Show Joyce the door

Dear Annie: I don’t know how to get rid of my pest of a neighbour. I moved to this community three years ago, after my divorce. I befriended “Joyce,” a woman in her 70s who lives two doors down.

Joyce won’t leave me alone.

When I entertain my fiance or friends, she is sure to walk over uninvited and interrupt us.

On several occasions, I’ve given her my business card and asked her to call first to make sure I’m not busy. It hasn’t worked.

She also drinks my wine, and even though she has an extensive wine collection, she never offers to replace the bottle she consumed at my place.

At times, I’ve had to shut my curtains and hide in my bedroom until she is gone. Help.

Prisoner in My Own Home in Southern California

Dear Prisoner: Joyce is lonely and either clueless or deliberately obtuse. It is a kindness to include her when you can, but you also are entitled to entertain without her.

So you will need to be a bit more assertive and willing to upset her.

The next time Joyce comes over unannounced and unwanted, stop her at the door and say, “Joyce, I have company. You will have to come back another time.” If she gets teary, outraged, pushy or anything else, simply repeat that she will have to come back another time. Don’t let her walk beyond the threshold.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column.