Up goes the tree

In the fascinating blog “Pond Parleys”* the question was raised as to when was the proper time to put up the Christmas tree. The 10th December was my Dad's birthday so when I was a youngster we always waited until after that. Not that we had much in the way of Christmas decorations in my parents home - allegedly there wasn't room for them, which was my Mum’s way of saying she didn’t much care for them.

In adulthood I've adopted a similar strategy of doing it the weekend nearest to 10th. That way I don't feel they've been up forever when Christmas actually arrives but I do have enough time to enjoy the effort of putting them up. But, as Expat Mum so rightly put it in Pond Parleys, the principal decider is when He-who-clears-up-all-household-messes (i.e. me) has the energy.

The week-end was chosen partly because when the girls were young it was the time I had them and partly because I was off work and we could wander around the nurseries choosing the tree at leisure. Nowadays it tends to be whatever day Jo can spare for her to drive me round to get the tree. This year is the exception because our tree is home grown. (I shall probably be mentioning that every couple of days for the next month – I’m so excited about it. The tree may not be the prettiest we have ever put up but I love the idea of it being our very own one.)

I got the boxes of decorations out of the loft and the first thing I did was plug in each set of lights. Needless to say two sets didn’t work despite all having been working when I put them away eleven months ago.

I wonder if the creature that eats socks in the wash in the same one that breaks the Christmas lights each year or is it a different one? Instead of trying to mend them I did the sensible thing and cut the plugs off (my bit for recycling) and binned the lights (my contribution to the latest landfill site). That left me with three sets of lights. Although the tree is over eight feet tall it’s pretty skinny so I reckon they should do.

Once the lights are on the tinsel comes next. Again, not so much tinsel needed this year. Then the fun bit, finding the hooks for the decorations. I know that somewhere in the four boxes of glass balls and other tree ornaments there is a box of hooks. I also know that it will be at the bottom of the fourth box. Ah, the joys of decorating the tree!

But, at the end of the day, it will all have been worth it to hear Son-who-watches-films say ‘Yeah, looks OK’ when prompted by Partner-who-drinks-tea saying ‘What do you think of the tree?’

(I’ve never been sure what angels did wrong that causes us to stick Christmas trees up their bums!)


* Somehow I have only just discovered Pond Parleys despite enjoying Expat Mum's contributions to MMM . Usually, if I find a new blog I just look forwards but I have a feeling I'll be exploring past posts on this one, it looks so interesting.

(The original of the sock monster picture can be found at Toycutter.)