http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html

Mum's Christmas presence turns sour
January 3, 2004


A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will. Sally Pook
reports from London.

When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, he expected
their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a little
strained.

And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that his
mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel.

Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with her long-lost
son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she became
pregnant by an American serviceman during the war.

She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to meet the
half-brother they had never known.

Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his wife Janis
had hoped.

According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas dinner, left
three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the family
sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when challenged over
the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of the sisters
had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being fed from
the table.

The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered from the
house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a hotel.

The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks, are now
believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their home in
Naenae, near Wellington, soon.

Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled plans to
visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole thing was the
worst mistake of his life.

His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family in New
Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they had had
the best Christmas ever."

She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they began drinking.
"We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-up cigarettes
every day.

"We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up until all
hours.

"Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would stop
feeding the dog.

"But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing well
likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet.

"We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and dragged
Betty off with them."

Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family.

"Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I thought it
was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters have been
an absolute nightmare.

"They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I have no
plans whatsoever to see them again.

"My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two daughters, then
I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for his mother, a
retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that he had
been adopted.

Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother and they
met at Manchester Airport earlier this month.

Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous of them, and
demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to pay for
their keep.

Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have three big
holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said.


-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown

Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G>

Helen


"LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com... http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html Mum's Christmas presence turns sour January 3, 2004 A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will. Sally
Pook reports from London. When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, he
expected their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a little strained. And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that his mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel. Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with her
long-lost son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she became pregnant by an American serviceman during the war. She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to meet
the half-brother they had never known. Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his wife
Janis had hoped. According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas dinner,
left three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the family sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when challenged
over the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of the
sisters had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being fed
from the table. The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered from
the house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a hotel. The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks, are
now believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their home in Naenae, near Wellington, soon. Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled plans
to visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole thing
was the worst mistake of his life. His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family in
New Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they had
had the best Christmas ever." She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they began
drinking. "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-up
cigarettes every day. "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up until
all hours. "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would stop feeding the dog. "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing well likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet. "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and dragged Betty off with them." Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family. "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I thought
it was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters have
been an absolute nightmare. "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I have
no plans whatsoever to see them again. "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two daughters,
then I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for his
mother, a retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that he
had been adopted. Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother and
they met at Manchester Airport earlier this month. Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous of
them, and demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to pay
for their keep. Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have three
big holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. ------------------------- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend
will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!" -----Unknown

In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon" <helicon@eircom.net>
writes:
Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G>

Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almost absurd
enough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad.

KL
Helen"LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in messagenews:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com... http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html Mum's Christmas presence turns sour January 3, 2004 A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will. SallyPook reports from London. When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, heexpected their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a little strained. And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that his mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel. Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with herlong-lost son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she became pregnant by an American serviceman during the war. She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to meetthe half-brother they had never known. Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his wifeJanis had hoped. According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas dinner,left three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the family sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when challengedover the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of thesisters had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being fedfrom the table. The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered fromthe house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a hotel. The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks, arenow believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their home in Naenae, near Wellington, soon. Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled plansto visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole thingwas the worst mistake of his life. His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family inNew Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they hadhad the best Christmas ever." She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they begandrinking. "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-upcigarettes every day. "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up untilall hours. "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would stop feeding the dog. "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing well likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet. "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and dragged Betty off with them." Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family. "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I thoughtit was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters havebeen an absolute nightmare. "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I haveno plans whatsoever to see them again. "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two daughters,then I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for hismother, a retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that hehad been adopted. Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother andthey met at Manchester Airport earlier this month. Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous ofthem, and demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to payfor their keep. Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have threebig holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. ------------------------- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friendwill be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!" -----Unknown

"KL" <klbjornme@aol.comjunkhell> wrote in message
news:20040102204051.22081.00003018@mb-m17.aol.com... In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon"
<helicon@eircom.net> writes:Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G> Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almost absurd enough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad.

