Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: mrs bouquet on November 29, 2020, 14:28

Title: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: mrs bouquet on November 29, 2020, 14:28
A newish neighbour across the Common from me has put his external decs up.   I am not a great lover of these, but his look stunning.   The lights are all one warm natural colour and are hanging like icicles, there is a  Christmas tree, which you cannot see in the daylight, it must be a flat frame shaped like a pointed tree.
There is a full size stag holding his front foot up, and a doe, who is eating the grass.   The whole thing looks warm and lovely, and  very classy.  I am happy to have it opposite me.  Sorry Aunt Sally, for saying the word, but it is out there now  :)  Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: Outside Thewordwemustnotsay Decorations
Post by: New shoot on November 29, 2020, 16:30
It sounds lovely Mrs B  :)

What a nice view for you out of the window  :)
Title: Re: Outside Thewordwemustnotsay Decorations
Post by: Christine on November 29, 2020, 18:20
Sorry but if anyone starts putting up outside decorations where I can see them, well I'm moving house.
Title: Re: Outside Thewordwemustnotsay Decorations
Post by: GraciesGran on November 30, 2020, 07:00
The lady over the road has an amazing display - she raises money for the RNLI.  There are also some further down the road that are pretty spectacular.  A bit of cheer in these gloomy times.
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: jaydig on November 30, 2020, 16:12
While I normally dislike lots of bright colours and bling, I love all of the lights at Christmas. They bring such pleasure to the little ones and in these gloomy times they bring a bit of fun.  I remember when our children were young, and like many others in the sixties, we struggled from week to week as we didn't have much cash, but we'd take them out for a walk as soon as it got dark so that they could see all of the pretty lights that others had in their gardens.  They absolutely loved this. Simple pleasures, I know,  but often it's these that make the best memories of our childhood.
Title: Re: Outside Thewordwemustnotsay Decorations
Post by: al78 on December 01, 2020, 09:37
Sorry but if anyone starts putting up outside decorations where I can see them, well I'm moving house.

A rather extremist attitude.
Title: Re: Outside Thewordwemustnotsay Decorations
Post by: mumofstig on December 01, 2020, 09:55
Sorry but if anyone starts putting up outside decorations where I can see them, well I'm moving house.

A rather extremist attitude.
BUT each to their own ;)
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: mrs bouquet on December 01, 2020, 11:02
My next door neighbour has started on his now.   What a difference.   Yards and yards of lights, no particular pattern to them, a those large plaque things with a waving Santa etc.    Fortunately I cannot see those !! Mrs B
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: GraciesGran on December 01, 2020, 18:06
My dad used to take me to London to see the lights in Oxford Street and Regent Street, then into Trafalgar Square to see the tree.  Did the same with my 3, used to be the start of Christmas.
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: MrsPea on December 01, 2020, 18:44
My dad used to take me to London to see the lights in Oxford Street and Regent Street, then into Trafalgar Square to see the tree.  Did the same with my 3, used to be the start of Christmas.

My dad always used to do that for us as well it was magical then and such a treat with roasted chestnuts on the way, such good old days. :)
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: Growing Weather on December 01, 2020, 20:17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-jgRxzLlhY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-jgRxzLlhY)
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: Growster... on December 02, 2020, 05:31
One house in a chum's village used to have a huge inflatable snowman lurking behind a tall hedge.

The first time I saw it, I was just driving by, and it was just like a scene from 'The Prisoner', and I really did want to flee at a rate of knots...

(This post will only be understood by citizens of a previous generation):0)
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: GraciesGran on December 02, 2020, 07:12
Growster, I understand you completely.  Being over 21 isn't that bad.
Title: Re: Outside Thewordwemustnotsay Decorations
Post by: Christine on December 02, 2020, 14:43
Sorry but if anyone starts putting up outside decorations where I can see them, well I'm moving house.

A rather extremist attitude.
Unfortunately I have a lamp post directly outside and close enough to the bedroom window to be enough of  a distraction to sleeping. I'm not a misery guts really.
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: rowlandwells on December 02, 2020, 17:11
there are a few outside  Christmas Decorations that have been put up near us that has prompted the wife to give me an ear bashing about putting up our Christmas lights in the garden I've managed to get out of doing this job but now looks immanent I did say it mite rain tomorrow but as scrooge has been mentioned I guess its on the cards for putting up decorations asap  :D
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: New shoot on December 02, 2020, 17:30
Misery guts and Scrooge  :ohmy:

It is not Christmas without a few bah humbugs about the place.  Embrace your inner Grinches. We would miss you if you didn’t  ;)  :lol:
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: Growster... on December 02, 2020, 18:04
Misery guts and Scrooge  :ohmy:

It is not Christmas without a few bah humbugs about the place.  Embrace your inner Grinches. We would miss you if you didn’t  ;)  :lol:

Surely you don't want an inflatable Marley's ghost, News?

;0)
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: New shoot on December 03, 2020, 08:30
Surely you don't want an inflatable Marley's ghost, News?

