I can't do it. I just can't do it!

I have a friend who used to let her children decorate the Christmas tree. What is more, she allowed tinsel and the junk they'd made at school!
I was AGHAST. I pointed out, gently, that every light and every bauble must be symmetrical, balanced, colour coordinated. The loo roll middle and cotton wool snowman made by a cack-handed 6 year old can be used elsewhere (like in the back porch) but the tree has to be real and a perfect shape and the decorating has to be done with taste, when the children are in bed.
My friend said I'm mean and she likes tinsel. We've remained friends but it's been very very difficult.

Oooer Apricot..... Just as well you can't see mine, quite relieved my attempts at posting a photo failed!
Although doesn't have children's input, I do have many baubles and bits from over the years so not what I'd call symmetrical or colour coordinated although I think it looks sort of balanced..........

I'm with apricot, I have been known to re-do the tree once everyone else has gone to bed! A little tweak here, a little tweak there and a quick removal of unwanted ornaments to the back of the tree where they won't be seen.

DBh does the lights though because he is anal a mathematician.

apricot, were you joking there weren't you? You do really put tinsel on don't you? And various ancient hanging-on bits and pieces?

I might have to tweak these lights just a little bit.

Perhaps I need a rethink! I chucked out a load of bits after last Christmas so maybe need to be more ruthless........and plan and be less spontaneous next year
Need inspiration for colour schemes too!

A mathematician needed?! To do the lights?!!! Now that is going it!!!

My tree is only 18" high, so no lights at all

My tree is a 6 foot bushy grape ivy plant. 2 strings of lights, job done in 5 minutes.

If it were me I would just sling them on, jings.

Have a look on the xmas tree thread. I have put up one of mine and one of DBH's. You can see the bald patch in mine.