Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Christmas-loving grandmothe­r has kept 1,800 festive decoration­s up since January

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When used with Google Now, a card will show these directions automatica­lly as soon as they search for the landmark, as long as they are within relatively close distance.

AChristmas-loving grandmothe­r has kept her 1,800 festive baubles hanging up all year - because her injured knee stopped her taking them down in January. Sylvia Pope usually starts hanging her decoration­s up in September to get them ready for Christmas as it takes her so long to attach them all to her ceiling one-by-one.

However, this year it really has been Christmas every day for the 70-year-old, after an operation on her knee meant she was unable to scale a stepladder to take them all down again last January.

Instead Sylvia’s beloved baubles - worth more than £20,000 - have been up for 12 months, making the living room of her home in Morriston, Swansea, a year-round Santa’s grotto.

‘They stayed up after last Christmas - and

they’ve been there ever since,’ said the retired bingo caller.

‘I love it really and at least it means I don’t have to spend all those hours putting them up again.

‘I felt really at home with my decoration­s up all year.

‘I had an operation on my knee so I couldn’t get up and down my step ladder so quickly.

‘People laughed that there were Christmas baubles all over my house in June and July but I don’t mind. I’m just a Christmas kind of woman.’

Among Ms Pope’s collection are baubles with cats and dogs on them, along with Disney characters and decoration­s of every colour of the rainbow.

She said: ‘I have collected them from all over the world. Kind friends send them to me from all corners of the globe.’

The sparkling ornaments, some of which cost more than £23 each - come from places

as far away as Egypt, Greece and Las Vegas.

Ms Pope said: ‘I love them - and everyone smiles when they see how many I have hanging above my living room.

‘I began collecting Christmas baubles back in 1999 and I now have over 1,800.’

Her bauble haven includes a London red bus, a New York taxi, aeroplanes, an old fashioned telephone, helicopter­s, and even a can of Coke.

She said: ‘I spend about £100 a year on new baubles and visit all the festive markets to find new ones. My grandchild­ren and play ‘I Spy’ with the different baubles. We have great fun.’

The twinkling globes are far too many for any Christmas tree so Ms Pope pins them to the ceiling of her living room.

The bauble lover has collected them from all around the world, including a Macy’s bauble she picked up on holiday in New York.

 ??  ?? Grotto: Sylvia’s collection is worth around £2,000 and includes decoration­s from Greece, Egypt and Las Vegas
Grotto: Sylvia’s collection is worth around £2,000 and includes decoration­s from Greece, Egypt and Las Vegas
 ??  ?? Other prediction apps including Osito, pictured, can show bus timetables as users pass a bus stop
Other prediction apps including Osito, pictured, can show bus timetables as users pass a bus stop
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