A woman said she has an affair each Christmas because her partner refuses to help with wrapping presents - and now it's become a festive tradition she looks forward to. The woman, known only as Katie, said that her husband works long hours and is always tired when he gets home, leaving his wife neglected over the festive period.
But because of this, he doesn't notice when she goes out and isn't distrustful enough to ask what she's up to. She said the annual tradition began as a way to blow off steam, but now it's become the highlight of each Christmas.
What do you think about Katie's annual affair? Let us know in the comments...
Katie said: "My husband works long hours and crashes when he gets home. He doesn't even notice if I get my hair cut or am wearing a new top, let alone when I'm out the house.
"I get a thrill each time - I never thought I'd be that person who gets a thrill from cheating but wow, it's something else. No matter how many times I've done it I still get nervous every time so it's a massive adrenaline rush.
"I still remember my first boyfriend, we'd met on Illicit Encounters and had planned to go to the Christmas Light switch-on in his local town. Nothing too serious, just one evening in the week.
"He lived an hour away so I needed an excuse for why I wasn't going to be home until late. I have no idea why this was the first thing that came to mind but I think I just panicked and ended up telling my husband my friend's cat had died and I needed to go and be with her."
Katie planned the affair through Illicit Encounters, who describe themselves as ' 'the UK's leading website for married people wanting to have an affair'.
She insisted it was a way of 'taking control' at Christmas, adding that it brought a little more cheer into her life.
Katie added: "I like to think of it as taking control. He mopes about the house, groans at any mention of Christmas activities – he never wants to do anything festive!
"Why should I suffer for that? This way we're both happy. I get my kiss under the mistletoe, he gets his pint down the pub and doesn't get dragged around to celebrations he doesn't want to be at.
"If anything I'd actually say I'm helping him. I'm giving him the space he wants, not pressuring him to come out with me. I leave the house clean and tidy when I go out or away for the weekend so he never has to do any of that. If you ask me he's got a pretty good deal there.
"I've been doing it for coming up to five years now and honestly it's made me so much happier. I know people are going to come at me and say I need to divorce my husband or tell him how unhappy I am at this time of year.
"But I do love my husband behind all of this. This is just my own little Christmas tradition, my treat to myself. Some people do Christmas cards, a trip to the church on Christmas Eve, but I join Illicit Encounters and find myself a winter boyfriend."
Katie said she had five rules for her winter boyfriends, and they are as follows.
One - "No strings, if he's in it to catch feelings it's not going to work."
Two - "No messaging after hours (between 5 pm and 8 am are off limits, and weekends)."
Three - "Experiences over gifts – I want to go out and see things not have material gifts I have to hide / can't explain to my husband."
Four - "I never share where I live or my full name. I don't want them trying to pursue things when they're over."
Five - "Post January, I will block them on any channel I'm talking to them on. They have to be ok with that."
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