Good morning Junies Am about to get the kids ready for a trip to NorthLand. We catch the bus from Ivanhoe Station... I've rung the bus company and confirmed that it will be a ultra low modern bus so easy to wheel the pram onto. I've done the trip about a dozen times before. Wade Loves it! The main objective today is to buy Verity's school shoes. I've discovered over the past few years that if you buy a good quality leather pair (like AirFlex) they last the whole year without falling apart. They also come with these cushioned leather-like inserts that she wears for the first half of the year... really extends their life and adds extra arch support. So important to look after children's feet. I'll probably receive another stationery kit of which will be given to Rory.

Simone: Hope you have a productive and peaceful day with your children and minimal contact with your X. I hope you don't feel like we are constantly lecturing you. It's so hard to make huge life changes... it doesn't just happen because you make up your mind about it. Obstacle after obstacle will pop up in front of you and it would be sooo easy just to take the path of least resistance... the path that seems to involve less fighting and conflict. I think it was Divvy who said "good things come from struggle" so you've got to be prepared for a struggle. You X will try to convince you that "all will be well" if you just do things his way. *shaking head* You're going to have to do things that he doesn't like and that will involve conflict and it will be hard. He will use your children against you then but if YOU stay calm your kids will be ok. I agree with Mel. Sell what you have to to fund your trip back to Perth. Sell your car! Sell the furniture. Start shipping stuff back now. Your X will probably be able to take over the lease... if not so be it... you might have to sacrifice the bond... more than worth it. I'm not saying these things lightly. I have lived through this before. I've moved across Australia several times. I've also moved house with children. I've also lived in a violent family situation and I know that all it takes is for your X to realise that you're not just going to resettle back into his idea of a family unit and he will become increasingly frustrated and you and the kids will suffer.

I can see that it might be tempting not to share your thoughts with us anymore if we keep nagging at you. I'm sorry if we frustrate you but we do care and we do have objective perspectives of your situation. I hope you can see some value to what we are saying. I guess if we annoy you too much you could seek support from other BB members but I hope it doesn't come to that. Have you been in touch with the Perth Junies? I'm sure they are ready to welcome you over there with open arms! Of course we will miss you but we honestly want what's best for you and your children darl.

gotta get ready to go! See you all this afternoon!