Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree . . .

Living in rural Victoria, our choice of Christmas tree used to depend on which smallish pine tree growing randomly on the edge of a nearby pine plantation would be chosen to bring home and decorate.
But, ten years ago, after relocating to Queensland, there was no nearby pine plantation to plunder.
In the hassle of packing and moving, we bought a small artificial Christmas tree in a discount shop for the grand sum of $9.99.
That will have to do for now, we said. Later, we will buy a grander one.
Ten years have gone by and we have yet to but a ‘grander’ one.
Each December, we fetch the battered box from the roof space and unfold the $9.99 tree.
I used to say, ‘this is the last time’, and on several occasions we have gone Christmas tree shopping, each time returning with nothing, after being confused by the array of boxed apparitions. The silver shimmering light-adorned offerings seemed ostentatious and ‘not us’.
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So, little cheap tree, I have hung the old ornaments upon you and stood back to see that you are our tree and we congratulate you on your staying power.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!