Christmas in London with the kids was a wonderful experience for us this year. We had decided to come in from the various countries our family lives in across the globe -- US, India and London. Tickets were booked well in advance and gifts were bought over the months. Gifts which the kids could use in their homes which they don't get in those countries. They too bought stuff for us which they know we don't get.

However on the day, we had decided no gifts for the adults, instead only gifts for the kids. But being the older members we could not go minus gifts and I was happy to give the girls lovely pairs of gold kitty and panda earrings in the hope that their ears are pierced sometime soon. The excitement in seeing their very own earrings changed the Dads decisions to ‘safeguard' their daughters from painful ear piercings.

So we all jumped into the cars a week before Christmas to buy all the supplies as we were warned that come the day there will be nothing left in the stores.

On Christmas eve we dressed early to go for midnight mass. There will be crowds at the service Mum said David, and even then we had to park far away and walk in the cold. We landed up in a full church! Lucky for us one of the wings had a bit of place and we quickly occupied a whole bench. My three huge sons, husband and me! It was a safe and secure feeling that I felt wash over me. The wives had to stay at home with the babies unfortunately.

Lucky we decided to shop early and stocked up on your goodies for the big day -- a roasted leg of lamb, large savoury quiche’s, pork chops, roasted chickens and plenty of fresh salad graced the table. Everyone had a wonderful meal and retired stuffed, for a quick snooze like lazy anacondas.

Waking up the whole family decided to go for a long walk to cut down in their excesses, by going to the local park and feeding the ducks. A pound of bread was taken and the family dressed warmly as the sun was setting even though it was just 4 pm. Winter is a dank and dreary time in the UK and darkness descends pretty fast, so the girls hurriedly fed the waddling ducks which included mallards with their jewel green necks, glinting in the setting sun. Soon gulls joined the feeding group screeching and being aggressive to get their share.

We want to play, we want to play said the girls in unison. So we went to the play area where the girls demonstrated their prowess in climbing the jungle jims and sliding down the really steep slides. Soon it was time for us to leave and go home, to glasses of warm mulled wine, kul- kuls and fruit cake from India. We sat around in the large and comfortable living room and watched a Christmas movie, named Christmas Chronicles -- produced in 2018 which had the girls squealing and excited. It was very enjoyable.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for family to be together and bond.We have no family here in India any more, as my mother is in a vegetative state, so a trip together is the decision we have made going forward. As long as the babies are tiny we will go to them and then we can look at going to destinations together or even resorts which we are assured are wonderful in Mexico or in Europe. A cruise is the next choice on hand for next Christmas, or we all enjoy another home Christmas in Tennessee.

Looking forward to the girls coming here for their holidays when they grow older so they connect with their Indian roots and get to enjoy our Indian culture till their Americaness and Britishness take over.