A Christmas affair has become a festival tradition for one woman who says it gives her a chance to let off some steam away from her 'miserable' husband.
The woman, known only as Katie, revealed how she feels neglected by her husband who works longer hours and is always tired. She says he doesn't even notice when she goes out.
She admitted that her annual tradition has become the highlight of each Christmas, reports The Mirror.
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'.
Katie said that having an affair has brought a little more cheer into her life and is working of '"taking control".
She 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."
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