Even as the decorations go up I daydream about taking them down

This year I am doing a reverse Grinch. I once loved Christmas, but my old heart must be shrinking a little, just a little so don't panic.

Anyone who does not enjoy their kids excitement has got to be a little bit odd. This bit I still very much love.

However the faffing about with decorations and a manky old tree certainly no longer thrills me. I didn't even attempt to drag the boxes in from the garage until Elliot had settled for his afternoon nap. The thought of him munching on pine needles, chomping on fairy lights and finding new uses for pins was beyond me.

In fact its hard enough setting up the decorations, lights and tree out of the exploring reach of his grubby little one year old hands. As it was I has 5 helpers in the form of the two dogs mooching around, and the three bigger kids.

For the first time ever we have managed to make last years potted tree survive to do another year. When I say managed it sounds like effort actually went into this amazing feat, let me assure you that no effort at all went into this and we just seem to have acquired the toughest tree ever.

Last new years day it was dumped in the garden awaiting a trip to be recycled. It never quite made the journey and instead spent about 3 months mostly on its side in a freezing cold garden. At some point it was then hefted down to the bottom garden, partially hidden behind the shed, and left for the spring, summer, autumn and into the next winter. Even in the heat wave it was never watered, and while plants around it wilted and died it stayed strong in its little pot.

So this was a nice treat to only have to shake the dead leaves off, to dislodge a few slugs, and to then be able to drag it into the house, how much nicer than handing a dodgy bloke in a car park somewhere 40 quid for a new one.

This is when my Grinch moment started, with all that Christmas spirit all I could think was how quickly I could get rid of all the decorations and get my house back. Traditionally we clear the decorations ready for my daughters birthday early in January, however this year I would happily chuck them all back in the garage tomorrow.

The kids loved putting them up and I will soon add a picture of the finished tree that they massacred with an excess of decorations, lights, crackers and candy canes. I was even a little excited to see Elliot's reaction to all the flashing and sparkling. Its not his first Christmas, but last year he was a slightly useless new born so it all passed him by.

My abiding thought despite all this is still "Can I take these bloody decorations down yet?"