Excessive house external Christmas light displays

[Allegro_Snapon]

Have energy bills killed these.

We used to have on our manor a local road that was lit up like Lybia when the Americans bombed. 70 of the 90 houses at night were virtually unrecognisable as bungalows due to the shear wattage of Christmas Santas, Reindeers, Stars, Sleighs, Snowmen, Dwarves, Winged Horses of Tat, Holy Jesus Displays, Homer Simpson as Santa etc etc.

This year nothing. Even the local click-bait paper isn't listing "ten best streets in Chavtown" to go see Christmas displays.

Have energy bills killed the Chavettes outdoing each other.

Or has the area gentrified? (I'm hoping too much here aren't I)? Anyone got any decent photos or are they in the Council thread?

[Alorotom]

Noticeably less houses on the estate where I live have had decorations professionally installed this year.

Lots still have outdoor lights like normal.

One of the neighbours has certainly increased their efforts this season :

[Radec]

There's someone currently on Leigh Rd in Eastleigh where you join the M3 that has a massive inflatable Stay Puft marshmallow man from Ghostbusters that's bigger than their house as a Christmas decoration.

Very impressive but probably more suited to Halloween.

[Jasandjules]

The normal ones are up around here...

[Downward]

Depends if they are doing it for charity or not.

[Punctilio]

While always a Scrooge McGrinch about all things noel, I think they brighten the place up.

Lighten up dude

[ lighten up ? geddit ? oh dear It'd make a cat laugh ]

[Alex Z]

If they are LED lights as the majority will be, the electricity costs for 6 hours a day for a month are minimal.

[Golfgtimk28v]

Downward said:

Depends if they are doing it for charity or not.

Yes making kids smile should be illegal and any Xmas joy beaten out of people who dare deviate from the rules.

Edited by Golfgtimk28v on Wednesday 14th December 21:31

[Norbury90]

The cost of the electricity pales into insignificance for us compared to the cost of buying them. According to our smart meter, ours cost around 3p an hour. So 6 hours a day for roughly 30 days comes out at 5 quid ish. Certainly not over 10 quid anyway.

[greygoose]

Alorotom said:

Noticeably less houses on the estate where I live have had decorations professionally installed this year.

Lots still have outdoor lights like normal.

One of the neighbours has certainly increased their efforts this season :

Flash bds !

[MrBarry123]

I’m local to Bradfield Southend whose residents have been putting up BIG external displays since I was a little boy and most are still very much at it this year.

I’m a big fan!

[languagetimothy]

Alorotom I see your pic they aren’t trying hard .. A house in Hayes lane a bromley did it for years and I often had to pass by unfortunately. Don’t know if have something this year as not local anymore
I think they had chaaaridy donation box. Fair enough.

This was from a couple of years ago and found on the Interweb:

[Triumph Man]

If people want Christmas lights, then fair enough - up to them.

The only ones I truly, truly hate are flashing/strobing bright blue lights (generally those icicle types) have any colour you want except blue, because when I'm driving around I keep seeing the reflection in other people's windows and think there's an emergency vehicle around the corner!

[Byker28i]

We're 6 houses down a close and all the neigbours decided to decorate this year as we've two new families with young kids.

Our next door neighbour wanted lights strung in the tree, which I did for them as he has a bad foot... Instant regret that night as they left the lights on, so our bedroom was light a silent disco that night and they didn't answer text messages.

I've donated them a timer plug

[Captain Smerc]

Edited by Captain Smerc on Thursday 15th December 19:05

[lufbramatt]

Triumph Man said:

If people want Christmas lights, then fair enough - up to them.

The only ones I truly, truly hate are flashing/strobing bright blue lights (generally those icicle types) have any colour you want except blue, because when I'm driving around I keep seeing the reflection in other people's windows and think there's an emergency vehicle around the corner!

Ugh my next door neighbours have exactly this, I hate them. My kids even moan about them. Have had to put cardboard over some windows upstairs to block the light (shines through the curtains) as it keeps the kids awake. Standing in the kitchen is like being in a migraine inducing nightmare. Been so tempted to cut through the wires from the power socket

[anonymous-user]

Punctilio said:

While always a Scrooge McGrinch about all things noel, I think they brighten the place up.

Lighten up dude

[ lighten up ? geddit ? oh dear It'd make a cat laugh ]

[scenario8]

languagetimothy said:

Alorotom I see your pic they aren’t trying hard .. A house in Hayes lane a bromley did it for years and I often had to pass by unfortunately. Don’t know if have something this year as not local anymore
I think they had chaaaridy donation box. Fair enough.

This was from a couple of years ago and found on the Interweb:

Goodness!

[anonymous-user]

To many say “It’s for charity” when I think what they mean is “it’s for charity …..once we’ve taken the cost of electricity out….”

So basically you’re paying for their indulgence and then if there is anything left after the bills, they’ll send that off to a “charity”….. I’m hugely cynical about it all personally