Stop your fussin’, girl…
Well it didn’t happen overnight, but it DID happen.
The trip my mother has longed for most of her adult life has finally begun… the French she learned as a student, the novels and autobiographies and documentaries she soaked in over the decades, the travel stories she heard from her sister and her daughter, will become real for her over the next three months. Because she and my Dad flew out to Europe last week.
As they are in their 70s now (and with me being the eldest child) I have to admit I have become a little over-protective of them in the lead-up to departure. I urged Mum to get an ipad and tried to get the relevent apps uploaded and logged into. I helped pack, I checked timelines, made lists, worried lots about everything from passports to health checks to Dad being unable to lift some seriously heavy suitcases. (It’s in my DNA I am afraid – I worry about pretty much everyone!)
It was kind of fitting that the day they flew out, it was my parents’ 48th wedding anniversary. Not a bad effort really, especially after Dad decided a caravan honeymoon was the way to go. (Mum has never really recovered I don’t think!).
After filling in prescriptions, repacking a suitcase and leaving Mum alone to do some last-minute shopping, I decided an apple turnover was an acceptable celebratory ‘cake’ (with departure for London in a just a few hours). I ‘decorated’ it with unlit butterfly candles. (Yes, I went all out.)
Despite many misgivings in the lead-up (as he gets cow-withdrawal quite easily, and is invisibly umbilically connected to ‘Granite Glen’) Dad seemed to be getting into the spirit of things, as we devoured the pastry and celebrated their anniversary.
Concerned about him getting homesick in the middle of some foreign-speaking culture, I had (what I think was) a bit of a brainwave that morning and bought him one of these…
…an ipod-shuffle, and packed it full of Slim Dusty, Johnny Cash, Lee Kernaghan and Tex Moreton. It’s tiny but reasonably easy for very large fingers to negotiate and he immediately plugged in the earpieces, pressed play and began his signature ‘shoulder shrug jig’ to a bit of Slim. Am just hoping he remembers to pull it out of his pocket at laundry time!
We said our farewells before they took a late-night flight out from Brisbane International – I think you can see the anticipation on Mum’s face as she said ‘bye to her worrywort daughter…
(And I think you can see the lead-up worrying on my face too!) And then it became all very real…
Love the message in this pic – as my parents literally gave the oncoming Aussie winter ‘the boot’ for a European Spring/Summer.
And before you ask, yes I have checked (about 20 times) that they landed safely in London town. And yes I have sent instructions so Mum can get into Facebook and share some of the action. Apparently half of the globe is not far enough away to escape a bossy daughter!
Luckily I will have lots of work to keep me distracted here – weaning coming up and winter well and truly making it’s presence felt this morning. My fingers are icy as I type this!
Doesn’t an Italian Spring sound enticing at the moment?
*sigh*
PS Anyone wondering about the line in the header here… it’s borrowed from a Toni Child’s song here. (Out of left field!)
Giving thanks...
11 Comments
debby
How long is their adventure?
BB of Oz
Three months Debby! 🙂
debby
Wow! Certainly time to see most everything! Lucky, lucky them. I cannot wait to hear about their adventures.
debby´s last blog post ..Morning has broken
Colin Huggins
London???
I thought it was a European trip? Then again I suppose the UK is in the EC or EU, or whatever it is called. That sure would have been an exhausting flight (BNE to LHR!). Seems like they flew with Emirates at that time?
I bet they slept well on their first night in London town? Fingers crossed that London supplies them with some rare good weather – like some sun in the sky. Did nothing but rain the whole time I was there. The only European city that managed that distinction. Vienna, it drizzled but the sun did manage to appear for short periods.
Good to know that they opted for a good period and should not have to rush – 3 months seems heavenly. Very sensible indeed. Your influence and advice??????
I look forward to your Mother’s updates, courtesy of thee.
Cheers and happy and wonderous times for your parents – they deserve it.
Colin
BB of Oz
Yep – last time I checked London/England were part of Europe! Starting in UK then getting more adventurous Colin. Not sure how much Mum will share but will let snippets through along the way for sure.
🙂
Lynda M O
Here’s to them having the best time of the last decade with memories to spare. You did good, Amanda, getting them off safely. Bossy is best, ask anyone who knows me !~!~ Looking forward to updates.
Lynda M O´s last blog post ..May Nearly Half Gone…
Bill
Three months? I hope that your dad packed a sandwich in his swag.
Best wishes for fun to be had by all.
Kelly
I hope they have the time of their lives and I hope you will keep us posted on their adventures along the way.
Kelly´s last blog post ..Borrowed puzzles
Barbxx
Yes we both arrived safely-amazing eh?- and the weather hasn’t worried us. All grey with a few bits of very moderate sun here and there. Note the word ‘moderate’. We just always take a coat and a folding umbrella (!). Very pleased to see the locals dress much the same. Our April/May leading into winter is much the same as the English May leading into their summer.
Yes, last time I looked Britain is still in the EU – still debating that quite passionately here. We go further afield in a few weeks. Thanks for all the good wishes.
Colin Huggins
Amanda have a real good look at your Mum’s photo at the airport. That’s you, at Mum, Barb’s age.
Have fun Barb and TOH, the London weather MAY get better??? Miracles have been known to occur, eh?
Violet, you have a good look also, that’s you also. It’s in the GOOD genes.
roger
good luck with the journey, all the best Roger