Christmas lights

[Prudie]

Why do they always come down from the loft in a knot even when they were put away tidily? I believe there is a mathematical theory to explain this

[Chickadee]

Yes, it's called "Sods Law".!!

[seadogg]

Depends on how many you've got but one solution is to find an old round biscuit tin and wind them round the inside wiith card between the layers. What the hell, life's too short lol

[Prudie]

That does seem a bit of an effort seadogg but I do always wrap them round a rolled up magazine but then a year later do you think I can find the end - no it's always buried in a mass of wires that seem to have actually formed a variety of loops and knots.

[NazNomad]

Mine go back exactly as they came out of the packing ... every year.

Thanks the 'Baby Cheesus' for OCD.

[what..the?]

I think it must be mice having a laugh...or 'Borrowers'

[boxtops]

I want to know who snapped the wires on my pre-lit tree, while it was under the bed all year.... one tree not lit this year!

[NazNomad]

Constant repetitive crushing will easily damage wires ... ;-)

[boxtops]

Cheeky besom, naz - it's the spare bed, not much activity there!

[Prudie]

Have you a touch of OCD Naz, I suppose it would help in these situations!
Boxy - the boys maybe?

[ChuckFickens]

I think it's covered by sods law.

Try rolling them up around something like a pringles tube instead next time you put them away.

[Clanad]

Problem is no matter how hard you try or how neatly you put them away, they'll be tangled next season... same reason why two wire coat hangers left in a closet will multiply to dozens...

[woofgang]

and dog leads always tie themselves in knots in your pocket

[factor-fiction]

Not sure whether there's a mathematical theory . I remember reading about string theory but that's something different.
I have the same problem with all my cables for anything. For example the cables for my phone, broadband box and table lamp. I never touch them but when I need to move something I find all the wires are so tangled up I need to unplug everything, untangle them and start all over again.
Hopefully someone can explain this.

[NazNomad]

Ever wonder if scientists should sometimes just 'get a life'? ... pmsl

http://halife.com/new...as_light_mystery.html

[seadogg]

The cussedness of inanimate objects transcends any laws we can discover

[Prudie]

Thanks i knew I'd heard about a theory being put forward about this a couple of years ago (??). It's not the same as Knot Theory (the topological one).

[wildwood]

My sister has a LOT of lights and her hubby has made winding storage for each light string from a piece of 6x4 and nailed a 12" piece of doweling along each long side, leaving 3" sticking out of each corner. Not very pretty but very effective for storing her heap of lights without (too much) tangling.

[Barmaid]

Doh!!! Are you lot daft? It's the electrical lead fairy (elf) who nips into your attic in the year and tangles all the wires together. If I catch the little lovely fluffster..........

[treetops1]

Open a black bin bag, chuck everything in. Worry about it next year.

[Prudie]

As I have unravelled the same set 3 times today (as soon as I move them they're at it again) your suggestion isn't half bad treetops.