ON STRIKE AT CHRISTMAS!

This year, writer and mother of three Alice McIntyre, 39, is putting her feet up

- ALICE MCINTYRE

I hate to admit it, but I usually dread Christmas. It just means weeks of hard work, expense, and a lot of stress - not to mention the family politics that usually come with the Big Day.

The festivities start far too early and, after the annual jolly jam jar-making' competition at school, the obligatory Christmas lights display at a local stately home (that had to be booked in June) and a visit to Santa Claus, I'm well and truly exhausted come Christmas Eve. I know, bah humbug!

Thankfully, this year will be different because I'm going on strike! It's time for my husband Chris, 38, and our kids Charlotte, 12, Oscar, seven, and Immy, five months, to take the reins while I sit back and relax. OK, Immy will just be ripping up paper and watching Peppa Pig's Christmas special, but the others have their work cut out.

I am nervous - it's always been me running the show. So, I decided we needed a test run. And this is what happened...

PRESENT SHOPPING

Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer to hit the shops than buy all my presents online however, I do usually leave my shopping until the last minute, meaning that the shops are heaving with other desperate, disorganised shoppers!

This year, it was Chris' turn to go shopping, and, luckily, he's got a trial run before any last-minute sprees.

'Off you go,' I encouraged him, handing - him a long list of presents to buy.

'I don't know what the fuss is about,'" he said, 'it'll be fun.'

I had a little chuckle to myself as he set off. He didn't know what he was in for...

When he returned, weighed down with bags, rolls of wrapping paper, and sore feet, I felt pretty smug. It was crazy,' he said. And the queues were so long!'

As he flopped onto the sofa, totally exhausted, I reminded him, 'Don't get too comfortable. You have to wrap them now.'