Hogging the HOLIDAYS

After years of separation, Colin was thrilled to have his cacophonous clan under one roof again

My far-off family arrived from Australia like a series of friendly explosions: little kids surging round my feet, big kids hugging the happy breath out of me, mountains of luggage, madness in the air. Just as it should be.

First came daughter number three, Rima, hubby John and their three little ones. We’d been nervous about Manawa, the four-year-old middle one. In photos, she looked scary, like she might suddenly bite. But, in reality, she wasn’t like that at all. It’s just the wild hair and the fathomless eyes that give the impression.

She only had one major question for me and she waited several days before popping it. “Why are you so old, Koko?” she asked, running a little finger down one of the deeper lines on my face. I’m not sure if it was a smile line or not, but Manawa was very sympathetic.