Just the two of us

We decided to spend Christmas in London. Being on the other side of the world meant that we would be spending our first Christmas as a married couple on our own, and would be without any family for Christmas for the first time in our lives. It was literally just the two of us in the big city.

We had been in London for four days already, and in those four days we had been run off our feet getting around the city to see the sights. Research told us that London was a very quiet place on Christmas Day, with no shops or attractions open and minimal options for dining.

We thought then that this would be a good opportunity to relax in our hotel and catch up on some much needed rest before we moved on to Paris. This proved to be a good move, as it stormed on Christmas Day.

Our morning saw us fill up on breakfast provided by the hotel, and open the Christmas gifts that we had received via post from our families in Australia. We had set up times to Skype with our families in Queensland, and were happy to hear that Christmas had been just as it should have been back home:

The Hatfield's had enjoyed a hot day in Rockhampton, had lunched with family and had more family over for dinner. They were in high spirits, with plenty of activity happening in the background, and every member of the extended family present dropped by the computer to say hello.

The Wilkings' had swam in the pool, had a surf or a walk on the beach, and enjoyed a relaxing day. They were still in relaxation mode in the air conditioning in the unit they were holidaying in on the Sunshine Coast, and were all smiles to be talking to us.

It was while talking to our families via Skype from the other side of the world that I felt the most homesick I had been for two months. All of sudden it didn't matter that we were in London; all I wanted was to be with our families, complaining about the heat, eating all the fresh and delicious food, going for a swim and just chilling out and enjoying good company.

Instead, we had a nap, followed by some very bad British television, a walk through the quiet streets to find some lunch and dinner, and more bad television. 

It was not the adventurous London Christmas that I was hoping for, but in a strange way it was still a special one, as I was with my husband, and it was just the two of us.

We hope you all had a special Christmas of your own, wherever you were and whoever you were with. Joyeux Noël!