Christmas Tree Finally Up & Decorated

Today I've put up the Christmas Tree at the third attempt. Why has it taken me three attempts - in a word - memories.

This is the first Christmas that I've spent on my own. I've always carried out the ritual of climbing up into the loft & fetching down all the decorations, putting up the tree & dressing it for 'us'

My own tree & decorations are in storage in England but Justine & Simon had said, before they left for Australia, that I could put theirs up in my house as they were not going to be back until January.
I went next door to their house & fetched the tree & decorations the other day & that's as far as I got before emotions got the better of me.

A couple of days later I had another go with the same result. I had more or less resigned myself to no tree. Then after I visited the 'Santa Shop' the other day & bought my icicle lights & saw how nice they looked I thought I'd have another final attempt today.

So as I said at the beginning - at the third attempt, I now have a really lovely decorated Christmas tree up & I'm really pleased that I persevered & got it done eventually.