“We’ll Stay With You For a While, Because We Can’t Afford to Rent a Flat!” – My Friend Told Me I’m a lively woman. Even though I’m 65, I travel to interesting places and meet fascinating people. I look back on my younger days with joy and a bit of sadness. Back then, you could holiday wherever you fancied! You could go to the seaside, camp with friends, or set off on any river cruise – all for a small sum. Sadly, those times are behind us. I always loved meeting new people, whether it was at the beach or even the theatre. Many of my friendships from back then lasted for years. One day, I met a woman named Sarah while staying at a guesthouse on holiday. We parted as friends. Years passed, and we sometimes wrote each other letters. Then one day, I received an unsigned telegram: “The train arrives at 3am. Meet me!” I had no idea who could have sent such a message. My husband and I didn’t go anywhere. But at 4am, someone knocked at our door. I opened it, stunned: Sarah stood there, with two teenage girls, a grandmother, and a man, and an enormous pile of luggage. We were gobsmacked but let them in. Sarah said: – “Why didn’t you meet us? I sent you a telegram! And that cost me, you know!” – “Sorry, we didn’t know who sent it.” – “Well, you gave me your address. So, here I am.” – “I just thought we’d keep in touch with letters, that’s all!” Sarah explained one girl had just finished school and was off to university, and the rest had come to support her. – “We’ll be living with you! We haven’t got enough for a flat or a hotel.” I was shocked. We weren’t even related. Why should we let them all move in? We had to feed them three times a day. They brought a bit of food but never cooked – just ate ours. I had to look after them constantly. I couldn’t stand it anymore and asked Sarah and her relatives to leave after three days, and didn’t care where they went. There was a row. Sarah began smashing dishes and screaming hysterically. I was gobsmacked at her behaviour. As they packed, they managed to sneak off with my robe, some towels, and somehow even my large saucepan – it vanished! And that was the end of our friendship. Thank goodness! I never saw or heard from her again. How can anyone be so cheeky? Now I’m far more careful about who I let into my life.

Well stay with you for a while, since we dont have enough money to rent a flat! my friend declared without warning.

Ive always considered myself a lively woman. Even at sixty-five, I manage to travel around England and meet fascinating people. Nostalgia often sweeps over me as I reminisce about my youthful dayswhat a joy it was to spend holidays anywhere your heart fancied! You could head to Brighton for the seaside, camp in the countryside with mates, or even sail along the gentle stretches of the Thames. And all of this, miraculously, was possible for just a few pounds.

Sadly, those days have long passed. My love for meeting new people remains, though. I encountered all sortson the pebbled beaches, or absorbed in a play at the theatre. Many of those acquaintances became lifelong companions.

It was during one such summer holiday at a guest house that I met a woman named Margaret. We shared the same boarding and parted as friends, keeping in touch now and again through letters.

Then, years later, I received an unsigned telegramrather unorthodox in our time. It simply stated: Train arrives at three in the morning. Meet me! It was baffling; I hadnt a clue who might have sent it. My husband and I certainly werent planning to venture out at that hour. Yet at four in the morning, our doorbell rang. I opened the door and was utterly speechless.

There stood Margaret, two teenage daughters, her elderly mother, and a man I presumed to be her husbandsurrounded by a mountain of luggage. My husband and I exchanged bewildered glances, but we welcomed them in. Soon after, Margaret asked pointedly:

Why didnt you meet us? I sent a telegram! It cost a fortune!
Im sorry, but we had no idea who sent it!
Well, you gave me your address, so here I am.
I thought wed stick to exchanging letters, thats all!

Margaret explained that one of her daughters had just completed her school exams and intended to go on to university. The family had come to support her.

Well be staying with you! We dont have any money for a flat or hotel!

I was gobsmacked. We werent even relatedwhat on earth made them think they could live with us? My husband and I ended up feeding them three times a day. They brought some food, but didnt lift a finger to cook or help; they simply ate ours. I was left running around like a hostess.

After three exhausting days, I finally asked Margaret and her clan to find somewhere else to stay. Frankly, I didnt care where.

What followed was pure chaosMargaret smashed plates and started shouting hysterically.

I was left stunned by her outburst. Eventually, the family packed their bagshelping themselves in the process. They somehow managed to make off with my dressing gown, a handful of towels, and, heaven knows how, my largest saucepan. To this day Im baffled as to how they smuggled it outthe thing just vanished!

That, mercifully, was the end of my friendship with Margaret. Thank goodness! Ive never heard from her or seen her since. How could anyone be so brazen?

These days, Im much more cautious about whom I invite into my life.