adult adoptees in UK

Hi Velly/everyoneIm from the UK (31) and only just started visiting this site recently.I don't want mean to hijack the thread with my story (ignore any of my waffling) but the 1 aspect I wanted to raise about the UK system is the splitting up of siblings in care. I guess i have expected, strong feelings on the subject as it happened to me but I just wondered if this was common and does it happen much in other countries? I don't want the following to read like a 'woe-me story' im very positive about my past and my life, well okay I just blank it all out as best I can and just move forward so lets just say I always try to look on the bright side of life!I'll try to keep it as short as possible, apologies for any bad spelling/grammer! B/mum emigrated on her own to the UK with her only son (half brother), she had a daughter here (my half sister but I hate to say 'half')and then some time later had me. After I was born my mum struggled (drink/gambling and lord knows what else) so me and my sister were put into foster care. We were there for nearly 6yrs before being shifted to another foster family. We were with that family for about 18 months when they decided they could no longer look after the both of us (my sister was 13, I had just turned 8). My sister got to stay with them and I got put in an orphanage (I got a family 2 yrs later). Now don't get me wrong, i've never shown anger/resentment about this but guess it's always been there buried deep down. My sister has never spoke about it, except once she mentioned it a few years back that she has never forgiven them (2nd foster family) for splitting us up, before I could blink she went quiet and she's never spoke about it since. Im fine with that, thats how we've always dealt with things.. Be tough, dont' show emotion (it's all we know) and we litterly never talk about the past. I think what still annoys me to this day is that no solution could be found to keep us together, I know it 'was how it was' and I wouldn't of wanted her to be in the orphange with me (I was just glad she got to stay with a family). Just our mum passed away (cancer) shortly after I left the orphange so it really left just me and my sister (she's never had contact with her dad either). Yet we only got to see each other 6-7 times a year until she was old enough to visit me on her own. I guess what im getting at is that we had enough on our plates to deal with as kids and to split us up (obviously SS didn't know our mum would pass away 2-3 yrs later) just felt like the final kick in the teeth. I wouldn't change my life for anything, the a/family and the friends I have in my life but like many other adoptees i've always struggled with feeling a part of the a-family, I get that little twinge of sadness/jelousy when I see other 'happy familes' (not that i'd ever show it) don't get me wrong, I live to see other people happy, I don't resent other peoples happines 1 bit, I just wish I could have had a bit of that 'familyness' (yeah I made that up, kinda hard to put into words).. Which leads me to wonder if some of this may have been helped if I had stayed with my sister? I know I can't change anything, im not looking to turn back the hands of time, I guess im just looking for answers as to why I feel the way I do sometimes.So feel free to comment, and I would love to hear from people who grew up with a b/sibling in an adopted family, what was your experience like? Did you keep to yourselves (as in never let the a-family into your 'inner circle?) Sorry i think i've broken a seal and it's all pouring out now! Just i've never really spoken to anyone about this before (im 'that' adoptee that took it all in his stride) and i've never known anyone else who was adopted/orphaned. Sorry for going on, just its the first time i've ever felt I could talk among people that might really undestand. Velly: Best of luck with your adoption file, I hope you find some gold at the end of the rainbow! Hooked up: Really sorry to hear they had passed away, I hope you find some of your birth family and I hope they have many great tales to tell you about your folks. I know nothing will ever bring them back but if you can find some comfort and answers through your b/relatives then I wish you all the luck in the world. SOGC: Your story moved me to tears, tears of happiness for you of course! And a bit of sadness that you had such a willing b/family.. 99% happiness for you.. 1% sadness for me ;)Pleeease, pleeease let us know how your getting on with your reunion (b/mum) I salute you for your courage in doing this (as I do with all adoptees that go searching). I only don't search because I know deep down on a level im scared of what i'll find, im pretty sure it's not good so just don't wanna 'go there'. Mole: I think i've always avoided getting on that rollercoaster,or perhaps a better way of putting it is that i've kept my eyes closed when im on it! If after reading my 'novel' you have any questions I'd be more than happy to answer them. I'd also like to hear your story if you'd care to share it, if you already have and would kindly send me the link I would be grateful.Sorry for writing a small novel! And thankyou to anyone who took the time to read it, and to those that have posted their own stories, in a sureal way they make me feel a little less lonely. :thanks: