Rant alert

Can you put it on a window sill upstairs or in a porch? I'm with you in regard to preferring a proper decorated tree...

I do think he thought he was in some way helping. It was good that he looked at it and saw that it just wouldn't do. It wouldn't take our decorations that we collected over the years - or only about four of them!

Oh dear

Tell him to take it back! The lazy s**.

Let him decorate it. Then he may discover his mistake on his own. He probably thought he was helping.

No. It's really cheap and nasty looking. The 'branches' only go half way down the metal stem so about a foot of bare metal tube until the stand. It's one metre from top to bottom. It makes my heart sink to look at it. Is this what we've come to?!

I have one of those little trees. I bought it sixty years ago when I lived in a bed-sit. Never used it while the children were at home and then last year I found myself without a tree (the real ones I bought had become so sparse and artificial ones too expensive) so I made one out of contorted hazel branches painted white and all stylish. And then I found my little bed-sit tree. It's on the sideboard now with a few special ornaments on it. And it really looks quite good! Be daring. Compromise. Use both!

Panic over. He put it up, looked at the little spindly thing then decided it looked just too depressing and put away. Phew.

Have you thought to ask him why he likes this little tree?
Maybe you’re more cross because there was no prior discussion about it. But it’s only a tree!
Deep breath and smile?

Alternate years? A compromise? Then you both get 50% of what you really want. 😁

We had visitors so I couldn't do anything about this tree this afternoon. It's still in it's little box. We don't have room for both trees. He can put it up tomorrow and maybe he'll see what's wrong with it. However, it's either him sulking because I don't like it or it's me sulking because I don't like it. Impasse.

Harsh, witzend.

I’m afraid I’d just tell him, sorry that’s horrible, we’re having the usual one. And if there’s nowhere out of the way to put it, I’d take it to a charity shop.

Well yes but obvs my eye is better than DH's!

Yes I get that kitty but two people have different ‘eyes’. Both are acceptable surely in your own home? 😊

Not sure it's controlling so much having an 'eye'.

Who’s the boss?
Neither of you, hopefully.
I suppose I'll just have to let him sounds a tad controlling?

Maybe grit your teeth and tolerate it just this once? Your DH is likely as pleased as Punch and assumes you are too. But don't, for the sake of peace on earth, point out the blunt truth unless you can put up with him sulking through Christmas.

After it's all over you will have a whole year to think of a way to permanently "lose" the mean and miserable thing!

Aveline - be assertive!

I’d just say no thanks, we’ll do what we usually do, there are two of you.

I used to let the grandchildren put up the decorations. No stars matched it was all very random. The first couple of years only the bottom of the tree was decorated as that was as high as they could reach. But I liked it.

I feel for you, Aveline!

I am a bit under the weather and DH is putting the decorations up. Up to now he has put different sized, illuminated stars in matching front windows. I have persuaded him to watch the football now.

Perhaps he thought it would save work. Maybe, when it's been up a while, he'll go off it!

Put up both but put your DH’s one somewhere where it isn’t prominent. He’s tried!