Changing Lives

Lia leaving for the New World Copyright Carla Coulson

Hello Lovelies,

It's been so long I could hardly remember how to log on to Blogger! Shame on me. 

I could blame it on so many things, comings and goings, deadlines and deadends, photos, photos and more photos and of course a long gorgeous summer. But I guess I am the one to blame....

On Saturday in the cobbled streets of the Beauborg, Francesco and I farewelled dear friends, a Frenchman (gorgeous) and his divine Italian wife and their two edible little girls who were leaving for the New World (Australia). 

Their dream had become a reality. 

For the past year in cosy dark Parisian restaurants we planned their  'escape'.  I can tell you it hasn't been easy. They went ten rounds with the Australian bureacracy and had a couple of knockouts. They crawled back into the ring for some more and allowed their French counterparts to body slam them on the ropes whilst searching for the 'non-existant' document. And lets face it, if anyone can bring you to your kness crying and snizzling over a bit of paper, the French can.

In the depths of winter when they had lost all hope of ever being granted the magical visa and it looked like the bureacrats on both sides of the world would win, our friends would log onto the Bondi Beach live cam to watch the rolling waves and fantasise about the sky blue water and a new life.

Then one day, I received a phone call. My divine friend was babbling so quickly I couldn't understand a word she said. In the forest of words I heard 'visa' and 'going'! They had it. They had won the war and they were off to a new life. I was thrilled for them but devastated for us. We loved these guys, they lived around the corner from us and they were such a big part of our lives. Ouch, I knew this was going to hurt.

We were still reeling from the last exodus to Australia, another couple and their small children who had departed almost a year ago. We reasoned that they were Aussies but our French mate and his Italian wife who were courageously moving to the other side of the world with no friends or family?

Goodbyes are always hard and I am the worst. I just need to think about the event, days, weeks or months in advance and I am in tears. I took my Leica, I figured one day when the kids were big and they were all  happy old Australians it would be great to a have shot of their last moment in Paris in the streets were they onced lived.

This pic of Lia was taken as the taxi was pulling out and I was choking on my sobs. I howled for their courage, for their determination and our wonderful friendship and the knowledge of what a great life they will have in Australia..I started to walk away and as I turned around for the last wave there was Lia looking out the taxi window with buildings reflected in the glass. In a split second and almost breaking a long jump record I went back for this one last shot. 

I have sinced found out my Leica is tear proof! 

Bon voyage mes amis

Carla xx

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