trying to fit in with husband's wishes at the moment but that may backfire. Have a lovely time away on your own or invite another friend

Grammarnut · Yesterday 20:43

hungryowl · Yesterday 12:21

Due to go away this weekend from Friday to Monday. Friend has been having rocky patch with husband. She has messaged me today saying she can no longer come as she needs to focus on her family and not have a boozy weekend away. I paid for the whole thing and she was going to cover activities. She has just done me a bank transfer for the full amount so I’m not out of pocket.

We have had many outings before but in the message she specified that at 42 she no longer really fancies boozy weekends and she feels that I haven’t made an effort to reach out at all in recent months and just doesn’t want to go anymore! I think she’s peri menopausal but it should be no excuse cancelling last minute. I wanted a break away from my family as well. I have told her she needs to prepare more for her kids going to uni this month and preparing for empty nest feelings. I don’t like her husband and have been questioning her relationship with him to her whilst they have been arguing and advising heavily to leave him because as she’s getting older she’s now going to pottery and walking groups and spending more and more time with him and I feel like we are losing our connection. I want to go out and be social like we normally are and she’s being extremely boring. Her husband has issues with me because I had an affair but was fine with me before now he seems to think I am a scary influence.

AIBU to just cut her off now?

Your friend sounds as if she is doing interesting things, pottery, out in the open air walking, spending time with her DH. She probably finds you boring if all you want to do is hang out in bars and drink and harangue her about leaving her horrible DH, whom you don't like.
A friend would listen and sympathise, offer advice if asked, not just hint heavily that a marriage is over and to leave.
I think your 'friendship' will fade away.

FreebieWallopFridge · Yesterday 20:43

OP, you sound like an absolutely dreadful friend

bookofnonsense · Yesterday 20:45

is there a “friend”?
It reads to me that you are a wife sick of your husband going out with his mates and getting pissed and meeting woman and he doesn’t like you complaining so you’ve done a reverse to see if it would be acceptable for a married woman to behave the same way?

HardyFox · Yesterday 20:46

Oh do grow up, dear. You've been paid off, that's enough now.

Grammarnut · Yesterday 20:54

hungryowl · Yesterday 12:45

It’s been planned for months. Everything was fine before they started arguing and now they want to work it out I’m out of a trip! She’s also just stated she wanted a chill weekend and I’ve booked us into clubs and bars in town and she doesn’t find it appropriate. I’m fuming to be honest. I find her really selfish.

I'd be bored to tears with such a weekend. I'd want to do something interesting, visit places, see a show, take in an art gallery - grown up things. Perhaps your friend wants that as well and just looked at what you had booked - endless bars and clubs - and just thought 'no, I can't bear it'. She has reimbursed you so you can go away on your own if you like. She doesn't enjoy what you enjoy anymore. And you are really selfish because she has not hurt you but you constantly tell her how to run her life and fit in with you.

Jeschara · Yesterday 20:55

This is made up. No one can be as thick and lacking in judgement as the OP.
The post is boring enough, but getting of your face and getting drunk is both boring and tedious. Not to mention a pain for everyone else.

Well1mBack · Yesterday 20:55

OMG you sound like my ex friend 🤐!

She couldn't understand why we didn't want to go out to clubs until 3am and flirt with random men when we (the friendship group of 5 of us including her) had babies, marriages and really stressful, busy jobs/lives.

She called us all at 3am a few years ago ranting at us for being "boring" etc whilst she is was out god knows where, no doubt cheating on her partner as she'd always admit to doing when going to random clubs. She woke me, my husband and my 2 month old baby with that phone call, so I ended the friendship there and then, despite it being a school friendship. At that point I was 37 but it was the same thing; we had all outgrown her. Gentle hints no longer worked but she crossed a line that night, with all of us. Two of our group continued to limp on staying in touch with her for a few more years but myself and my other friend cut her out that night.

Now 42 I'm tbh really glad and I just wish her well, but I'm glad there's no more drama anymore. You need to accept you are different people now and let this go.

AutumnLeavesTurning · Yesterday 21:05

A few years ago a friend husband had an unexpected stay in hospital when her and,I were due to go away to a hotel and visit a city's Christmas market .
I ummed and ah'd about going alone but as it was an organised I decided to go thinking I might join up without someone . I didn't as there wasn't any other solo traveller and the groups were pretty closed off letting a stranger in ( not unsurprising ) and other than feeling a bit Billy no mates at evening meal times I still enjoyed myself
Would you go it alone ?

TheLemonLemur · Yesterday 21:10

Some friendships don't last forever. It sounds like your friend has outgrown the things you had in common - I am a similar age and wouldn't want to spend weekend getting drunk especially when marriage is in trouble, kids leaving home etc. You sound incredibly judgmental of her but don't like her husband judging you....

MiceSpiders · Yesterday 21:20

hungryowl · Yesterday 15:48

Aiya Nappa.

Jumped the shark

Thisisthecorrectresponse · Yesterday 21:24

So she suggested a spa weekend but YOU decided that SHE needed to party and 'let her hair down' so you've booked clubbing and bars abroad DESPITE her wanting to stop drinking. You're clearly very different people nowadays: she has expanded her lifestyle choices and now wants more sedate stuff. She's perhaps realised she loves and wants to be with her husband so is finally ready to give up all the silliness that causes upset. Stuff that many of us do as we grow older and have responsibilities. You sound exhausting. Tbh YOU sound selfish and boring - what's up with your life that you need to get drunk and have the attention of people who aren't your husband? There's literally no one I have any interest in than mine - and no one I'd rather spend time with. I love my friends but I choose him - and he's not controlling in the slightest!!!

PyongyangKipperbang · Yesterday 21:27

MiceSpiders · Yesterday 21:20

Jumped the shark

Not really. I worked with someone a few years ago who was the same age as me (48 at the time) who had been heavily into clubbing and the Euro club scene. She still went to Ibiza every year with her friend who was also into it. Quite a lot of people my age (now early 50's) still go.

Each to their own, but clearly it isnt the friends thing anymore.