Calum Goes Off to Oz

Matt, David and Calum

Calum tries out his rucksack

Calum and Lola

Me, Calum and Joe

On Saturday 19 September Calum flew to Australia for his gap year. It was a day I had been both relishing and dreading. Relishing because I'm so excited about all the opportunities he'll have over there - the places he'll see, the people he'll meet, the experiences he'll have.

Dreading it because, as a mother, I knew that I'd miss him like mad and worry that he's okay, even though I have complete confidence in him. Put simply, I love having him around and so do Joe and Lola. He's quite a presence in the house so I knew that things would be a lot quieter - and also that we'd have more food!

So it was with mixed feelings that I dragged myself out of bed at the unearthly hour of 4.00am and got myself ready before waking the rest of the house up. Luckily, I'm used to getting up early, but I still felt as though I'd been drugged as I stumbled to the bathroom.

We had a good journey, in spite of a diversion off the A1 which meant I missed a crucial turning, so we drove down to the M11 and picked up the M25 there. It added another 15 minutes but we'd allowed loads of time, so were still there early. Matt got there even earlier. Only David was running a little late (which is usually the case) but it didn't matter. We all met up and went to Starbucks where we took over a whole corner as there were so many of us.

We'd already had breakfast but Calum couldn't eat much - he was too excited. Just as well really as the food at Weatherspoons was second rate to say the least and the service so bad it was almost funny, except for the £18 it cost us.

We chatted away quite happily and I was doing quite well until it was time to see the boys off through Departures. It was when I hugged Calum tightly and he squeezed me back and said 'You will write to me won't you?' that the tears welled up in my eyes. None of the Mums could look at each other as we were all crying. Some of the Dads cried too. We waved until we couldn't see them anymore and then they were gone ...

When we got home, after contending with a log-jammed M25, I put on my dressing gown and curled up on my bed with my laptop. I spent the rest of the day there just chilling and mulling over the significant event that had taken place. Calum had left home and was on his way to Australia.

I spoke to him the following day and, apart from a two hour delay at Singapore where they had to go off 'to get some bits for the plane', he had a good journey and loved the Quantas airbus that he flew on - the smoothest flight and best landing ever. The plane from Singapore was a lot less impressive - the bumpiest flight and worst landing ever, but they made it there safe and sound and that's all that mattered to me. It was so good to hear Calum's animated voice and strange to think that he was on the other side of the world.

Of course I miss him, it would be impossible not to, but I'm doing just fine. And so is he.

This is where the adventure begins ...

Congratulations Lola!

Lola gets straight As for her GCSEs

Not only did Calum do well in his A levels but Lola also did brilliantly in her GCSEs.

She didn't receive her results until we got back from our holiday in Kefalonia and she made Joe promise not to open them before. He didn't. He even sealed the envelope as it was open when he collected it from the school.

On the day the results came out in the UK Lola got lots of texts from her friends asking her how she'd done, but of course she couldn't let them know. All of her friends did really well so it was with bated breath that we watched her open the envelope at Stansted airport, exhausted from a late flight.

In spite of her tiredness her face lit up when she realised she'd got 11 GCSEs, all A*s and As - a fantastic acheivement.

Congratulations Lola - we are incredibly proud of you.