[Solved] Contact / Access before mediation?

Paul. I echo what Slim has said, and others. You have seen what some dads have been through, and you've also seen them come out the other side, so that's going to be you too in time. I'm not denying there will be setbacks etc, but keep moving forward, and you can certainly lean on us in here for support.

I had a conversation with my ex and she's agreed to me having my kids for 2 nights a week until we go to mediation and then 3 and half days each once we get through the sessions. My feelings about this are so mixed because although I've got more than most dads will ever get, I've still lost half of my time with my children and a partner I used to love. I now see her for who she really is - that she is someone can do something so despicable to punish me, or whatever her reasons, she's is still hurting my kids. Such selfishness is of itself unforgivable.
Her lies have caused more trouble and upset than I can possibly express - if I hadn't had the foresight to take video's and record telephone conversations to prove my innocence and the things she has done I would have spent the rest of my life with barely any access to my kids and would have been jumping to her every wish. When I told her that I had the video's she screamed and begged uncontrollably for over an hour. I recorded that as well and I listen to it every now and then just to cheer myself up. I actually laugh my head off when I do - she deserved everything she got.
I know some of you don't advocate the use of video's but I strongly recommend to anyone in a similar situation (those falsely accused) to use whatever device or strategy they see fit to get what is rightfully theirs (and rightfully their childrens) and that is that we all have a legal and moral right to see our children as much as our ex partners. Get them angry, cry and beg, be nice, whatever you have to do. To those of you that do, be very careful that you don't get accused of controlling the situation or your ex partner, or worse yet blackmail. It will come back on you if that's your intention.
Let them make the mistakes - if you do what's right you won't go wrong.
I know that for now I can't fix my relationship. I doubt that, knowing who she really is and the lies she can tell, that I will ever want to. But I still have very deep regrets that a woman I thought was perfect for me is no longer in my life. All I can do now is concentrate on the most important thing - my lovely children.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped - every single person that replied. I still have a long way to go, a home to sort out, finances, children to fix and a heart to mend.

As for my ex, I have this to say “there is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man" or woman in her case. May she have many sleepless and lonely nights!

THANK YOU ALL.

I still have a long way to go, a home to sort out, finances, children to fix and a heart to mend.

That will all come in time - good luck.