Bless you honey xxx
I was very lucky because my fella's application was completed in 5 months. My sister and her husband (5yrs earlier) had a nightmare. They decided to move during summer holidays so their boys could start school at the beginning of the school year to try and make it a bit easier on them, which gave them 9 months (guidelines were saying 5-6) for the application to be done, it didn't happen. My sister and nephews moved in July and my brother-in-law didn't get here until March. Their application was as straightforward as ours but it took them 18 months - I don't understand how that works?!?
Youre right, life is short, but this is just a small (hideous) moment that will pass. Where do you live now?