End of high school

Ella finished year 10 this week - the end of four years of high school - more than half of which was affected by the #@*! Covid era. But she's at the end of all that now, and more than ready to move on to the next stage of schooling with its greater independence and different adventures.

Year 10 Formals are big in the ACT - precisely because it is the end of high school, and a real transition point for young people (and often involving breaking with old friendship groups).

Ella's school formal was on Wednesday night and we were lucky enough to share some of the fun of the preparations. 

We loved seeing glammed up Ella - although typical of Ella, she stayed true to herself and kept things very natural and relaxed. This girl is just as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside - which is saying something!

Joshy was the chauffeur, in the hotted up 1985 Holden VK that he's lovingly restored over the past year or so.

First stop in the VK was to pick up Ella's partner - and more photos ........

We'd all moved to the Formal venue by then - the Southern Cross Club at Woden -jostling for position to get the best view of all the arrivals in their fancy vehicles. Abi found a friend and the best vantage point of all to watch the proceedings.

We waited quite a while but finally Joshy pulled up in the VK - the red carpet moment .......

and Ella and Solly emerged - to the biggest cheer of the night from the crowd - they had a lot of fans!

We all noted that Joshy pulled away quietly, keeping the focus on the young people - despite the fact that a few revs from this car would have raised the roof if he'd wanted it to.

Solly's lovely family presented them both with these garlands, a marker of a very special occasion ............

Ella and Solly with their respective grandparents .....

.. and gorgeous Ella with her other grandma ......

We couldn't be more proud of this girl!