Wellbecks right,you dont speak to a good friend like he did to you,and despite him 'chipping in' unless his 'investment' was a huge chunk id not give him that either im afraid, also im thinking maybe his investment went to help pay for bigger garage HE wanted,but hes had his moneys worth over the years,so im afraid id just say bon voyage and wave him off with just his own stuff& his bike! Im not clear why your grown up sons buying houses make it 'not a good time' for you& your 'partner' to separate( the weddings i can understand) but folk buy houses every day its not essential you both stay together whilst they do that surely? Yes after youve revealed a little more,do take legal advice on the money&house thing first,but if hes always insisted he only wants his portion of money back for that then if you have it spare id give it to him and wish him good luck with his hobby.as someone else said,if hes become critical of you to point of being nasty he may well have found a new lady at these races who is interested in he and his hobby too.Best to let him go before he DOES turn nasty (even a worm can 'turn' if he's got to stage where he's become viscous with his tongue!)But please don't let him get you to sell up your home just to pay him back his portion of cash,I'm not sure a court would rule that just cause he's 'put towards' a garage that he insisted on in first place.And also if you've not before,its time to start being honest with your sons too about this man and his treatment of you.you need them on your side and can help you look into the law side of things,also be there for you for support,and will be a godsend if he did ever turn nasty with you.even a frank discussion with them there as witnesses will help over the 'investment' problem.(curious as to why he referred to it as that if he was 'settled down' with you at the time?) Maybe he'd plotted this all along.sorry, maybe I'm just being a cynic! 