Well I don't like imported Christmas trees nor do I like plastic ones so for a few years now we've bought our UK grown Christmas tree in Hawkwell in Essex. So yesterday the Yeti had to do tree duty for the first time. Lots of snow still around Essex too to play in as well. And WOW for the 4x4 system, the off road button and the winter tyres. It went through deep snow, totally iced up roads, wet roads everything without missing a beat. Just amazing the amount of confidence the car gave me. Some pics:

Roads like this posed NO problem:

The Argos step came in handy to tie the tree down:

It took some provoking (and the traction control off) to get all four wheels to spin. It was not easy believe me!

Some of the deep snow:

Also got a picture of the headlamp washers working. Yikes they do spray with some power I have to say!

And look at my special "Warning Yetis ahead" T-shirt!!!! It is from http://www.cafepress.co.uk

[The eagle eyed will also spot that I have yet to make my mind up as to the centre caps! The car sports different types on each side!]

Looks awesome in the snow - right at home..

I keep one of those collapsable steps in the boot, but then again I am a short a**e

Looks awesome in the snow - right at home..

I keep one of those collapsable steps in the boot, but then again I am a short a**e

I'm 5'11" so can just about reach the middle of the roof, but the step stops me from having to lean against the car in doing so and perhaps scratching it.

5' 5" - so me reaching the roof of a Yeti would impossible.. I can just bout reach the roof on my Octy - maybe I should lower it?

I keep one of those collapsable steps in the boot, but then again I am a short a**e

I bought one of those collapsible steps from Amazon a year or so ago. It was OK till I stood on it. If someone had had a video camera I'd have got £250 from that TV programme with all the misadventure clips...is it 'You've been Framed'?. It literally snapped in half and collapsed under my weight. But, like any self respecting Yeti, I do weigh 96 stone.

Blimey, Johann, you were brave venturing in to the wilds of Essex on a day like that.....many men before you have trekked that way, never to be seen again. There are still unexplored parts of South Essex with sightings of savages all too common...and that's just the women. I reckon you was lucky to come out of there with a Christmas tree on yer roof....you could so easily have found yourself perched at the top of it with the pointy bit lodged................well, I need not go on.

I bought one of those collapsible steps from Amazon a year or so ago. It was OK till I stood on it. If someone had had a video camera I'd have got £250 from that TV programme with all the misadventure clips...is it 'You've been Framed'?. It literally snapped in half and collapsed under my weight. But, like any self respecting Yeti, I do weigh 96 stone.

Blimey, Johann, you were brave venturing in to the wilds of Essex on a day like that.....many men before you have trekked that way, never to be seen again. There are still unexplored parts of South Essex with sightings of savages all too common...and that's just the women. I reckon you was lucky to come out of there with a Christmas tree on yer roof....you could so easily have found yourself perched at the top of it with the pointy bit lodged................well, I need not go on.

Well my Yeti is set to auto-lock. So we were safe inside most of the time. The savages thankfully stayed unseen. OR perhaps the Yeti scared them off?

Well my Yeti is set to auto-lock. So we were safe inside most of the time. The savages thankfully stayed unseen. OR perhaps the Yeti scared them off?

No, you were just lucky on that occasion. Them women'll hound you down, bit like Komodo Dragons, they take a nip out of you or just a small puncture wound - with the tip of a red stilleto perhaps, then wait till you weaken and succumb, then batter you with faux cocodile handbags. Tis a terrible way for a man to go.

No, you were just lucky on that occasion. Them women'll hound you down, bit like Komodo Dragons, they take a nip out of you or just a small puncture wound - with the tip of a red stilleto perhaps, then wait till you weaken and succumb, then batter you with faux cocodile handbags. Tis a terrible way for a man to go.

u need to be up here johaan for real snow still 2-3ft deep with solid ice underneath that

u need to be up here johaan for real snow still 2-3ft deep with solid ice underneath that

I'm coming Lee! The weekend after next. But by then alas, it would have melted!

No, you were just lucky on that occasion. Them women'll hound you down, bit like Komodo Dragons, they take a nip out of you or just a small puncture wound - with the tip of a red stilleto perhaps, then wait till you weaken and succumb, then batter you with faux cocodile handbags. Tis a terrible way for a man to go.

BH!!

You're beginning to worry me!!

Am I safe venturing over to friends at Manningtree, or are the North Essex females not as bad?

BH!!

You're beginning to worry me!!

Am I safe venturing over to friends at Manningtree, or are the North Essex females not as bad?

WORSE! Don't risk it!

Re the Tree. Next year buy one with roots and plant it out after the festivities. You can reuse it every year until it won't fit into the house and you never need to venture into the wilds again.

Many years ago a Texan US airman ventured down to Essex from his airbase. Walking around he came across a local with a big smile on his face drinking a Special Brew on his front porch. The airman stopped to talk and asked the local why was he so happy. The local replied, pointing to his house and front garden, "I paid off my mortgage today and all this you can see is now mine".

The Texan replied that if he was on his front porch it would take him a day to drive his truck to the end of his property.

The local thought a bit and replied:

"Yup, I got a truck just like that as well".

tom