when you become friends with a service provider who then takes it too far

That is probably what happened.

She responded to my text. Not right away, but she did. She was happy I wrote to her.

She is doing well but very busy: her daughter gave birth to a girl and is now living with my friend, the daughter, her husband and the granddaughter. So my friend, between work and family, there is no free time, but these are all pleasant chores.

I did invite her to the ballet trying to take her out of her chores for the night. If she does not respond by text, I will call her on the weekend.

If she does not want to go, I will post on my local women's group as I need to find a companion.

I was not able to find a companion for the ballet but had the good idea to gift the tickets to my friend's son and his fiancee, to go to 2 weeks before the wedding. The show was this evening. I hope they will eventually tell me about it.

The friend with whom I used to work and I will go the local park by the Bay in November. I am glad all of this caused me to reconnect with her.

The old trainer has paid me. It took my asking her to pay and then reminding her once after more than a week elapsed since her promise to pay the next week, but the result is that she has paid me back today.