So disappointed

[Rhona]

We accidently bought a cr*ppy tree a few years ago. I hacked some branches off and transplanted them onto the bare patches; trimmed the top to make it look bushier; and fiddled around with it until it looked nice.

Think of it as an X-Factor contestant...first audition, rubbish hair and Primark leggings; by the end, all glossy hair (the lametta?) and general remodelling!

[jackie j]

We bought a tree last year from diy store got home and it was awful needles dropping everywhere we hadnt noticed in the shop so we took it back and got a refund. Went somewhere else and got a better one.

[RedThorn]

awww Mahoosive hugs there Incy. I know how important the tree is to you! Awww shucks...here's another hug!

[shirlthegirl43]

We get a Nordmann fir every year they are great as they keep their needles even if you do manage to get the room warm. When you first unwrap them they do tend to look like the branches are straight up but after a day or so they sort themselves out a bit. Don't worry so much and just enjoy decorating it. xxxxx

[matthew2riches]

Hoooof it out and get one you like. IMO the Christmas tree has to be exactly right or it ruins the whole xmas decor!

[Alison]

OH went out and bought the christmas tree on Friday and today we got it in it's stand and took the netting off.
It's horrid! They have apparently stopped stocking the type we usually have so he bought a nordic pine instead.
The shape is uneven and the branches stick straight up in the air!
I have no idea where to begin to decorate it and frankly I'm too depressed by it to try at the moment.
It's really knocked the christmas spirit out of me.

Presumably you liked it when you saw it in the shop before they netted it up so there's no reason why you won't like it again.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Perspective Alert!

In light of the news reports that have been broadcast from the troops serving in Afghanistan.....well.... er....

Er ... it's a tree.

As to the idea of it ruining Christmas if it's not 'right'....!?

Please tell me that you will have a great time decorating it anyway, and that you can all have a good giggle about it during the festivities!

[zazen999]

Presumably you liked it when you saw it in the shop before they netted it up so there's no reason why you won't like it again.

Incy wasn't there - her OH bought the tree [I know, all on his own. A man - a shop - disaster was looming].

[Alison]

Incy wasn't there - her OH bought the tree [I know, all on his own. A man - a shop - disaster was looming].

Ah, yes I see that on the first post now I've read it properly although to be honest I always thought that Incy was a man, dunno why though

[zazen999]

Ah, yes I see that on the first post now I've read it properly although to be honest I always thought that Incy was a man, dunno why though

Heavens no!!! She's a lovely lady - nice hair to boot.

[Alison]

Heavens no!!! She's a lovely lady - nice hair to boot.

Am sure even I'd have worked out her gender if I'd met her

[Littlemouse]

I remember v clearly buying a Christmas tree in a hurry from a field, in the dark, mostly lit by my car headlights and in pouring rain. When I got around to bringing it inside I found I'd bought a practical joke of a tree so bereft of branches on one side that it practically sat flat against the wall - I was incredibly disappointed with my choice but decided to look upon it as a spacesaver.

[zazen999]

Am sure even I'd have worked out her gender if I'd met her

To be fair, I did know she was a lady before I actually met her........

[di]

In defence of your hubbie...I'm sure trees DO have the ability to morph into something totally different once the nets put on...ours was nowhere near as huge in the shop as it was when we got it home!
I don't know how firmly "up" your branches are but we've got four or five extra heavy decorations that do a good job of pulling down the odd stubborn branch.
Hope you manage to get it as you like it.xxxx

[Incy]

My hubby bought the only one big enough in the shop. I don't blame him as trees were not high on the list when he was a child so he had no idea I'd be so upset.
Panic over though as he has suggested making this one into an outside tree with rope lights and getting a new one for our proper tree

Hazel,
You are right and I know that in the grand scheme of things a tree is not very important.
In the small scheme of making Christmas as right as possible for my little family it is however very important. When we lived in The Netherlands and couldn't get anything other than a rather bedraggled needle dropping tree, we lived with it and made it as pretty as possible.
While we are in a position to have a good tree I don't think we should have to make do.