It might seem odd that, given I’ve spent so many years living in Madrid, I’ve never had the chance to welcome both my parents and my sister into my house at the same time. With both my mum and dad still working and my sister fully engaged in her PhD, though, it’s something that had just never happened. Until now.

After picking the three of them up from the airport, the four of us squeezed into my one-bedroom flat ready for the ultimate test of family dynamics. I’d given up my bed to my parents, so me and Eleanor were on the sofa bed. We made it work, though: helped in no small part by Ryanair’s restrictive baggage policy meaning nobody could fill my house with crap…

Jokes aside, we had a fabulous time. We spent the days eating, drinking, and wandering around as a family. We stayed around my neighbourhood and went exploring the posher parts of town. Highlights included a lovely Italian meal that the four of us went for in the fancy Salamanca neighbourhood, as well as a bike ride down to the river to catch the sunrise one morning with Ellie. I’d not been up on my feet that early since suffering from jet lag after my Japan trip. It was nothing a well-timed siesta couldn’t then fix, though.

Ever trying to keep everyone happy, I ensured that we passed by the Mercado de San Miguel for my mum, NAP Pizza for my sister, and did plenty of general wandering for my dad: he can find something to take a picture of in the most unexpected places.

Despite the cold March air and the grey skies that threatened to put a damper on our plans, having the whole family around for a few days was an absolute joy. I might be the black sheep of the family that moved a thousand miles away, but these moments where we can all get together and do something a bit different make the distance worth the while. I hope to have them all back again soon.