Goodbye Melbourne!
Our last few weeks in Melbourne were pretty emotional for me. The last time we left Melbourne, it was tough because we were heading to Canada, and I honestly didn’t know when we’d be back in Australia. I certainly never imagined we’d be living in Melbourne again less than two years later! But back then, Ollie was just 9 months old, and I was on maternity leave, so I felt less connected to our lives there than I do now. This time, I’m sad for both myself and the kids, leaving our workplace, schools and friends, and that has made the departure infinitely harder.
The goodbyes started in early December with Ella’s last netball game. Her netball team has been incredibly special to her, and it’s been such a fantastic first experience in team sports. The whole team was sad to say goodbye to her, and I had a few tears when the coach handed out medals after the final game. (Ella was like "what are you crying for?!" and I was torn between being grateful that she wasn't as emotional as me, and wondering if I should be worried about how detached from it all she seemed!) Ella was named MVP of the season, which was a lovely gesture.
The kids also had their final gymnastics presentation and Ella especially has thrived in gymnastics this year. As I finish off this post I'm currently sitting in a new gymnastics club in Gold Coast to see if Ella will start some lessons here.
I’m gutted to leave my school, especially after the role I’ve had in gifted education for the past three years. Altogether, I’ve worked at that school for 10 years, and I’ve made some truly great friends—friends I’m hopeful will remain in touch. Our last day of term had such a positive vibe this year, and although saying goodbye was hard, I felt grateful for the friendships I’ve built and the impact I’ve made on both staff and students. Some of my work besties out at our last dinner together:
Our last weekend in Melbourne was a full one. The Friday was my last day at work and Ella and Ollie's last day at school. I had a wonderful last day, with the morning our staff celebration day - chapel and morning tea and farewells to departing staff. We then had lunch onsite before heading to a nearby pub. The whole day just had a really nice vibe to it, and the weather was great so we spent the afternoon and evening outdoors.
Ollie and Ella also had good last days. We will miss Ollie's teacher in particular - this was her first year teaching, but before this, she worked in the before/after school care (OSHClub) so we got to know her really well the past four years. She also seemed sad that our family was leaving and organised a book for Ollie from his classmates.
On our last Saturday in Melbourne we went to Victoria Park for one last playdate. Ella and Ollie's friends came; it was a good way to spend the morning while the removalists were packing up at our house.
When we got back the removalists were a couple of hours away from finishing the packing so my parents took them to Bounce while Andy and I supervised the rest of the packing. By the time they got back the majority of our stuff was in boxes, ready to be picked up by the movers on Monday morning.
That night we joined a few other families we've gotten close with through the kid's school for Christmas Carols in Maclay Park. Verge and Taryn in particular we will miss so so much - our South African expat friends who I wrote about in my recent post about Daylesford.
I had managed to fit in one last dinner with all the mum's from these families in our last week, and I'm hoping they are a group of people we manage to keep in touch with.
Sunday morning we went to one of Ella's friends houses for coffees and scones and gingerbread house making:
That afternoon we headed out to a pub for our last Melbourne dinner with the van Beeks. We spent our last night with them when we left Melbourne last time so I was quite happy to continue the tradition. In reality there is no other people I would rather have spent my last day in Melbourne with... I will really really miss both my friendship with Michelle and how well we all get along as two families. As a big surprise Steve was there - he was supposed to be on the last night of a school volleyball trip but managed to fly back early so he could hang out with us. Now that is friendship!! Excitingly Michelle let me know the other day that it is likely they will come to the Gold Coast in the winter for a holiday, so we have that to look forward to.
As I write this I fill like it is so hard to put into words just how emotional I felt leaving Melbourne again, even though there are many things I'm looking forward to here in Gold Coast. The one comfort I have is knowing from past experience that strong friendships endure, and Melbourne is always only a two hour flight away!
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