A quick family visit back to the UK cost me a fortune!
Sorry this is probably going to be a long one. I'll try and keep it as brief as possible:

You may, or probably dont remember my story about my Ex Kelly and why I quit the UK but its here: b3ta.com/questions/quitters/post164419 .

But as a quick round up, kind of how Home and Away and Neighbours used to start with the review of the previous episode:

Basically me and Kelly got together, she was pregnant with her ex's kid. I practically became daddy to kid. We rented a house together. Then found her cheating on me with a so called friend. So we broke up, and I moved to Spain.

Despite what happened, me and Kelly remained really good friends. I was afterall the baby's Godfather. Tho I'm not particularly religious, this has meaning to me and I see him as family. I will always be there for him till the day I die. He's the closest thing I have to a son, and whenever I go back to the UK, I always make sure to stop in and see them. They've been out to Spain a few times too, and its always good to see them.

Two years ago I went back to the UK for a quick weekend. It was a family members birthday. It literally was a flying visit, only being back for two nights and then having to jet back out to Spain again. Cheap winter flights. No problem!

I managed to find a couple of hours and stopped by to the old house to see Kelly and baby (who is now a full grown toddler!). I was going through some mail that had arrived for me, and happened to notice a letter from the landlord. He was kicking them out. Unfortunately Kelly had been struggling to keep up with the rent. She'd been having a lot of problems with illness and needing a lot of time of work. The doctors were being utterly useless prescribing paracetamol as the cure for everything. As such she was struggling financially, she was £500 in arrears with the rent and had two weeks to vacate the property.

Did she leave the letter out on purpose? I have no idea. We had a chat about it, and I said why didnt you tell me this before? She didnt want to burden me with it. She had two options: One was to take an emergency council house on the filthiest, most dodgiest drug ridden estate in town. Or move back to Mums and be crammed into a box room with a toddler. There was many other issues and problems with her going back to mums too. Basically not really an option.

This house was this kids home, he learned to crawl here, walk here and say his first words here. This rented house was sentimental. Not to mention Kellys independance from mother was also very important. I thought there is no way my godson is going to be brought up on a chavvy scum hole estate.

When we rented the house it was all done via friend of a friend and as such we got away without having to pay any deposit which was pretty awesome. So I phoned the landlord up and explained to him the situation with Kellys illness. He said that he'd had to borrow money from the bank as he was falling behind on the mortgage repayments on the house too. I could understand his situation. He doesnt get paid, it throws him in trouble too financially. Anyway we came to a deal.

That weekend cost me £2,000!!! £500 to cover the rent arrears and £1,500 as three months rent deposit. If she fell behind in the rent again then he could take the money out of the deposit so he wouldnt be left in the lurch. Once the deposit ran out he can give her marching orders. Papers were signed and I transferred the money to him there and then.

I just figured, well I had managed to save up a couple of grand for a rainy day and here was a storm if i ever saw one. I didnt do it for her. I made sure she knew that. I did it for my godson. He's such a great kid and he doesnt deserve to be thrown out of his home like that. Kelly had assured me she was better and she was financially capable of continuing to run the house. I told her to pay me back in small installments, even if its a tenner here and there. Then when it came to moving house in the future, she'd have a lump sum to come back. Saves me from spending my savings on crap, and gives her the opportunity to save up some money for when she moves house. So all in all a pretty win win situation.

Reality? She never did manage to pay anything back. She slipped on the rent twice more. Moved out 4 months ago with her new boyfriend and I got £500 back. woo!

That was an expensive weekend! Still, it was money well spent.
(Miggyman, Fri 14 May 2010, 16:46, 15 replies)

I just shed a tear
She definitely didn't deserve you. That kid's a lucky one.

*Clicks*
(Petite chien is going to do science to it, Fri 14 May 2010, 16:54, closed)

winner indeed , need more people like you on this planet
(supertedtex, Fri 14 May 2010, 17:08, closed)

TL;DR

( Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Fri 14 May 2010, 17:19, closed)

you're really nice
*wipes away tear....



*Click
(Kip, Fri 14 May 2010, 17:39, closed)

Ah mate, you're obviously a diamond geezer.
I hope you either have someone who treats you as well now, or you find someone to treat you as well soon.
(womanwhocanonlylivewithdogs, Fri 14 May 2010, 18:00, closed)

nah im single
girls come get me :)
(Miggyman, Sat 15 May 2010, 14:42, closed)

shame on you!
Trampled on twice by the same woman!

You may have grounds in the future to have your godson. What's the wager that the new boyfriend will stay for long?

Given you are the godfather you might suggest a holiday with you, extending gradually over the years. It may also give Kelly the room she needs to relax and feel better - I don't know, you know her better.

We all appreciate that children develop positively in a secure and happy enviroment.

You know its not over - you can still be there even if you are miles apart.

If a click gets you closer, you have mine.
(Suck it and Sea, Fri 14 May 2010, 18:17, closed)

Well played
You're a true gent, good sir
( LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Fri 14 May 2010, 19:04, closed)

Well played, mate!

( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Fri 14 May 2010, 19:47, closed)

"Welcome" on the forehead.
But you, sir, are the kind of person who revives my faith in humanity.
I wish I had a fraction of your fortitude and love.

Lang may your lum reek.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Sat 15 May 2010, 1:15, closed)

Am I the only one?
I have to say it. The kid was her ex-boyfriends. You supported her through the birth and first year after the kid was born. She cheated on you, you left and gave her your furniture. You move to Spain, have her over for holidays (did you pay for the hols?). You visit them, she leaves the landlords letter for you to find. You then give her 1.5 grand to set up with her new fella.
You need your head examined.
(knackerz is skinning up, Sat 15 May 2010, 4:37, closed)

^^Agree with this but...
OP is a Godparent, and what he did was just the original purpose of Godparents, as in, step in and look after the child's best interests if the parents are unable to... Good on you anyways..
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Sat 15 May 2010, 13:55, closed)

"You need your head examined"
^^ this.
(mobi I completed the Internet on 'hard'. Twice., Mon 17 May 2010, 14:35, closed)

Good on you for trying.
"Applauds"
(Big D, Sat 15 May 2010, 21:07, closed)

Just to say
Good on you for trying, my girlfriend was pregnant with her ex's baby when we got together. Sadly she lost it but I know that I would've been there through thick or thin to do what I could to help out where I could do.

Have a click for being a top bloke
(brocky, Sat 15 May 2010, 21:19, closed)