An Alternative Christmas Story {Wendy Grant Photography}

Every family has its own way of celebrating special events and occasions such as Christmas. We always like to have a 1,000 piece jigsaw on the go during the festivities and visit the cinema on Boxing Day; and it's become a family tradition to buy a Christmas decoration for the tree each year, recounting the stories behind them as we put the tree up. One of our very special decorations is a little wooden basket complete with stocking that we bought long ago when visiting Father Christmas at Clearwell Caves. A truly magical place that the children remember fondly.

Some of my favourite tree decorations include a jewel star from a visit to the Tower of London with my two sons; a beautifully delicate jester bought for me by a dear friend whilst visiting a Tate exhibition; a chunky Santa from the Fishmarket Gallery chosen by my youngest son whilst sharing a hot chocolate and brownies, and a pink metal lamb bought from our local chemist Jeyes, to also celebrate my grand daughter's birth. Many of the decorations are handmade by my children ~ from simple foil card stars to intricate hammerbead ones. We've even got knitted snowmen!

This year, for the first time in ages, I forgot to buy a Christmas decoration but my daughter thoughtfully remembered, and brought a beautiful bead heart from Namaste House to adorn our tree, proudly hung by four year old Elm. How lovely and very reassuring it is, that as the years roll by and our children grow, they take on the mantle of our family's history.