h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I found out yesterday that my mother has a half brother she never knew about (and, therefore I have a half uncle, I suppose).

I knew my grandfather had been married before, a war marriage that didn't last. Fine, except said half brother is sod all to do with that. He's 10 years *younger* than my mum.

Ah.

All these years I thought I was Grandad's only grandchild, I wasn't. He had two grandsons as well.

He stayed in touch with the lady in question right up until he died in 2004. In fact, they only live about a mile and half from where Grandad did and Grandma still does.

So, that was an, *interesting* night in the pub.

Crikey....

So some last minute crimbo shopping is going to be in order then? Harsh.

Err, apparently not. My mother has meet her brother's mother, but not the brother, not yet anyway.

It's weird looking at a phot of your grandad with two other kids on his knees.

Something of a head .

Your mum cool with it?

I don't think she's made up her mind yet, to be honest. I think she's pissed that Grandad never told her - they were very close.

Wow! what a thing to discover! (although, I guess I theoretically know I probably have half siblings but they probably don't know about me) Does your Grandma know? Do you know how she feels about it?

Good luck for getting your head round this.

Grandma knew he had an affair, and met her - beyond that I dunno.

When Mum first said I assumed it was something to do with the first marriage. That would've been much easier to get my head round.

When I was about 10 years old I was digging around in a drawer one day looking for something, and I came across an old brown envelope addressed to my Dad and with a postmark from about 20 years previous. Curious, I looked inside and found divorce papers. My Dad had been married before. Neither of my parents ever mentioned it, even until the last time I saw them, and I doubt they ever knew that I found out. I've wondered from time to time if I have any half-brothers or sisters.

Amazing what can turn up, isn't it? One minute, nice, neat family tree, next minute... Not.

Can't say I'm really *that* shocked - I knew grandad was a bit of a lad.