DON'T TELL ME I CAN'T… put my tree up in November

Nothing can stop Amanda White getting into the festive spirit early

- ANNA MATHESON

Hanging the last bauble on the 6ft tree, I lean over to turn the fairy lights on before stepping back and admiring my afternoon’s handiwork.

Each year, my husband rolls his eyes as I lug boxes of baubles down from the loft and start putting together our artificial Christmas tree – not because he dislikes Christmas or even the festive decorations for that matter. He’d just prefer to see them when it’s actually Christmas, not almost two months beforehand, at the start of November.

This will be the fifth year I’ve put the Christmas tree up early. I adore the festive season and, as far as I’m concerned, as soon as Guy Fawkes Night is over, it’s time to start the Christmas countdown. That means unpacking our tree and setting it up in the kitchen before decorating it with white baubles I’ve picked up over the years. I’ll turn up the Christmas music and really get into the festive spirit – it’s become a tradition.