Thanks for your reply. The problem with the children is that I have 3 who are still in the family home with their dad. I hoped to have them half the week but it has worked out every other weekend, one evening and half the holidays. I work full time and their dad was a house husband and is now a student. The new man has one son who has moved with his mum 100 miles away. He has him at weekends. My kids didn't work out at his house because 3 of them dominated his weekends with his son who he misses a lot. They were also hostile to him beacause of their dad. so I got my own house for when I had the kids. That worked for 9 months, then he said he wanted me to move out too because he needed space to decide what his feelings were. I'm still seeing him because we have a great time together and I love him. I want him but I want someone to share my whole life with, not just the days I don't have the kids. I can't move on because I haven't totally given up on him and because I can't imagine life without him. He is my best friend and I'm his.