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

Took my son to see Santa this year who turned out to be a socially awkward man with bare legs where his red cloak kept falling away :/

Expectation - that the kids would unwrap all their gifts and spend hours pouring over their lovely new toys

Reality - 4 mins of complete mayhem and wrapping paper everywhere followed by the kids going upstairs to play with their old toys

:-( :-(

the EPIC EPIC christmas dessert we pre-ordered this year, it was AWFUL

The expectation is for a movie-style Christmas day with Christmas jumpers, snow, visitors, lovely presents, amazing food etc... The reality is that the presents are fewer every year, not what you want, over too soon, over eating, feeling bloated/sick. Wake up after an afternoon nap on the sofa feeling rough and then have to continue to entertain the family until bedtime. Not worth the stress.

My dad potting up a real tree with soil from the garden, only to find the next day that he had dug up an ants nest and there were ants everywhere in the lounge, he had to throw away the tree so we had no tree on Christmas Day that year.

The expectation is for a movie-style Christmas day with Christmas jumpers, snow, visitors, lovely presents, amazing food etc... The reality is that the presents are fewer every year, not what you want, over too soon, over eating, feeling bloated/sick. Wake up after an afternoon nap on the sofa feeling rough and then have to continue to entertain the family until bedtime. Not worth the stress.

Booking our first ever xmas meal at a pub, expensive for family of six but worth the "not having to wash up" Excited that all 25 of us with be together for xmas. Xmas day comes and I end up alone on the sofa with tonsillitis watching Frozen because I didnt have the strength to find the remote control.

I put my turkey in the oven, then halfway through cooking the glass on the oven door shattered, ended up chopping the turke about a bit so I could fit it in the slow cooker, so no roast veg or yorkshire pudding, not how I had planned christmas dinner but we made do!

Expectation: A nice, relaxed Christmas dinner with everyone laughing.

Reality: Sister turning up and everyone having to walk on eggshells so she didn't go off on one.

Expectations got all presents for my daughter hid all under my duvet. Reality she run up the stairs from school saying s h e needed to lay d own went in my bedroom pulled back the quilt!! She didn't lay down just started playing!!!!

Always mean to do more - but somehow time always runs out - but so long as we have some quality time - thats the most important bit

Expectation: All the Family having a happy,fun Christmas with no arguments, having the food I have spent a lot of time and effort preparing

Reality: All the Family arguing before we even sit at the table and it not quite being the happy Christmas I expect

Note to self no alcohol before dinner 🙈🤣

We spent the Christmas before our daughter was born in the Bahamas- it was not festive and it felt like we were pretending to have Christmas :(

Expectation - kids happy with new gifts and spend the day playing with them and each other...

Reality - new toys breaking after 5 minutes cue fighting and tantrums all day!

expectations were a white christmas! in reality a gloomy rainy day!

Well I'm usually the most organised person EVER. This year however I don't know what happened.. I missed writing Christmas cards for some, mixed up labels on gifts, totally forgot where I'd hidden some of the kids gifts and I'm still no further on this! I also thought I was being organised and bought my sister some special shampoo/ conditioner products especially for blonde hair.. only she died it a few weeks back and is now brunette so I looked like a right wolly when she opened it, oh dear.. better luck next year I hope!!

Ideal Christmas - having a champagne breakfast wearing a glamorous Christmas dress with perfect hair and makeup.

Reality - juggling saucepans in a stained apron, smelling of giblet sock and wondering if anyone will notice I’m not wearing any makeup and haven’t managed to combed my hair.

Expectation: A lovely family Christmas in the country and everyone having a wonderful time. Lots of tasty food and drink to enjoy and a nice relaxing afternoon.

Reality: Both kids got car sick and we had to stop repeatedly for them to get out for some fresh air. All the stopping and starting meant that I started to feel sick too. Was positively green by the time we arrived (very very late) and couldn't face any food for the whole time we were there!

Actually I love Christmas, things dont always go to plan, but that is life, just smile and carry on.

One year I was lucky enough to spend Christmas in Australia. I pictured barbi's on the beach, soaking up the sun. Instead it poured down, we were in a overcrowded youth hostel and Christmas dinner was a burger from the only food place that was open.

A good few years ago when I was on my own and just sat watching films all day, a big let down as I love Christmas.

Last year I wrapped all my presents really well, had them spread out under the tree for a lovely christmas. Woke up the next day and the cat had torn half of them to shreds.. Thankfully I put them out a few days before christmas so had time to fix it but now I have to keep them in a cupboard until christmas eve and then close the main living room door and not let her in there for the night.

Expectation: a big family get together with lots of fun and laughter!

Reality: me vomiting down the toilet with my aunt holding my hair, grandmother and mother disgusted that I'd drank too much wine and sneaking a cigarette thinking they wouldn't smell or notice me popping out the back door!!

My parents visit us and our kids every Christmas Eve. A couple of years ago, they came and told us there was a power cut at their house. Cue a mad dash to the Supermarket to find whatever joint of meat we could lay our hands on, took it home to cook it and sent parents happily on their way knowing that they would have something to eat on Christmas day.

I was looking forward to Xmas this year until....I broke my ankle and cant walk for at least 6 weeks, and them my husband fell ill on Xmas Day and was taken to hospital with a hernia and high blood pressure. HELP