Decorations show love of Christmas

We have several friends who get very excited about Christmas and decorate their homes to show the spirit.

One in particular takes it to an art form.

We caught up with her last night and it always astounds us how much decoration is spread throughout the house. (There is a husband but he doesn’t really take a huge part in this process.) This year there is even a small tree in the toilet, apparently.

The decorations start outside with a few subtle ornaments at the front door, but as soon as you step inside there is a riot of colour and creativity. Large trees in several rooms are covered in multiple strings of lights and ornaments, with hardly a branch left to hold another Christmas trinket.

Garlands with coloured lights festoon the windows and doors and around the top of the kitchen cabinets.

And sitting on just about every flat surface are dozens and dozens of Christmastheme ornaments, mainly Santas in many and various forms, from quite small to almost a metre tall, and a dozen or so reindeer and the like.

She has spent many years building her collection from all over the world.

Her face lights up as she shows people around.

A small child could spend many hours staring at it all and never grow tired.

It is always a talking point when a group of adults get together at the house.

It could be tacky, but it’s not. She is a woman with a good eye for detail, and it is put together to create a beautiful Christmas atmosphere.

I was not particularly filled with the joy of the season when we arrived last night, but you can’t help but be affected by the surroundings. She loves Christmas and that enthusiasm rubs off.