Christmas has come early at Ho-Ho-House
IT’S approaching that time of year again, when ordinary suburban houses are suddenly turned into Christmas wonderlands by their owners.
One of the earliest must be this dazzling display created by Michael and Lyn Farnes at their home in Hove, East Sussex.
Around 200 yards of electric cable feeds an estimated 30,000 fairy lights, and there are 25 snowmen, 40 Santas, elves, reindeer, sleighs, penguins, robins and polar bears. There is even a full nativity scene, a huge outsized Father Christmas sculpture and an icy pond.
The couple spend thousands every year on the display, which they have been putting on for ten years, but have also raised thousands for animal charities through donations from locals who go to see the lights.
Mr Farnes, a 53-year-old supermarket worker, said: ‘Every year I buy something new for the display in the hope of bringing extra delight to viewers. It is a lot of work and it costs quite a bit but my wife and I get real pleasure from the faces of the children who stop and admire it.’
The couple have been adorning their home for around ten years. Mr Farnes said: ‘It’s a devil when a light bulb goes because some of them are difficult to replace. I must go through dozens every year.
‘Also it takes days and days to set up and I have to have a special electrical control station to keep it all going.’ He said neighbours and visitors are largely supportive of the display but always ask him how big his electricity bill is. ‘Because most of the lights are LED it is not too bad,’ he said. ‘I just hope I don’t cause a power cut.’
For anyone keen to see the lights, however, a word of caution. Mr Farnes has one golden rule: ‘Although the display is almost ready to go and is attracting an awful lot of attention from children and passers-by, I won’t switch it on properly until December 1.’