Christmas Tree Bourton on the Water 2012

Hello Shirl... amazing pic ...

nice...is that a river between two roads? First glance I thought it was a flooded street/road
I'm curious what the sign says.

Lovely! I haven't been to Bourton for years and years, it's such a beautiful place :)

I can't remember what the sign says Floralhead, but it is to do with being donated by the Parish Council or somethinglike that!! I read it once some time ago, but I haven't bothered reading it for ages!! The river is quite wide & very shallow and it runs along the side of the village green. The main street is on the other side of the green and there is a footpath on the other side of the river.
The tree has been put in the river for years & years now and touch wood so far no trouble with electricity & water! The lights are installed by qualified electricians & I guesss they use all the appropriate cables etc and the cable is taken from the top of the tree over to a building, so cables are not touching water. Hope that quells your worries Karensusan!

lol....I know, I'm a worrier! Every time I get in to our hot tub I wonder if I will get out alive! It kind of defeats the purpose really, so I hardly ever go in.

Thanks Shirl, that was very interesting info. Must be beautiful in the snow too. If the river is shallow then it must freeze for the winter? If so are you allowed to skate on it too?
We have a fountain in our river too, always wondered about the mix of electricity & water too! We don't skate on our river though!! Could you imagine the things that would take place if people could just skate freely over to the next country LOL. I heard back in the day (prohibition) they used to run alcohol back & forth.
here is a link to an article about the 'Windsor-Detroit' Funnel they called it (we have an underground tunnel running between our cities or you can go by bridge)

https://www.reuther.wayne.edu/node/8334

What a shame Karensusan! I wouldn't worry there are all sorts of regulations these days to make these things safe.
I'd love a hot tub, but it is beyond our finances I'm afraid unless we win the Lotto & not much chance of that!!!! Ha!! :)))))

Thanks Shirl...it is lovely when I pluck up the courage! ;) x To be honest, I never wanted it, it is my husbands 'toy'. He really, really, really wanted one. For myself, I feel it takes up quite a lot of 'growing space' ;)

Ha! water garden??? ;)

lol! ;)

that must have taken some setting up to do safely! amazing

Well, Fran it is set in a stand with long feet which holds it in position. The chaps come along with a lorry which they drive into the river and use a cherry picker to get it all installed correctly!! Usually it's very cold when they do it - rather them than me!!
Thenthe electricians move in to do the lights which I guess have special cables. The lead is taken from the top of the tree and into the nearby village hall., so it doesn't touch the ground or the water.
All quite safe. Touch wood!!!!

I could only think of the cables going underwater and up the tree - taking it from the top is much safer - presume there's some slack to allow for the wind moving the tree a bit - but not too much!

The 'feet' 'arms' whatever you call them, spread right across the river bed to hold it up. Touch wood it has never blown over yet!! Sometimes the ducks sit in a line along the 'feet' - looks quite funny.

lol levitating ducks! sounds lovely - the tree, not the ducks, though they probably are as well *s*

is there a symbolic reason for having the tree where it is? or is it just because "that's the way it's done"?

Just the way it's done Fran. I guess it seemed the most advatageous place to put it - out of the way!!!! ... but still very visible and unusual to-boot!!!!!!!!!!

indeed it is! lol round here we get a few inspid coils of blue and white lights twined round lamp-posts so high that one can hardly see them against the lights. sigh.