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How Bournemouth Christmas tree raised the roof (From Bournemouth Echo)
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How Bournemouth Christmas tree raised the roof
3:50pm Tuesday 16th December 2008
A 35ft Christmas tree is attracting more than a few curious looks at a Bournemouth home.
At first glance it looks as if the massive tree has burst straight through the roof of the six-bedroom house in Carbery Avenue.
But dad-of-three Greig Howe has painstakingly cut the £250 tree into three sections with the huge trunk in the living room, the middle section in a spare bedroom and the top perched on a flat part of the roof.
He set about creating the optical illusion after one of his three sons complained that last year’s Christmas tree was too small.
Greig asked the fire service if they'd like to come and put a star on the tree as a bit of a joke - and they said they would, as long as his star was a smoke detector.
The service is running an awareness campaign to highlight the importance of being careful with your Christmas tree.
“I wanted to give the kids a Christmas they wouldn’t forget,” said Greig, a 35-year-old designer.
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Your Say YourEcho
Mike Pickering, Bournemouth says...
12:37pm Tue 16 Dec 08
And why the pointless "luxury" adjective for the home. Any home is a luxury in these times, but to single out a home that has - goodness ! SIX (count them) SIX bedrooms as 'luxury' smacks of the kind of inverted snobbery for which the inhabitants of this country are unfortunately world-famous..
Why not go the whole-hog and give it the full red-top treatment: "Posh artsy fartsy designer puts up huge 500 pound christmas tree in middle of massive 600 thousand pound house in exclusive snooty neighborhood - reporter reveals extent of hubris in one telling word".
LifeonMars, says...
12:50pm Tue 16 Dec 08
Perhaps cleaning leaves from my gutters ?
ranger_bob, Springbourne says...
12:51pm Tue 16 Dec 08
solitaire wrote:How reassuring to read that there are people who can't see the lighter side of life and like to have a pop when someone does something FUN!!! Personally I think the tree looks great and it gave me a smile
How reassuring to read that when kids say "Jump" parents ask "How high?"
labourse, Dinard says...
12:55pm Tue 16 Dec 08
if you read this ignore all the negative comments as above its just jealousy, you have 4 happy kids, great home have a great Christmas and happy new year;
djd, bournemouth says...
1:44pm Tue 16 Dec 08
amused, poole says...
2:53pm Tue 16 Dec 08
Jagger, Christchurch says...
3:09pm Tue 16 Dec 08
I had a dire time during the last big recession when anxiety made it difficult to enjoy Christmases, but festive sights and sounds did help to cheer me up. I hope those feeling the squeeze today can feel the same about this news item.
Give Greig some credit: he could have put a tree in the corner of his living room and drawn the curtains. Instead he's doing something for passers-by to enjoy. Good on him. Merry Christmas everyone.
John T, Poole says...
3:33pm Tue 16 Dec 08
LifeonMars wrote:LifeonMars
I see from the picture that The fire and rescue service were used to secure the tree. Could the service please publish what other services they do together with their charges. Perhaps cleaning leaves from my gutters ?
Sorry, the Fire and Rescue Service are going to be tied up for some time clearing up the leaves from Greig's Christmas Tree. After all, no leaf must be left unturned in publicising what a fire hazard a 35 foot tree can be in the house.
Incidentally, perhaps Grieg, the composer(?) or Greig, the designer, could cast a spell on the Echo's Reporter to at least get his name right when reporting such a roof raising event...eh, Greg?!
dunketh, Portland says...
4:07pm Tue 16 Dec 08
And why not involve the local fire brigade? He invited them, they chose to turn up through some feeling of community spirit.
Something sadly lacking in most of the miserable sods we encounter these days.
The Chill, Bournemouth says...
4:09pm Tue 16 Dec 08
Mike Pickering wrote:Someone sounds jealous. Must be miserable from living in a council flat.
