Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Monday, 15 September 2008
Saturday, 2 August 2008
A Long Time Coming.
Today I met again with my children, the first time since March 2007. (Hurray!) This was despite set backs over the usual holidays and other commitments that I have become used to hearing. The venue was a room in an anonymous looking room in the centre of Wakefield, west Yorkshire. The concept of ‘supervised contact’ is one which I have become cynical of since the last time in what can only be described as a shit hole in the centre of Hull. In this instance for supervised read looked on by a bunch of wannabe social worker types who’s only concern was that I didn’t take a photo of my children, while my sour faced ex wife looked on between her Seduce.
The room in Wakefield was subtly but significantly different. Now, ‘supervised’ was just what it said on the tin. My supervisor was a lady who, at least on first meeting, seemed to at last have the interests of the children at heart whilst all other peripheral matters take a back row seat. Refreshing. She wanted to see me for an hour prior to my meeting the children to discuss “terms and conditions”. To me this seemed overly long but at least it gave me the chance also to discuss with her my feelings on the issue and to put forward my reservations.
The hour soon passed and I was then taken into the room where I would be with my children and told to wait. Ruby & Mils burst into the room full of both excitement and obvious trepidation. I soon overcome that by outstretching my arms and welcoming them both in a big hug that lasted for what seemed like 10 minutes. Miles was his usual charming self and Ruby took the lead by telling me what they had done that day and that Miles had a new pair of sandals. Both of them, to me, looked awfully thin, Miles more so than Ruby. I thought to myself that it will no doubt be down to the fact that their mother is a vegetarian and that this may have rubbed off on them and so there would be less opportunity for them to gain weight by eating meat. I didn’t mention it to them though. It was a hot day today and Ruby’s summer dress was lovely and she had her hair down which I always liked best. Miles was wearing shorts and was tanned from the holiday they had just taken in Cornwall. We did some drawing on the whitewall and some colouring on the table then Ruby and I played twister for a short time.
All too soon the time was up and they had to leave me. I was called back into the 1st room and given what can only be described as a debrief. The lady seemed pleased that I had not turned out to be the latent axe murderer the paperwork had me down as. She told me that I asked too many questions which surprised me a little. She then confessed to me that prior to the children coming into the room she had devised with the children a special signal that they would show if they wanted to leave the room but that they had not felt the slightest inclination to use it. She then told me that she had asked the children if they wanted to come and seem me again in 2 weeks time and that they has said yes. She looked at me as though I should show delight and surprise at this news.
I am pleased with the way this 1st meet went and relish the prospect of a 2nd one even more.
Beverley Witham may win the occasional battle, but she can never win the war that she thinks she can.
The room in Wakefield was subtly but significantly different. Now, ‘supervised’ was just what it said on the tin. My supervisor was a lady who, at least on first meeting, seemed to at last have the interests of the children at heart whilst all other peripheral matters take a back row seat. Refreshing. She wanted to see me for an hour prior to my meeting the children to discuss “terms and conditions”. To me this seemed overly long but at least it gave me the chance also to discuss with her my feelings on the issue and to put forward my reservations.
The hour soon passed and I was then taken into the room where I would be with my children and told to wait. Ruby & Mils burst into the room full of both excitement and obvious trepidation. I soon overcome that by outstretching my arms and welcoming them both in a big hug that lasted for what seemed like 10 minutes. Miles was his usual charming self and Ruby took the lead by telling me what they had done that day and that Miles had a new pair of sandals. Both of them, to me, looked awfully thin, Miles more so than Ruby. I thought to myself that it will no doubt be down to the fact that their mother is a vegetarian and that this may have rubbed off on them and so there would be less opportunity for them to gain weight by eating meat. I didn’t mention it to them though. It was a hot day today and Ruby’s summer dress was lovely and she had her hair down which I always liked best. Miles was wearing shorts and was tanned from the holiday they had just taken in Cornwall. We did some drawing on the whitewall and some colouring on the table then Ruby and I played twister for a short time.
All too soon the time was up and they had to leave me. I was called back into the 1st room and given what can only be described as a debrief. The lady seemed pleased that I had not turned out to be the latent axe murderer the paperwork had me down as. She told me that I asked too many questions which surprised me a little. She then confessed to me that prior to the children coming into the room she had devised with the children a special signal that they would show if they wanted to leave the room but that they had not felt the slightest inclination to use it. She then told me that she had asked the children if they wanted to come and seem me again in 2 weeks time and that they has said yes. She looked at me as though I should show delight and surprise at this news.
I am pleased with the way this 1st meet went and relish the prospect of a 2nd one even more.
Beverley Witham may win the occasional battle, but she can never win the war that she thinks she can.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
And the Truth Shall Set You Free...
Friday, 4th April 2008
Today was the final hearing; except it was not. The judge was not the usual judge type, he actually wanted to get to the centre of all of this i.e. the Children. He was not interested in the peripherals of the last 3 years. He gave the choice; he hears the case in its entirety or we go away for half hour and just her and I talk. This we did and no hearing was heard. In its place it has been ruled that I shall see my children in less than one months time!!!!! supervised contact will soon result in unsupervised time with my children. Review to be set following 6 contact sessions giving plenty of time for me to weather plenty of storms...
