Soap Box - Breeding Relatives

Hi
What am I about to say some people may disagree with and say I'm a selfish bitch. Well that is your problem.

You know the old saying "you can choose your friends but you are stuck with relatives" is so true. For years my older brother, his family and I have had this arrangement, we only see and talk to each other at Christmas, (don't get me wrong, it's not that I hate him, it's just that the only thing we have in common is that we have the same parents)

Now the agreement has shifted, and I don't like it. Now it's come to his families birthday parties. I'm sorry I've liked the arrangement we have had for the last 15years. It's been You don't call me for my birthday and I wont call you for yours. (I've lived in this house for 6 years and he only visited once; the day I moved in)

I'm a stingy old fart, now I have to fork out for presents, I'm been bullied into forking out for a present when I'm not even turning up to the shindig. You see they live on the other side of town and it takes me about an 1.5hour journey each way. So for a party that is lasting an hour, it's not practicle for me to turn up(plus I was given 2 days notice for the party & I have a massive assignment due the next day). But as I made the effort and turned up to gave her brother his present for turning 16, it would seem rather political incorrect for me not to give her one, after all she's just a kid, and I have the problem with her father. I have also been bullied into turning up to the Mother's party next month(which will involve an over night stay at mum's and dad's; as it is not safe to travel at night on public transport)

Kids are expensive, and I don't have any!!!