;0)

OK I concede that just might be going a little too far  :lol:

It just amuses me to be Christmassy in the face of a bah humbug. I think they quite like being bah humbug in return as well  :)

It really wouldn’t be December on here without a few silly threads and a bit of banter   ;)  :lol:
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: mrs bouquet on December 03, 2020, 12:52
Yesterday (to add to the chaos lighting) my neighbour has added a plastic tube thing with lights that go along inside it.  He has wound it going up a drain pipe.  /At the top it is too long so that is just left hanging down !!  Totally bizarre.    :lol: :lol:  Mrs B
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: Growster... on December 03, 2020, 17:56
Surely you don't want an inflatable Marley's ghost, News?

;0)

OK I concede that just might be going a little too far  :lol:

It just amuses me to be Christmassy in the face of a bah humbug. I think they quite like being bah humbug in return as well  :)

It really wouldn’t be December on here without a few silly threads and a bit of banter   ;)  :lol:

Nice one, News!

Mrs Growster saw a couple with three dogs here yesterday! One of them had a lead which lit up all the way down to its collar!

I rather like that idea!
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: RubyRed on December 12, 2020, 08:56
Well here goes . .deep breath. This year I havent bought anybody any presents. So i won't be using money I havent got to buy things for people who don't want them. I havent put up any decs not even a tree. That way I won't have the bother of taking them down again. I never send cards anyway so that's another big tick. I will be having chrimbo dinner for myself, partner and 3 kids. I say kids but they are all late 20s. After dinner my son has organised an online family quiz. We are all contributing £20 and the winner takes it all. As a family its been a dodo year. Losing 2 really good friends , not covid, who were younger than us, losing both our old dogs and my son split with his partner. Sod 2020. We are now wanting to turn our minds to the winter solstice and welcome the new year. cheers
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: jaydig on December 12, 2020, 09:45
Ruby, I think you're very brave, and probably having the sort of Christmas that many of us would prefer, but don't have the nerve to be the first in the family to do it. Even in a normal year many families live far apart and don't see as much of each other as they would like, so just getting together at Christmas, to have a lovely meal together and just enjoy each others' company would be perfect. Christmas is far too commercialised these days and creates so much stress and debt for so many, simply in order to do what everyone else does. Christmas should be for the little ones and family get togethers. It doesn't have to cost a fortune. I would, though, still send cards to people I won't be seeing, and if not a tree, then a few nice displays of holly and various evergreens would be nice, and don't cost anything.
Each to his own, though, and everyone's Christmas should be just how they want it to be - hopefully happy, in the company of people you love and stress free.
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: GraciesGran on December 12, 2020, 17:14
RubyRed we're doing something similar.   I buy token presents for the grandkids, I send half a dozen cards.  We would normally get together as a family but have decided that it's not worth the risk, we have so far stayed healthy and want to stay that way.  We will have a mothers day/70th  50th and 2 40th birthday/Christmas celebrations summer.  t

My aim at the moment is to get those I love through this.
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: snowdrops on December 12, 2020, 17:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-jgRxzLlhY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-jgRxzLlhY)

Wow that’s amazing but I wouldn’t want it opposite my house lol
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: mrs bouquet on December 13, 2020, 14:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-jgRxzLlhY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-jgRxzLlhY)

Wow that’s amazing but I wouldn’t want it opposite my house


Me neither.    We have no street lights in our Village, and it is always the newcomers who make something of it.    Mrs B
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: Christine on December 14, 2020, 15:03
I quite like December weather as it comes - I'd be happy if people would do something about November (end of gardening and outdoor activity) and January (drear). Maybe it comes from being of farming stock and having to go out to help feed and water on Christmas day before present opening that I'm not fussed about getting worked up over outdoor decorations. We didn't have them a mile and more from anywhere.

Wouldn't want the electricity bill for the lighting on that video.  :)
Title: Re: Outside Christmas Decorations
Post by: rowlandwells on December 21, 2020, 11:21
those replies made interesting reading and it reminded me when we started making holly wreaths and decorative pots

going back in time we had a good tutor an old gentleman that had been in the horticulture trade from a boy and had learnt the traditional way of making holly wreaths from mossing up the frames to wiring the holly and although he was a hard taskmaster the wreaths had to be rite in every detail

so how did he test our work well he would through the wreath on the floor if it was made properly nothing would move and it would stay as good as it was made if it came apart then it was scrapped and start again you never made any mistakes the next again  >:(

my wife  had a fruit and veg shop in those days and we couldn't make enough holly wreathes to keep up with demand we prided ourselves in making some of the best holly wreaths

as for the decorative pots again we used to supply a garden centre and another shop just unbelievable the demand  after we sold the shop we packed up making wreaths and decorative pots for selling on and  only make them for ourselves and friends we have been asked many times each Christmas if we going to start making wreaths and D'pots again to sell at the local village market but we had to decline

all i can say it was good to learn wreath making the traditional way and at the same time keeping  the spirit of Christmas alive with holly and this year our own wreaths have been made with yellow berries as well as red ones something different

and just to mention i used to grow Helichrysum [straw flowers] for Christmas decorations but they seem to have gone out of fashion  these days for some reason but reading this topic has prompted me to grow some Helichrysum next year  :)