eventually i came back to hong kong, but not before i spent some time with wonderful gran in vancouver. we went to see The King's Speech one night and YAY COLIN is all I can say! great film.

then it was time to fly home, which i did and truly, one of the best bits of about coming home is the reunion. on par with the shower you have after you have unpacked. it was a perfect day, my flight landed around 8am and i got home by 9am and unpacked, then spent the rest of the day just catching up on all that had happened while i had been shivering and celebrating.

then it was time to see my little children.

the first to appear was jasper and he jumped into my arms and wrapped his legs around my waist, school bag and all. a great reunion! then it was carys, who squealed and assured me that she had cwied because she missed me so much. and then sela, who was pulled toward me by jasper and carys. this made her cross. "i know she is here!" announced my little knickers and she ran to me. "i could never forget, this is a perfect day!"

and lastly, my year four man came across the playground, eyes zipping across the playground. i wasn't in my usual spot. normally, i wait near the water fountain and i could see his big brown eyes  and anxious face zero in on that area.

this expression on his face reminded me of his year one show. charles and i piled into the auditorium and waited for seb to traipse in with his classmates. eventually he did, and they clambered on to the stage. at once seb's little eyes began to search the audience, seeking us out. his mouth was open, and he was biting his lower lip. his shoulders were very tense. i was waving like every other parent going, "darling! darling!" so he didn't see me. and i realised i just had to wait until he did see me. and eventually his eyes did rest on us, and it was magic. his tense little frame relaxed and he smiled. not a grin, just a smile.

i got more than a smile the other day on the playground though. i got a full blown "mummy!" and if ever there were rules about sebbie kissing me on the playground, well they were temporarily lifted as he happily hugged me and smooched my face, neck and arms. "Oh mummy, you are really home, and i love you so much" he announced, getting the important things out of the way first. "It is such a happy day for me."

What else do you need?

It was great to be home.