It IS sad. It might have worked out perfectly well if the two loutish
daughters had stayed at home, and I had to wonder why the hosts didn't just
put the dog elsewhere during mealtimes.

Finally, I did a double take when I read "."I have three big holes in the
carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. With what? :-)

Helen
KLHelen"LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in messagenews:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com... http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html Mum's Christmas presence turns sour January 3, 2004 A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will.
SallyPook reports from London. When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, heexpected their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a
little strained. And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that
his mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel. Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with herlong-lost son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she
became pregnant by an American serviceman during the war. She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to
meetthe half-brother they had never known. Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his
wifeJanis had hoped. According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas
dinner,left three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the
family sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when
challengedover the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of thesisters had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being fedfrom the table. The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered fromthe house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a hotel. The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks,
arenow believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their home
in Naenae, near Wellington, soon. Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled
plansto visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole thingwas the worst mistake of his life. His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family inNew Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they
hadhad the best Christmas ever." She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they begandrinking. "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-upcigarettes every day. "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up untilall hours. "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would
stop feeding the dog. "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing
well likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet. "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and
dragged Betty off with them." Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family. "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I
thoughtit was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters
havebeen an absolute nightmare. "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I
haveno plans whatsoever to see them again. "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two
daughters,then I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for hismother, a retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that hehad been adopted. Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother
andthey met at Manchester Airport earlier this month. Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous ofthem, and demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to
payfor their keep. Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have threebig holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. ------------------------- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true
friendwill be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!" -----Unknown

"helicon" <helicon@eircom.net> wrote in message news:<bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>... Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G>


Excruciating!
Sounds like Monty Python meets Joe Orton.

Personally, I think it would be heartless to replace that carpet ;-)
Besides, those holes must be priceless.


Rh.
Helen "LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in message news:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com... http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html Mum's Christmas presence turns sour January 3, 2004 A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will. Sally Pook reports from London. When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, he expected their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a little strained. And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that his mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel. Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with her long-lost son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she became pregnant by an American serviceman during the war. She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to meet the half-brother they had never known. Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his wife Janis had hoped. According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas dinner, left three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the family sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when challenged over the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of the sisters had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being fed from the table. The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered from the house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a hotel. The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks, are now believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their home in Naenae, near Wellington, soon. Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled plans to visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole thing was the worst mistake of his life. His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family in New Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they had had the best Christmas ever." She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they began drinking. "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-up cigarettes every day. "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up until all hours. "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would stop feeding the dog. "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing well likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet. "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and dragged Betty off with them." Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family. "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I thought it was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters have been an absolute nightmare. "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I have no plans whatsoever to see them again. "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two daughters, then I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for his mother, a retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that he had been adopted. Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother and they met at Manchester Airport earlier this month. Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous of them, and demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to pay for their keep. Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have three big holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. ------------------------- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!" -----Unknown

"Rhiannon" <sarallewellyn@gosympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:dafc70.0401021956.44215335@posting.google.com ... "helicon" <helicon@eircom.net> wrote in message
news:<bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>... Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G> Excruciating! Sounds like Monty Python meets Joe Orton. Personally, I think it would be heartless to replace that carpet ;-) Besides, those holes must be priceless.

I (mentally) left out the comma, and took it that the *holes* had to be
replaced! <g>

Helen
Rh. Helen "LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in message news:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com... http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html Mum's Christmas presence turns sour January 3, 2004 A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will.
Sally Pook reports from London. When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, he expected their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a
little strained. And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that
his mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel. Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with her long-lost son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she
became pregnant by an American serviceman during the war. She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to
meet the half-brother they had never known. Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his
wife Janis had hoped. According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas
dinner, left three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the
family sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when
challenged over the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of the sisters had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being
fed from the table. The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered
from the house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a
hotel. The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks,
are now believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their
home in Naenae, near Wellington, soon. Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled
plans to visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole
thing was the worst mistake of his life. His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family
in New Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they
had had the best Christmas ever." She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they began drinking. "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-up cigarettes every day. "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up
until all hours. "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would
stop feeding the dog. "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing
well likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet. "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and
dragged Betty off with them." Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family. "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I
thought it was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters
have been an absolute nightmare. "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I
have no plans whatsoever to see them again. "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two
daughters, then I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for his mother, a retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that
he had been adopted. Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother
and they met at Manchester Airport earlier this month. Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous of them, and demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to
pay for their keep. Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have
three big holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. ------------------------- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true
friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!" -----Unknown

