I’ve noticed there are still a few flashing Christmas lights, caused I would believe by rainy conditions in the new year and an inability or reluctance to put an end to such radiant brilliance.
Among them are my neighbours and I have become accustomed to seeing this show on a nightly basis.
Only last week, I noticed that there is a laser light show going on, something either new or unseen earlier by me.
I am thinking therefore that people, and my neighbours in particular, could reconfigure their lights and keep them going throughout the year.
My first suggestion would be an Australia Day theme. Take off the antlers and add a pouch and instantly those reindeers become kangaroos. You could even make them hop with a clever bit of light subterfuge. I think a few possums on the roof would add authenticity and for the more adventurous, we could go further and do a whole Australian animal theme. Take off Santa’s beard and put him in a beach shirt, add perhaps a surfboard under the arm and voila. We Are Australian has never sounded so good.
It is possible to keep this theme going for the full year, because we are after all Australian all year and wearing beach shirts is a national custom.
But perhaps this does not stir sufficient creativity for the Christmas light elves among us.
The themes could continue. Instead of gardening in retirement or for the weekend workers, planning and executing themes with lights could become a standard pastime for those otherwise idle hours. Why make holiday plans when you could stay home and dabble?
There’s Valentine’s Day with the love heart themes (actually if my neighbours read this, perhaps they could leave this one out) and then those possums could turn into rabbits ready for Easter, surely another easy transition.
I could go on. The beach dwelling Santa could prepare for Anzac day marches, there could be a snow scene over winter and the twinkly sort of lights could become snowflakes, Mrs Claus could become a mother on Mothers Day and Mr Claus could become a Dad on his day.
Halloween could be fun and let’s face it, houses are already being darkened with sinister stuff. Why not light it up a bit?
And before you know it, Santa has returned along with his reindeers and elves, ready for a showy display at the end of the year.
Let’s not think about the electricity bill. Staying on would save on storage and bring so many smiles,
