So, I've caught up on your news over the past week or so.
I loved all the pet adoption chat. Our two cats are total opposites. DCat1 is a very friendly, cuddly cat. DD adores him and he sleeps in her bed every night. He's not 100% reliable when it comes to litter trays though. I had to banish him from my bedroom when I discovered him weeing on my bedroom floor one morning 
. I think he'd just woken up and was a bit sleepy and was too lazy to make his way downstairs to use the litter tray there. I keep my bedroom door closed now and I also put a litter tray in the upstairs bathroom. DCat2 was a very shy, anxious cat. The first few days we had her, she hid away in a little cat house. If you so much as took a step towards her, she'd run in the opposite direction. She still doesn't like being handled but she's a lot calmer now and occasionally she'll do something that shows she trusts us e.g. when I'm sitting on the sofa with the laptop on my lap, she'll hop up on the other end of the sofa. Or she'll roll over on the floor in front of us (exposing her belly to us). She's a really beautiful tabby cat with the most incredible green eyes. I don't know much about their history except they were rescued from an old lady who had too many cats and wasn't able to care for them properly. DCat2 had an infection and was underweight -she gained a third of her body weight while she was in the shelter 
. Apart from having to change their litter trays and take them to the vet for their annual jabs, they're no trouble really. It just takes a bit of organization if I go away - either I've to ask a family member to feed them, or pay to put them in a cattery. I've booked them into a cattery for 9 nights at the end of August (we'll be away for a week) and it will cost something like €16 per night per cat. I'll also have to pay for a new floor for the hall at some stage - they love digging their claws into the hall carpet. Next time I'll get a wood or laminate floor.
Being separated, I have sole control of our finances now and I'm doing a pretty good job of it, if I do say so myself. I'm lucky in that Ex pays a generous amount of child maintenance and he pays up promptly. I'm frequently shocked at the stories I read on MN about deadbeat Dads who don't pay anything towards their children or just pay a tiny amount. But I'd still manage even if he didn't pay anything. I just have one child and she's 16 so I don't have to pay for childcare now while I work. It would be a very different story if I had three or four small children.
Mrs sorry to hear your DH was so ill. You got very emotional when you were talking about the support em received from her parents. Am I right in thinking that your own Mum wasn't very supportive? In which case, you've broken the cycle and been an incredible Mum to your two daughters. And also a very kind and caring daughter to your Mum. Sending you big, squeezy hugs.
em glad you were able to move in with your parents temporarily. It made more sense than having your DH confined to his bedroom and you sleeping on the floor. And the DC would have been confused and wouldn't have understood why their Dad wouldn't come out and talk/play with them.
north hope your DH is on the mend now. You must be really excited about your impending holiday - it will be lovely to catch up with family. Congrats. to your DS for saving the cricket match. He won't know himself, having his own car.
Love Wimbledown will be a real treat. I'm not a big tennis fan but I'd love to go, just for the experience.
Unescorted well done to your DD on her first year results. Not long now until you'll have her home again. It's hard to see our little chicks fly the nests but you should be proud that you've given her the secure foundation that enabled her to leave home and stand on her own two feet, albeit in a student setting.
Wolf lovely news about the puppy. When do you get to collect him (or is it her?).
Hi to anyone else I've missed.
I'm back to work tomorrow. Need to pay my waste charges bill. Also need to chase up my solicitor. And look into getting a new shower for my en suite and getting a plumber to install it. Lots of €€€