So why were there fire fighters involved - surely it's basic journalism to account for something like this that appears in the accompanying pictures ? And why the pointless "luxury" adjective for the home. Any home is a luxury in these times, but to single out a home that has - goodness ! SIX (count them) SIX bedrooms as 'luxury' smacks of the kind of inverted snobbery for which the inhabitants of this country are unfortunately world-famous.. Why not go the whole-hog and give it the full red-top treatment: "Posh artsy fartsy designer puts up huge 500 pound christmas tree in middle of massive 600 thousand pound house in exclusive snooty neighborhood - reporter reveals extent of hubris in one telling word".
Sounds like a fantastic idea though. Nice one Greig.
LadyLucan, Rio says...
4:12pm Tue 16 Dec 08
His name is Greig. Not Greg. Stop assuming eveything the Echo writes is a lie.
If you don't like it you don't have to read it.
John T, Poole says...
5:36pm Tue 16 Dec 08
LadyLucan wrote:Yeah, and your Lord Lucan's wife , I believe; more likely, Shergar, you silly mare!
JohnT, His name is Greig. Not Greg. Stop assuming eveything the Echo writes is a lie. If you don't like it you don't have to read it.
solitaire, christchurch says...
5:45pm Tue 16 Dec 08
Then take a look at the Waggy Tails website where they have a young dog who was thrown out of a moving car and had his hind legs mangled.
So forgive me if I'm negative about a child wanting a bigger tree at Xmas.
LadyLucan, Rio says...
5:47pm Tue 16 Dec 08
John T wrote:Now John, that's just rude.
LadyLucan wrote:Yeah, and your Lord Lucan's wife , I believe; more likely, Shergar, you silly mare!
JohnT, His name is Greig. Not Greg. Stop assuming eveything the Echo writes is a lie. If you don't like it you don't have to read it.
For all we know you're not really called John.
Greig, on the other hand, really is called Greig. And not Greg.
scrappy, Bournemouth says...
6:26pm Tue 16 Dec 08
Localsfirst, Poole says...
6:59pm Tue 16 Dec 08
I assume council tax payers will pay for the fire brigade's ridiculous call-out when bills land on our mats next April. Another 5% icrease? Thanks very much Howe family!
brooksy, bournemouth says...
7:10pm Tue 16 Dec 08
brooksy, bournemouth says...
7:11pm Tue 16 Dec 08
John T, Poole says...
8:09pm Tue 16 Dec 08
LadyLucan wrote:If you could see the wood for 35ft trees, you would realize that my reference to Greg was in response to him being referred to as Grieg and Greig in the report.
John T wrote:Now John, that's just rude. For all we know you're not really called John. Greig, on the other hand, really is called Greig. And not Greg.LadyLucan wrote: JohnT, His name is Greig. Not Greg. Stop assuming eveything the Echo writes is a lie. If you don't like it you don't have to read it.Yeah, and your Lord Lucan's wife , I believe; more likely, Shergar, you silly mare!
With his connections,e.g. Lords and Ladies,the Echo and the Fire Brigade,he seems a gregarious character. I just hope when he is not at the top of the tree, he will be just as popular on the way down.
DonG, says...
8:14pm Tue 16 Dec 08
LadyLucan wrote:Methinks he Ladyship has missed the point..
John T wrote:Now John, that's just rude. For all we know you're not really called John. Greig, on the other hand, really is called Greig. And not Greg.LadyLucan wrote: JohnT, His name is Greig. Not Greg. Stop assuming eveything the Echo writes is a lie. If you don't like it you don't have to read it.Yeah, and your Lord Lucan's wife , I believe; more likely, Shergar, you silly mare!
What John T rightly pointed out at 3.33pm was the Echo-ho-ho's ineptitude in spelling the man's name.
In paragraph 3 it's GrEIg
In paragraph 5 it's GrIEg
In the final paragraph, it reverts to GrEIg.
Hence the little pun by using the spelling Greg.
