He made it! That is (for those that are new to here) our oldest son has made it into the Navy. He was sworn in with an official ceremony today at 10.00 am. He is now in the navy and has 11 weeks of training ahead of him. The Beginning of a New Life is about to start for our son, and we are so proud!
The Beginning of a New Life
The official cermony – with a certificate to say he is now a member of the defence force!
Our last hug – sorry I was crying by then!
So Grown Up!
He was that grown up and looked so smart in his suit, to see him walking towards us is a moment I will always treasure. He even caught a train in this morning (by himself) and we meet him in there. We didnt have to be there till 9.30am where as he had to be there at 7.00am! The Beginning of a New Life has started for him! Actually it has started for our whole family, as this might become a tradition for all of our boys 🙂
Our Boys and their Dad – our last photo befor our Son boarded the bus!
Wondering How The Next 11 weeks Will Go?
As soon as he gets to Melbourne Navy base he will lose his mobile phone. He will also have his clothes/suitcase taken from him. He actually will not have any outside contact for the first two weeks! No mobile phone, no facebook, no internet, no friends, no family….for two weeks! If you have a teenager that loves Facebook or their mobile phone, then you will know where I am coming from – not sure how he will cope without his mobile phone!
Our Last goodbye before the bus took them to the airport!
After Saying Goodbye
After saying goodbye to our older son (and crying like a big baby – yep I cried heaps!!) we headed to the local shopping center where there was a food court. Our boys were starving – even though they had eaten sandwiches all morning – and we wanted to make sure we were ready to jump back onto a train!
While we were sitting in the most gorgeous old building (near Central Station) we looked across and saw a great store. It was a store that sold anything and everything to do with world maps…including our son who stood in the front window of the shop…..
World Map Store – where Kyle said “I’m for sale Mum – 2 Bucks for anyone that wants to buy me”
Not sure where Kyle gets the word “Bucks” from instead of dollars, and not sure why he thinks we would sell him…..
See how cute he is? I would never sell him…ask me about one of his brothers and that might be a different story!
Lolly Shop Around The Corner
Around the corner from the Map Store is a Lolly Shop. I was amazed with the lollies that were on offer, and was admiring what they sold. So I started to take photos…of their sign, their shop front, the displays and the signs of what they sell. Within minutes the shop assistant came out and was so rude! I have never come across this before…but she stated that their shop front window, their sign and all of their displays are not allowed to be photographed. Then she states (because I asked why?) that because anyone could easily copy her style, her shop and steal her ideas of a shop front display!! That someone could easily take her store ideas and start their own store!
I was stunned to say the least…..
Then she said if it was in a major shopping center (like Westfield) then she would call up security guards and have me escorted out of the building!
I was so stunned by then because the way she was carrying on, and with what she was telling me 🙂
Yep I did take photos!
Yep I liked the idea of the lollies that were sold in the shop.
No I would not copy her idea. No I would not go in and shop there.
Did she ask me to delete any of the photos that I had already taken? Nope….so here are some of the great photos that I did get! (I took many more photos but I thought I would respect her ideas…cause I wouldn’t like it if someone did get the same idea as her!)
Can you see how you could copy what she has done with the store?
Sweet Zone – where the lollies are sweet but the owner needs to add some sugar to her life!!
We prefered the Map Shop! Where you could buy anything to do with maps…from Handbags to even huge posters to place on a wall 🙂
Have You Ever Experienced Saying Goodbye to one of your children?
Oh – and our older son has called this evening….he has made it to Melbourne safe n sound. He is now waiting for another crew to fly in from Townsville to the airport before the bus picks them up to take them all to base! That is the beginning of a New Life.
Cheers
Lisa
What a day!!! Congratulations to all the Woods!!! Wow, what else can I say. Definitely the beginning of a new life. I’m so happy for you all. Special Congratulations to Hayden 🙂
Lina@MothersLoveLetters recently posted..Your Life and Work
Hi Lina,
Thanking you so much for your gorgeous support – it was such a special day, and so worth all of the tears!
Cheers
Lisa
I can’t believe how weird that lady in the lolly store was. I can’t imagine why someone would be like that!
Hi Amy,
It was such a weird experience, and I had after wards I felt like I had a lost a bit of my confidence – I was almost scared to take another photo of any shop fronts after that 🙂
Now I ask permission before taking photos!
Cheers
Lisa
What a big day for you all, and how exciting for Hayden. The other boys will now look up to their older brother. What a great role model for them.
Hi Kerry,
It was a great day – seeing our son follow his dreams! Our second boy wants to join the navy – be interesting to see what happens with the other boys 🙂
Cheers
Lisa
Our eldest joined the navy 10 yrs ago.. he loves it. I still remember that day when they actually swear allegience etc… soo proud and emotional. let me warn you, you will have many more occassions like that where your heart is bursting with pride and love. its a great career. Congrats to your son.. look forward to hearing how he’s doing
Cheers
Geri D
Hi Geri,
Its so good to have someone to connect with, who has been through the process that we are about to go through….we haven’t meet anyone who can let us know what is going to happen!! So thank you for stopping by and leaving your thoughts, plus your congratulations.
Cheers
Lisa
Wow! I would have cried too, Lisa. What an incredible day for you all. xx
Kellie recently posted..My Tasmanian Backyard: Wing’s Wildlife Park review
Hi Kellie,
It sure was a full on day – I have heard from Hayden and he is doing well 🙂
Thanks
Cheers
Lisa