Share your Christmas expectations vs reality with NOW TV - chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We all know the biscuit tin or movie version of the ‘perfect’ Christmas is not quite what actually happens at Christmas, and the team at NOW TV would love to know how different your expectations for the most wonderful time of the year were with how it actually went down.

Has snow or bad weather at Christmas stopped visitors from coming? Was your turkey still defrosting when the Queen was making her speech or did the dog ruin your lovingly decorated tree while you were out at the panto?

NOW TV say “if your Christmas plans go a bit wrong or you need something to distract the in laws then at NOW TV we’re all about making things extra easy: sign up and start watching instantly on one of our clever apps - including on iPad, iPhone, games consoles and selected Android devices - you’ll get access to loads of great content for families, including over 1,000 movies on demand plus a new premiere every day - including Christmas classics like Love Actually and big movies like Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.”

Share your tale where the reality didn’t quite match up to what you envisaged at Christmas time you will be entered into a prize draw where one person will win a £300 voucher for the store of choice - from a list (which might make you feel a bit better! ).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T and Cs Apply

I expected older my children to still believe in Father Christmas aged 7+ but sadly they didn't! I am sure I still believed in him until I was about 10!

expectation - lovely family christmas

reality - in laws

Expectation: family fun and board games.

Reality: Twin X boxes for presents, no sight nor sound of kids. Result!

That we all get on as a family for a change but the reality is very much different from that. It's not a pretty sight once the arguments start.

We always expect Xmas dinner to be the big part of the day but every year it always seems to be over in the blink of an eye. Why we don't just take our time, I don't know but it just never seems to happen.

Expectation - Wandering enchanted through the light display in the caves / old mine workings before visiting Santa there for a cosy chat and tasteful gift.

Reality - No room in the car park, so have to use a verge. Join queue that already looks scarily lengthy. Realise it really is that long. Also realise eldest has forgotten their coat so they're reduced to borrowing Dad's who is wearing revolting old sweatshirt.
Try to ignore screeches coming from the one rope swing where the majority of the queue are attempting some semblance of fair play. Hope the minority fall into the mud / stinging nettles. Do they still sting in winter?
After 2 hours queuing outside accept overpriced Smartprice mince pies and vile lukewarm coffee from bored looked youth dressed as Princess / Elf. Realise this has stimulated need to pee. With everyone. Now. Negotiate with those around you to hold your place in the queue while you queue AGAIN to use toilets with no paper and piss on the seats.
On reaching the head of the queue, realise you have underestimated the cost of this delightful family day out. Mentally make furious calculations about whether bank account will survive until payday.
Wander round caves with water dripping on your head, not actually seeing many decorations as the little shits from the rope swing have pushed in front of the smaller children. Feel shoving of bodies behind and in front as you edge closer to the man in red. Several small children cry hysterically when introduced to him, setting off a chain of terror that reverberates around the semi-darkness. Realise the "Tasteful gift" on offer may be made of wood, but is splintering and gaudily painted with no-doubt toxic paint from some far-off land. Obviously all the toddlers will already be gnawing on them.
Make way back along now pitch black lanes to car, heartily glad this ordeal is over.
Oh, and need several equally pissed off parents to help push car off verge.

We decided to have turkey for the first time in about twenty years. That was a mistake, as it just doesn't suit us. Then my husband tried to make eggs Benedict and rissoles to give me a rest, and that was as far from a rest as I could imagine. As I always say, next year will be more fun ...

A few years ago, on Christmas morning I had prepared all the turkey early to put in the oven, however when I came to check the turkey, the fan was working but no heat!! The element had stopped working - on Christmas day of all times!! My dad had to cook the turkey at his and bring it back down for us x

Expectation: planned dinner executed to perfection

Reality: Cost of the main dishes has shot up had to switch to an alternative.

Expectation: sense of magical winter wonderland, with happy family and joy all around
Reality: not a snowflake in site, unhappy family and very little joy

I expected a quiet Christmas with my husband and son.....however my father in law invited himself and a puppy he was training. Our dog took a dislike to the puppy and proceeded to use the dining room table as a race circuit to chase it.
We kept them separate which meant the puppy had to come in the living room and proceeded to scratch the wooden floor and finished off by doing a wee on the rug which Imthen had to soak in the bath.

Expectation - I'll be really prepared for Christmas and have everything sorted early

Reality - Running around like a headless chicken doing everything at the last minute

Expectation: Fun filled day with lots of laughs playing on new games.

Reality: House is quiet, boredom kicks in because i have to share xmas with my ex :(

I only got 1 present and I could see it in the gift bag and thought I was going to get some lovely fluffy warm slipper socks. When I opened the bag on Christmas day they absolutely stank of fags, were covered in dog hair and what I hope is smudges of mud. But its the thought that counts!

Expectation - Visit my parents and our DD grandparents for lunch as usual

Reality - Decision made to stay at home and arguments and upset ensue because you can't please everyone!

Expectations of a beautiful traditional tasty turkey Christmas dinner.

Reality, my friend forgot to take the turkey out of the freezer to defrost & on realising became stressed so dropped the turkey on her foot which broke it. She spend hours in A & E so no one had Christmas dinner that day, & she spend weeks in plaster.

Christmas a couple of years ago was a disappointment. We had enjoyed a morning walk together and worked up a very large appetite. We were really looking forward to the big meal but the chicken we bought tasted horrible so we threw it away and didn't have a suitable back-up, so ended up eating beans on toast! We didn't go hungry but it lacked a festive taste

Expectation a white christmas
reality never happens

expectation - my husband will surprise me with a gift even after I've hinted and suggested things I would like.

reality - a cupcake and pack of chocolate, he really is useless on the present front

Expectation - happy kids playing well with their new toys. My wife and I relaxing after the Xmas dinner.

Reality - all day spent constructing or configuring the new toys. Leaving no time for rest or relaxation.

Expectation: lovely Christmas dinner with all the trimmings with all the family

Reality: Everything burnt apart from the turkey which was raw in the middle, so ended up with charred roasts & starving by 3pm

Every year I'm dreaming for white Christmas...

The reality is always unseasonal mild and wet weather :(

I always imagine feeling relaxed, kids not arguing, lots of time to read. It's all over before you know it and I realise I've spent most of the time getting the boys to stop arguing and I've not read a thing!

Expectation Looking forward to a Christmas meal at a very good restaurant with the family
Reality A very disappointing meal and service

Expectation - Christmas dinner with all the trimmings at my parents

Reality - baked beans on toast at home when a buglar alarm at hubbies work went off and he had to attend.