And that is not to underestimate what divorce is for those going through it.

Our latest session was last Friday and it is Wednesday today. It has taken me that long to actually gather my thoughts and try and make some sense of them.

It started with me finishing off about my childhood. It's always a cliche in films to have the line 'Now tell me about your childhood' usualy in a German accent. But when you dig into it you begin to see how much of you today was moulded by those years. So some useful insights were gathered.

Then we started talking about some issues and very soon difficult

I must admit that I am feeling embarassed tonight. I had picked up kids from friends and got them home ready for bathtime and some quality time with mum to arrive, later than normal, from work.

It all seemed to be going well. Youngest in the bath, eldest getting ready for bath. Phone rings - daughter has conversation with mum. She will be 10 mins late because of visit to garage.

So kids washed double quick and downstairs for reading and then some elephant programme (turns out not to be on). Wife comes home with bags in her arms for a eldest daughter's friend's party tomorrow. So my plans

Oh well, as I feared, although we have started counselling both with an open mind to a solution my wife still sees this as a way to achieve separation. Well she says that is her current position and there may be another solution such as living together as friends for the children but these sounded like quite remote options.

At least she is beginning to open up anout her position. Before all I was getting was 'Well we've started the counselling let's not decide on anything until we have completed it'. I suppose it depends on how you define completed doesn't it? I can just imagine in a few