.....and now I feel guilty!

Remember the neighbour from hell? The German lady who last year took over my life? Who's shopping, house-work, dog walking and financial responsibilities became mine overnight when she was taken ill and who's clutches I found it very difficult to disentangle myself from?

Well tomorrow she moves home. I may have made brief mention of this a week or two ago, it was welcome news that no longer would I have to sneak past her flat on my way home (an impossible feat), no longer would I have to pretend to be out if I was busy, the dog, a terrier with a strong predilection to treating Ditto as quarry, would no longer be a genuine threat to her longevity and 'woman's Weekly would no longer we landed on my doorstep every week.

The weeks leading up to this grand event have been filled with more than the usual pressure to do assist her. A friend arrived from her homeland Germany who she wished us to collect from the airport (a 150 mile trip), we declined, work being our excuse. Yes we could have taken leave but I told myself I must learn to say 'no' and I did. In fact, over the months my ability to say no has improved where this lady is concerned, so much so that apart from walking the dog now and then and entertaining her for coffee, I have been involved in her life very little. The last few days while she and her visitor friend have been packing I have been at work and when I haven't I have avoided her like the plague and PG has been poorly in bed.

So what now is my problem you may ask...............she leaves tomorrow, lock stock and dog and I will be free, I should be happy shouldn't I? Well I am, but I also feel kinda guilty now that I didn't help her more over the last few weeks. She is after all alone, she is getting on in years a little and her health is not quite all it could be. Yes, she is manipulative, yes she takes advantage and yes her dog walking instructions and timetable drive me demented but none of that stops me feeling that I have been less than a perfect neighbour and that I should have helped a bit more.

Oh contrary woman that I am!