Elise Minto (nee Chun) grew up in the Swindon area. Her mother Cynthia still lives in Old Walcot, and Elise has also lived in Old Town, Stratton, West Swindon and Wootton Bassett. In 1995 she moved to Canada when a job opportunity came up for her Honda worker husband Jon. The couple and children Lucy, Elliott, Carrie-Ann and Rhys have started a new life. Here Elise, 37, describes the experience of Christmas in Cookstown, Ontario:

WE arrived in Canada at the end of August 1995, and first of all settled in a city north of Toronto, Ontario, called Barrie.

As it turned out, we only had a short period of time before our first Canadian winter arrived. It came early that year six weeks earlier than usual, so the locals told us.

Luckily, a friend advised us to buy a snow shovel and his advice proved to be just in time, as the snow arrived mid October. Talk about thrown in the deep end! We quickly learnt, the hard way, the art of snow shovelling. Morning, noon and night one of us was out there clearing the driveway. I remember every night my husband Jon and I would look out the window in amazement as the white stuff piled higher and higher all we could say was Wow!

By the end of the winter the snow banks on the side of our driveway were at least eight feet high. That first winter definitely was our Welcome to Canada as we discovered the joys of making snow angels, tobogganing, ice-skating and, scariest of all, learning to drive on icy roads.

The following year we decided it would be a good idea to move south, out of the snow belt. We moved to Cookstown, a small village still north of Toronto, which is about 40 minutes drive south of us.

It is a quaint little place and it reminds me of an old English village The population is only 1,400 so that in itself is a big difference to living among the multitude of Swindon. Cookstown is known for its antiques and I even spent some time working in an antiques store and was happy to meet lots of Brits while there.

Christmas here is not really too different to Christmas in the UK. Families and friends get together to enjoy sharing time and, of course, all the traditional Christmas fare. Christmas puddings and mince pies aren't quite as popular here, although we can find them in the supermarkets.

Canadians aren't as keen as the Brits when it comes to consuming chocolate so we find that finding selection boxes rather more difficult.

One thing about being in Canada is that we can almost guarantee a white Christmas. We have a lovely Christmas card scene as we look out from our house over our trees covered in snow. On Christmas Day, after the massive dinner blow out, we try to have some fun in the snow together. The ski resorts are closed that day, so we either go tobogganing on a nearby hill or bundle up, tie on our skates and go skating on our back yard ice rink that my husband makes every winter.

Afterwards, we warm up with a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top!

Needless to say, my youngest two children always look forward to Santa's visit with mounting excitement. We have the usual discussion on what to leave out for him and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. Milk and cookies or a mince pie and something alcoholic for Santa? Rudolph and his buddies get the same each year carrots and a bowl of water, left outside the back door.

This year, Santa Claus replied to their letters (as he always does) telling them to be sure to look up in the sky on Christmas Eve. He said his elves have polished his sleigh so it's gleaming and have added some 'running lights' so it will be easier for the children to see him.

This year we are spending Christmas a little differently. We are driving south to the US to visit my husband's brother and family in New Jersey. Only a 10-hour drive!

The in-laws are flying over from England (they live in Sutton Benger, near Chippenham) and also, two of our nieces are flying over from Ireland.

All in all, it will be quite a family get-together and extra special for us to spend time with some of our family.

Finally, I would like to wish all my family in Swindon, Marlborough and Wootton Bassett, any past friends (who might remember me) and present friends a very merry Christmas!