I am about to throw my christmas tree through the window.....sodding lights

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

ok not quite threw the window - but it's doing my head it - I HATE this part of it. Get me up a ladder hanging deorations from the ceiling no problems, tinsels round anything and everything, but lights on a tree? No - it defeats me every year.

I have 3 sets of lighs to choose from - a really long, a longish and a short - and every time I try and put any of them on it just looks STUPID.

Idiot proof ways to put a string of lights on a tree that makes it look like someone has made an effort rather than just thrown the lights at the tree.........PLEASE

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

threw=through - but you get the drift.

I have 45 minutes to get them done.....promised DS1 that the lights would be on when he got back from his school pantomime trip and they could decorate it while I cook dinner........

[ConnorTraceptive]

Well for starters i only decorate the part of the tree that people can see so if it's against the wall don't bother wrapping the lights all the way round.

I find it easirt to use two sets of lights one at the top one at the bottom. Also are you putting the lights on before the decs?

Secondly I plug my lights in so they are turned on whilst I hang them helps get an idea of where they are sitting

[PortlyBlackSantaUpAChimney]

Turn the tree not the lights....is this possible?

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

well it's up against the window - so can be seen from 3 sides (almost 4/5 actually where it is this year is "visible" . No decorations on the tree yet. I don't have 2 matching sets of lights.

Do I drape them, hook them, weave them

Oh gawd this is supposed to fun right????????

Turning could be possible I guess - but not particularly easy

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

Will try plugging them in once I've taken several deep breaths and got some more ideas.

[ConnorTraceptive]

Ok start at the top of the tree and drape a cross the branch's in a line then come down missing a row of branch's and drape across in other line and so on and so forth

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

I'm getting awful flash backs to my first Christmas on my own 2 years ago (was back with exH......kind of.....last year). I had an absolute nightmare with the ceiling decorations not staying up/being broken and had a thread on here in pieces (I'm not quite at that stage yet just very frustrated in a "I should be able to do this" kind of way)

[ABudafulSightWereHappyTonight]

If the tree can be seen all the way around you need to wind them around it. Start at bottom and work your way up. It will look crap. They always do till you have the decorations up.

[ConnorTraceptive]

Don't worry I was the same with the lights this year it's like paralell parking if you don't get it the first time it fucks you right up and you have to drive on a find another space!

[Poledra]

You do realise that, whatever you do, the boys will think it's fabulous and Christmassy and just want to get on and do their bit, don't you? Stop stressing about it, throw the bloody lights at the tree and RELAX!!

[PortlyBlackSantaUpAChimney]

...and then sneakily rearrange the decs they put on when they've gone to bed. Not that i have ever done that, oh no...

[Poledra]

Oh no, me neither, Port.

[ConnorTraceptive]

me either portly me either

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

oh see now you're all confusing me -

start at the top
start at the bottom

eek

Herb - gawd knows how the decorations will end up - I'm leaving the DS's to it..........

I'm a perfectionist...not a very good one as I rarely get anything perfect. I can cope with their stuff not being "perfect" - because it's their effort. But if my stuff doesn't look how I think it should then I get myself in a tizz.

[ConnorTraceptive]

Oh well there's your answer let them do the lights!

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

oh no - I'd never be so cruel as to rearrange their decorating !!! That can be as jumbled as they like it - but NOT my lights. No that has to be just right.......well ok it doesn't really but I won't be happy unless it is.

hmmm - maybe I can leave them with the step stool (it's about 5 1/2ft the tree - so DS1 will reach easily with the stool) and let the do the lights.......

But then I promised them I'd do the lights.

[Poledra]

You're overthinking this, Baroque. It's a Christmas tree. For your children. Who aren't actually interior decor critics (I don't think). Just throw the buggers on (the lights, I mean, not the children).

G'wan, do it!

[Snowmanasarus]

I start at the top, sellotape one right at the top then spiral down. The thing is once it is dark and they are all lit up it will look fine. In the daytime christmas trees always look a bit rubbish.

I feel your pain though, i had a tantrum about my tree this morning because it kept bloody falling over.

[trumpton]

OK...now listen to very old lady....... Start at top. Go vertically( well at a slight angle ) down then up then down again . Repeat until out of lights. If you measure length of lights it will give some idea of how many times you can zigzag up and down. But as others say it will be wonderful however you do it.

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

oh I always over think it

I'm actually thinking maybe them doing the lights may be the best plan.......I said in my op I can do the ceiling lights up the ladder......BUT I haven't actually tried getting drawing pins in these ceilings yet so there is potential for that to go horribly wrong again too.......


Throwing the buggers on the tree does sound tempting depending on their behaviour when DS1 gets home though

[DadIsSad]

I just wrapped the light cord round starting from the bottom and working up trying to make it vaguely even. Probably looks rubbish in the light with the light off - but you know what, I don't care and nobody else does either, just as nobody will care if your lights look a bit rubbish when switched off. They're not exactly perfect when switched on either - but it's not about perfection (and I say that as somebody who is a bit of a perfectionist).

It really doesn't matter that much - just do it.

[twirlymum]

Just make sure you plug them in before you start, to check they are all working. It's terrible to get them all on, only to then find out you have a blown bulb, and have to check every fecking one.

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

I will return........have to go and pick DS1 up from school as he was sick on the way home on the bus (this confirms my travel sickness theory as he was sick when we travelled in the summer >) and they don't want him walking back on his own.


ARGGG