So I have a friend of ten years' standing. We met - and still stumble over each other - professionally. We do similar freelance jobs and met whilst doing our training. We used to meet for lunch about once a month and then of course COVID kicked in and we couldn't do that. But when restrictions lifted last summer we did meet in each other's gardens.
But since last September she says she has been too busy. OK, I get that for various reasons friendships fluctuate. Since then she's suggested phone calls, Zoom catch-ups etc and now coffee outside. But here's the thing: every time I respond, with "I'd love a catch-up on the phone/zoom/in the backgarden/wherever", she then doesn't reply. Until a few weeks later when she'll suggest it again. A couple of times she's apologised with "I've been very busy with work, you know how it is ..." (no, I don't actually), but honestly who's that busy that they don't even have time for a phone call, especially when they're the ones suggesting it in the first place?
It's very frustrating, and feels like breadcrumbing to me. I'm at the point of just ignoring her messages or alternatively, telling her that I don't like her way of doing things and I'm not going to engage with it any more.
Dear Mumsnetters, am I being slightly unreasonable here? I feel like I've given the situation lots of chances and don't particularly want to meet with her again now. But given that I will eventually bump into her again in a professional capacity, what would you do in this situation?