Wish Me Luck...

As you wave me goodbye.  What an emotional day!!  Watching a boat set sail out of Cape Town Harbour is NOT for sissies and both Jake and I were left feeling exhausted and very emotional yesterday.  Added to the emotions that go with saying goodbye, the ONLY thing I can remember from Jacques' funeral is a story about a boat getting smaller on one side, but getting bigger and closer on the other. Added to that, I have a wedding anniversary (who knew life could change so much in 10 years) coming up this week, so I am just a little over-emotional at the moment.  Seeing a boat, carrying my parents, was saaaaaaaaad...

Melody with our beautiful mountain in the background.  It was a perfect, calm day for a boat trip...

Mom and Dad had a great send off, with a few friends coming down to the harbour to say their goodbyes.  Mom had bought balloons for herself and Jake - green, white and red, the colours of the Italian flag.  The plan was that as Mom let each colour off, Jake was to follow, but we missed her white one and her green one popped, so he let all three of his off when she let go of her last one.  The last balloon was the red one, which she'd told Jake meant love.

Jake with his balloons...

Mom and Dad on the deck...

 The boat getting ready for it's big journey...

 The tug coming to fetch the boat from the quayside...

Mom and sharing a kiss with her sister, Christine.  Alongside are my Uncle Bill, Mr & Mrs Sharpe and Dad checking out his camera/phone...

Pulling up the gang plank.  Bins are full of rubbish from cleaning up after the previous voyage.  The boat only came into port on Monday morning and guests were allowed on board from 1:30pm again...

Someone should've told that guy that he'd had an accident in his pants before he bent over to let the ropes loose...

The tug in place and ready for action.  Signal Hill in the background...

The boat begins to move and the crowds cheer...

It's unbelievable how they manoeuvre that huge ship in such a small space...

Turning right around with Cape Town's CBD in the background...

Coming out of the basin...

Moving through the harbour...

Not the best photo, but if you look carefully on the top deck, you'll be able to see a red balloon - that's Mom...

Passing the harbour wall and heading out into open waters...

Turning...

Saying farewell to the tug and she's off...

Needless to say, I tried to be brave, but shed more than a few tears.  When we got home, Jake collapsed in floods of tears on the front stoep - he just wanted to speak to his Nini and Pa and was already missing them.  My poor baby...  Fortunately, they had cell phone reception till just after 6pm, so he was able to phone them.  Mom and Dad seemed very excited to finally be on the boat and ready to go. Their cabin sounds lovely with plenty of space.  I know that it is going to be a very happy time for them!!

Love,
Sue xxx