Six days and counting until the highlight of 2006 for 'arrers' fans yet there's trouble ahead.

Arriving home from work on Sunday, I discovered a whacking great Christmas tree in 'TV corner' chez Killworth.

Now I enjoy the festive period as much as the next man, particularly with a son of six months about to experience his first Christmas.

But when it means losing a comfy seat in front of the darts for a 6ft pine tree that's going to shed its needles all over my lounge floor it's gone too far.

Because as things stand I'll be confined to the dining room watching events at the Circus Tavern unfold.

Just imagine it. The Power wraps up his 14th world title with a nine-darter and a heaving, sweaty mass of humanity (aka Dennis Smith) piles onto the stage to congratulate him.

In years to come the arrers fraternity will ask 'Where were you when the greatest man to throw the old tungsten won the most memorable of his crowns?'

And all I'll be able to offer in response, to widespread shaking of heads no doubt, is 'sat in the dining room shifting uncomfortably in a seat that wasn't made for lengthy spells of TV viewing'.

My best mate Dave did offer a solution yesterday, telling me to (in his words) "put my foot down and tell wifey it's not on".

He's never been married, Dave. Not that you'd guess...