Hi Cas Had a bit of a break from the boards, but am now catching up with stuff. It sounds like the others are right going NC has a least sparked his interest and caused the change in contact. I shouldn’t worry that he’s not doing much to help out, it’s more important that contact between you two is less stressful and confrontational. It follows that any pullback is less dramatic too.
I’d take it slow with the initiating though, you’ve been here before a couple of times, rushed in and then got knocked back (me too). Rather than an invitation to do something, why not next time he’s round just ask him if he would like a cup of tea/beer and then guage how the conversation goes.
I’m looking at it like this, if he wants to spend time with you he will, simple as. All you can do is make sure that any time you do spend together is pleasant so he wants to do it again. Only he can choose if he does actually do it again.
As for the birthday you do family meals for those events don’t you (it was one of the kids last right) why not suggest that you do that for his birthday?
