Disappointments that turned out for the best

My mum too lost out on a property in an area she was deparate to move to. Then she list out on a second and was very upset. Soon after a much nicer property came up on the market not just much better but cheaper too and her much loved furniture fitted in beautifully.

We wanted to move closed to my DH family, so put our house on the market and got sold subject to Contract quite quickly. We found a Bungalow that was ripe for extending and refurbishment, and with DH in the Building trade it would make a really nice dream home for our family. We were in a Chain situation with our Buyer, informed the vendors of the Bungalow we wanted that there would be a slight delay in completing the sale,to which they withdrew it from the Market. So back to square one for us.
DH got talking v to one of the directors of the National building firm he worked for, who advised him that they had plans in the pipeline to build a small estate of New build houses situated right in the middle of the area we were looking to buy from. He also offered him.a generous long service discount should we wish to buy one, and first choice of all the available plots on the estate, along with the pick of the Kitchen, Bathroom sanitary wear,Tiling, and internal wood finishes. It was a dream come true. We moved into our brand new home the following October, DH became the caretaker and security person for the rest of the estate as it was being built, and in return we got several Extras added to our new home for free, including Garden landscaping, fitted wardrobes in all bedrooms, and an extra side Tarmac Driveway.
Meanwhile,the vendors of the Bungalow contacted us again, their buyer had dropped out of the sale this time around, and they were hopeful that we would now want to buy it instead, to which they received a very firm 'No Thankyou'!

We had planned on having a second child fairly soon after our first baby was born. After 3 years of trying, and feeling depressed at our lack of success, we decided to adopt, and received a lovely baby girl. She has been a delight to us, and my main support since my DH died, and during Covid, with most of her siblings living abroad. She has also presented us with 2 delightful GC.
3 years after her arrival we ‘found the knack’ again, and went on to have another 3 children.
How glad I am that we had that long gap between births, resulting in us receiving our ‘chosen’ child.

I'm 4months in to a house sale and purchase. 2 weeks before moving day my buyers pulled out! I was so traumatised by this as my mortgage term ended on the 1st of May, so I had nightmares about what would happen. Eventually plucked up courage to phone mortgage bank, they were so nice and understanding, extended my mortgage till 31st Oct. Phew!
I then got another buyer on my house with, no hold ups, for 10k more

I always believed the adage; 'Everything happens for a reason' till my daughter estranged herself 8yrs ago, taking my beloved GC away for no reason. Due to moving I got my son to message her about 8 boxes of 'stuff' in my attic of hers, could she collect it please, her reply was 'dump it' . A box full of her dancing certificates, medals, photos etc. Her baby book. I now have to go through all the boxes, [as if I don't have enough to do with the move myself], and just keep what I myself can't just dump. So I always wonder what the 'happens for a reason' is here [?]

I found out I was pregnant when I was in my teens. My family were mortified and put pressure on me to terminate the pregnancy.

I was adopted as a baby so I was also told that this could be an option - have the child but give it up to new parents.

However, the fact that I was adopted made me consider my own position in life. I could so easily have been a termination but I wasn't. I also had no blood relatives that I knew of. Nobody was connected to me, despite me loving my adoptive family immeasurably.

It was 1986 and Madonna's words rang rather true: "Papa, Don't Preach". So, against great opposition, I chose to keep my baby.

My beautiful daughter, now 35, a nurse, well-travelled, brains and beauty in abundance and her wedding is this month! Interestingly, I had my son two years after (doubt I would if I'd not kept my firstborn) and I am similarly as proud of him.

Now I have four children, four grandchildren (no 5 on way), I took a Bachelor degree in my mid 20s, followed by a Masters degree. I have an amazing husband and a loving, happy family.

Doors may appear closed but stick your foot in them people!

What a lovely story Naninka You certainly did the right thing and what a very happy outcome. It was hard back in 1986 for a single mum in your position, so well done you

Naninka did you stay with your adoptive mum & dad with your new baby?

Hi Yogini. No, I'm afraid they asked me to leave - my Mum says now that it was in my best interest to go.
I moved in with the baby's father (he lived rent-free with his widowed mother) and, eventually, we bought our first home with savings from his job. His mum was a wonderful lady who enabled us to start our home ownership journey. She's gone now but never forgotten.

So many times, this has been the case in my life. So much, it is a bit woo, although usually I don't believe in stuff like that.

Left a much loved job for one I thought would be better but wasn't, only to find out 9 months later I had cancer, and JUST happened to be in the part of the UK with probably the best cancer care.

Again, left another great job overseas, which I still miss, for a relationship that didn't work out, only to find that my daughter was pregnant and needed me to be in the UK with her.

Took another overseas job that I very quickly HATED (and was desperate to go home/back to the UK) and that I was miserable at because it was exceptionally highly paid, only to be allowed to leave and work from home during lockdown, meaning I earned a huge overseas salary while living in the UK. I ended up only spending 11 weeks 'in country' at the hated job. Working from home for it was great, it was the place and the people I hated.

Daughter's 'accidental' pregnancy. She was determined not to have children and I was desperate for grandchildren. GC is the absolute apple of my eye. Nevermind 'accident', he is my miracle GC as far as I am concerned.

Relationship that I wanted to turn into marriage didn't. At the time, I was devastated but now, I can see I had SUCH a lucky escape.

Even having cancer totally changed me. Of course I am one of the lucky ones who survived it. Treatment was brutal, 5 surgeries, chemo, radio. But my view of life has completely changed. And one of the nurses taught me something that has stopped me from obsessing about coping with life in general (just focus on getting through the one thing that is in front of you, not the whole battle).

Oh Naninka what a terrible trauma that must have been for you, you must have been very frightened! But sounds like it all turned out for the best, being with the baby's dad & his mum, she sounded lovely.

Wise words from your nurse Gagajo hope you are fully recovered now and enjoying your GS.

I could have been a Brussels bureaucrat with all the lifestyle and money benefits- but management hadn’t told me of their plan and I’d become happily pregnant by the time they did. So not really a disappointment just a ‘what if’ but 40 years on I don’t have a moment’s regret and a varied and very lucky, happy work/life jumble to look back on.

Yoginimeisje

Oh Naninka what a terrible trauma that must have been for you, you must have been very frightened! But sounds like it all turned out for the best, being with the baby's dad & his mum, she sounded lovely.

All's well that ends well.
I've been very fortunate the rest of my adult life.