General Chat

My OH is 50 and we are having a sort of party at home. His older brother divorced a long time ago and we don't see much of the kids. Sadly one of the children died 2 years ago.

We are thrilled to hear that the remaining 3 are coming to stay this weekend for their uncle's birthday - I feel quite nervous!!

Any tips?

Just be yourself and have a great time

Keith, when I am myself... I find myself apologising a lot the next day!

But thank-you, I can;t be anything I'm not. And we knew these kids as babies.

I agree with Keith just go with the flow and enjoy. Bet there will be many "I remember when" moments.

Shirley and Keith, I hope so. Their Mum's family is very strong and as my b-i-l was essentially "at fault,' if there really is such a thing, We feel a bit left out. But they are great kids and they are my cjhildren's only cousins. I guess I am a bit in awe of them.

I know we will have a great time!!!

ENJOY

Thank-you, Keith, I will let you know how we get on xxx

I SHALL BE WAITING FOR YOUR REPORT

Helen - don't apologise for being yourself!!!
Friends and family accept you for what you are - otherwise they wouldn't come!

I am sure once the initial shyness is over you will have a great time.

I was recently in touch with my cousin's oldest son, I have never met him and he is in his 40s now, we have built up quite an email rapport and he has said if I ever go to stay with his Mum again, which I did a few years ago, we must meet up. He sounds a great young man and as I was close to his gran and grandad, it will be nice to make his acquaintance so I will have to make sure I arrange something to go to Sussex again. It's really nice to meet new family members or those you haven't seen for a while, as happened with his Mum when I sort of invited myself there. We got on so well and it brought us closer, which would have pleased my parents and hers.

Happy Birthday to you o.h. Helen

Lizx

Liz, what a lovely story. Thank-you.

Helen, try and relax about it. You don't say how old the children are.

We recently (last November) met my OH's 2 nephews and a niece for the first time since their parents (OH's brother who was at fault, as you say if there is/was such a thing). We got on well with them and with OH's ex sister in law who got invited to the meeting by her daughter. We got on especially well with the middle son who keeps in contact by e mail - albeit bried - and he and his lovely young wife are coming to see us in a couple of weeks, he is so pleased to have 'found' his Dad's family because he always felt something was missing.

I hope your get together is as successful and that you have a lovely time.

Ann
Glos

Thanks Helen, good luck with the party and try not to stress yourself, just go with the flow..... lol

Ann, it's lovely to meet these younger generations isn't it? My cousin's son was particularly interested in what I told him about our relatives working as Stone masons, at Liverpool Cathedral which I visited recently. He said he had walked past both cathedrals in Liverpool almost daily for a year when he was studying there, and wished he had known then of the family connection. He looks so incredibly like his Grandfather and Uncle, my Uncle by marriage and my cousin. His brother and sister look more like the Greek side of the family. His Mum my cousin, is very attractive, and my Aunt had a lovely photograph of her on her wall when o.h. and I visited en route to Cornwall, just a few days after their Diamond Wedding anniversary. My o.h. thought it was a pic of Joanna Lumley, but no it was my cousin as a young woman. Stunning!

Lizxx

Hi everyone, thanks for your support.

We had a lovely evening.

The nephews and niece were charming and really friendly and OH was really pleased to spend time with his brother's children. Surprise guests were the best man at our wedding, his wife and 2 teenage daughters and these girls were also lovely. Feeling tired but relieved it's all over!!

Just youngest's 18th to get through in a about 6 months time then we can officially retire from giving parties!

Helen, glad all went well, and you enjoyed the company of the young people and the surprise guests too. See, no reason to get so stressed after all eh?

Lizx