Uncle turns living room into grotto so his nephews could meet Santa

After Santa's annual appearance at a garden centre was cancelled, this uncle covered his whole living room in wrapping paper to transform it into a grotto!Christopher Smith, 35, was devastated for his nephew's when they couldn't go on their traditional visit to Santa's grotto at Trelawney Garden Centre in Wadebridge due to COVID.The kids, Jude Meeks, 10, and Charlie Meeks, 5, didn't believe their Grandma when she told them that he wouldn't be visiting this year, and made her take them to the garden centre anyway just to check!So Christopher and his partner Hannah Meeks, 40, decided to bring Santa to them, and spent five hours transform their living room in Wadebridge, Cornwall into their own grotto on December 13.The couple used five whole rolls of wrapping paper to cover their living room walls, and conference company owner Christopher put on the performance of a lifetime as Father Christmas himself!Christopher said: "It was just a random act of kindness."I put a post out for a Santa outfit on the Wadebridge community Facebook group, whilst my partner Hannah set up the living room,"When I tried it on I looked in the mirror and I started panicking because I thought it would ruin their childhood memories of Santa Clause!"I was actually quite nervous for the performance - I had to change my London accent to try and make it more like Father Christmas!"Luckily both the kids were delighted that Santa had paid them a special 2020 home visit.Christopher said: "I walked in to surprise them and they were exceptionally excited!"I was worried as I thought they would know it was me but unbelievably they didn't and both still believe in Santa so the looks on their faces were priceless."I explained I had been travelling for hours to come and see them after their parents requested it and that my elves had decorated the front room!"After it was time for Santa to go and visit the "ten billion other children", Christopher ran out the back of the house and came to the front door pretending he'd just arrived home from work.The festive uncle said: "I asked who had done this to my living room, and said that Santa could clear it up!"The grotto is still up now, but we've had to move some paper so we can see the TV!"

After Santa's annual appearance at a garden centre was cancelled, this uncle covered his whole living room in wrapping paper to transform it into a grotto!Christopher Smith, 35, was devastated for his nephew's when they couldn't go on their traditional visit to Santa's grotto at Trelawney Garden Centre in Wadebridge due to COVID.The kids, Jude Meeks, 10, and Charlie Meeks, 5, didn't believe their Grandma when she told them that he wouldn't be visiting this year, and made her take them to the garden centre anyway just to check!So Christopher and his partner Hannah Meeks, 40, decided to bring Santa to them, and spent five hours transform their living room in Wadebridge, Cornwall into their own grotto on December 13.The couple used five whole rolls of wrapping paper to cover their living room walls, and conference company owner Christopher put on the performance of a lifetime as Father Christmas himself!Christopher said: "It was just a random act of kindness."I put a post out for a Santa outfit on the Wadebridge community Facebook group, whilst my partner Hannah set up the living room,"When I tried it on I looked in the mirror and I started panicking because I thought it would ruin their childhood memories of Santa Clause!"I was actually quite nervous for the performance - I had to change my London accent to try and make it more like Father Christmas!"Luckily both the kids were delighted that Santa had paid them a special 2020 home visit.Christopher said: "I walked in to surprise them and they were exceptionally excited!"I was worried as I thought they would know it was me but unbelievably they didn't and both still believe in Santa so the looks on their faces were priceless."I explained I had been travelling for hours to come and see them after their parents requested it and that my elves had decorated the front room!"After it was time for Santa to go and visit the "ten billion other children", Christopher ran out the back of the house and came to the front door pretending he'd just arrived home from work.The festive uncle said: "I asked who had done this to my living room, and said that Santa could clear it up!"The grotto is still up now, but we've had to move some paper so we can see the TV!"