Goodbye my friends

IT WAS always going to happen, but I've just had to say t'ra to our first UK visitors.

Bro-in-law and his chum have spent the final leg of their Aussie adventure with us, having arrived earlier than expected.
We had details of them dropping down on us at lunchtime on Monday but another night in their - how can I say - 'compact' camper van, they made the decision to put their foot down and get the 200km drive under their belt and get us out of bed to answer their door knocking.

I was so excited to see them, there wasn't much sleep in me that night and we've spent the last four days showing them around and giving them a peep into our lives.
To be honest, our lives haven't changed all that much over the past few months. It's more of an adjustment, certain things of which continue to require tweeking.

I'd spent a fair amount of time hoofing it round the peninsula picking up promotional literature of things to do and places to visit and compiled a sort of tourist guide for any visitors we were likely to get. It's been knocking around the house for a few months now but as soon as guests arrive, can I locate it? I've become terribly disorganised on the home front, I think the Aussie laid-back attitude is more than rubbing off on me.

So on their first day with us, I showed them round the town, the school where the boys go, the place where I get my nails done and where we buy our shopping. When school was out, we got the kayak on the roof of the car and headed to the beach. An Aussie barby followed, but not before I'd delegated the task of prawn shelling to my unsuspecting rellie.

The next day, they hit the golf course and before they left we had time for a lunchtime date at a Red Hill winery in the sun and overlooking the rolling hills of vines.

And after this, we had a final get together of a handful of friends to say hello and goodbye in one single soiree.
So as our loved ones leave these loved ones and return to their loved ones, this disjointed family life of ours continues.

Having our guests has left me feeling fulfilled ... we've ate lots, chatted lots, reminisced lots and laughed lots. Seeing husband re-united with his little bro again has struck a chord with me and it's surely harder for him to say his goodbyes than it is me.

I said goodbye to him this morning before I set off for work and drove all the way with glassy eyes. My only saving grace was that I travel on a freeway so the four windows down and the breeze of the Melbourne air dried them nicely before I got behind the counter and started to greet the day's customers.