Anyway, back to the story, I think the tree is a wonderful idea, just perfect for Santa to tie up his sledge while he pops down the chimney ! (as long as he puts his cigar out first)
nick0809, newbury says...
8:17pm Tue 16 Dec 08
Localsfirst wrote:Its a great idea having this huge christmas tree.
What a waste of time and money. This family is obviously ignorant that there are going to be 2million people on the dole by Christmas. Have they not heard of having The Cutback Christmas - ie going without stuff - like everyone else?
I assume council tax payers will pay for the fire brigade's ridiculous call-out when bills land on our mats next April. Another 5% icrease? Thanks very much Howe family!
STOP MOANING and get a life
its his money, he can spend it how he likes! and he asked if the fire bragade wanted to put the angle on the tree and they said yes as a bit of christmas spirit!
Merry Christmas Everyone
nick0809, newbury says...
8:20pm Tue 16 Dec 08
ChesterCherry, chester says...
10:18pm Tue 16 Dec 08
LifeonMars wrote:The fire service used this mans brilliant Christmas Tree idea to highlight a very serious problem this time of year. If you read the article or saw any of the nationwide coverage then you would see that they placed a smoke detector on the tree as part of awarness campaign to highlight the importance of being careful with your Christmas tree.
I see from the picture that The fire and rescue service were used to secure the tree. Could the service please publish what other services they do together with their charges. Perhaps cleaning leaves from my gutters ?
GAHmusic, Bournemouth says...
10:20pm Tue 16 Dec 08
fedupwithjobsworths, Moordown says...
5:45am Wed 17 Dec 08
Mike Pickering, Bournemouth says...
5:17pm Wed 17 Dec 08
I hadn't realised quite the extent to which I would have to reduce my vocabulary and or subtlety in order to express an opinion in this column, but I guess I'll have to find the shortest words I can and try to write them in the style of a grunting drunk outside a local chipshop to be understood by the people that have misunderstood my initial comments. I am amazed that people with so little comprehension of what I wrote can actually operate a computers, type and read the 'Add Comment' button, but here goes:
When I wrote about the word 'luxury' in the article, I thought it was unnecessary and silly.
(ok so far ?)
I thought it made the reporter look a little jealous and petty to describe the house like that, and there was no reason for it.
(you're still with me here ?)
I wasn't and am not now, jealous of the owner, and I am not covetous of this house.
(that means I don't want to own it).
I have my own house of approximately the same size, already, in which I happily live.
I liked what the man had done with his Christmas tree.
It is good.
The end.
psychedelia_smith, Bornmouf says...
5:38pm Wed 17 Dec 08
welovechristmas, Southbourne says...
9:34pm Wed 17 Dec 08
So why were there fire fighters involved - surely it's basic journalism to account for something like this that appears in the accompanying pictures ? And why the pointless where is the word LUXURY in the article??
We can't see it!
welovechristmas, Southbourne says...
9:40pm Wed 17 Dec 08
solitaire wrote:What have chinese fur farms got to do with 35ft christmas trees being put up exactly???
It's true. My Xmas cheer vanished when I read about the Chinese fur farms where they skin dogs alive because the fur lies better. Google "PETATV" for the video and ghastly details. Then take a look at the Waggy Tails website where they have a young dog who was thrown out of a moving car and had his hind legs mangled. So forgive me if I'm negative about a child wanting a bigger tree at Xmas.
Mike Pickering, Bournemouth says...
3:56am Thu 18 Dec 08
It has been removed.
Now the article reads to my satisfaction and is an interesting and timely contribution to the newspaper, which I subsequently thoroughly applaud.
Mart-uk, Bournemouth says...
8:51pm Tue 23 Dec 08
P.P.S. I saw the Branksome video and its mint!
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Children with the lower section on the ground floor
Raising the roof!
The view outside the front of the house
Fire Fighters top the tree off with a smoke detector
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solitaire, christchurch says...
12:15pm Tue 16 Dec 08