HE'S LEAVING TODAY..

The day we weren't looking forward to has arrived....
It was an early start this morning as we had to drive Pete to the airport at the Gold Coast for his flight to Singapore.
He is leaving,  not just on a holiday this time, but to go and live overseas....
We have no fixed date of return for him...
I always find this a bit hard...

In saying that though, this time his leaving has been no where near as traumatic as the last time he flew overseas for an extended visit...
This time it isn't two days after my Mum's funeral...
This time although he is going on his own,  he is going to see Maria on the otherside of the world, and I know that someone will be looking out for him...
This time also, he is in a much better place...
Last time he didn't know anyone and he didn't really know what he was going into....
Last time was very stressful, with us all dealing with Mum's death, and trying to spend as much time with her as we could.... It was hard for Pete to leave us all with all our emotions running high..
This time we are happy for him....
This time he is following his heart....

Ready to fly out....

Packing was difficult....
All bar one airline he was flying with allowed over 30kgs..
The flight from Singapore to Qatar only allowed 24kgs...
He had to repack several times...
In the end he had it all distributed right...
What are sisters for....
A smaller suitcase and his backpack....
He needed help carting it all into the airport...

Sarah lending her back....

On luggage duty

 What do I need....

Looking for his papers.

Where do we go to book in....
Just follow Pete...

Following Pete

The queue is long....

One of the last in a long queue

Now to amuse this little one whilst we wait....

This little princess comes to see off her Uncle Pete

She doesn't want to just sit still anymore....
She wants to wander...
She wants to explore...

Checking out everything in sight....

Then it becomes a game of catch me if you can....

Maybe some glitter and bling will amuse her....

Not for long....

Pete's good friend Chris and his partner Sarah drove all the way to the Gold Coast to see Pete off....
Pete and Chris  have been really good house mates and buddies since they both started Uni back when they both left school and it was lovely to see them make the effort to come and farewell Pete...
I know that he really appreciated it...

Pete and Chris

By the time Pete booked his luggage through, he was starting to run out of time before he needed to go through immigration and board...
Still we managed to get a couple of family shots....

Family photos....

Who knows when we will get another photo like this....

Also wanted to get a couple of photos with Pete and Chris and Gannon

Chris, Pete, and Gannon

Chris and Pete

Chris and Pete

Time is running out...

Needs to head off to board...

Time for the goodbye hugs....

A huge for Gannon

Huge bear hug for Dad

Queuing  up to go through immigration...
This is where we have to leave Pete now...

In the Queue to go through immigration...

Madly trying to fill in his paper work....

Not time for teary goodbyes....

It is all happening way too quickly....

Still madly writing...

Our last views of Pete

As much as we are excited for Pete....
We gaze out on the plane that is to take him to the opposite side of the world and feel very sad....

His plane - well on the leg to Singapore anyway.....

We just don't know when we will see him again...
I think it is always easier if you have a return date....
Just means we have to start saving madly now..
At least we will have a good excuse for an overseas holiday with him living on the opposite side of the world...
LOVE YOU PETE....