Scarlett - two weeks of hell!

OMG, something happened two weeks ago that I have really wanted to blog about but have been unable to up until now.

On Sunday 14th June Sophie told Shane that she wanted to change the arrangements for him seeing Scarlett as she believed that him having her every weekend was too much so she wanted to change to every other weekend so that she could also have some time with Scarlett on some weekends. Shane did not want to make these changes.

On Wednesday 17th Shane picked up Scarlett as usual and took her to his mother's house. Later on Shane's mum called Sophie and said that unless the arrangements were left as they were she would take Sophie to court. Not long after that Shane phoned Sophie to say that she wouldn't be getting Scarlett back until Sunday (presumably to gurantee that he had her over the weekend). Next thing Sophie knew Shane and his sister had arrived at her flat and let themselves in (as Shane had refused to return the keys) and they got very abusive towards Sophie saying that she wouldn't get Scarlett back at all. A brief altercation followed which required police intervention (neither side covering themelves in glory).

Lots more happened but to cut a long story short, Sophie and I went to see a solicitor on Friday 19th and Sophie arranged to make an application to the courts to have Scarlett returned to her.

Again, lots of silly little things happened in the meantime that were intended (but failed) to paint Sophie out as a bad mother and unsuitable to have Scarlett back.

Today we attended court and Sophie saw Scarlett for the first time in two whole weeks. She was so happy to see her again.

After a painstaking wait, when Sophie and Shane were called before the judge for their hearing, Sophie then came out and told us that she had won and that Scarlett was to be returned to her immediately. It was pretty clear from the reaction of Shane and his family that they had fully expected to walk away the victors today. I am pleased to report though that justice was done and Scarlett has now returned to Sophie.

It isn't fully over yet but at least the status quo has been maintained. Scarlett wll continue to live with Sophie and Shane will once again have Scarlett one night a week and then every weekend until 29th July. On this date they both have to return to court for mediation when they will formally thrash out permanent arrangements which will then be rubber stamped and made permanent.

It's been a little stressful to say the least (and this was what I was referring to in my curve balls blog) but we are all very relived right now.