In article <20040102204051.22081.00003018@mb-m17.aol.com>, KL says...In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon" <helicon@eircom.net>writes:Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G>Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almost absurdenough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad.

Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in the next couple of
weeks won't go anything like this ;)
KLHelen"LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in messagenews:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com... http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html Mum's Christmas presence turns sour January 3, 2004 A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will. SallyPook reports from London. When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, heexpected their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a little strained. And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that his mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel. Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with herlong-lost son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she became pregnant by an American serviceman during the war. She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to meetthe half-brother they had never known. Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his wifeJanis had hoped. According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas dinner,left three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the family sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when challengedover the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of thesisters had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being fedfrom the table. The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered fromthe house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a hotel. The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks, arenow believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their home in Naenae, near Wellington, soon. Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled plansto visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole thingwas the worst mistake of his life. His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family inNew Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they hadhad the best Christmas ever." She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they begandrinking. "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-upcigarettes every day. "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up untilall hours. "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would stop feeding the dog. "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing well likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet. "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and dragged Betty off with them." Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family. "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I thoughtit was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters havebeen an absolute nightmare. "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I haveno plans whatsoever to see them again. "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two daughters,then I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for hismother, a retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that hehad been adopted. Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother andthey met at Manchester Airport earlier this month. Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous ofthem, and demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to payfor their keep. Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have threebig holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. ------------------------- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friendwill be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!" -----Unknown

Robyn
Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster
#1557

"Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in message
news:14zJb.18096$85.638@www.newsranger.com... In article <20040102204051.22081.00003018@mb-m17.aol.com>, KL says...In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon"
<helicon@eircom.net>writes:Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G>Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almost
absurdenough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad. Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in the next
couple of weeks won't go anything like this ;)

STAY OFF THAT CARPET! :-)


HelenKLHelen"LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in messagenews:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com...> http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html>> Mum's Christmas presence turns sour> January 3, 2004>>> A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will.
SallyPook> reports from London.>> When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, heexpected> their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a
little> strained.>> And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that
his> mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel.>> Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with herlong-lost> son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she
became> pregnant by an American serviceman during the war.>> She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to
meetthe> half-brother they had never known.>> Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his
wifeJanis> had hoped.>> According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas
dinner,left> three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the
family> sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when
challengedover> the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of thesisters> had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being
fedfrom> the table.>> The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered
fromthe> house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a
hotel.>> The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks,
arenow> believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their
home in> Naenae, near Wellington, soon.>> Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled
plansto> visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole
thingwas the> worst mistake of his life.>> His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family
inNew> Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they
hadhad> the best Christmas ever.">> She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they begandrinking.> "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-upcigarettes> every day.>> "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up
untilall> hours.>> "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would
stop> feeding the dog.>> "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing
well> likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet.>> "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and
dragged> Betty off with them.">> Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family.>> "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I
thoughtit> was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters
havebeen> an absolute nightmare.>> "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I
haveno> plans whatsoever to see them again.>> "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two
daughters,then> I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for hismother, a> retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that
hehad> been adopted.>> Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother
andthey> met at Manchester Airport earlier this month.>> Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous ofthem, and> demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to
payfor> their keep.>> Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have
threebig> holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said.>>> -------------------------> A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true
friendwill> be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"> -----Unknown Robyn Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster #1557

In article <IezJb.3026$HR.6782@news.indigo.ie>, helicon says..."Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in messagenews:14zJb.18096$85.638@www.newsranger.com. .. In article <20040102204051.22081.00003018@mb-m17.aol.com>, KL says...In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon"<helicon@eircom.net>writes:>Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G>Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almostabsurdenough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad. Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in the nextcouple of weeks won't go anything like this ;)STAY OFF THAT CARPET! :-)

Where?!? At the restaurant we're will be meeting?!? Eeeeek!

