A Christmas-tree haul can turn into a workout when you have to carry the tree home. That is the joke behind this Vlogmas outing: a festive shopping trip presented with the enthusiasm of a fitness video, followed by the practical business of getting a real tree into the living room.
Originally published on 7 December 2015, Vlogmas day 7 takes us from a Santa-hat introduction on the sofa to the Christmas aisles, the journey home and the tree’s eventual release from its netting. I called the experiment “Vlogmasness”.
Watch the Christmas-tree haul
A festive take on the fitness vlog
The evening starts at home, with a Santa hat setting the seasonal tone. The original description calls this my first attempt at a fitness video, taking inspiration from Christian Guzman and LexFitness. The twist is that the main event is bringing home a Christmas tree.
There is time for a drink and some preparation before heading out. The video moves at the pace of an evening vlog, with the shopping and the return home forming the story rather than a formal exercise routine.
Choosing a Christmas tree
Outside, it is already dark. The walk leads to Tesco, where the seasonal displays include real Christmas trees wrapped in netting and standing in red pots. The camera drops to trolley level as the shopping begins, giving us a close view of the tree and the surrounding displays.
A tree in a red pot becomes the centre of the haul. While it is wrapped, the branches are held close together; the fuller shape will only become clear later, once it is back in the living room.
A wander through the decorations
The Christmas aisle provides plenty of distractions. An angel figure, snow globes, baubles and a gold star all appear as the camera moves between the trolley and the shelves. It is a familiar part of Christmas shopping: looking at the small pieces that might go with the tree.
After browsing, the trip continues through the checkout and out into the night. The shopping part is done, but the tree still needs to make its way home.
The Christmas-tree workout
This is where the fitness-vlog joke becomes visible. With the tree and its red pot carried close to the camera, the journey home becomes a literal tree haul. The night-time footage catches the effort and the humour of turning an ordinary seasonal errand into the day’s main event.
Back inside, the tree stands on the coffee table while I take a seat on the sofa. Still tightly wrapped, it looks quite different from the shape that eventually emerges.
Unwrapping the tree at home
The final part of the video is devoted to unpacking. With the Santa hat back on, I work through the netting and free the branches. The tree gradually opens out, changing from a narrow bundle into the centrepiece ready for its decorations.
That reveal is the reward for the evening’s trip. Vlogmas day 7 ends with the tree home and unpacked, ready for the decorating to follow.
Archive video: 7 December 2015. Shops, displays and products shown belong to this visit. The fitness framing is part of the original vlog’s humour. All photographs are original stills from the Roberts London video.
