In case Mousie doesn't move this, she posted this by mistake in a different thread, but I'm sure it was meant for here. It was too valuable to miss so I've popped it on for her in the interim. Hope you don't mind Mousie.
It is a delicate situation. ..but I'd try and build on the friendship by using the more truthful route.
If it were me, the next time she booked I would talk to her and say that the last time she was here I got myself into a right pickle through chatting whilst cleaning, and that I'd missed things that impacted on the next guest. I'd explain that whilst I enjoyed the chats, changeover day probably wasn't the best time and so could we please stick to the departure of 10am so I can give the changeover the time and concentration it needs.
Is it possible to suggest that if she wants to chat you could meet up beforehand? Maybe on arrival to catch up with each other? Or the night before departure?
Essentially blame yourselves and give her an alternative chat time so she feels you value her.
Then when she leaves on time be very very grateful with her to ram the message home. Smile
I imagine if she finds your place a haven she doesn't want to go back to reality.
Annual. Small world. Yes she did. She probably talked you into the ground.
She is a lovely lady though. One could chat with her for ages, but not while trying to prepare for next guests.
If you can keep your head when all around you are panicking.......you have probably not seen the whole picture.
I like the idea of dropping in the night before if possible. Have a set departure time that night if needed e.g. have to be back at 7, something in the oven. You can explain that the cleaners are booked at 10 and you have incoming guests so unfortunately she needs to be on her way in good time - hopefully another time you can offer a late checkout.
I usually drop an email the evening before if I'm not around, especially if it's a tight turnaround.
When I was 17 I had a girlfriend called Olga; she wasn't foreign, she was named after her great gran who had escaped the pogroms in Russia in the C19th - that's it really...oh, she did only have one top lip though and she could talk a glass-eye to sleep!
"Write something, even if it's just a suicide note"
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise"
"As for my amnesia, I've had it as long as I can remember"
Real name: Steve
Gender: Male
Well well. I wonder if she collected her stuff from my boiler room.
I wonder if she paid her bar bill
I wonder where she stayed this time, thankfully not at my place.
If you can keep your head when all around you are panicking.......you have probably not seen the whole picture.
Glad I've got you looking out for me 
