The rent!

For the previous 4 weeks - since the collapse had happened - we had kinda blocked out thoughts about the rent payments. We had already missed 2 payments (rent was payable fornightly) and while every now and then i'd think about it and panic, i was also getting good at just blocking it out and getting on with things. I felt guilty for not contacting the agents and letting then know what was happening, but perhaps fear of what they might do had stopped me.

Now Meridith, the estate agent, was knocking on the door. I cowardly told Penny to get the door, but guilt forced me to stand alongside her as we both answered the door.

The next two hours were hell. We explained everything and Meridith was very sypathetic, but the bottom line was that unless we paid up by the end of November we would be out. It was not Meridith's home and she had to work for the good of the owners. When she left, the family had a group cry. Me and Penny tried so hard to keep a stolic front for the sake of the kids but we were collapsing and self control was draining quickly.

That evening Penny and myself made the dreadful decision for Penny to take the kids back to the UK, for their safety, while i stayed on in Australia. Part of my Visa requirements was the money we had behind us; money we no longer had. My Visa was now invalid and any check by the authorities would mean it being revoked. Not only that, but i was not allowed to leave to extended periods of times for the first two years and we had no idea how long this would stretch out for.

Penny would leave with the kids, and go and stay with her parents. They had spare couple of rooms and while not rolling in money would be able to support the family for a while.