Thank goodness I just quit smoking! (Arrgh to that, BTW) ;)



Robyn
Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster
#1557

"Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in message
news:EuzJb.18105$85.562@www.newsranger.com... In article <IezJb.3026$HR.6782@news.indigo.ie>, helicon says..."Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in messagenews:14zJb.18096$85.638@www.newsranger.com. .. In article <20040102204051.22081.00003018@mb-m17.aol.com>, KL says... > >In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon"<helicon@eircom.net> >writes: > >>Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G> > >Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almostabsurd >enough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad. Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in the nextcouple of weeks won't go anything like this ;)STAY OFF THAT CARPET! :-) Where?!? At the restaurant we're will be meeting?!? Eeeeek! Thank goodness I just quit smoking! (Arrgh to that, BTW) ;)

Smoking is to be banned in all public places here - next month I think -
pubs, restaurants, etc., so their carpets will be safe. <s> So will the
lungs of the employees and the non-smoking public!

The rules aren't clear on whether the homes (and carpets) of adoptees are
exempt.

Helen
Robyn Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster #1557

"helicon" <helicon@eircom.net> wrote in message news:<bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>... Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G> Helen
The sisters sounded like a pair of cashews, but the Mom feeding the
dog from the table didn't sound like such a horrible thing. Sounded
like a mistake to me. This is written to sound atrocious, but I think
worse things have been done in reunions. I agree that the siblings had
to go, however. I wondered about the money they had to pay to be
guests in these peoples' home. I guess since they were staying 11
weeks, they had to pitch in. "LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in message news:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com... http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html Mum's Christmas presence turns sour January 3, 2004 A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will. Sally Pook reports from London. When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, he expected their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a little strained. And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that his mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel. Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with her long-lost son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she became pregnant by an American serviceman during the war. She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to meet the half-brother they had never known. Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his wife Janis had hoped. According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas dinner, left three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the family sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when challenged over the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of the sisters had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being fed from the table. The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered from the house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a hotel. The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks, are now believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their home in Naenae, near Wellington, soon. Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled plans to visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole thing was the worst mistake of his life. His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family in New Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they had had the best Christmas ever." She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they began drinking. "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-up cigarettes every day. "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up until all hours. "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would stop feeding the dog. "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing well likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet. "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and dragged Betty off with them." Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family. "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I thought it was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters have been an absolute nightmare. "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I have no plans whatsoever to see them again. "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two daughters, then I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for his mother, a retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that he had been adopted. Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother and they met at Manchester Airport earlier this month. Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous of them, and demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to pay for their keep. Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have three big holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. ------------------------- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!" -----Unknown

>Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in the next coupleofweeks won't go anything like this ;)

How is your reunion going?

Why would a total stranger (b'family or not) stay at someone's home for 11
weeks anyway? That's the craziest part of all. imo.

DMC

I agree that the siblings hadto go, however. I wondered about the money they had to pay to beguests in these peoples' home. I guess since they were staying 11weeks, they had to pitch in.

"helicon" <helicon@eircom.net> wrote in message news:<KdpJb.2986$HR.6836@news.indigo.ie>... "KL" <klbjornme@aol.comjunkhell> wrote in message news:20040102204051.22081.00003018@mb-m17.aol.com... In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon" <helicon@eircom.net> writes:Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G> Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almost absurd enough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad. It IS sad. It might have worked out perfectly well if the two loutish daughters had stayed at home, and I had to wonder why the hosts didn't just put the dog elsewhere during mealtimes. Finally, I did a double take when I read "."I have three big holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said. With what? :-) Helen
Smaller holes?

