Drink Driving - a question!
Discussion
Time for a brief update? I know it's not Christmas, and nothing terrible has happened but.....
.... the boys have left school!
Picture taken ten days ago before their prom in Bristol. They were a bit nervous ahead of their big night, hence their expressions, but they had a good night in the end. They're happy chappies most of the time although a little worried about their exams. All taken now, 8-9 GCSE's each, just a question of waiting till their results come in. Subject to those grades, one is staying on to do 3 A Levels at school while the other is doing a two year diploma in sports journalism.
Mum is a bit hit and miss but has been with this bloke now for a little while; he's 17 years older than her. Seems stable enough but I still get the odd blip from her. Boys and I went around all the 92 football grounds in April, raising money for two cancer charities by selling the signed memorabilia we collected along the way. Ended up with a brilliant trip, a lifetime of memories and £2,500 in funds.
Nothing else changed really. I'm still single, boys work with me now at the football club on matchdays so they've started earning for themselves. They've stopped playing youth football now as the club they played for has folded but we might look out for a new club come September.
Other than that, the usual big thank you again to all who chipped in advice, help, money etc on this thread. The boys don't know this thread exists, and I'll never tell them, but if they knew, they would be genuinely moved by how brilliant you have been in helping their Dad and them. We all owe you a massive debt of gratitude...
Peace out
Martin x
.... the boys have left school!
Picture taken ten days ago before their prom in Bristol. They were a bit nervous ahead of their big night, hence their expressions, but they had a good night in the end. They're happy chappies most of the time although a little worried about their exams. All taken now, 8-9 GCSE's each, just a question of waiting till their results come in. Subject to those grades, one is staying on to do 3 A Levels at school while the other is doing a two year diploma in sports journalism.
Mum is a bit hit and miss but has been with this bloke now for a little while; he's 17 years older than her. Seems stable enough but I still get the odd blip from her. Boys and I went around all the 92 football grounds in April, raising money for two cancer charities by selling the signed memorabilia we collected along the way. Ended up with a brilliant trip, a lifetime of memories and £2,500 in funds.
Nothing else changed really. I'm still single, boys work with me now at the football club on matchdays so they've started earning for themselves. They've stopped playing youth football now as the club they played for has folded but we might look out for a new club come September.
Other than that, the usual big thank you again to all who chipped in advice, help, money etc on this thread. The boys don't know this thread exists, and I'll never tell them, but if they knew, they would be genuinely moved by how brilliant you have been in helping their Dad and them. We all owe you a massive debt of gratitude...
Peace out
Martin x
Edited by GloverMart on Thursday 24th August 20:36
Another brief update as it's GCSE results day today.
Youngest one passed 9 out of 10 exams, missing out on PE. Got an A*, 2 x A's and a "9" in Maths so he's staying on at his school's sixth form and doing three A Levels, probably in Maths, Further Maths and Economics.
Older one rescued his results from a tricky situation. He's always been the one more affected by all that's gone on and a few months ago, he was at a junction educationally where he could have gone either down the route of failing most of them or getting his head down and working hard to improve. He needed 5 A-C's to go on and do his diploma in sports journalism and pleased to say, he got 8 out of 9, so did it comfortably. Gave me a big hug this morning as it will have come as a relief to him to pass. Mostly B's and C's admittedly but he's passed and passed well.
Youngest one passed 9 out of 10 exams, missing out on PE. Got an A*, 2 x A's and a "9" in Maths so he's staying on at his school's sixth form and doing three A Levels, probably in Maths, Further Maths and Economics.
Older one rescued his results from a tricky situation. He's always been the one more affected by all that's gone on and a few months ago, he was at a junction educationally where he could have gone either down the route of failing most of them or getting his head down and working hard to improve. He needed 5 A-C's to go on and do his diploma in sports journalism and pleased to say, he got 8 out of 9, so did it comfortably. Gave me a big hug this morning as it will have come as a relief to him to pass. Mostly B's and C's admittedly but he's passed and passed well.
Just by means of a possible final bookend on the thread, eight and a half years on from the original post.... 
The last two years have quietened down an awful lot to be honest. The ex is now in a housing complex filled mainly with older people but also with a few folk that struggle a little bit with their issues. The good news is that it is about a mile from my house so the lads can see her whenever they want although she still struggles often with the drinking. But she is in a much better place than she was when I last posted, I think.
Her daughter qualified as a paediatric nurse a few weeks back and works & lives locally nowadays. She seems to have come through everything pretty unscathed which is surprising really but full credit to her. One tough cookie!!
