Christmas lights out for last time
A Greymouth couple who have helped spread Christmas joy for 17 years are turning out their festive lights for the last time.
Ann-Maree and Brett McLean, who have spent thousands of dollars on their home’s displays over the years, are giving up because their Christmas cheer has becomea Christmas chore.
The McLeans started their festive light collection 17 years ago when they were living on the main road in Runanga.
‘‘When we first started we just had a few lights up around the ranch slider,’’ Ann-Maree McLean said. ‘‘We were living on a hill so we added more to the garage and it just grew into quite a big collection. Our first grandchild was 1 and loved it, and he’s now 18.’’
Brett McLean, who was not keen on the lights at the start, said they grew on him as the years passed.
‘‘I got into the swing of things. My job was to put up all the high stuff. I had a couple of near misses falling off ladders and rooves,’’ he laughed. ‘‘We won the Light Up West Coast competition that many times it’s not funny. We donated the prize money to the Cancer Society. Sometimes we kept a bit of it to replace broken lights.’’
At last count, she estimated they had spent about $25,000 on lights and an extra $60 extra on the power bill every December.
‘‘We loved it. It was amazing the people coming through. There must have been 10s of thousands of people [who had] seen it over the years. It brought a lot of joy.’’
But after the 2016 display, the couple have decided to call it a day.
‘‘Brett had had enough. It’s a huge job. It takes about two-anda-half months to put them up,’’ she said.