show us your christmas lights

[Legolas]

our humble little offering makes our kids happy enough.

So much so, that three years ago snowbrat broke his arm jumping around with excitement.

Same lights, four year on, still haven't lost their appeal.

Pity no-one was there to take pics of Mrs Legs teetering on the gable end again this year (three years ago poor Goose had to call in recruits to rescue me...very embarassing).

All done now. I actually earnt my wine tonight smile.gif .

Our pics aren't worth offering up, but our kids love em to bits, but I do love a bit of christmas bling, so throw em at me smile.gif

[Boardingbuny]

We took Mia Mafioso around the streets tonight! He loved it, ours are meager but he likes em smile.gif

[Bear]

My lights.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/9/99/20060801091640!Black_square.jpg


Stunning aren't they. :D

[karen97]

They do some nice lights around Nth Ryde each year

[karen97]

Originally posted by Bear:
My lights.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/9/99/20060801091640!Black_square.jpg


Stunning aren't they. :D You have outdone yourself this year graemlins/big_laugh.gif

[Podlettte]

Bah humbug bear tongue.gif

No lights outside here, though the lights on the tree can go outside, thought about it, but preferred them on the tree blinking madly away :D

[SA]

Originally posted by Bear:
My lights.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/9/99/20060801091640!Black_square.jpg


Stunning aren't they. :D Man, you need a wax, baaaaaaad ;)

[Bear]

Originally posted by SA:
Man, you need a wax, baaaaaaad ;) But how am I supposed to revisit that photo again if I'm clean shaven. ;)

[SA]

Well, we'll see something then tongue.gif

[Podlettte]

Bear post waxing....


http://www.artistic-license-inc.com/b2b/pics/Mugla_White_Marble.jpg

[SA]

Originally posted by Podlettte:
Bear post waxing....


http://www.artistic-license-inc.com/b2b/pics/Mugla_White_Marble.jpg Landing strip??? :eek:

graemlins/outtahere.gif

[Podlettte]

it's the only picture I could find that was white!

[Bear]

That looks like it would have hurt. :(

[The Frog]

Only one house in our cul-de-sac doesn't have lights (and they only moved in on the weekend). Will take some pics in the next few days. Takes me a full day to do all my lights. The entire roof itself is covered in 80m of rope light, three sets of LEDs on the tiling and two sets of LEDs along the front guttering.

[D-Dog]

hope that power bill stays down frog ;)

[SnoWhite]

Here's my new computer powered Christmas lights.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r147/SnoWhite_Snap_Shots/IMAG2052.jpg http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r147/SnoWhite_Snap_Shots/IMAG2054.jpg http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r147/SnoWhite_Snap_Shots/IMAG2056.jpg http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r147/SnoWhite_Snap_Shots/IMAG2057-1.jpg

[Bear]

Tragic SW just tragic. graemlins/cold.gif

[SnoWhite]

:( :( :(

[spaz]

The ghost of Christmas past is coming to haunt you Bear.

SW the computer tree is great!

[SnoWhite]

Thanks spaz. I like it too! Picked it up in one of those el cheapo bargain stores when I was in Sydney for $2.95. :D

[Bear]

You got ripped SW not worth any more than $2. graemlins/outtahere.gif

[Bear]

Originally posted by spaz:
The ghost of Christmas past is coming to haunt you Bear.
I got called The Gringe today in the office, I was happy with that. ;)

[Podlettte]

I'll have to go looking for one SW, I LOVE the tree :D

[SnoWhite]

Originally posted by Bear:
You got ripped SW not worth any more than $2. graemlins/outtahere.gif Maybe I could take the tree, shove it somewhere the sun doesn't shine and it would brighten things up a little? ;) tongue.gif :D

[HelsSA]

I have a front yard full of lights. I got a blow up santa who sits on the lawn and even glows in the dark for my b-day. We watch the movie Deck the Halls and put up the lights

[SnoWhite]

Originally posted by Podlettte:
I'll have to go looking for one SW, I LOVE the tree :D Got it in Centro Bankstown from Roni's Variety store if you're unfortunate enough to be over that way. smile.gif

[The Frog]

Originally posted by HelsSA:
I got a blow up santa who sits on the lawn and even glows in the dark Bear has one of those but it's not a santa. graemlins/outtahere.gif

[SA]

graemlins/big_laugh.gif

The one that looks like she just got punched in the guts? ;)

[ 11.12.2008, 12:30 PM: Message edited by: SA ]

[Officer Schmenz]

BEAR.. why are you so anti christmas?

im anti christmas but im allowed..

my mum walked out on christmas day..

whats ur excuse..

[Swede]

Not sure if I can be bothered this year with all the work. But this is what the house looks like with them all up:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/L1.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/L2.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/L3.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/L4.jpg

Might just put a few up this year, we’ll see.

[HelsSA]

Pretty

[Bear]

Originally posted by Officer Schmenz:
BEAR.. why are you so anti christmas?

im anti christmas but im allowed..

my mum walked out on christmas day..

whats ur excuse.. Never been big on Xmas. My mum died 2 weeks before xmas (many years ago now). It just reminds me that I have very little imediate family left. I now see it as an excuse to eat Turkey. :(

I do think though that all the xmas lights and stuff is another encroachment of Americanisms into the Australian "culture" which has enough already.

[Silverwitch]

Originally posted by Bear:
[QB

I do think though that all the xmas lights and stuff is another encroachment of Americanisms into the Australian "culture" which has enough already. [/QB]Here..here I agree with you on this Bear! We have the tree lights and decorate old the fashioned way in the house. But like to keep "the Australian" flavour in our Christmas. Always get some great gum flowers, nuts and leaves and make a wreath for the front door just like I did as a kid!

[ 11.12.2008, 10:18 PM: Message edited by: silverwitch ]

[Xena]

Originally posted by Bear:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by spaz:
The ghost of Christmas past is coming to haunt you Bear.
I got called The Gringe today in the office, I was happy with that. ;) </font>[/QUOTE]Ha ha - would that be The Grinch?????

[Legolas]

awwwww Swede, so purdy. Lil Swede would be in heaven (and if you squint a little, they almost look like icicles smile.gif )

[Legolas]

graemlins/woohoo.gif

[Officer Schmenz]

swede.. i thought ur house was on fire at first!

id be too scared of an electrical fault and it burining down.


yea im not a fan of christmas.. i rather hate it.. coz my family ****s too and each year its a reminder..

the over the top stuff also makes me sick.. too american and makes me want to vomit..

theres all these lights in the street into my area.. and i cringe each time i drive past..

we dont even put a tree up anymore!

i hate christmas and usually try and avoid it by going overseas..

might drive to melbourne this year!

[spaz]

Seems to be turning into an anti Xmas thread. I'm not a fan either (Jesus wasn't even born in Dec.)

I like to celebrate the summer solstice, everyone is very festive but it is another Hallmark holiday. The highest rate of suicides happen now so a lot of people just can't deal with the high emotions that Xmas and the focus on family brings.

Pink Princess is 5 and it's hard not to get caught up in the joy kids experience, but really it should be like this all year round and not reserved for just this time of year.

Swede (and anyone else), I do hope you tone it down this year, it probably has to do with your Euro heritage, it's a dark time of year there now, but that's just to much.

[TB]

My Grandma died on Christmas Day. Ive always been over it but sad for my mum. Then her brother decides to ease their pain by hanging himself-tops thanks.

Lights, reindeers,wise men, angels,whatever stupid ridiculuous OTT is awesome, do it! do it! do it.

Merry Christmas.

[Swede]

Extremely sad to hear about peoples bad experiences, xmas or any time. But I have only great and fond memories of xmas and intend to do anything I can to make it the same for Little Swede.
As for Xmas lights on houses I had never seen a single one of them before I came to Australia, was never a fan at start but after seeing the enjoyment it brings to the little ones I gave in.

[Legolas]

crikey.

By all means take the time to share your feelings all. I imagine it's sort of cathartic having something to get angry about when you've had something awful happen.

But to try and diminish other peoples enthusiasm and energy is kinda weak I think.

Christmas, like any celebration is an opportunity to gather with people you love, to eat and drink and enjoy family and friends, and to give kids a bit of magic.

I'm not christian, and I know all about the pagan origins of christmas, but for want of a date where we all finally slow down for just a few days...I'm there!!

Boxing day and that week between Christmas and New Year are high on my favourite list. Especially in Sydney. Everyone gets mellow.

On lights:

There are little neighbourhoods around us that put up their lights in masses. All the kids from surrounding streets and neighbourhoods come to enjoy them, and the locals all seem to be out nearly every night having a barbie or a beer with their neighbours, and sitting on their front lawns watching people get pleasure out of their effort.

If it takes a bit of carbon footprinting and a pagan date to bring a community together, I'm all for it.

Frog, looking forward to your offering

[spaz]

I meant to have a smile.gif at the end of my post.

I'll put my (humble) lights up as soon as this rain stops, been meaning to do them for two weeks. I might add some fairy lights that can stay up all year.

Spread the joy. Peace.

[bdenny4]

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/bdenny4/ChristmasLights.jpg

[SnoWhite]

Nice work bdenny4.......an excellent start!!! graemlins/big_laugh.gif :D :cool:

[Tobi]

Originally posted by Officer Schmenz:
might drive to melbourne this year! I gots a couch that folds out into a bed with your name on it if you do come down!

[skimax]

sheesh , i can only say that the anti christmas sentiment expressed by some here is a metaphor for other much larger issues.
and to be fair , many of these issues are not of their doing.
Spending some time fixing those issues or at least getting them out of your life might be more fruitful than blaming it on christmas per se.?

[ 12.12.2008, 09:45 AM: Message edited by: skimax ]

[Podlettte]

I"m cool with anyone's feelings on anti christmas sentiment, makes me want to have an enlarged christmas and bring you all in to my folks place actually :D We wear the hats from the crackers at lunch time, eat ourselves stupid then pretty much laze around the house digesting somewhat resembling snakes that have eaten an antelope graemlins/big_laugh.gif

I unashamedly love christmas, and I don't have kids, I always have, made easier due to one of my sister's being an absolute christmas champion!

If it's not a happy time for you, I get that, there are other times of the year which aren't so good for me, saying things like don't put lights up etc, is pretty harsh IMO, why do others have to change to your way of thinking?

Like swede I only have fond memories of Christmas, most of them at Pebbly beach for the 6 weeks of school holidays running around without a care in the world, putting out our own "lobster" Crayfish pots, catching fish, trying to figure out how to do the crays after 5 weeks worth, trust me you do get over it! haha

peace, love and mung beans everyone.

[Legolas]

Purdy bdenny :rofl:

[Officer Schmenz]

in case any of you got me wrong..

i am not saying dont enjoy christmas.

i am not saying dont put up your lights.

i am not saying change your christmas in anyway.

i was just pointing out that not all enjoy this time of year.

and not all find cringeworthy OTT americanised hallmark/hollywood behaviour something they apireto be a part of.

I was not saying i disagreed with your views. I was just pointing out another one..

i sincerely hope you do enjoy your christmas. but understand that it is not a happy time for all.

[Podlettte]

nice one officer smile.gif

Hey bDenny, when do we get to see them turned on??

[ 17.12.2008, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: Podlettte ]

[spaz]

Originally posted by bdenny4:
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/bdenny4/ChristmasLights.jpg graemlins/big_laugh.gif graemlins/big_laugh.gif
Inspirational

[Officer Schmenz]

Originally posted by spaz:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by bdenny4:
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/bdenny4/ChristmasLights.jpg graemlins/big_laugh.gif graemlins/big_laugh.gif
Inspirational </font>[/QUOTE]i gotta say that is great!

even i would do that!

[SnoWhite]

Visited a friend in Berridale for dinner last night. Saw some absolutely fantastic lights when I left. If anyone is going there, or passing through after dark heading to the mountains, take a quick tour of the backstreets. :cool: