Not all families are the same

 

I learnt early that people are not what they seem on the outside to the public who would think highly of the people. Its when you get to closed doors that you find just how not very nice people can be, and that includes how they treat those who are closest to them.

 

Over the years I have had people who thought I have plenty of money and was leading a privileged life due to my step grandparents, who owned a caravan park in Hastings Point in Northern NSW. People who I went to school with thought because I was ‘related’ to the owners, which must mean I was getting money off them. They were only related in name only as there were no blood ties.

 

The truth is there was no money that passed to me or even my sister. Because we were the ‘step’ grandkids, we were not even on their radar. I am pretty sure my sister and mum were despised and were looked down upon. I know they preferred the ex wife instead. They even tested mum in the hopes she would fail, and passed with flying colours. The grandkids would be spoilt each time they were seen and my sister and I would be sidelined. I wasn’t angry about that, disappointed or anything. Not sure if that was done in plain view to try and make us jealous. I do remember one Christmas where they were apparently told they had to get the two of us something. I ended up with a cheap radio with cassette player. It was likely the first Christmas. Though while they got to see their grandkids during the school holidays and some weekends, dad had to pay extra for that and always seemed to be working nearly the entire time they were there.

 

I don’t know who it was, but there was one point where I couldn’t call any of them by the first names and had to call them Mr and Mrs Beadel. I know why uncles I ended up asking them if I could call then uncle, and had permission to do that. That part I do remember. It think it wasn’t until we moved out of the park before I called them by their first names, although I cant remember. A former resident told me a while after he had moved out that the wife would brag to him that I was their favourite. He knew the backstory and the sort of people they were that it was all a total fabrication to make her look good.

 

They did make promises especially with my step father who I think believed them as they were family. We were asked to sell the car we had and told we would get the four wheel drive for our use. That actually never happened and we had to beg to borrow it and even use a log book to explain why we wanted to use it. I would say that was very degrading and they just wanted total control.

 

They wanted total control when we were wanting to move out into Banora Point as mum had a job with Australia Post. They wanted to have control over where we bought a house and they offered to buy one or put money towards one so that dad was close to work. They gave a gift to put as a deposit and that would later become more than a gift as it was included to the group certificate untaxed as a lump sum. It was their way of getting back at people who didn’t bend to their wishes. It was also when dad had left after a huge argument over the wall in the office had been painted. They thought he would be back, and never went back. So they got their little revenge though it didn’t really work out in the end for them.

 

They did own a mansion that was on the river in Tweed, and while at school some of the people in class said they had egged the place and tried to make me upset over it. I encouraged them to do so. I do remember one occasion I went to the house with my parents and there was egg shell on the ground near the gates.

 

While the caravan park has recently been sold, I should point out I have not seen a cent in the millions, nor would I want any of the money from that. Money from those people come with conditions and I have seen what it does to people.