Treeless Christmas Tree

Not wishing to be left out of the current frenzy of yuletide ideas...

MaxCo. is proud to introduce its Treeless Christmas Tree, aimed at people who have ethical qualms about abusing conifers.

The TCT arrives fully assembled, in an 8ft-tall conical box. Simply place in the desired location, plug it in, and stand back in wonder. The TCT consists of swags and swathes of tinsel- rope, shiny glass baubles and twinkling lights, all draped over... nothing.

The careful eye will note that the baubles merely _appear_ at first sight to be hanging in mid air. Each one, in fact, is touching a part of the tinsel-rope, or the electric cable of the lights. The tinsel-ropes, and indeed the sheathing of the electric cable, are in fact made of carbon fibre, and far stiffer than they appear. The baubles, of course, are firmly attached to the tinsel and/or cable wherever they happen to adjoin it.

The overall effect is of a gaudily and lavishly dressed tree, but without the actual tree.