The boys? Saving the best till last with the news.... both of them passed their exams with flying colours and are now at Uni.
The younger one went to London ten days ago and starts his study next week at UCFB doing a degree in Football Business & Finance. Took his stuff up & he's come back for a couple of days before he gets down to work next Monday. He passed his three A Levels in Maths, Further Maths and Business with an A* in the latter subject.
The older one left home on Saturday and is now at Solent Uni, Southampton and his degree is in sports journalism; he passed his diploma in the same field after a two year stint at his local college. They've settled in well and both doing some part time work covering their local clubs for Opta Sports on the analysis side of things.
Relationship with them is stronger than ever which will help now they have left home. We are all about 2 hours from each other in a triangle of Bristol / London / Southampton and they've become quite adept on the trains & tube so no doubt I'll see a lot of them even though they've moved away.
Thanks again for all the support over the past eight years, I am very grateful. There are some great people on here.
PS I'm still single!
The last two years have quietened down an awful lot to be honest. The ex is now in a housing complex filled mainly with older people but also with a few folk that struggle a little bit with their issues. The good news is that it is about a mile from my house so the lads can see her whenever they want although she still struggles often with the drinking. But she is in a much better place than she was when I last posted, I think.
Her daughter qualified as a paediatric nurse a few weeks back and works & lives locally nowadays. She seems to have come through everything pretty unscathed which is surprising really but full credit to her. One tough cookie!!
The boys? Saving the best till last with the news.... both of them passed their exams with flying colours and are now at Uni.
The younger one went to London ten days ago and starts his study next week at UCFB doing a degree in Football Business & Finance. Took his stuff up & he's come back for a couple of days before he gets down to work next Monday. He passed his three A Levels in Maths, Further Maths and Business with an A* in the latter subject.
The older one left home on Saturday and is now at Solent Uni, Southampton and his degree is in sports journalism; he passed his diploma in the same field after a two year stint at his local college. They've settled in well and both doing some part time work covering their local clubs for Opta Sports on the analysis side of things.
Relationship with them is stronger than ever which will help now they have left home. We are all about 2 hours from each other in a triangle of Bristol / London / Southampton and they've become quite adept on the trains & tube so no doubt I'll see a lot of them even though they've moved away.
Thanks again for all the support over the past eight years, I am very grateful. There are some great people on here.
PS I'm still single!
GloverMart said:
The older one left home on Saturday and is now at Solent Uni, Southampton and his degree is in sports journalism; he passed his diploma in the same field after a two year stint at his local college. They've settled in well and both doing some part time work covering their local clubs for Opta Sports on the analysis side of things.
That's great. You might recall we had some direct email correspondence a few years ago; my eldest is a successful sports journalist, and now quite well known in his particular sport (started off in football but moved into covering a different sport), despite only being in his early 20s. It's great that your lad giving it a go but it's very competitive and hard to break into. I wish him all the best.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
GloverMart said:
The older one left home on Saturday and is now at Solent Uni, Southampton and his degree is in sports journalism; he passed his diploma in the same field after a two year stint at his local college. They've settled in well and both doing some part time work covering their local clubs for Opta Sports on the analysis side of things.
That's great. You might recall we had some direct email correspondence a few years ago; my eldest is a successful sports journalist, and now quite well known in his particular sport (started off in football but moved into covering a different sport), despite only being in his early 20s. It's great that your lad giving it a go but it's very competitive and hard to break into. I wish him all the best.
Of course, one thing that I hadn't considered when being so proud of them both getting into Uni was the feeling of emptiness when they left, and when they go back after returning home briefly.
I'm sure it will get better and I'm lucky that I have such a good relationship with them but boy, it hurts!
I'm sure it will get better and I'm lucky that I have such a good relationship with them but boy, it hurts!
Just wanted to say I spent a good while reading this thread from start to finish, and would recommend the same to anyone stumbling across this for the first time.
Very humbling - and very glad it has worked out well for you - you should be proud, but you don't need me to tell you that.
Cheers GM.
Very humbling - and very glad it has worked out well for you - you should be proud, but you don't need me to tell you that.
Cheers GM.
GloverMart said:
Of course, one thing that I hadn't considered when being so proud of them both getting into Uni was the feeling of emptiness when they left, and when they go back after returning home briefly.
I'm sure it will get better and I'm lucky that I have such a good relationship with them but boy, it hurts!
I'm sure it will get better and I'm lucky that I have such a good relationship with them but boy, it hurts!
Just wait until the first real gas & electricity bills come in !
Ours dropped massively (though not enough for what we need to cough up each month for his rent)
Ah well, its a small measure of joy.
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