Di KLHelen"LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in messagenews:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com...> http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html>> Mum's Christmas presence turns sour> January 3, 2004>>> A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will. Sally Pook> reports from London.>> When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, he expected> their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just a little> strained.>> And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high that his> mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel.>> Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with her long-lost> son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after she became> pregnant by an American serviceman during the war.>> She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her to meet the> half-brother they had never known.>> Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and his wife Janis> had hoped.>> According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmas dinner, left> three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, the family> sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that when challenged over> the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of the sisters> had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog being fed from> the table.>> The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being ordered from the> house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at a hotel.>> The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks, are now> believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to their home in> Naenae, near Wellington, soon.>> Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelled plans to> visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the whole thing was the> worst mistake of his life.>> His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the family in New> Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them they had had> the best Christmas ever.">> She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they began drinking.> "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-up cigarettes> every day.>> "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be up until all> hours.>> "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she would stop> feeding the dog.>> "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ing well> likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet.>> "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags and dragged> Betty off with them.">> Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family.>> "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "I thought it> was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sisters have been> an absolute nightmare.>> "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. I have no> plans whatsoever to see them again.>> "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those two daughters, then> I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for his mother, a> retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found that he had> been adopted.>> Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his mother and they> met at Manchester Airport earlier this month.>> Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous of them, and> demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple to pay for> their keep.>> Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I have three big> holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said.>>> -------------------------> A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will> be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"> -----Unknown

In article <IezJb.3026$HR.6782@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon" <helicon@eircom.net>
writes:
"Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in messagenews:14zJb.18096$85.638@www.newsranger.com. .. In article <20040102204051.22081.00003018@mb-m17.aol.com>, KL says...In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon"<helicon@eircom.net>writes:>Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G>Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almostabsurdenough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad. Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in the nextcouple of weeks won't go anything like this ;)STAY OFF THAT CARPET! :-)

And put your coffee cup in the sink........oh wait, probably DON'T need to put
it in the sink if you are meeting at a public place.....but keep it in mind ;-)

KL
HelenKL>Helen>>>"LilMtnCbn" <lilmtncbn@aol.comnospam> wrote in message>news:20040102095223.12155.00002139@mb-m05.aol.com...>> http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/02/1072908908285.html>>>> Mum's Christmas presence turns sour>> January 3, 2004>>>>>> A family reunion after decades apart ends in a season of ill will.Sally>Pook>> reports from London.>>>> When James Callander found his mother after a 59-year separation, he>expected>> their Christmas reunion to be tearful, emotional - and maybe just alittle>> strained.>>>> And so it proved, but in all the wrong ways. Emotions ran so high thathis>> mother ended up leaving his home and moving into a hotel.>>>> Betty Callander, 80, flew from her home in New Zealand to be with her>long-lost>> son. She had put him up for adoption at eight months old after shebecame>> pregnant by an American serviceman during the war.>>>> She took her two daughters, Sue Rata and Sandra Carter, with her tomeet>the>> half-brother they had never known.>>>> Unfortunately, the reunion was not as smooth as Mr Callander and hiswife>Janis>> had hoped.>>>> According to Mr Callander, the two sisters got drunk at Christmasdinner,>left>> three cigarette burns in his carpet and his mother fed Katie, thefamily>> sheepdog, chicken from the dinner table. He claimed that whenchallenged>over>> the burns, one of the sisters had abused him. His wife said one of the>sisters>> had threatened to punch her when she complained about the dog beingfed>from>> the table.>>>> The row ended with Mrs Rata, 56, and Mrs Carter, 53, being orderedfrom>the>> house in Bolton, Lancashire. Their mother later joined them at ahotel.>>>> The three, who had been due to stay with the Callanders for 11 weeks,are>now>> believed to be in Scotland. They are expected to fly back to theirhome in>> Naenae, near Wellington, soon.>>>> Mr Callander, a former West Yorkshire policeman, has now cancelledplans>to>> visit his mother in New Zealand next Christmas. He said the wholething>was the>> worst mistake of his life.>>>> His wife said: "We have since had a call from the rest of the familyin>New>> Zealand thanking us for having them, and saying that without them theyhad>had>> the best Christmas ever.">>>> She said that as soon as the sisters arrived in England they began>drinking.>> "We have a non-smoking house, yet they were smoking about 60 roll-up>cigarettes>> every day.>>>> "We bent over backwards to accommodate them, but they would be upuntil>all>> hours.>>>> "Betty is slightly deaf, so I asked her daughter quietly if she wouldstop>> feeding the dog.>>>> "But Sue said: 'My mum is 80 years old. She can do what she f---ingwell>> likes.' There were cigarette burns in the carpet.>>>> "We just asked them to leave. Sue and Sandra packed their bags anddragged>> Betty off with them.">>>> Mr Callander said he wished he had never bothered to trace his family.>>>> "Finding them was the worst mistake I have ever made," he said. "Ithought>it>> was going to be perfect having them here to stay, but the two sistershave>been>> an absolute nightmare.>>>> "They have made our lives a living hell while they have been here. Ihave>no>> plans whatsoever to see them again.>>>> "My mum was fine, but if she comes in a package with those twodaughters,>then>> I am not interested." Mr Callander, 59, embarked on a search for his>mother, a>> retired bank clerk, when his adoptive parents died and he found thathe>had>> been adopted.>>>> Two years later an Edinburgh-based adoption charity found his motherand>they>> met at Manchester Airport earlier this month.>>>> Last night, the two sisters accused Mrs Callander of being jealous of>them, and>> demanded a refund for half the £600 ($A1400) they gave the couple topay>for>> their keep.>>>> Janis Callander said she would not be returning the money."I havethree>big>> holes in the carpet, which will have to be replaced," she said.>>>>>> ------------------------->> A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a truefriend>will>> be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!">> -----Unknown> Robyn Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster #1557

