I'm sorry to have painted such a gloomy picture, my friend.

But what I've just said reflects the situation as I see it ... based on the information you've provided - in tandem with your own (obviously extensive) trawl through the relevant websites. Unfair though the 'System' might appear (and God knows, I've had occasion to "curse" it myself - still DO sometimes) we ALL have to accept it exists for reasons best-understood by our political masters.
Good luck to you and your family ... whatever you eventually decide to do!
