I am inordinately proud of...........

...This:




It took two hours, much swearing (in a few different languages), 'help' from Jack, three different attempts at finding a heavy enough base, same number of attempts at finding a stabilizer of some sort around the Oasis (in the end I used cat litter. CLEAN cat litter........!), five different attempts at base-covering-scarves, Mother's advice about ornaments being crooked (or too many of the same on the same branch), Mother's puzzlement about Santa Jack plopped into the base ('Why??' 'Because that's SANTA Jack! Remember the film??' ** even more puzzled look** '...Well, I like it, so Santa Jack stays...'), serious words with Young Jack re: NO, that's NOT one of your toys, and you WILL NOT pull the ornaments/the tree (tick where appropriate) down...

Only - had to negotiate a television watching mother and two curious cats to take the picture (try that while setting the tripod - I dare you...), and it really doesn't do it justice.

I think I will try again either a) much later tonight, or b) when everybody's still asleep tomorrow morning.

Chuffed though. :)