In article <20040103121346.21232.00003200@mb-m13.aol.com>, KL says...In article <IezJb.3026$HR.6782@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon" <helicon@eircom.net>writes:"Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in messagenews:14zJb.18096$85.638@www.newsranger.com. .. In article <20040102204051.22081.00003018@mb-m17.aol.com>, KL says... > >In article <bkjJb.2930$HR.6610@news.indigo.ie>, "helicon"<helicon@eircom.net> >writes: > >>Top: This is so awful that it's funny. <G> > >Man, am I glad I wasn't the only one who thought that. It's almostabsurd >enough to be a bad comedy. But I must say it is also sad. Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in the nextcouple of weeks won't go anything like this ;)STAY OFF THAT CARPET! :-)And put your coffee cup in the sink........oh wait, probably DON'T need to putit in the sink if you are meeting at a public place.....but keep it in mind ;-)



Robyn
Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster
#1557

In article <20040103110226.13822.00002034@mb-m10.aol.com>, Dmc10709 says...Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in the next coupleofweeks won't go anything like this ;)How is your reunion going?

Okay, I guess. Right now, I'm just waiting for my bmom to call to set up the
date, time and place for us to meet (We've already decided on town/state).
Then, I guess I'll be meeting her and my half-sis - probably in about two weeks.

Probably a bad time for me to quit nicotine and alchohol ;D

Robyn
Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster
#1557

In article <EuzJb.18105$85.562@www.newsranger.com>,Thank goodness I just quit smoking! (Arrgh to that, BTW) ;)


Robyn, heartiest congrats on quitting smoking. When I quit the damn
things the bit of knowledge that helped me the most was the following:

Cravings for cigarettes come, peak and die off. They don't last for more
than a couple of minutes. Your mission is to hang on, by your fingernails
for those few minutes. When you do that the cravings lessen in duration,
frequency and intensity.

In the middle of a craving, breathe out as hard as you can. This goes a
long way toward killing the craving.

Hang in there kid.