Today was the final hearing; except it was not. The judge was not the usual judge type, he actually wanted to get to the centre of all of this i.e. the Children. He was not interested in the peripherals of the last 3 years. He gave the choice; he hears the case in its entirety or we go away for half hour and just her and I talk. This we did and no hearing was heard. In its place it has been ruled that I shall see my children in less than one months time!!!!! supervised contact will soon result in unsupervised time with my children. Review to be set following 6 contact sessions giving plenty of time for me to weather plenty of storms...
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Letter to Judge
Dear Sir / Madam,
On the 4th Jan this year it was the date for the Final Hearing in the above case. As you can imagine this date was very important for me and I had arranged the necessary time off work to attend.
Late on the evening before (3rd Jan) I was unfortunate enough to have an accident which resulted in my breaking both my wrists. That evening and for much of the day of the 4th Jan I was in the hospital. I was unable to contact the court to advise of my condition and had my parents do this for me. I am advised by the court that this message did not get to the Judge. The consequence of my not being able to attend the court it seems is for the court to now further violate my parental rights.
I have been unable to see my children since March 2007 because of the unfounded allegations my ex partner has made about me in relation to my children. My children love me Miles tonight told me on the phone how he misses his dad. This made me cry; for this to me was clear evidence of the cruel ‘games’ that are being played out in the court room by my ex partner and too of the real victims of this game. This has raged on since May 2005 and it seems that any allegation made by my ex is taken to heart by the court and acted upon. I have had untold amounts of injunctions made against me I have had to jump through so many hoops that I’m starting to think I am a hamster! I just want to have a normal relationship with my kids but the court won’t let me, what’s more it makes its decisions based on nothing save the untested allegations of my ex wife.
Now to add even more injury and without , it seems any thought to the real victims in all of this – the children, the court has seen fit to prevent me from even communicating with my childrens school. This is I assume, based on the again untrue allegations made by my ex regarding the staff at his school complaining of he ‘harassing’ them or some such. You will not be surprised to read that this is not true. In fact quite the contrary is the case. I had begun to come to a good understanding with the head of the school. The head had taken the time to send me school reports and details of the school photographer following recent school picture so that I would be able to get copies myself. I enclose the email from the head which illustrates this.
Now that I have the plaster casts taken off my arms I am able to write you this letter asking that you dissolve / cancel / get rid of this latest order which bans me from getting even the most basic information relating to my childrens welfare at their school.
The order as it is now make provision for the hearing to be heard on the 4th April 2008, this would mean that I will not have seen my children for over 13 months. All of this without evidence to support any allegations. This is not fair.
Wishing for an expeditious response,
Mostyn Witham.
Wednesday, 06 February 2008
On the 4th Jan this year it was the date for the Final Hearing in the above case. As you can imagine this date was very important for me and I had arranged the necessary time off work to attend.
Late on the evening before (3rd Jan) I was unfortunate enough to have an accident which resulted in my breaking both my wrists. That evening and for much of the day of the 4th Jan I was in the hospital. I was unable to contact the court to advise of my condition and had my parents do this for me. I am advised by the court that this message did not get to the Judge. The consequence of my not being able to attend the court it seems is for the court to now further violate my parental rights.
I have been unable to see my children since March 2007 because of the unfounded allegations my ex partner has made about me in relation to my children. My children love me Miles tonight told me on the phone how he misses his dad. This made me cry; for this to me was clear evidence of the cruel ‘games’ that are being played out in the court room by my ex partner and too of the real victims of this game. This has raged on since May 2005 and it seems that any allegation made by my ex is taken to heart by the court and acted upon. I have had untold amounts of injunctions made against me I have had to jump through so many hoops that I’m starting to think I am a hamster! I just want to have a normal relationship with my kids but the court won’t let me, what’s more it makes its decisions based on nothing save the untested allegations of my ex wife.
Now to add even more injury and without , it seems any thought to the real victims in all of this – the children, the court has seen fit to prevent me from even communicating with my childrens school. This is I assume, based on the again untrue allegations made by my ex regarding the staff at his school complaining of he ‘harassing’ them or some such. You will not be surprised to read that this is not true. In fact quite the contrary is the case. I had begun to come to a good understanding with the head of the school. The head had taken the time to send me school reports and details of the school photographer following recent school picture so that I would be able to get copies myself. I enclose the email from the head which illustrates this.
Now that I have the plaster casts taken off my arms I am able to write you this letter asking that you dissolve / cancel / get rid of this latest order which bans me from getting even the most basic information relating to my childrens welfare at their school.
The order as it is now make provision for the hearing to be heard on the 4th April 2008, this would mean that I will not have seen my children for over 13 months. All of this without evidence to support any allegations. This is not fair.
Wishing for an expeditious response,
Mostyn Witham.
Wednesday, 06 February 2008
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