I was interested in Anna's latest 'News' email about documenting the moments that don't play out how we hoped - this gave me the perfect opportunity to do this page! I think Christmas has always been full of unrealistic expectations, it used to be those glossy magazines designed and photographed in July full of perfect homes, exquisite food and perfect beautifully wrapped gifts - now it is social media and Instagram. I'm a sucker for the schmaltzy family movies where everyone gets home for Christmas...Last year we all went to the Pantomime and it was great fun but we went earlier in December and Victoria's partner hadn't arrived yet so this year I booked in JUNE (who am I!) I got tickets for Christmas eve, all 12 together, good seats and had even planned in advance what we would eat afterwards and that the kids would all be perfectly behaved (who am I kidding) and everyone would be in a suitably Christmassy mood ready for the big day!

My Mum suddenly died in October and as she was the person who used to treat us to the Pantos when my kids were small it was going to make this Christmas Eve outing very emotional and bittersweet then Neve picked up a sickness bug so that took out one family then Sara decided to bring Felix after all and Neve stayed home with her Daddy; Felix hated the noise and was absolutely terrified of the witch so Sara did well to persuade him to stay as long as he did...So it wasn't quite like a movie but I've high hopes for next year! ;-)