I recall my excitement one cold December evening as we boarded the plane at Heathrow airport. Destination - sunny South Africa! Visits to my homeland are always special because they’re so much more than a holiday. Seeing loved ones and breathing in all the familiar sensations of my childhood does wonders for my emotional bank account. On this particular occasion, I was really looking forward to seeing my 2-year old niece. Photos are precious but there’s just no substitute for the real deal!

One of the highlights for me is being able to go out together for family meals. Cape Town has lots of gorgeous restaurants and it’s often possible to eat outside – the secret sauce when it comes to great food! As we were preparing to go out to dinner one evening, I realised that my brother and his daughter were missing. I went down the hallway to look for them and my brother appeared from her bedroom – defeat written all over his face. In the time-honoured tradition...