Visiting My Brother on the Other Side of the River

It feels like ages since we all last got together. My brother and sister in law live in the south of the city (across the river as we like to tease her) and Fashionista is now an hour outside of London. So it is always a matter of all of us siblings trying to be at central HQ (my mum’s house J) on the same day, which is rare to happen due to extended family and social commitments not lining up with each other. The other option is for someone to put all the effort in and host the others. This weekend it was my brother who invited the whole family over. It was a treat to see all the babies at the same time (my two, fashionista’s lovely little girl and my brothers cheeky little princess).

The other bonus is my sister in law’s fabulous cooking, and the bonus of her mum’s biryani which was also brought to the table. Mash’Allah they can both really cook and the food is always so nicely presented that it is a feast for the eyes as well as the tongue.

We took the opportunity of being on the other side of the river to visit my sister-in-law’s sister who has just had a baby. I got to hold the baby and he fell asleep in my arms. She asked me if I’d be having another next year, I told her it was not my turn!

We came back to find the kids watching old movies with hubby, my dad and both my brothers-in-law. The little girls had taken every single toy my niece owns out of her toy box. Baby’s contribution to playing was to sidle up to the bin and throw one toy in at a time for us to fish out.

Alhamdulillah, we have been through so much cat-fighting and squabbling in my family in the past. People not talking for years or taking every opportunity to take pot shots at each other. It gives me so much pleasure and hope that the next generation all get on like friends and that every petty thing does not set us off, we try to help each other when we can and give each the benefit of the doubt if we have to. It makes me positive that we are creating a good environment for our children where they can go to extended family and feel loved, supported and secure. I hope they grow up feeling part of this tribe that wishes them well and wills them forward in life.

The best thing, after being fed and catching up, was that the kids were so tired by the time we got back across the river and home, that they went straight to bed and fell asleep.