The only time I do lie, and yes, it is a downright lie, is when my neighbour, who lives on the next street thinks I am on this planet just to look after her even though we are the same age, 81. I get phone calls to say her TV is not working I tell her I will go round tomorrow but no, she wants it doing now I tell her to ring an engineer, she tells me that it is too expensive and I will do it for free. She knows I am computer literate and technically minded so I am her first port of call. She refuses to ring her sons because they are busy people she is driving me mad, now she wants me to shorten some skirts for her as the repair shop charges too much.
I am now, either ill, have company, waiting for parcels, or waiting for an engineer to come. I am running out of excuses.
If she rings me to go out with her (to carry her bags and push the trolley, carry her library books that need returning to the library) yes I will go as I can do a bit of shopping at the same time and she still drives her little car.
I have become a great liar because of her but I don't think of it as lying, I think of it as preserving my sanity as she is the most obstinate, bossy woman you will ever meet. Even our sons have told me to keep away from her.