‘Christmas lights bring a lot of joy’
A Timaru man who has always dreamed of decorating his home with thousands of Christmas lights is encouraging others to switch on to the idea.
Cameron Foster said as a child a highlight had been looking at Christmas lights at night, and he wanted to recreate this dream as an adult. However, he had noticed, and was surprised fewer residents seemed to be getting into the festive tradition this year.
"There seems less and less each year,’’ he said.
So far this year there are six Timaru houses and four Temuka houses on The Timaru Herald’s Christmas lights list.
Last year’s list shows there were 21 decorated homes in South Canterbury, and 24 in 2017.
For the past two years, Foster draped fairy lights around the rental house he was living in. This year is the first time he is decorating his own home, in Gleniti .
‘‘It was my childhood dream to have Christmas lights on my own house.’’
His favourite decorated home as a child was the house on the corner of Kauri St and Matai Cres.
This year Foster’s neighbours have even written him notes to thank him for making their street look so good.
As well as lights on his house, he has an inflatable Santa, and reindeer on display. A projector shines different lights onto the wall of the brick house.
He estimated he had spent about $1000 on the illuminations – some were damaged by the recent hail storm but most were still functioning.
The electricity bill was about an additional $20 a month for the cost of generating the festive lights as most were LEDs or solar powered, he said.
‘‘I tried to give work a sponsorship claim but no-one was interested,’’ he joked.
Foster put down the lack of other decorated houses to community driven events becoming less popular but he wanted to encourage other residents to consider setting up their own lights for the public to enjoy.
‘‘Christmas lights bring a lot of joy to children and older folk.’’
To add your home to our
Christmas lights list email your address to: editor@timaruherald.co.nz.
The list of South Canterbury Christmas light decorated houses supplied to The Timaru Herald is:
TIMARU 255 Fairview Rd, 19 Rosebrook Rd, RD4, 37 Cross St, 92 Wai-iti Rd, 14 Benmore St, 23 Maple Crescent
TEMUKA: 23b Harris Pl, 16 Seddon St, 89 Murray St (starting Dec 18), 212 Orakipaoa Island Rd, Milford
PLEASANT POINT: 58 Kabul St
WAIMATE: 9 Makikihi Rd, RD8, Waimate.