The Day at the races (continued)

Will completely enthralled and excited at the races with his biological father. (AKA - the sperm donor)

Having a brilliant time don't you think? Snort. Haha!


Yep - you guessed it. Number 7. Snort again.



I just really like this horse? Wonder why?



Ok - stopping my possibly nasty giggles. Yesterday I opened a letter I received from Centrelink a week (or month whateva) ago - and it tells me that due to the child support I receive I am no longer entitled to Family Assistance Part A or any rent assistance. Good thing I bloody did read it. Usually they just send out the same letter five times and they aren't worth reading. The fortnightly money I receive from the government is now gone. I ring them up ask them what happened - she says we took into account the money Tom pays you and now you are over the threshold - and cannot have the money.

Blah. I say - didn't we have this EXACT SAME ARGUMENT LAST YEAR? Ahhh yes we did! But the tax department thinks you received this money therefore you did... and therefore we cant pay you.

I did try to discuss this last year with Tom. Aside from his utter fury at even the thought of ever paying me a cent - basically his reaction was that he hadn't heard from them - therefore he didn't have to pay it. Actually he is required to let them know his change of addresses. But nevermind.

I kept the peace and did nothing. Until now. Because I lose a couple of hundred dollars a fortnight LET ALONE the imaginary money he is meant to be paying me. And that money I use as direct debits for electricity and phone etc. The money he hasn't paid me equals the price of a new small car for us. To us - it is significant.

I wouldn't be washing William's only school uniform shirt every bloody night that is for sure. And I wouldn't be making the phone calls to Anna's school to discuss a payment plan for her school fees and the upcoming scuba lessons. (They would negotiate fees but not the scuba lessons that has to be paid up front.)

In reality - all he has to do to not pay me any money is get a better accountant. His horses have been winning significant amounts of money - if he was investing back into more horses, gear etc he would be lodging tax returns saying he earned nothing - and then wouldn't have to pay me. Mind you - he has just bought a new horse float and matching four wheel drive. And house. A five bedroom house with three bathrooms and stables out the back. Blah.

Jealousy is a curse - pregnancy is worse!

So - now I have to fill in bloody papers. For the tax office (ATO) and for child support. And especially the old ones for the ATO - are such bullshit - I didn't work these years I had three small children for heavens sake.

And the very pleasant lady at the Child Support office was so OPTIMISTIC about the chances of them recovering this money - and me just shaking my head wondering if I had anything strong in the house to drink. (Just kidding I still had the school taxi to run)

Blah - 15 years ago I said I would make private arrangements for the collection of child support. This was because his tax return said he earned nothing and therefore he only had to pay me $10 a fortnight. Hardly seemed worth getting the agency to collect that. And he actually paid it for a few years too. But it was $10! Three loaves of bread and a three litre carton of milk.

I like it when things just run easy. I like the fact the kids can see their father whenever and we don't fight. I like Christmas and birthdays together. My girlfriend M was telling me about a bloke who pays a shitload of money a month to his ex and never gets to see the kid, let alone phone calls or school reports.

Boy. He is gunna be mad.