I meet Ellen and my sister Theresa - 1997

A week or two later my cousin John called to say he'd spoken to my birth mother Ellen. He said she took it well, after he had told her to sit down first. She said yes she would like to meet me and the date was set for two weeks time.

I was a little apprehensive about the meeting. I had read of how these things do not always turn out well for everyone. Nevertheless having started on this journey I was keen to reach the end.

So on cold Sunday afternoon in February 1997, I am at the door of Ellen's house with my wife Maria and cousin John.
I ring the bell and after a short delay the door opens and there she is.  She is a small lady with a matter-of-fact air about her that old ladies have.  Her dog barks at us and breaks the ice a bit.  A little self-consciously we embrace each other.   We follow her into the small dark front sitting-room and here I meet my sister Theresa. 

We were all a bit nervous and the conversation was almost unreal.  We seemed to be talking about small things such as her dog, the house and even the weather.  She sat by the fire and I noticed she rarely looked at me or the others, though she was quite talkative.  Theresa said she suspected I existed from things that were said when she was young.  She was a very friendly and cheerful person, and quick to smile.

Theresa made us all cup of tea and I explained to Ellen how I found her.  We spoke of her sister Dolly and told her how she was getting on.  Theresa told me about her husband Pat and two children which made me an Uncle David.  It seemed my brother Mick in New Zealand had not kept in touch with either Ellen or Theresa