There were a lot of goodbyes said today. Various rooms holding many happy memories were given a farewell as they were completely emptied and cleaned. During a day of intense work, there were quite a few sad moments.
But, eventually and finally, it was done and we drove the Tiguan down the drive, passed the huge pile left for the council cleanup, and off, up the mountains to Wentworth Falls.
Earlier in the day, the three of us were joined for a while by Vanessa and Chris, who took the last few bits of furniture, finally depriving us of chairs all together.
Chris was saying how he remembers Mirinda and I, giving them tickets to a live recording of Mother and Son many years ago (“40,” said Chris). This triggered a vague memory in my head. It’s funny how these things happen. I didn’t remember Chris but I did remember the incident. I did remember Vanessa (Fi’s friend for about a squillion years) though.
Before they left with their trailer and ute stacked with bits and pieces, including a cockatoo, we all shared a chat over a coffee during which Chris confessed to becoming a grumpy old man. I told him it was an excellent time of life. It was also international. Grumpy old men are everywhere and tolerated by everyone. I told him it only gets better as he gets older. I’m not sure anyone else appreciated my proffering this knowledge, but Chris looked delighted.
By about 7:30 we were ready to leave. The car was packed, the house was shut down, it was a final goodbye to what was a lovely, warm and friendly, family home.
Okay, we’ll be back on Friday for a flying visit but it will have been given The House Doctor treatment and won’t really be the same.
An hour and a half after leaving, we pulled up outside a pizza place in Wentworth Falls where we bought our long awaited dinner. We ate, while the house we’d rented, gradually warmed up. The temperature in the mountains is a lot lower than down in Dural and the house was decidedly freezing.
We all collapsed into bed, exhausted. It had been a mammoth week but, finally, we’d finished.
