Ginnny, congratulations on your pay rise! - every bit counts! I have mixed feelings overy your exdp's niceness. I too would be asking him to keep to sobriety for many, many months before taking him back. Could he do that?
McD, for you. It does sound like you need to get the divorce sorted out firmly - I would be very wary of his claims of going on a 'boat trip' after what he's done to you before.
HW, bless you for remembering our joint Textiles project - yes, that was indeed the A - so I guess I could claim a teensy bit of credit - but the concept, artwork and the rest of her coursework was all DD's, and she worked Jolly Hard. I actually feel quite cross with people who downplay the exam results each year. I certainly wouldn't want to be doing GCSEs or A levels now. How has your DS done? My nephew did a few early this year too, and got a A for Maths, which has peeved DD a little as she was predicted one, but only got a B and she's a year older. But she would be the first to admit he is very bright!
My only quibble is that ExH didn't seem thrilled at her getting A* & A for textiles & art - and was very downbeat that she only got B for Maths. He wants me to steer her towards uni at least, if not Oxbridge, rather than the art college which she wants. She was very downhearted at his attitude, which just reflects that of so many unthinking idiots, that arts and crafts are of less value and that only thick people are artistic - wtf? She's his only child and I am sorry for his insensitivity. I really think, at times like this, that I'm glad we're not married anymore. As it is, I feel so tempted to phone him about it - but shall resist. I'm trying to be charitable and think that he's only disappointed because, having worked in the theatre world himself and come out of it the poorer, he feels that there's more money and a steady career to be made from solid academic subjects. That may be so, but he shouldn't downgrade her achievements.