TREE TROUBLE !!!! ..........

Well, we decided that it would be Monday that would be T-Day. The dreaded getting of the Christmas tree. Mr. Home arrived back from work in what was possibly the worst downpour of the century and it didn't look as if there would be any let up soon. Mr. Home's car was in for a service so, off we went in mine.
It was tipping it down and, for someone who likes to drive fast, I was going at a snails pace as, even though the windscreen wipers were on mega-speed, I could hardly see but, we finally arrived at the garden centre without any mishaps. We beat the Olympic time for the 100 yards to get to the entrance and were finally in the dry. Our garden centre is pretty brilliant. I couldn't take any photos of the outside because of the hurricane that was raging outside but, take it from me, it looked beautiful, even through a sheet of water !!We sauntered round, having a look at each section. About 10 years ago, they had someone who was brilliant at display but , she obviously left because, although it looks good, it never looks AS good as it used to.

Baubles .............

wreaths, pine cones ..........

.......... artificial trees ..........

.......... polar bears ..........

.......... topiary ..........

.......... displays ( I thought that Laura @ 52 Flea and Carole @ Maynard Greenhouse would like this one)

Oh, and then I see the sign to the ice rink. Dragging Mr. Home we head outside where, luckily, the rain has nearly stopped.................

.......... passing the displays again (that was my way round the fact that I loaded the same photo and haven't got time to fiddle about getting rid of it !!!! ) ..........

...... and there it was. Bigger than last year and, worryingly, rather empty.

Usually, it's packed and because it is so popular, most people book online. It gets so busy that you can't skate unless you've booked...... very strange........ Oh well. We were just sauntering over to the Christmas trees when there was a Tannoy announcement, ' Ladies and Gentleman, We would like to thank you for visiting Van Hages Garden Centre and would like to inform you that we will be closing in 5 minutes' !!!! Oh my God. I can't choose a tree in 5 hours let alone 5 minutes. We ran to the trees. The man who's there every year look fed up, cold and disinterested and was obviously thinking about being home, in the warm and having his dinner. He was not very helpful, to say the least and said wouldn't it be better if we came back in the daytime. The 7 footers didn't look all that good. They were a bit bare at the top and didn't pass the 'Jackie' test in any way............ and when he said that they were £95, we both nearly knocked over another display !! I think that we paid £60 last year. I know they said they might be more expensive this year but ............... We decided to leave and try somewhere else. Well, after sorting through quite a few trees, as is our wont, at another nursery, we finally settled on one. They netted it up and it was paid for (under £50) but , all of a sudden there was a stirring in the grey matter and I realised that we had my car. An Audi TT, which isn't quite the mode of transport for getting a 7 foot Christmas tree home !! We asked about delivery---- £30. We only live 10 minutes up the road , so Mr Home bought some rope and..............

Ta Da .....one 7 foot tree in an Audi TT and a very slow drive home. Goodness knows what will happen next year on the search for our Christmas Tree.


Jackie