I put my Christmas Tree up last night !

I like the Christmas lights on the tree as soon as it gets a bit dark, I don't put them on for other people, especially, we like to see them ourselves, so why not? LEDS don't cost much to run.
The first Christmas card arrived today,and I haven't written any yet, we are away for the next few days so will do them all next Monday.

I was very tempted to bring our (not so little this year) tree inside for the first time apricot but decided against it. We have had him it from being only a few inches high and I would hate to kill it off with the central heating. Never mind it has pride of place in the front garden complete with 240 LED fairy lights!

I love the glow from the Christmas lights and whilst I thoroughly enjoy having the tree up I admit that once the big day is over I can't wait to take it down. It's my birthday soon after Christmas so I have to make room for the hundreds of cards I will get.

My son's birthday is on 8 Dec even though he is almost 30, we still wait for the weekend after his birthday to start Christmas

I shall bring in my little Christmas tree from the garden at the last possible date. I feel sorry for it in a heated room and never switch on the lights unless there's anyone here to see it. Likewise the holly and ivy I use for decoration. Not many holly berries this year.

You have reminded me about the Xmas crockery so I've just retrieved the two Xmas mugs from the back of the cupboard. DH's mother has her birthday this weekend and he gets very depressed after the visit so we said we would put up the decorations (we only do a tree in the bay window and the mantlepiece) when we come back but only after the house has been cleaned from top to bottom. I know its OCD again but its the way I do it. everything else is ready now, presents bought and wrapped, cards written - only got to ice the cake - marzipanned it at the weekend. I look forward to have the decorations up but usually cant wait to get them down before New Year.

Sunday was the first in Advent and I had the gc's for the weekend so our VERY golden tree was installed while I had their 'help'!
We enjoyed our weekend as we also fitted in some shopping, lunch out and Strictly.
Not planned but mum was so unwell that she needed some peace and quiet. Children weren't at school on Monday as it was St Andrews day holiday. Today I am tired but house looks good!

We will buy our tree next week, keep it in the garden and put it up, the weekend before Christmas. That way it stays fresh. We put it in our glass baŷ window, in the dinning room, all the ights are reflected in the glass roof. Very pretty.

I also like to have a small potted one in the sitting room. As my birthday is just before 12th night all decorations have been taken down by then. Although I find I do put less up than I used to.

DG is now old enough to make some and we had a lovely week end with glue and glitter! X

Nellie, I am sitting a friends house for the next six weeks. I have most of my dusty possessions packed around me and there really is no room for tinsel. I'll just have to wait for next year or the year after and then go completely over the top with Christmas decorations. For this year I'll have to find other ways of bringing sparkle into my life. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Well at least this thread has no debates about which garden shrub to hang the lights on this this time.

Sewsilver Can you not even manage a bit of tinsel on your tent.

Currently my house has very little roof ,no walls ,no kitchen, no bathroom ,nine builders and a lot of dust. So I don't think I'll be putting any Christmas decorations up there this year. At the current speed Mighty Works are going I'm not even convinced that I'll be putting them up next year but fingers crossed.

Marmight I hope you have a good Christmas with your GC

No tree for us yet. In the middle of decorating and there is nowhere for us to go let alone a tree!

Marmight I hope your Christmas is full of fun this year.

Where in the house do people put up their trees? Sitting room, conservatory, dining room etc.

Last year, we went to Norway for Christmas, so didn't bother with a tree. This year I'm on 'Granny duty' at my daughter's house from the 9th until the 20th (Help!!) so this year's Christmas tree will go up earlier than its usual date of the 10th/11th. (Two of my children have birthdays on those dates.)

Another couple of weeks until I start any sort of decorating although I did buy a tree in a pot for outside last week as it was a bargain. I will drive up to the forest to get a big tree for indoors next week and leave the decorating for the gc's to do when they arrive for Christmas (and will then rearrange everything once they have gone to bed!). This will be the first Christmas in the house since DH died so sorting out the boxes of stuff which he put away will be a bit strange but I am actually looking forward to being Christmassy again.

Sorry saw one up on November 22nd. Mine will be a real one but won't go up until mid December. How can Christmas be special when it lasts over a month? By the 25th the tree will just be part of the house decor, and not something special that is there just for the holiday. A longer Christmas dilutes the impact.

Yes, that's my kind of singing!I don't have one of his cd's but maybe I should put one on my Christmas wish list.

As a traditionalist, I prefer to leave it to the last minute and keep the tree etc until 12th Night.

gillybob haven't heared 'leccy' for ages made me come across all northern and homesick

The man himself (Mr Blueberry) with a little bit of "strictly" thrown in for good measure.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgWA0uE81z4

I doubt it roses they really aren't that spectacular (unless DH has ordered even more than he is letting on) .

Yes LED's are fantastic. We are gradually replacing all the bulbs in the house with them as they cost almost nothing to run and last forever (well almost). Ideal for Christmas lights too.

Michael Blueberry has really tickled me.

Oh POGS not the Christmas spirit at all!

gillybob for all I know, Michael Blueberry could well be a rap singer.But just so the boy didn't ask me any more questions about him, I said ' yes love, I do like his singing' which he seemed happy with. LED's are good, so cheap to run and they don't get hot like the old fashioned ones.Maybe people will come for miles to see your lights.

Managed to get a few bits out yesterday so we started today on the outside display . Not for long.

So annoying. Two of the ruddy fairy light strings didn't work so you go through the blasted 'hunt the blown bulb' scenario. I have a bulb tester, which half the bulbs don't fit and I haven't a clue where it is anyway, could we find the little bu----s. .

I think it's about the only time dear hubby throws a hissy fit but he did today. He said he hopes it piddles down tomorrow !!

Good job they are all LED's too or I pity the leccy bill !

I normally call him Mr Bubble roses but I quite like "Michael Blueberry" too.

I'm normally totally last minute with everything but I made a promise last year and had to make a real effort. Mind you DH is starting to get a bit carried away with the lights. Hope we don't end up like National Lampoon!

Sounds nice gillybob. Christmas will soon be here, and it's a lot of effort just to have a tree up for a week or so isn't it? Enjoy it!
My DGS asked me last week-end if ' I liked Michael Blueberry?' I assume he meant Buble.