My daughter is 29. Although her mother left me when she was very young, I’d say she had an excellent childhood, staying with me every weekend and then living with me as a young adult. Six years ago I funded her on a “gap year” to Australia. One year became four years when she did a University course there (funded by me and my parents). She did very well on the course and asked me to go to her graduation. When I got there she treated me pretty badly - stood me up on my first night and messed me around on other occasions. I got angry (just angry, not violent) and we had a row. Although we saw each other again before I left, it was not properly resolved.

Now my daughter wants nothing more to do with me. Nearly three years have gone by, she’s been back home for 18 months, and I gather she’s living in the same town, although I’m not allowed to know her address. Obviously we need to talk, but all my efforts at communication (which I know do reach her) are ignored. My parents have had a very occasional brief card from her but that is the extent of our knowledge.

I’ve tried contacting her mother to see if she can help and she is pretty hostile too. Another puzzle - we got on pretty well throughout my daughter’s childhood, but now I seem to be reviled there as well.

I know this must sound strange so let me spell it out: No, there was no sexual, emotional or physical abuse, and until the fallout in Australia we had an excellent relationship. I have a long-established girlfriend who was always warm and affectionate with my daughter, and my parents love their only grandchild very dearly. She has avoided all of us!

So what’s gone wrong? 25 years of a pretty good relationship with my daughter and her mother, and I now I feel like we’re being treated like a family of paedophiles!