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felt more like a band than ever because we were out there doing proper shows with a set list of songs. We could have happily carried on doing that for weeks, but then Christmas rolled around and I think we were all in need of a bit of a break after the madness of the recent months.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
    Going home to my family for Christmas was really nice. Everything felt so relaxed and I felt closer to my parents than I’ve ever felt before. I could tell they were very proud of me, and I think because I’d been away it made the time we spent together much more special.
     
    I think it was the same with the boys and me. We’d spent so much time together that we kind of needed a break from each other, and that made us all miss each other and appreciate everything we’d achieved. We did text sometimes, but we also gave each other space, so when we met up after Christmas we were so happy to be together again.
     
    It was weird being at home and not having loads of things to do. I was so used to being busy 24 hours a day that sitting watching TV and relaxing felt completely alien. My sister Ruth and I ended up going to the cinema or bowling, because I needed something to do all the time. I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing.
     
    Christmas Day itself was lovely, with loads of great presents. I’m usually very cautious with money because of the businessman side of me, but this time I really splashed out—it was the first time I’d really been able to. I ended up buying four iPads, a laptop, a phone for my mom’s birthday and lots of Links of London bracelets. I took the family out for dinner and really treated them, and I loved being able to do that. I also bought my mate some sneakers. Sometimes I’m not clever with money, because if I see something that will make someone happy I just want to buy it, but then there is the business side of me that tells me to be sensible.
     
    My friends and family didn’t treat me any differently because of the show, although I think my parents maybe treated me as more of a grown-up in a way. I think my mom found it a bit hard because I’ve always been the baby of thefamily and she knew I would be moving away in the new year. She’s got no one to look after now, so she still likes to do my washing and even tries to pack my suitcase. But I do my own ironing.
    IT ALL KICKS OFF AGAIN
    It was weird to sit back and think about how different my life had become in a few short months. As everyone knows I’m a massive fan of Leona Lewis. I absolutely love her and think she’s so gorgeous. Now she’s added me on Twitter and says she can’t wait to meet me. How crazy is that? Life is moving incredibly fast, and I do want to appreciate everything that’s happening, so sometimes I just have to pause and take stock of things.
     
    Straight after New Year’s we were back to doing some more gigs, and we played at a few private parties. Then we heard we were going to LA for some meetings and to do some recording and we couldn’t believe it. My dad always said to me that if we ever got told we were going to LA he wanted to be the first one to hear about it.
     
    We had gone to have dinner with our manager, Richard Griffiths, at his house. We all left our phones in the car so we’d look professional, but when we sat down to eat and he started talking about us going to LA, my first reaction was to reach for my phone—I wanted to text my dad. I soon realized I didn’t have it, so I was itching to get back to the car to let him know. He was so happy when he heard.
     
    I’d never been to LA before, so I was looking forward to seeing what it was like, and it was so completely different from England. I can understand why all the stars go over there to record music, because it’s the perfect setting with itsspectacular buildings and all that sunshine. We met Randy Jackson, who was amazing, and Bryan McFadden came over to say hello. Leona Lewis was going to come and meet us too, but