On Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:02:48 -0000, John wrote:

That is what happens each year, take lights down ... wife then makes
sure they are all working, put them away - in original boxes ... then
next year they don't work ... hours of her fuming away !

I do the lights, they get checked when put away and when brought out. They
all worked this year. B-)

One thing that is invaluable when a chain doesn't work is a bulb tester.
Mine is a small plastic box that takes two AA cells and has a couple of
bits of spring metal to wedge the bulb base between. It may have come from
Woolies...

Xmas lights are not mandatory.

A decorated tree looks very drab without lights IMHO.

Biggest problem with tree lights is the large range of bulb bases and many
here today gone tommorow makers. If you know the base/bulb type number
google may find a supplier.

--
Cheers
Dave.