Sybil's revenge...

What do I do next? I am beginning to think that she has some kind of illness. Yesterday, she got a locksmith out to open the apartment and her former bedroom. After the door had been opened, she got one of the staff to accompany her into the room and witness her taking two new watches and a new digital camera out. Whatever it was she really wanted, she has obviously taken before getting the member of staff. To add insult to injury, she paid him cash from the till and left the receipt for me.

She continues to bleat about my illegal actions and the dreadful advice my solicitor was giving me (according to her solicitor!). I simply repeated my position. Namely that she needs to give me a comprehensive list of what she requires, and I will get it for her. Nothing is to be taken unless it is catalogued. She may not have anything until it is catalogued. Her behaviour over the weekend and since means that I have no time to draw breath, let alone catalogue seven double wardrobes and four chests of drawers worth of things. I should have shares in Monsoon.........

Our communication has reached an all time low. She has taken to badmouthing me very publically in front of the children and staff. The children were upset again this morning. When I try to tell her that the children are in earshot, or even sitting across the room, she takes delight in revving up the tempo of her abuse. I have tried to explain to the elder two that when two people, who have been together a long time decide to separate, there is always a lot of issues to deal with and that the nastiness is only a temporary thing that will die down as people start to see sense and build a new life. Unconvinced, sadly. Maybe I wasn't too convincing myself. Can't think why....

I am trying my damndest to just be Dad, despite all the angst and nastiness. I came home early from work to see a valuer about the sale of the business. The kids came home from school and I chatted to them about their day and made their tea for them. THe STBX was glowering in the corner on the phone to her solicitor. When she told me what she had done, I had asked her to leave immediately. Point blank refusal. I could have called the police, but felt that it would be seen as trite at a later stage. After their tea, I tried to nail my eldest about his homework. Eventually, I managed to extract from him that he had been given the chance to re-submit one of his GCSE set coursework pieces. Sat down with him and started working on 'Christianity and Poverty'. Suddenly, the STBX decided it was time for them all to go, regardless of his coursework that we were halfway through. Off she went, leaving me again with a full hotel and no chef.

After a great deal of thinking, Amstel and soulsearching, I have concluded that there are four possible outcomes:

1. Do nothing, walk away and let her take it down, losing the entire asset base.
2. Apply some legal restraint to her and remove her from the business. Engage a manager and let him deal with operational and staff issues.
3. Insist that she buys me out, as she has completely undermined me with existing staff and made my position untenable.
4. Sell, at all costs and for whatever price I can get.

Which way do I go? Buggered if I know..........