What happens in Court stays in Court

Somebody drank too much coffee today ... especially one cup in the afternoon which I never normally do.  So this is self inflicted insomnia.  So I am trying to put the awake time to good use.

If you know me on Facebook then you know the story so far and that I am trying to return home. Last week I had a 15 minute Court conference.  This was/is in prepartion for a final defended hearing where I have asked a Judge to decide if my youngest child can move back to my home town, country.

I represent myself, I don't have a lawyer prepare my papers or come into court with me.  I do pay for legal advice just to make sure I am doing the right things.  When it comes to the defended hearing I will have them represent me then.  I calculated the other day that to have the lawyer in court with me for two days it will cost $6,500.00 NZD. 

So things I have to do over the next 12 weeks:

• Attend a parenting through separation workshop
• Attend three more counseling sessions
• Re-read everything he has submitted to court and write a response
• Choose witnesses to have cross exmined
• Spend about eight hours with a psychologist -  by myself and at home with the children
• Have a social worker come around to eveluate our current home environment
• Save as much money as I can 

I have no issue doing any of this.  I welcome these people into my home to show them what I already know; that my children have a sfae, clean and loving home to live in.  Free of violence.

After that 12 weeks, the Judge will set a date for the defended hearing.  They are estimating at the moment that we will need to full days in Court.    Anybody who has put a supporting affidavit in can be called as a witness.  I had six people submit affidavits in support of my application and he has one support affidavit.  So far we know that two people from my affidavits have been called as witnesses and I need to confirm if they will do that by phone or if they will need to fly over.

So how do I feel about how last week went.  Slightly frustrated that this could drag on for another six months.  But I just have to put it in perspective, I am alive and I have my children and really six months is a drop in the ocean of a life time.

I also walked out of the court room feeling even more empowered, as I just sat there while he dug his hole deeper.  So far I haven't really had to say much as he does a really good job of saying the wrong things, which I feel just add weight to my application.

And the finale for that day ... him having a nutter moment after the court session in the waiting room in front of everybody.  Yelling at the top of his lungs like a mad man, shouting at DS Lawyer.  Maybe if I buy him a bigger shovel he can dig his hole faster and we can get this over and done with sooner.  

Below is just one song that has been on rotation for me lately: