Thanks to everyone for your comments.
My ex makes a payment through the CSA, but these did not start untilapproximately 17 months after he moved out, the agreement was that hehave them for two nights and his payment takes this into account. Hehas never paid for anything else for the children. Their visits to himinvolve going for a cake before he takes them back to his house wherethey spend the rest of the day playing on games consoles and the pc, ontheir own or with the children of his current partner. He almost nevertakes them out, except if it is to go somewhere he wants to go. Thechildren often come back in an aggressive, argumentative mood andfrequently moan that they have been bored.
There are other, more personal, issues I would be able to bring up tohelp my case, but this would be done as a last resort.
I have an appointment with a solicitor next week and will be takingnotes based on the information shared on this thread.
The grandparent access point is almost irrelevant as my ex's father andstepmother live less than 15 minutes drive away (we do not have a car)and they have not visited since the beginning of November, by choice,and have plans to move to Cyprus themselves. The children have notseen their only other paternal relatives - an uncle, his wife and theirdaughter - in 7 years. My father will support me because he believesthat I would only ever do the right thing for the children.
I have been working as a childminder for 6+ years so that I can be athome with the children. If we were to move to live with my futurehusband, the care of the children would be shared with me (they, too,think that he is wonderful), allowing me to gain part time employmentand start to rebuild a career. I believe this could only be a benefitto us all, as we would not have to struggle with day to day living andwould have the support to be able to choose the best thing for us as afamily, instead of my doing what I have to to keep us on a levelfooting.
I think my comments above may help clarify a few points as to why Iwould take such a drastic step.
