I just can’t believe that 5 years have passed since we waved off Andrew and Lis to their life in Australia. In many ways it doesn’t seem that long, in others it seems longer!
I remember being picked up from school and we drove to Heathrow where we had a drink and then had to face the goodbye scenario – I’ll never get used to that.
I remember Andrew going through security saluting just as he passed out of sight.
Georgina and I were in the car driving home together with tears flowing. We put the radio on and the song playing was ‘Airplanes’ by BOB ft Hayley Williams – even more tears!
In the last five years we have visited twice, and only visited a small part of Australia, but also taken the opportunity to go to Tasmania and Singapore. I’m not sure we would have done that if they weren’t there. I plan for us to go onto NZ at some stage and there is Bali, Fiji, Vietman,Thailand, and Dubai to fit in.
Georgina has visited in 2013,14 and 15! So well versed in Aussie slang by now.
We are lucky that there is Skype and FaceTime and we use both regularly, possibly talking more frequently than if they lived nearby. It doesn’t replace a hug, a smell, a family gathering but until we are all together again we make the most of it. As usual there is plenty of self deprecating humour, laughter and the occasional tear, but hopefully we will be together soon!
Settling in Melbourne, they have a home, Andrew has a burgeoning career, and Lis is in her final year of her Masters. Next year will see a whole spectrum of opportunities and change open up for them, which no doubt they will grasp and begin making their dreams into reality.
My little life 