A Close Friend of Mine Frequently Visits Our Home

My wife and I have been saving for years to buy a cottage in the countryside, and at last, weve got one. For the past year, weve been spending weekends and all our summer holidays out there.

We had a bit of help from my mum and dad, who wanted to support us in making our dream come true sooner rather than later. We were absolutely thrilled, and started making repairs and improvements with real enthusiasm. We built a greenhouse next to the garden to grow fresh produce in winter, and set up a sandpit and a couple of swings in the back garden so the children have somewhere to play. From the very start, our friendsboth mine and my wifeswere dropping by nearly every day. Quite often, wed all head out to the river, which is only a short walk from the house. Afterwards, wed come back to grill burgers in the garden, and as the evenings wore on, most friends headed home, but some would stay over because getting back late without a car isnt easy. All in all, everyone congratulated us on buying our own house.

A year on, almost all of our friends have learned the value of moderation. As time passed, their visits became less frequent. These days, they tend to pop by only during holidays or when we invite them around. But theres one person who just doesnt seem to understand boundaries. Whenever this woman catches wind of anything happening at our cottage, she packs her weekend bag and turns up, no invitation needed. She doesnt care a jot whether we want her around or notits all about what she wants.

It wouldnt be such a problem if it was just my wife and me, but my parents and our young children are usually there as well. Ive tried to suggest she head home, but all my hints and attempts to get her to leave go unheeded. She ended up staying a full two months with us.

Shes completely oblivious to my attempts at politely asking her to go. I even tried saying that my wifes parents were soon to visit, and the cottage would be far too crowded, hoping shed take the hint. To my surprise, she simply agreed to sleep on the cold flooras long as we gave her a mattress.

Her visits go something like this: she arrives on Friday evening, then spends the next two days lounging on our sofa in front of the telly, while my wife and I tend the garden, watering plants and so on. Any time we ask for help, she replies, Im here for a break.

My wife and my parents have never uttered a word about her, so it seems Im the only one whos started getting seriously annoyed by our guest.

Eventually, the weather turned and winter descended. One day, I sat in the cottage drinking coffee with her, and she sighed, saying, Ah, such a shame its winter now. If it were summer, Id be here with you every weekend Her words make me shudder, and I wonder to myself: is this why I cant bring myself to just tell her outright that I dont enjoy having her here so frequently, and that its really getting on my nerves? What if shes offended and never speaks to me again?

I dont want that. I just wish shed stop turning up every weekend. What should I do?