Continued support and fun aspects too of rebuilding lives after estrangement can't believe 4 years and we still here to offer help, friendship and support.

So, Starlady. Hand on heart - you are not WendySue?

Mmm....whatever happened to her, I wonder?

Oops...... Should read. 'Is what is cited in most divorces cases'. etc etc

Starlady. 'Irreconcilable differences' is what is cited is most cases these days - it covers a multitude of sins.

Certainly, in the UK, Adultery and Desertion have long since disappeared.

If you google a bit more Starlady, you'll find that Stephen Belafonte - Mel's husband - has been arrested on several occasions, for burglary, and domestic violence. He beat up a previous partner. Another time he beat a mallard to death because the noise was annoying him. Then just last year, it was claimed that Mel was hospitalised, and when she later appeared on the X factor, she had bruises. A few days ago, the police had a warrant to search his house for suspected fire arms. Mel said herself when she married him that she knew he was "no angel". So, I'm inclined to believe that he was the cause of the estrangement, which only came about after she married him. Apparently, the recent death of her father gave her the courage to finally leave him.

The second article I linked above is old, but it seems to explain the reasons behind the estrangement.

But were Mel B and her mom actually estranged because of Mel's H or is that just her mom's view? I did some googling and found this about the divorce:

www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/3137801/mel-b-files-divorce-husband-stephen-belafonte-10-year-marriage/

Looks like Mel B said "irreconcilable differences" though the article also hints he may have cheated...

And found this about the estrangement:

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3102322/Mel-B-s-estranged-mum-Andrea-Brown-shares-old-photos-reaching-daughter-40th-birthday-years-not-speaking.html

Sounds to me as if Mel and mum (Andrea) became estranged because of Andrea's open disapproval of Mel's H, not because he was "controlling" Mel and keeping her away from her mum.

Yes, of course, Andrea may now feel she can reunite with Mel. And I hope they do. There's no one to "disapprove of" now. And Mel may even think her mum was right about him now. But I don't think it will be because Mel is first "free" to reconcile with Andrea. I know there are abusive people who isolate their spouses from family, etc. But I don't get the impression that Mel's H was one of them.

Morning Girls

Smileless so nice to hear you had a wonderful time at the wedding and that you didn't fall off your new shoes Very sorry to hear about your d.i.l's father passing away & her being so far away too, must be heart breaking for her for your d.i.l

Did you read about Mel B from the Spice girls, divorcing her controlling husband and that she hasn't seen her mother for 10yrs because of him. Her mother writes how heart broken she is at loosing her once close D and missing seeing her GC grow up, but is now hopeful for a reunion now the husband has gone!

Smileless2012 sorry to hear about your family bereavement....

Glad to hear your shoes went off well at the wedding, they are a lovely colour....and dancing in them sounds like fun....

Thinking of you smileless at what will be a sad time. You will at least be able to physically show your love and support.

Oh, and enough about posh shoes that some of us can't even bloody walk in, let alone dance in! Rosy.x.

Ooh forgot to say smileless we'll done for Dancing I. New shoes, ??

Smilelss that's awful your poor d i law ??

We never know do we when our time will be?

I am in my Element with my dear son!

Not too good this morning tum wise that's how it seems to go,

However been amazing to see their beautiful house and they hope to compete june 23rd yippee.

Yes yogagirl y right anything to do with Bristol support group is not something I wa t to know about.

Glad you (and your shoes) had a good time at the wedding, Smileless! I love weddings, too!

So very sorry about dil's loss. Good that you'll get to see her and ds, but I know this is not the way you wanted it to be. She probably won't be much in the mood for socializing in any big way, but it seems like you understand that. Hope you enjoy their visit to the extend possible.

since

Sparklygran
I confess I haven't read ever post but had to comment on your last sentence at 16.55 today.
No H and I don't know Ds in laws. We never met them before D's traditional wedding (their choice) the spent the evening of the reception sitting in a side room with grooms GM and brother. and we haven't set eyes on them sincees strange family all round

Thanks eddiecatI just want to put my arms around them and tell them that I love them.

Smileless - condolences to your DIL but it will be lovely for you to see her and your DS. I hope you are able to have some happy times amongst all of the trauma

I've signed the petition Yogagirl. I realise it's too late for us and I honestly don't see how things can ever change if our AC want to deprive us of our GC and them of us, I do think though that the more publicity this issue gets, the better.

Well ladies, my shoes went down a storm at the weddingand
Mr. S. was well impressed that I managed to dance in them. We had a great time; I do love a wedding.

On a verynote, DS and lovely d.i.l. are on their way back to the UK today as her father has died; suddenly and totally unexpected. The poor girl and her family are distraught, we've no idea what time they're due to set off, where they're flying into and what time to expect them. All we can do is wait and see and give her all the love and support that we can when we do see them.

Hope you're all OK and have a good weekend.

Celebgran the petition is too late for all of us, but if it had been there at the beginning of our estrangements, it would have helped us stay in touch with our GC.

celebgran I agree...and some saying they don't know their AC in laws? In my day a DiL and a MiL were part of the other sides family post marriage...

Very telling in some ways. I agree fully that we don't want to force ourselves on estAC.

Off to torture self by watching Masterchef.

Sparkly grandma is very strange is t it? Seems like infectious disease cutting off family members!?

We want to focus on rebuilding lives after estrangement on thread.

I don't think any petitions can help if our Estranged offspring want us out of their lives they have the final say and indeed only say.

Ooops spelling sorry Fairydoll 2030..

Yogagirl thank you - I have signed and also put up on my Facebook and Twitter pages, emailed to friends. Thankyou fariydoll too.

celebgran I just went on the CO page, maybe I wont again. Dear me. Wouldn't gransnetters know their AC's MiL's if they had had a traditional wedding ceremony?

The above works, just click on.

Proving the proverb "If at first you don't succeed; try, try, try again" lol

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/188381