Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Christmas-Obsessed Grandma Transforms Herself Into A Living Elf On The Shelf For Fifth Year In A Row

Christmas-Obsessed Grandma Transforms Herself Into A Living Elf On The Shelf For Fifth Year In A Row
Alison at Bangor Marina in December 2018 (PA Real Life/Collect)

A Christmas-crazy grandmother celebrated her fifth festive season as a "real life elf on the shelf" with a pub crawl dressed as Santa's helper.

Council enforcement officer Alison Campbell, even persuaded 10 members of her family to dress up, too. Raising money for the Alzheimer's Society Elf Day last weekend, as well as celebrating the 90th birthday of a relative with the illness.


These are just a few of the hilarious antics so far performed by Alison, who since 2016 has donned her green and red costume every day between December 1 and Christmas Eve with her husband, Stephen, a part-time student safety officer, as her personal photographer.

Determined not to let tough restrictions in her home town of Northern Ireland spoil her fun.

"Where there's a will there's a way," she said.

In previous years, mom-of-two Alison has made a guest appearance in her elf costume everywhere from the local fire station to the Titanic museum and even crossed the sea to Newcastle in 2018 to visit her brother, David Griffiths, who lives there.

But, restrictions because of the pandemic have forced her to stay closer to home, although she was not going to let a little thing like pubs only being open for takeaways hold her back.

Alison Campbell outside The Crown (PA Real Life/ Collect)

"It's been difficult as, until December 11, we're in lockdown here," she continued.

"So, I decided to go to the bars, despite them being closed, and have a dry pub crawl. There are photos of me standing by the gates, gazing in through the windows and looking very glum as I couldn't go inside."

Alison outside the Dirty Onion (PA Real Life/ Collect)

"It's very sad as a lot of these bars also might not open again," she added.

Alison was inspired to become a real life elf on the shelf after her daughter Clare and daughter-in-law Gemma started playing the game, in which parents leave an elf in different locations around the house for their children to find.

"My daughter and daughter-in-law were doing it with their kids and, when I was in Primark one day, I saw a costume and thought to myself, 'I'm going to be a real-life elf'," she said.

Alison Campbell outside the Merchant's Hotel (PA Real Life/ Collect)

"Anyone who knows me will realize that isn't a strange thought," she laughed.

"My family think I'm bonkers, but, in the future, if my grandchildren look back and think, 'Granny really was mad,' that's fine. I'm actually happy with that."

Alison in the off license in December 2016 (PA Real Life/Collect)

A huge fan of the festivities, even before she became a Christmas elf, Alison loved wearing seasonal jumpers and celebrating every moment she could.

"I absolutely love Christmas and dressing up," she said.

"My husband is a bit of a bah-humbug and doesn't quite get it, so all of this is also designed to get him involved as he takes all the photographs."

Stephen and Alison at site they met (PA Real Life/ Collect)

"He has no choice, he has to accompany me, but we do have so much fun doing it," she said.

"I saw Santa with some kids earlier this month and he was very happy for Stephen to take my photo with him and one of his elves – it was hilarious."

Instead of just donning her pointy ears for fun, this year Alison roped most of her family into dressing up as elves to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society (AS) – which had an official Elf Day on December 4.

Alison and Stephen Campbell dressed as elves (PA Real Life/ Collect)

Combining fundraising with a 90th birthday celebration for a relative, various family members turned up outside Alison's house in costume – with those in her support bubble also allowed inside – raising £540 for the charity through a JustGiving page.

"The Alzheimer's Society really matters to me, as I have a relative with the illness and lockdown has been very hard for them," she said.

"We had our little do, without breaking any Covid rules, on Saturday and it was a real laugh."

R-L Sophie, 2, Craig 34, Jake, 7, Gemma and Ellie, 12 Campbell (PA Real Life)

"We enjoyed some hot chocolate and a few nibbles outside and sang happy birthday," she said.

"It was great fun."

Alison plans to keep raising money by posting photos of her elf antics to her Instagram account between now and Christmas Eve.

Clare and Alison Campbell (PA Real Life/ Collect)

She is planning to have a few more photos taken at Belfast landmarks, such as the Beacon of Hope statue, City Hall and Joy's Entry.

And on December 25, she will hang up her elf costume for another year, to enjoy Christmas Day with close family members in an outfit bought by Stephen.

"It's been a tough year for everyone and I hope my real life elf on the shelf spread a little joy. It certainly made me laugh – it's one Christmas joke that never wears thin!" she added.

To donate to Alison's JustGiving page, where she is raising money for the Alzheimer's Society, click here

More from Trending

Vivian Wilson
@vivllainous/Instagram

Elon Musk's Trans Daughter Just Made Her Drag Debut At An Anti-ICE Fundraiser—And Fans Are Obsessed

Elon Musk's disowned trans daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson has made a name for herself online for mercilessly dragging the father who once said she was "dead" to him because she was "killed by the woke mind virus."

But recently she took it to a new level, leveraging her fame in her first drag performance at a Los Angeles anti-ICE fundraiser.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Administration Fast-Tracks Eliminating National Suicide Hotline's LGBTQ+ Youth Support

On Wednesday morning, news broke that the administration of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump was eliminating certain suicide and self harm resources provided through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The lifeline offered callers options to speak to people who specialize in meeting their needs. But the Trump administration decided this was a service that LGBTQ+ young people don't deserve.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Blasted For Announcing New Additions To The White House Lawn As Global Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump was criticized after announcing that two new flagpoles would be added to the North and South Lawns of the White House—not the greatest look amid heightened global unease as tensions between Israel and Iran ramp up.

According to the Associated Press, Trump watched as a crane installed the newest flagpole on the South Lawn, remarking, “It’s such a beautiful pole.” He later returned to the site to salute as the American flag was raised for the first time.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Donald Trump from CNN supercut
CNN

Trump Mocked For 'Two Weeks' Iran Deadline With Supercut Of All His 'Two Weeks' Promises

President Donald Trump has a history of promising to resolve problems within "two weeks," and a new viral supercut mocks him for all the times he's said as much—including right now with tensions in the Middle East higher than ever.

Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to involve U.S. forces directly in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, citing what he called a “substantial chance” for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Keep ReadingShow less
red flag with pole on seashore
Seoyeon Choi on Unsplash

People Break Down The 'Silent Red Flags' Folks Tend To Ignore In Relationships

A red flag has come to mean any warning sign in life, in addition to the literal red flags that are placed on beaches or industrial sites to warn people of danger.

People will respond to situations by saying, "That’s a red flag." But before that language evolved, they'd just call them "warning signs."

Keep ReadingShow less