Hi DAG
Thanks so much, really nice of you to remember.
I didn't sleep well and haven't for the past few nights so I'm shattered now.
My hearing was at 11am and when I got there I was met by Caffcas who wanted to talk and go through some "non court ordered" things like talking on the phone between visits.
Then we went into see the judge :-S
Well the out come was I now have a court written order that my son is with me every other weekend from Friday through till Sunday, I will get an additional 2 weeks back to back in the school summer holidays, Christmas will be alternate also (its mine this year) and he will be with me from Christmas eve through till Boxing day morning, this year will be our first Christmas that he wakes with me. we will have the extra day from any bank holidays alternately. Also I no longer have the restriction of letting his mum know if we go anywhere in the car thats over an hours drive (though to get this removed the judge suggested he should take his phone with him) The main thing though is that now its a court ordered set up, his mum shouldn't be able to cancel my weekends as she has been trying to by saying the have things on.
His mum tried to come out with the whole "he's only asking for extra night so he can reduce his CSA payments" and the judge suggested that maybe I could agree that I wouldn't apply to have them reduced so as to set her mind at rest, I took a risk and challenged the judge on whether CSA and contact shouldn't be looked at together, and asked if she felt it right that my sons mother seemed to be think that it should? I also continued and said that if it were the case of me only wanting to be able to reduce the money I paid I would surely only have asked for 52 nights a year when I have asked for much more, and that why shouldn't be able to reduce my payments seeing that I have over paid for nearly 3 years and that I had also covered half the mortgage for 18months after i had left. I did get a little nevous when the judge went quiet for a while, but she eventually agreed just moved on.
I really glad its over. Its really daunting but i'm really glad I went it alone and didn't use solicitors as i do feel good about the fact that I managed to work the system out alone.
Thanks again for your message and thoughts DAG
Darren