Gransnet forums

AIBU

Christmas tree conflict!

(88 Posts)
Anne58 Sat 14-Dec-13 16:40:43

Hello all,

I would value some opinions on this rather trivial issue!

We usually have a real tree, but this year can't go down that route. However, we have all the decorations (all silver, plain lights, uber tasteful!) and a fake tree up in the loft. This was bought five years ago, we used it the first year but then went back to real.

The tree is in 3 sections, and when put together is around 6ft 6 ins.

I am proposing that we put it up, but with just the 2 top bits.

Mr P doesn't want to bother tchsad says that he just wants Christmas over and done with, with as few reminders of the festive season as possible.

I appreciate that he is feeling down, and this will be a cut back Christmas, but so what? We have each other and a Lidl 3 bird roast in the freezer! (I know others have said that they weren't impressed, but we had one last year and found it suited us and was good value for money) and with the Morrisons tokens (thanks to those that supplied the missing ones!) we can buy the usual gammon/bacon joint thingy to apply curses to on Christmas Eve tchgrin

I have tried to convince him that NOT putting the tree up is akin to giving in, waving the white flag etc, but he remains unconvinced.

It will not cost a bean to put it up, and I think we would regret it if we didn't.

Your thoughts, please?

PS One year when we were going to be away for Christmas (we spent it in Bavaria!) I suggested that we didn't bother with a tree, and he almost pouted! Until we met, he hadn't had a Christmas tree for years, despite his ex-wife being German.

Skylark Mon 16-Dec-13 23:19:20

I hope you have your tree, Phoenix. My OH is much like yours, I fear, and your "Mr P doesn't want to bother" extract could easily have described Mr S! But we are 7 on Christmas Day and I don't want my guests to think I've not made an effort! At the very least I'll get a small one, and put up the arch of lights that we bought on the Christmas Market in Dresden a few years ago.

Hugs to anyone trying to get Christmas together whilst battling the tide of bah-hum from their OH; it seems there are a few of us.

Anne58 Mon 16-Dec-13 22:16:17

Enjoy, you deserve it!

granjura Mon 16-Dec-13 19:59:36

We have decorated Ye Olde Parish room at the back, as the elderly from the village are coming for Christmas lunch tomorrow (about 40 of them) so that is our contribution for Christmas. Our youngest will be over from 24th, but she says she is not bothered about decorations. And best of all, for the first time ever, SHE will be cooking Christmas lunch and all the trimmings- blimey.

Anne58 Mon 16-Dec-13 19:43:03

Thank you granjura it will be only Mr P and myself, but I just felt that to not bother would seem like giving in to the current situation, after all we had the damn thing in the loft, so why not?

However, to turn the phrase on it's head, every silver lining has a cloud!

Mr P has found the awful flashing light/fibre optic tree (fortunately only about 18 inches tall) that he bought for the kitchen last year just to wind me up!

granjura Mon 16-Dec-13 19:37:11

Thinking of you Phoenix, so glad you've got the tree up and are happy with it. We've decided not to bother this year- as grand-children not here.

Anne58 Mon 16-Dec-13 00:04:04

I can only wish and dream, ga , wish and dream!

Much love and thanks to all, off to bed now. (And no, just reading our books!)

And why is there no Christmas Moon?

GNHQ, please take note!

grannyactivist Sun 15-Dec-13 23:44:13

phoenix dontcha just love a conversation that meanders as this one has done? A joy to read and so glad that Mr.P has found his Christmas spirit, though imagine if it'd been the sherry rather than cider..... may well have ended in a bit of beastliness. tchgrin

penguinpaperback Sun 15-Dec-13 23:28:28

Good to read you have your tree up Phoenix The white branch, tree sounds very stylish.

annodomini Sun 15-Dec-13 22:37:52

phoenix, I am now deeply concerned for all the small birds in Devon. grin
The non-veggie members of my family had a 3-bird roast from Aldi last year - chicken, duck, turkey. I imagine you could start with a pheasant and finish with a goose for a 5-bird effort! Mind boggles.

Enviousamerican Sun 15-Dec-13 22:22:05

Messed that up! Never done it sorry....that was for Phoenix and Elgran.X

Enviousamerican Sun 15-Dec-13 22:20:08

http:www.hark.com/clips/mhkyzcqrvh-what-we-got-here-is-dot-dot-dot-failure-to-communicate

Enviousamerican Sun 15-Dec-13 22:15:39

tchshock Phoenix im quite impressed! Can't imagine how it would look cooked!

janerowena Sun 15-Dec-13 22:10:48

So pleased for you, phoenix - and going back to your OP, it isn't trivial at all. smile

stansgran grin

tiggypiro Sun 15-Dec-13 21:55:50

Or is it Brandy phoenix ??

Soutra Sun 15-Dec-13 21:52:02

Sounding better phoenix - all down to a glass of Lidl Cider?tchhmm

Anne58 Sun 15-Dec-13 21:40:37

I don't know, Elegran would you? tchgrin

tiggy now you are just confusing things! Envious I think that basically you can stuff as many boned birds inside each other as you see fit, except for swans, as they belong to the Queen.

I suppose that in theory, you could start with a wren or goldcrest, then sparrow, then blackbird, then seagull, pigeon, quail, partridge, pheasant, eagle (no, probably protected) duck, chicken, goose, turkey....

Oh hang on, the pigeon might be smaller that the seagull, and are we straying into an area of conflict of tastes, I mean the seagull may have been mainly eating saltwater fish, which might affect the flavour. On the other hand, if it was a gull that lived mainly slightly in-land, at least for feeding purposes, it's diet could consist of pasties, chips, ice cream and small children..............

Sook Sun 15-Dec-13 21:40:09

Tegan I have been known to snaffle dogwood branches from parks and car parks in my locality. There is no shinning up trees involved tchgrin as Dogwood is more of a large bush than a tree. A pair of sharp secateurs are all you need.

Enviousamerican Sun 15-Dec-13 21:30:08

We breed some pretty big turkeys over here.Some people were even called turkeys years ago.It was popular to call a person that was acting foolish a turkey grin

Elegran Sun 15-Dec-13 21:29:53

Would I recommend beastliness, Phoenix?

tiggypiro Sun 15-Dec-13 21:19:46

Phoenix that is brilliant - I hope your Christmas continues it's positive note.

Perhaps you could also explain to Enviousamerican about a 5 bird roast too ! And here we were thinking that everything was bigger in America smile

Anne58 Sun 15-Dec-13 21:15:42

Envious , it's basically a boneless thing that you just slam in the oven because Lidl (the store where I bought it from) have done it all for you, chicken, duck and turkey, boned out and rolled along with some stuffing.

(I did try to find a good example and post a link, but I couldn't find a suitable image/description)

Elegran for a moment there I thought you meant what Mr P refers to as "beastliness" after a Harry Enfield/Mr Chalmondley-Warner sketch!

tchshock

Enviousamerican Sun 15-Dec-13 20:06:57

Er...um...excuse me for changing the subject...but Phoenix would you mind explaining a three bird roast to a uninformed American? blush

Elegran Sun 15-Dec-13 20:04:55

I mean saying "I am so glad we put the tree up after all. It makes me feel so much more cheerful about everything!" or something similar. Not bashing him over the head with it, but showing that it was a good idea.

Anne58 Sun 15-Dec-13 19:49:52

Ohh depending on exactly what you mean, could be on dodgy ground there!

PS. What exactly do you mean?

Elegran Sun 15-Dec-13 19:09:17

Good to hear, Phoenix. Will you be taking the next chance to sneak in a hint that it is worth doing something that makes you feel happier about life? Tactfully, of course - as we always do.