Christmas for Shropshire expats: Alan and Sandy Forbes in Australia

Alan, the son of former Mayor of Shrewsbury Charlie Forbes, says it will be very much a traditional family Christmas with his sons and grandchildren although the weather will of course be very different.

"Buninyong is just south of the old gold mining town of Ballarat, and north west of Melbourne," says Alan, who celebrates his 60th birthday in February.

"Our Christmases are pretty much the same as in Shrewsbury," says Alan.

"We have the full turkey, roast and plum pudding, and Christmas crackers, which here are called bon-bons.

"The big difference is we all sit at a large table under the air conditioning rather than around the heating, as we used."

This year he says the family will be enjoying two festive lunches, with seafood and a barbecue on Christmas Day, and a traditional turkey roast on Boxing Day.

"We then head out on four days' travelling in south Australia to enjoy the sunshine," he adds.

Christmas will be spent with sons Steven, 32, Daniel, 30, and Mathew, 25, as well as Daniel's children Lachlan, three, and Evie, 18 months.

"We emigrated to Oz to give our boys a different lifestyle than the one they were destined for, a chance to grow up with a different aspect on life," says Alan, who works as a carpenter.

"We also wanted a chance for a different life, to live in a country where we have sunshine and work opportunities, and an exciting challenge.

"Our Christmas dinner one year, like many Australians, did consist of cray fish, prawns, scallops and oysters, oh and some chilled white wine," he adds.

"It seemed like it would be rude not too.

"The boys, however, voted against this, so we reverted back to the traditional turkey roast."

He says he and Sandy, 56, still miss the the cold Christmases back home, and the lead-up to the festivities.

"All the very best to our many family and friends," Alan adds.