I'm surprised Anty could not translate that because even I could! It obviously translates as: "To check Postcodes and addresses go for free to..."

Baz

P.S. Am I right Anty? 

I am up late because I have just watched Good Morning Vietnam.

I think perhaps I shouldn't

Yes, indeed. I wish parents would realise that they shouldn't put their own needs before those of the children who (as they would no doubt say) didn't ask to be born. I can think of a similar case where two children were passed from one relative or friend to another after their mother went off to Spain to live with some new man. Both children were perfectly intelligent, but were too demoralised to achieve anything. The boy is now in a highly unsatisfactory relationship and works in a dead-end job, the girl struggles as a single mother after her husband left her. Neither has any qualifications, although the boy in particular was bright enough for university.

I can't say I find it tricky. Important. yes, but not more important. Parents are responsible for their children, full stop.

Oh, poor boy, that is very worrying to hear, Milly. He's got more than enough on his plate to deal with as it is. It must have been a real shock for you but thank goodness he decided to come back and tell you.

He's had more career advice than Soft Mick!  He's started so many things and not kept at them.   

Anyway. doctor isn't open Bank Holiday Monday so I shall go with him first thing in the morning.  He's moving in today, bringing his stuff.  I'm getting the spare room ready.  It's nice and he'll have his own shower room.

So that's BOTH her kids I'm looking after now once again.    He stayed with me a lot between the ages of 10 and 15 till it all blew up, but then lived with my son until his new girlfriend moved in.  Since then he's been of "no fixed abode" and I haven't offered before because frankly I've got enough on my plate.  However I got a shock when he came round the day before yesterday - he was cold, hungry and obviously unwell.  After his meal he went off in the rain (which cut me to the quick) to sleep on his girlfriend's floor.  Yesterday he came round for dinner and - well you know the rest.  He is little 'un's half-brother after all and he didn't deserve the mother and father that he got.  His real father died aged 34 of a heroin overdose and his mother has moved to Barnsley with her new "love".  I hope to God she stays there because she's nothing but trouble.

However, for those of you who think we should also all sympathise with the parent in the case, I'll tell you that she comes from an excellent family.  She was privately educated and has an elder brother and sister who are both happily married, working, and have never been a problem.  She was the youngest, was spoiled to death and was a real rebel.  She was pregnant at 15, dabbled in all sorts of things she shouldn't, got herself a criminal record and generally bummed about till she met my son (when she was 28 and he was 21) and he unfortunately fell for her hook, line and sinker.  This lad was 10 then when he came to us.  When they married I allowed him to change his name to ours but of course he's no relation to any of us.  Fortunately we love him anyway.  Well I do.   

Thanks Ron, I'm not a saint at all!  However, I can't see the poor lad in this state and anyway I don't think he'd pass an army medical even if I'm wrong about the lumps in his lymph glands.  He's very thin and generally in poor condition.  I feel awful about not doing anything about it before now.  I just haven't been well enough.  I'm much better now and once I get him built up, I'll go with him to the Job Centre and try and sort him out.  Pointless before - he's in no fit state.

Thank for your kind words anyway.  (My mother is going to have a fit!  She doesn't like him and thinks I do too much already. However, it's not her business so I'll just have to close my ears.  )

Right.  All sorted.  Room now ready.

We've just taken the dog for a good run and he met a young standard poodle bitch who ran him into the ground.  They raced round and round till he eventually dropped into a panting heap.  He's now ok to leave for a while without my feeling guilty. 

I'm taking the child to a play place for a couple of hours.  My son is going round various places collecting the teenager's belongings from where he's been sleeping around and bringing it all to mine.  He's going to stay with the lad till we get back. 

Wish me luck, I'm going to need it but I think I have no other choice and be able to sleep at night.