@Ronnie Jersey I wonder what makes some people turn out like that? Did I read your post correctly that your Grandmother managed to thwart your fathers attempt to strangle your mother? I hope so but it must have been heart breaking for you that she Ieft so soon after
Families eh? I walked home from town the other day via the route that takes me by the old police station and I always take a moment to reflect on my great aunt's (by marriage) brother, who, coatless, on a cold night about 100 years ago walked there from a village three miles away. I was feeling tired with my heavy bags but I think how much worse it must have been for him. He'd gone to give himself up:-
'I've just shot my father dead but I'm not sorry as now my mother is safe'.
My aunt was in the house heard the shot, but didn't see the deed. Apparently this man had also been known to shoot his dog if it didn't do what it was told. When sober he wasn't a bad man and could be very community minded and hard working. Very sad all round. The judge took everything into account and handed the lad a light sentence and he lived the rest of his life very quietly.
Reading your post reminded me off it. I had intented to put it on the 'what have you been doing today' thread but thought it may as well go here because of the connection between him and your brother not quite the same degree but both grim things for them to experience.