Wow, you do look smart today. Are you doing something special?
Yes. I'm meeting a girl that I used to go to university with.
Was she your girlfriend?
No. We shared a house together.
Hi, Gerri.
You look great. You haven't changed a bit.
That's sweet of you, but actually I have changed more than you think.
Yes Pete, I'm gay.
Gay?
Don't look so surprised.
Things were difficult at first when I told my step-father.
Now remember to be here on Sunday.
It's your Mum's birthday and I've organised a family lunch.
I know, Ron. Don't worry. We'll be there.
We? Please don't bring that friend of yours, that Katie woman.
Katie isn't just my friend - you know she's my partner.
This is a nice family party.
That's why I want to bring Katie. She's part of my family.
Promise me you won't spoil your Mum's birthday.
I promise not to spoil Mum's birthday. I give you my word. I hope you won't spoil it.
Oh, I won't.
You're breaking up the family, you know.
I didn't like fighting with Ron. He's been a good step-father to me.
But he doesn't like the fact that I'm gay.
When finally my step-father did meet Katie it wasn't so bad.
He actually liked her.
What about another drink?
Thanks, Mr. Preston.
Why don't you call me Ron?
OK, so that's enough about me.
I won't talk about myself any more, I promise. Hey, how's your brother Alex?
Oh, he got divorced and moved back in with Mum.
I've promised to go round next weekend and have Sunday lunch with them.
Do you remember the house in Blake Road? We did have some good times, didn't we?
We used to talk all night! It's great to see you again.
I didn't like fighting with Ron. He's been a good step-father to me.
But he doesn't like the fact that I'm gay.
I know, Ron. Don't worry. We'll be there.
I won't talk about myself any more, I promise.
I promise not to spoil Mum's birthday.
I've promised to go round next weekend and have Sunday lunch with them.
I promise not to spoil Mum's birthday. I give you my word.
Wow, you do look smart today.
We did have some good times, didn't we?
That's Claude over there, isn't it?
What a coincidence! Claude!
Pete! Gerri!
Come and join us.
Grab a chair, will you? Shall I order a coffee for you?
No, no, thanks, I'll get one in a minute.
You know, I always thought you two would make a great couple.
Actually, Claude, we're not a couple.
I have a partner. Her name is Katie.
How are you?
I'm well, thanks.
I've just moved back to the area to do family law with a firm round the corner.
Are you married?
Well, you remember Jodie, don't you?
We got married five years ago. It's our wedding anniversary next week.
Oh, congratulations! What about children? Have you got any?
Well, we tried for two years and we tried for fertility treatment, but it didn't work.
I'm sorry.
Recently we tried to adopt a baby.
The agency asked us a lot of personal questions.
It was very stressful.
She'll be here soon.
Are you ready?
I hate all the questions. She'll ask about my father, won't she?
Don't worry. It'll be okay.
All you have to say is he left home when you were a young child.
Why don't we say he went to work abroad?
I hate talking about my father.
We'll say as little as possible about your father, OK?
Let's tell them about how well your mother brought up her two children.
I'm sorry.
I've always dreamed that we would have a family.
It's okay.
It was a terrible time for us.
In the end, we decided not to adopt a child. It was just too stressful.
Then two weeks later a miracle happened.
Hey!
What?
I've had two tests.
Yeah.
And I've just been to the doctor's.
Okay.
And she's confirmed this.
I won't be a second.
Claude. Listen to me, will you!
I've nearly finished.
I'm pregnant!
What!
Yes!
Do be careful, won't you? There's someone else to think about now.
We used to have so many parties at University, didn't we?
Yeah. You know, since the divorce I haven't been to any parties, to be honest.
It must be hard bringing up your son as a single parent.
Well, my little boy Josh is great. I would like to have more social life, though.
Me too.
I have plenty of friends on Facebook,
but it isn't the same as getting together with old friends, is it?
Why don't we stay in touch?
Yeah, great idea! Shall we meet every few weeks or so?
Why wait so long? Let's meet here next week.
It was a terrible time for us.
In the end, we decided not to adopt a child. It was just too stressful.
Then two weeks later a miracle happened.
Well, you remember Jodie, don't you?
I hate all the questions. She'll ask about my father, won't she?
We used to have so many parties at University, didn't we?
Grab a chair, will you?
Claude. Listen to me, will you!
Shall I order a coffee for you?
Why don't we say he went to work abroad?
Let's tell them about how well your mother brought up her two children.
Yeah, definitely I think people are much more accepting of,
for example, single parent families because there are so many of them now
same sex parent families a lot of people, whether they're accepting or not,
they kind of have to accept it really.
Yeah definitely, definitely, divorce is so common, so it's changed a lot, yeah.
Yes, I think definitely if you compare people's attitudes now to those in say like the 70's
when you know being a single mother was really outrageous, I think yeah
there's been an absolute complete change, but still a long way to go as well.
I think its people have become seemingly more open minded, um I suppose.
I haven't seen any vast changes, I don't suddenly have a number of kind of you know,
same sex couples living in my road anymore, but I think people are more open with their sexuality,
so yeah, I think that's changes that I've seen I suppose,
not that I've been looking for them or anything but... yeah.