...shopping for a Christmas tree

...starting our search for owl decorations, we went to homebase. I have this dream of a Christmas tree covered in little white owls but sadly it was not to be.

...refusing to even glimpse a tree there, I dragged Sam to Stewarts Garden Centre in Christchurch, because it's tradition. For more years than I can remember, the Illingworth family Christmas tree shopping experience involves my dad and my sisters standing by the biggest, fullest  tree we can find, while my mum holds on to a much smaller one across the other side of the centre. Where usually the matriach rules supreme, at Stewarts this rule relaxes, & as is tradition, we bring home the monster tree.

And in recent years they also have reindeer, and Badger likes to rub noses with them as a Merry Christmas greeting, it's his tradition. This year did not disappoint, we brought home the biggest tree. I actually started to sound a little like my mother, "Ron, where are we going to put it?" And like Ron, Sam dismissed my uncertainty, hauling the monster tree to the overeager sales guy.

As is tradition, we had to rearrange the lounge and lop off some of the trunk to make it fit. But fit it does and I love it!

After the tree decorating , drinking hot choc with marshmallows & listening to carols, our friends came over and we moved on to mulled wine and went for a gorgeous Salathai in Southbourne. A great start to December. Hope you're all feeling festive too.