A real Christmas tree for me! (Decorations & Trees in general)

Member Name: kappari

Product:	Decorations & Trees in general
Date:	22/11/08 (285 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A magical time

Disadvantages: Sad time for those who have lost loved ones or are lonely

I always have a real Christmas tree at Christmas time... It has to be real. I just love the smell of the tree. I usually get it the last weekend before Christmas. I like leaving it till almost last minute.

For the last twenty years or so we have always gone to the same place to get the Christmas tree. We go to a place near Delamere Forest. Originally the fir trees were growing in the fields there and we used to walk around this magical winter wonderland choosing our 'ideal tree'.

It had to be almost perfect...with a good spikey top and well shaped - reasonably bushy. We would take the children, first there was Christopher and me and my husband, then Amy, then Patrick and finally Joseph. All wrapped up in scarves, hats and wellies.

We would usually 'spot' the tree quite early on, but in my inimitable style I would examine nearly every Christmas tree on site before we went back to the first one we saw.... The men would dig out the tree with the roots, then we would take it home.

The next bit was, and is, always a bit of a pantomime...as my husband tried /tries to get it in some compost and to make it stable and straight.....

We always went to that place as it was really magical.... The road that lead to the place was a lane covered with overhanging trees. For me it was., and still is , the road to Christmas. When we drive down that lane- that is when Christmas has started.

Another reason we went there was they had 'Father Christmas' there. I am not kidding you, it had to be THE real fgather Christmas. He was so jolly, so rotund, so smiley and happy. When I first took my son to see him. He sat him on his knee and asked him what he would like for Christmas. Whilst he was talking to my son... I said "look at Father Christmas' beard". I tugged at his beard...and to my surprise it was a real one.....a fantastic, long white furry beard!

Decorating the tree used to be my job until the children got big enough to do it themselves.... It is always an exciting time - but also quite poignant as we dress the tree with ornaments and items given to us by friends and relatives, many of whom are no longer with us.

After decorating the tree, Sooty, our beloved cat would proceed to try to knock all the baubles and tinsel off! Unfortunately Sooty died this year...so we will really miss him this Christmas..

Other decorations that we have include some outdoor lights - both for the front and the back... I love the warm glow of the lights...it makes everything look so different and special.

We also place a silver tree on the window sill (it looks like an oak tree) , only about a foot in height that we 'assemble'. Magically that tree is always decorated with lovely chocolates on Christmas morning after Father Christmas has been. We have always avoided putting them on the tree before as they used to disappear quite quickly.

Then we set up a small nativity scene.... with mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the kings.

When we originally used to get the fir trees with roots we would plant them in our garden...we did have quite a few growing there. Fortunately it was a large garden then.

My children are now all 'grown up' with the youngest now 15 - they are not interested in going to Delamere and walking through the trees to choose a tree. The real Father Christmas is no longer there either.

However, my husband and I still go - even though it is quite a drive there...we are still children at heart. Now there are trees growing again in the fields! Next year my daughter will have a baby....Guess where we will be taking our grandchild the weekend before Christmas?

Summary: You can't beat a real Christmas tree!