Linda

>"Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in messagenews:14zJb.18096$85.638@www.newsranger.com. ..
Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in thenext couple of weeks won't go anything like this ;)

Whatever you do, don't invite them to stay for 11 weeks! Yikes!

Jeannette, bmom

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.
Paul Boese


The Animal Rescue Site - Feed An Animal In Need
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites

dmc10709@aol.com (Dmc10709) wrote in message news:<20040103110834.13822.00002035@mb-m10.aol.com>... Why would a total stranger (b'family or not) stay at someone's home for 11 weeks anyway? That's the craziest part of all. imo. DMC

That is what I wondered too. I couldn't imagine it in any case, but
especially a first meeting.I agree that the siblings hadto go, however. I wondered about the money they had to pay to beguests in these peoples' home. I guess since they were staying 11weeks, they had to pitch in.

jrobnett1@aol.combustible (Jrobnett1) wrote in message news:<20040103175811.21232.00003215@mb-m13.aol.com>..."Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in messagenews:14zJb.18096$85.638@www.newsranger.com. .. Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in thenext couple of weeks won't go anything like this ;) Whatever you do, don't invite them to stay for 11 weeks! Yikes! Jeannette, bmom Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. Paul Boese The Animal Rescue Site - Feed An Animal In Need http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites

AND put your dog outside (assuming you have one) lol. But heck, you
could cast a spell on them no?

In article <20040103175811.21232.00003215@mb-m13.aol.com>, Jrobnett1 says..."Robibnikoff" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in messagenews:14zJb.18096$85.638@www.newsranger.com. .. Holy crap! Hopefully my meeting with my bmom and half-sis in thenext couple of weeks won't go anything like this ;)Whatever you do, don't invite them to stay for 11 weeks! Yikes!Jeannette, bmom

Oh HELL no - My husband's lucky I've tolerated him longer than that ;)

Robyn
Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster
#1557

In article <bt779g$97m@tracy.umd.edu>, Linda Fortney says...In article <EuzJb.18105$85.562@www.newsranger.com>,Thank goodness I just quit smoking! (Arrgh to that, BTW) ;)Robyn, heartiest congrats on quitting smoking. When I quit the damnthings the bit of knowledge that helped me the most was the following:Cravings for cigarettes come, peak and die off. They don't last for morethan a couple of minutes. Your mission is to hang on, by your fingernailsfor those few minutes. When you do that the cravings lessen in duration,frequency and intensity.In the middle of a craving, breathe out as hard as you can. This goes along way toward killing the craving.Hang in there kid.

LOL - Thanks. The longest I've been able to do this is 8 months. I actually do
great in the beginning. It's about 6-7 months down the line that I start
getting the cravings.

Robyn
Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster
#1557

Sounds like it is moving in the right direction. Do y'all interact via the
internet?
Right now, I'm just waiting for my bmom to call to set up thedate, time and place for us to meet (We've already decided on town/state).Then, I guess I'll be meeting her and my half-sis - probably in about twoweeks.

In article <20040103223440.04203.00002448@mb-m29.aol.com>, Dmc10709 says...Sounds like it is moving in the right direction. Do y'all interact via theinternet?

No, I actually have no idea if she even has an email address.
Right now, I'm just waiting for my bmom to call to set up thedate, time and place for us to meet (We've already decided on town/state).Then, I guess I'll be meeting her and my half-sis - probably in about twoweeks.

Robyn
Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster
#1557

Well, good luck to you and your b'family on a good reunion.
No, I actually have no idea if she even has an email address.Right now, I'm just waiting for my bmom to call to set up thedate, time and place for us to meet (We've already decided on town/state).

In article <20040103225805.04203.00002457@mb-m29.aol.com>, Dmc10709 says...Well, good luck to you and your b'family on a good reunion.

Thanks. It should be interesting to say the least ;)No, I actually have no idea if she even has an email address.>Right now, I'm just waiting for my bmom to call to set up the>date, time and place for us to meet (We've already decided on town/state).

Robyn
Resident Witchypoo & EAC Spellcaster
#1557