"One Misty, Moisty Morning .....

When cloudy was the weather
I chanced to meet a youngish man ................ "

at the place where they sell lovely fresh trees every year, and he helped trim the end of our 6-footer after his mate had put it through the magic, mesh-encasing machine

Now the tree is lying just outside the patio windows in its mesh sleeve, waiting for the 14th. My younger son's birthday is on the 13th so, by family tradition, our tree, Christmas cards and other festive paraphernalia have to wait.

And so they should.