I want a real tree

[Inneedofbrandy]

Have never, even growing up, had a real tree. Everyone says how much hassle they are the needles everywhere BLA I want one! How do you stand it up though? A bucket a special pot I'm clueless. If you get real trees please come and tell me what you do with yours.

DON'T use hairspray - fire hazard!

Oh yeah, brain doesn't function this time of day very well.

What are you having this year, you said used to.

HAve to have artificial now - can't get a decent proper Christmas tree over in Australia without paying an absolute bomb for it. I refuse to shell out £60-£100 for a 5' proper live Christmas tree, and the cheaper ones aren't proper at all, they're long-needled fir trees with droopy branches, many of which have been chopped off the top of trees that line the roads!! So we get the smell but you can't dress them easily because the weight of the ornaments drags the branches down. :( Had that the first year here and not again. I did buy a real potted one that was 12" high, that cost £12!! It might be big enough to use in about 10 years time...

We now have an 8' artificial tree (bought in the sale at about 80% discount!) that is fairly real looking, and pine essential oil.

I bet it feels really strange having Xmas in Australia, BBQ on the beach for dinner and all that. Urgh I wouldn't spend that much on a tree either.

Ha, no we don't do the barbie on the beach thing - DH got indoctrinated into the UK way of Christmas dinner so bless him, we've had the big roast every year so far (3)! Luckily Christmas Day hasn't been too hot each year we've been here either, but I bet it is this year

Yes, it is bloody bizarre - especially having to wait until gone 8pm to see any Christmas lights, and there aren't that many - shops don't do the ol' Christmas trees outside the shop fronts like they do in many places in the UK. They have them inside the shopping centres, but the smaller towns don't even have Christmas street lights :( - it's quite sad really, you don't get the Christmassy feel at all!

Ours always comes with a round bit to keep it up but sometimes needs a good thwack before it comes in the house - a big tall strong person does the job - ths also gets rid of bugs and loose needles.

Last year ours was perfect - we shut the living room door each night and every morning it smelt heavenly!

We get one every year on the first sat of December. It never drops needles, I never water and it sits next to the coal fire! It last til new year!

We pay approx £50 for it each year and it smells gorgeous - I could never go back to a fake tree!

We have a had a real tree for the past couple of years. We have it in a stand and it will easily last a month without being watered in you are worried about water staining.

This year is like one with a root to replant in the garden once Christmas is over. But we have a seven foot tree and I suspect the price will be high