Hi, I'm Dan, I'll answer to almost any name if it's called in fun, I'm married to Amy, 12 years now, two kids, I'd say one of each, but.
They act as if they are brothers, not brother and sister, she's older by a year, and they both have no fear, nothing is going to stop them from doing what they want, well Amy succeeds more than I do, bribery and corruption is my only hope, hope they want what I have to offer on that day, but I digress.
Young son is William 13, Bill to everyone, daughter, Evelyn, Eve is 14.
Does it happen to you? You book something and something else comes up and takes its place.
We were buying a house, not our first one this was going to be our third and forever home, 4 bedroom detached in a large plot, the road only had 9 houses in it, it faced a wood that I could see the kids' building camps and going off on their own, Amy wasn't as sure about them going off on their own as I was, you have to let kids grow up, make mistakes, learn from them and hopefully don't kill themselves or anyone else.
Moving day was fast approaching, Tuesday next week, everything was booked, moving van, energy supplies notified of change of address, if you're moved you know there are so many things to organise.
On the Friday before 'M' day, that's what it was marked on the calendar as, 'M' day, my boss called me in to head office, he apologised for such short notice but somehow they, management, had overlooked my name in the emails that had gone out.
He was sorry but I had to be in Scotland for the board meeting that I had to present a report that I had been working on for more time than I care to think about, nobody else knew it as I did, nobody was welcome to go to the board meeting, except me.
I told him that I was moving on Tuesday, it was settled, it couldn't be altered, it was a chain of buying and selling and everyone must move on the same day I just couldn't go to Scotland.
He was sorry, but he said that there were two choices, go to Scotland or be out of a job, it was that simple.
He would make it up to me, fly me up and back, I'd not have to drive, 5 star hotel, we usually had a cheap hotel and meals were not included.
He left me with the choice, be here Monday morning ready to go or don't bother to come in as they would send me my wages and paperwork ending my association with the company.
I felt like I was going to the firing squad on my way home, Amy was going to throw a fit, I could see it, but what choice did I have?
Amy took it quite well, she thought I was joking, I went and found the kid's bible, how that had stayed unpacked I had no idea.
I'm not religious in any way, but Amy knew that I wouldn't put my hand on it and lie about it.
Amy made a joke about how she would have everything in place on my return, not by Wednesday afternoon I said.
The weekend went in a flash, so much to do and finally pack up.
Monday mid morning I was on my way to Perth, Scotland.
The hotel as promised was lovely, on any other occasion it would have been great, I was wined and dined by the local office, trying to get a heads up on what I was here for, but no chance, not before the board heard.
I'd never taken much interest in the board meetings, way, way above my pay scale.
It started at 3.30 on the dot, I was wondering how they got to work part time for so much money, starting at 3.30, turns out that several of them had been to another board meeting for another company in the morning, I joked in my mind how I could do this, 2 jobs a day, say 2 days a week, and get the pay they do and live the life of the rich and famous, as if.
The board were interested in my report, so much so that they stopped the meeting at 5.30, to get ready for dinner I found out later, that we would regroup, their words not mine, in the morning, first thing.
First thing was 10.45, oh how the other half live.
Last night I had to phone home, my new home, I felt bad about not being there helping to sort things out, Amy was laid back about me not getting back until the evening, the evening became Saturday evening by the time I eventually got home.
Don't ask me why, but we flew to Finland, for a half hour meeting, in the company jet, it could have been done in a video call or even in a phone call, but the hotels were all 5 stars and I put whatever I wanted on the room.
Probably the best thing to come out of my week away was the presents I got the kids and Amy, no one batted an eyebrow when I checked out having brought Amy some very sexy underwear, the receipt didn't say sexy, but it sure was.
I was supposed to have a little time off, for going to Scotland, but that didn't happen either.
Why oh why did they need me to read the report out at so many meetings, I was beginning to think that they couldn't read.
But another week away and I was missing out on home life, missing out on everything new for my family.
I was missing out on sex.
For three weeks it went on, if I was lucky I had a day and a half at home, if I was lucky.
Then it stopped, just as quick as it started, it stopped.
I was no longer needed by the board.
I was told that, suitcase in hand Monday morning expecting to fly off to some place or other.
I could have a week off my boss told me only after asking what I was doing here.
I went home excited about having my wife to myself for a little while before the kids got home from school.
That didn't happen, Amy had gone out to look at curtains and carpets, so much for buying the house that was just perfect, wouldn't need anything done to it for at least 5 years, that's how Amy sold it to me.
Okay, it was a great house, and she didn't have a hard sell, she just made me hard and in a moment of weakness I said yes.
So I was thinking that Tuesday morning, after I took the kids to school Amy and I could go back to bed and... you know, make up for lost time.
It didn't happen, Amy had to go to coffee with a neighbour, Ann, Anna, or was it Jane, I hadn't paid much attention when she dropped that little bombshell on me. So I started to fit the TV on the wall, it had been stood up under where it was to go, sorted out the wires for the music box, don't know what to call it these days.
We did get some alone time, but not in bed as I wanted, things kept getting in the way, phones, deliveries and things we had to do.
It got to the point that I warned her, come hell or something like that, we, We were going to have some us time in bed Saturday night, the kids would go up early and we were going to rekindle our relationship.
Amy laughed, "I've already arranged for them to go for a sleepover."