A little later than usual due to my extended stay in Singapore, this weekend marked our annual Christmas-tree-decorating party (my annual Mark Twain excuse for saying “come decorate our Christmas tree, it’ll be lots of fun!” and watching as others do all the dirty work).

There was mulled wine and mince pies, good friends and a lot of swearing at some very stubborn Christmas lights. Still, it’s what makes Christmas what it is, right?

Struggling with the Christmas lights

Struggling with the Christmas lights

Sandro sensibly takes a seat and watches the mayhem from a distance...

Sandro sensibly takes a seat and watches the mayhem from a distance…

Matthew demonstrates a novel approach at untangling the Christmas lights

Matthew demonstrates a novel approach at untangling the Christmas lights

Matthew & Anne-Laure, hard at work on the lights

Matthew & Anne-Laure, hard at work on the lights

A candidate for "Stuff on my Cat" if ever I saw one. Daisy didn't really enter into the Christmas spirit this year...

A candidate for “Stuff on my Cat” if ever I saw one. Daisy didn’t really enter into the Christmas spirit this year…

Neil "supervises"

Neil “supervises”

Anne Laure, hard at work decorating the tree

Anne Laure, hard at work decorating the tree

Neil ends up being decorated himself. Awww, pretty.

Neil ends up being decorated himself. Awww, pretty.

We've subsequently reduced Aude's sugar intake

We’ve subsequently reduced Aude’s sugar intake

Neil didn't quite get the hang of "decorating the tree", preferring to focus his efforts elsewhere.

Neil didn’t quite get the hang of “decorating the tree”, preferring to focus his efforts elsewhere.

Not a happy camper.

Not a happy camper.

Finished at last!

Finished at last!

Satisfaction at last!

Satisfaction at last!

Jean Michel looks skeptical about the whole thing...

Jean Michel looks skeptical about the whole thing…