I was thinking the same thing to be honest

As far as I was aware, in this country, if you want to adopt you put your names forward, go through the necessary regulations and checks to ensure you can provide a loving home to a child, and then just wait your turn

Providing you meet the requirements, when your chance comes along, you are given your baby .... without any money ever changing hands

you're correct on both counts

The voice of reason
I think the only cost is for a full private medical examination

How rude


Yes there are babies enough for everyone, if only.

Neither of you seem to have bothered to read the post. It mentions surrogacy and adopting from abroad as well as legal implications + private adoptions here in the UK. Adopting and surrogacy can cost a lot of money.

I really can't see the problem here at all. It seems a perfectly reasonable use of the money and even if it wasn't used for surrogacy etc don't all the parents in the House want the money for their kids? It's just an extension of that surely.

I think it's a pity they haven't let us hear more of Andy's conversations about this as the BOTS example shows there have been some. This wouldn't be nearly so suspicious if they had done that.

Yes, I understand that if the intention is to go abroad to 'buy' a baby, then it's all about the money

I know nothing at all about surrogacy, what rules and regulations are applied to it in this country, or if IVF is available in those cases ... I'm pretty sure there are laws that prevent the 'purchase' of a baby in those circumstances though

As to the 'private adoption agencies' you refer to ... what are they then ? ... how do they work ? ... and where do they get these babies who's lives and futures they make a profit out of ?

Yes | did read it and would have no problem with Andy using it for adoption, and it would be really useful to have for raising any child. The poster was giving details of the worst case scenario, surrogacy and adoption abroad. If you are desperate to have your genes continuing the family line, surrogacy would be the way to go. But if you want a child to complete your family adoption would be best. Yes, you are right, there is a shortage of babies - but there are plenty of older children in the UK who need still loving homes.

I adore my adopted grandchild - now 5 and who has blossomed beyond recognition over the last two years from the sad little boy who arrived.

You've made my day with that post cookin

lovely

This is why I asked if you'd read the post as there were loads of these kind of details in it. It's not an area I am knowledgeable about either but that poster seemed to be so.

Thank you He makes my day every time I see him

You said it was twaddle though All I was saying is that it contained useful information about the cost of surrogacy and so on. It's up to Andy really how he wants to go about having a child and he's as entitled to have a baby as any other father is. Adopting actually isn't always clear cut for gay couples as I'm sure you know and is actually a difficult process for all couples.

All I was saying was that spending any winnings this way is as good a way to spend the money as any other and you don't seem to disagree with that

I've got a gay friend in a similar situation.

He made friends with a nice lesbian couple who wanted a kid too.

Use a turkey baster a couple of times and arrange things legally between yourselves.

Simples.

I must have missed something. What's the story about Ed?
I didn't like him when he was in the house, so feel free to dish the dirt!

It was in one of the trash rags that Ed was looking for casual sex on Grindr.

There were bits of conversation published between Ed and some bloke on a website called Grinder or Grndr or summat ... anyway, it's a place where gay men trawl for casual sex ( this happened while Andy was in the house, and after Ed had proposed )

Ed said that he'd been advised not to respond to the accusation

I think that was it

Good luck to Andy and Ed if this is the case. How sweet

Quite agree; fair enough people may not care, or want to know even, what HMs may want the money for - but that is different to saying, what does winning have to do with wanting a baby. If that is someone's reason for applying & hoping to win the money, how can it not have everything to do with it. I never get the attacks on people for bringing up emotional & personal issues in the house, they are predominant issues for that person presumably, & will naturally come to the surface. They can't all be sob stories & pleas for sympathy, surely. Or: I'm overcharitable *shrug*.

Oh right, thanks for that guys..
I hope there's no truth in it (for Andy's sake). He doesn't seem the type of guy who would be up for that sort of malarkey, but you never know.

Really hope not, not a nice thing to be ambushed with & I'm finding it uncomfortable knowing 'something' (as in that the story exists, true or not) that he is oblivious to though probably not as uncomfortable as knowing there are people who hope it is true & are looking forward to a nice gloat.

Some people are just nasty, I wouldn't wish that on anyone, nor would I find any pleasure in gloating, if this was true.