Jo, I see where you are really hurt and lonely. I also see where you are getting back at andy (not replying to his statements, getting rid of the old furniture) but I also see where you are digging a deeper hole you wil eventually have to climb out of. (not giving a short reply to Andy one of your childrens dad, buying new furniture, and maybe going to the pub).
I don't want to see you so sad but I don't like seeing you get deeper in the hole for the long run.
The sofa or the bed does not take sides or have feelings. They are just things. If you have to erase them from your mind would a new covering or new sheets make you feel good enough to keep them until you have the money in hand to buy new ones? I think your book deal will pay off but me being a "I will wait to see the money before I believe it" type of guy, I always worry something will screw up and the money will never show.
I am not in the tough situation you are in so my opinion may not sound compassionate right now. I am also the type of guy that is maybe tooo practical at times and dislikes debt almost at any costs.
In my town, we have bars, not exactly pubs, but I don't think that is the best place to meets high quality strangers. Not that there are not high quality people there, just that is where some dead beats hang out.
JO just slow down for now. I know you are hurting and slowing down is difficult right now. I just dont like to see you in any deeper in a month or two. From reading your posts over the last weeks, I see you are on overload and I think I see you feel a lack of control. Reacting to out of control situations is not the best.
