Hi,

 I have taken a little time recently, at the request of a friend, to look back and forward taking stock of where I am. 2010 it has been quite a year, mainly annus horriblus but quite a year all the same.

In truth I am glad to see the back of it! Looking back it has been tough, mu job disappeared and had to find a new one, the divorce took the odd turn I did not want which was stressful and I saw thingsin my ex I hoped would not be there. That said I have a new job, I did finish it and am a stronger person for it. I had by the end of the year execised on or two ghosts too and can say that

Today marks the first day of the rest of my life! Decree absolute and Consent Order granted and fulfilled!

 I paid over the "big cheque" which means that other than the whacking mortgage my ex is no longer part of my life and has no claim on me. I will be paying maintenance for just under 7 years for my son which is fine as I accept that I pay for him although as I have said before the amount is unfair. Lets see if she now sticks to her commitments to me, I am not holding my breath but time will tell.

It is my ex birthday today so decided to give her the cheque - I will never like this day so

I went to court today, some 280 miles from home to allow a judge to examine the proposed consaent order. I then had to sit through 10 minutes of him telling my wife she could and should have a lot more and then gave her a number of options how to get there. He then suggested that maybe he shoudl not sign the consent order to allow her to come back later if she needed more. To my RELIEF she stuck to the agreement we had agreed privately and said that was all she wanted. He reluctantly signed it.

 My solicitor also picked up my decree absolute today so I am now officially divorced! Now all I