I know I need to love my neighbour as myself, but does that mean I have to sit and chat to them on the train?

Today she was debating (with herself) whether she needed to move her car, as she'd parked in a disabled space without knowing it. Now, let's put to one side the question of how she suddenly knew it was a disabled space if she hadn't known when she got on the train ...

But she then launched into a lengthy argument about how it should be ok, because another person had parked in the spot next to her, and he "clearly" wasn't disabled, as she's seen him walking and running in the past, and when I suggested he may have a hidden disability or be a war vet or similar, she lambasted me because that's impossible because (a) P-Platers (which he apparently is) cannot be war vets, and (b) in any event, she's seen him talking to people and laughing on the train numerous times, ergo there can be no mental or emotional issues, or other hidden disability.

After 10 minutes of arguing, I just dropped it because you just can't educate some people some times ...

By the end of the hour trip, and several other things which I just didn't go into because there was absolutely no point, I said to the girl who gets off at my stop that I'm just not going to do that again, and I might just start catching another carriage because I'd rather be by myself than put up with that.

She said she would too.

So we're catching up socially (all four of us) without Betty on Friday night, and I'm just going to raise it, and say that I'm happy to ask Betty not to sit with us anymore, and that if they would rather not be involved, and not have it "from" them that's fine, I will just catch another train or carriage myself and catch up with them outside of the train.

This isn't about picking a side (nutter -v- Betty) it's about whether they want to be accountable for their own preferences or put up with someone they don't like, to keep the disquiet (I can't call it the peace ... you should have heard her this morning ...)

The only decision for me now is whether to lay out some reasons for Betty as to why I/we don't want to catch the train with her, to give her something to ponder and maybe mature in, or whether it's fine for me to decide that's just another thing she'll argue about, criticise and lambast and try to twist around and whether I can be bothered.

Again, because over the past year plus, I am yet to see her actually absorb anything that anyone has said to her, even over very minor things, and I suspect I would be wasting my breath.

Not fun. Wish it didn't need doing, but it does.

If however the other girls just don't want it said, that's fine, I'll go somewhere else. I'll read my book. My book isn't a heinous *****.