Grotto booked via The Hunger Games

[ThomasRichard]

I managed to emerge from the website-crashing, phone-line jamming scrum with tickets for the DC to see Father Christmas at the local garden centre on Christmas Eve. There was a Facebook storm, a queue of angry customers causing a traffic jam on the local roads and appeals for calm on social media.

Yikes.

Wow, you were quick off the mark its fucking well the 4th of September

Too right. Christmas Eve slots sold out in less than an hour.

I'm not letting mine see him on Christmas Eve in case they throw in any curve balls

I booked mine yesterday too, also for a local garden center! I haven't been before but other people rave about it.

lol Jennifer - that's v v wise!

Our garden centre's ticket booking system crashed two days running causing a whole loadof local panic and sending the poor garden centres rating on their FB page from 5 stars to 2! They have suspended all sales now until the 15th, anyone would think it was bloody One Direction tickets on sale!!

I've just looked at our local (chain) garden centre...completely sold out!! Tickets for breakfast with Santa and tea with Santa go on sale 1st December. I just wanted to visit the grotto, not all the other faff!
I checked a localish farm, but their tickets went on sale 27th April!

And I thought I was organised for Christmas!

Poor garden centre losing its good rating!

I did boggle a bit at the people on Facebook wailing that their child's Christmas was ruined or muttering about not being happy if their child missed out. I mean, ok it's supposed to be a good Santa but really? It's hardly the end of the world if precious Lola has to go to Wyevale instead.

Our local farm has just launched theirs. It's ace. If you don't book by first week in Sept you have no chance of getting anything from the 20th onwards.

Am I the only one picturing dramatic mothers clutching gin bottles telling little Lola and Archie that Christmas is CANCELLED this year as they can't get to see Santa!