it happens frequently unfortunatly,when my late missus used to work in a town centre cafe, the stories she used to tell about elderly customers making excuses for their offspring, like she/he didnt come over this christmas,well their very busy blah blah,used to make my blood boil,but thats the way it is in some cases. one lady even said- well i saw her last christmas! i mean come on is that all parents are worth to some people?
