What I learnt from Marathon Running
I could only cheer at the runners finishing London Marathon yesterday and remember what it feels like. It’s a while since I ran a marathon, well to tell the truth it was more like an ungainly shuffle round the streets of New York. Still the view was good and I did raise a lot of money for a good cause. I promised my children that if I completed the course I would wear my medal for a week. I did. Now the thing is that in NY the people came out and shook my hand, once I returned home the ...
How Much !?!?!?!
It’s not enough for Legal Aid for family matters to have been all but abolished but it has to be trumpeted on every TV channel, News Station and Radio programme. You would think that the end of the world was nigh! Well not it’s not. Global warming and the chap in North Korea will see to that but probably not any time soon. It is however distressing and frightening for people in difficult relationships who really need to find a way out and who need some help in doing so. If you believe all that you see on TV or read ...
A Man walks into a supermarket
The end of Legal Aid for family proceedings has been in the news for months. The 1st April 2013 (no it wasn't joke) saw it come to an end once and for all except in a few very specific cases. Along with the ending of Legal Aid, come legal services being provided by companies such as the Co-op. Anyone listening to Radio 4 this morning will have heard the Co-op spokesperson extolling the virtues of the £475 fixed fee divorce. What she didn't say was that is the base price, on top of that you will need to add VAT, court fees of £385 and ...
Happy New Year
I often find it difficult to say that to people when I know that they are going through difficult times. Maybe thinking about separating from a long term partner or perhaps in the middle of a divorce. I know from experience that things will get better and I could go on and on about how being single isn't the worst thing in the world, time is a greater healer until you're really bored. You won’t believe me anyway so I will just leave this here and Happy New Year.
New Beaconsfield – New Home
It's that time of year with the school holidays coming to an end and with the prospect of long walks in the autumn leaves and home to log fires with our family that we look to our homes. Finding and moving into a new house before Christmas to start the New Year in a new home is an exciting prospect Well we are a bit ahead of ourselves this year and we are very excited. We found ourselves a new home in Beaconsfield and have moved in already. We have grown our of our offices in Beaconsfield Old Town, which although ...
The Kiss
The flame passed through Maidenhead today. We closed the office so we could all take part in this once in a life time event. I have to admit I was a bit bah humbug about it but it was really quite emotional. So many people coming together to share an experience in joy and harmony. The nice plain clothes policeman explained that the torch handover is called The Kiss. Kiss someone you like today. Thanks to Karen and Vicky for the pictures.
I love children but only my own
Here’s the thing: If you choose to wage an unholy war with your spouse or partner you will have to believe that there is a fair, impartial Judge who will see things from your point of view and decide what is best for your children. After all the Children Act 1989 puts the welfare of the child as paramount. But the truth is even the most fair minded and experienced of judges don’t love your children can’t know your kids as well as their parents and while the answer is obvious to you, it may not be to someone who ...
Living together legally speaking
This week the Supreme Court published it’s long awaited decision in the landmark case Jones v Kernott. Ms Jones and Mr Kernott bought a house together, lived together but did not marry. Like many people who choose to buy property jointly, they did not enter into any formal agreement as to who owned what proportion of the property. The relationship broke down and Mr Kernott moved out. Ms Jones continued to maintain the property and to pay the mortgage as well as caring for the children. Many years later, Mr Kernott sought his share of the property. Ms ...
In which your intrepid blogger ventures out
Last week I braved not only the M25 but the M11. Thankfully I wasn’t on the M25 on a day when it turns into a car park and I think there was a nice man in a bright yellow and black van on a bridge taking pictures of cars on the M11. I went up (or down if you are in the North or over if you are in the Midlands) to Norwich. It’s a very long way there. Come to think of it, it is a very long way from anywhere. It is also very flat. There are big ...
What is a dog?
Or a cat or a hamster or even a komodo dragon- should you be fortunate enough to find one in your kitchen one morning. Fido or Fifi are our fur children we love them, feed them, take them to the doctor (I don’t like to say V E T in front of D O G) tell them our troubles and care for them like a child. They have human names, Mr Smooth has a cat called Dave (vicious little darling – the cat not Mr Smooth). In many ways a pet takes more attention and is as a great a responsibility as a child. ...
