This morning we transported another surplus water butt and 14 more bags of garden refuse to Efford Recycling centre and returned with an
apparently unused IKEA child’s wicker chair which we have placed beside the curtain behind which Ellie stood looking out of the window until the grandfamily moved away, waiting for their arrival for Christmas.
“Every year, one road in Hampshire takes Christmas cheer to another level with every house on the block transformed into a winter wonderland. In total, seven houses in Byron Road, New Milton, band together to light up the street with dazzling fairy lights to raise money for the NHS.
“The annual tradition was started by one couple just under 20 years ago and their enthusiasm for all things Christmas. 75-year-old Ged Hollyoake was a builder before he retired and he and his wife Susan Burley, 75, began decorating their home in 2004.
“Since then, the pair’s festive spirit has become infectious with neighbours helping and beginning to decorate their homes with roof lights, icicles, nativity scenes and giant life-size snowmen. Conveniently, the garage next door has offered out its car park as a place to store all the equipment to keep the road clear.
” “The display takes around two months to plan and Ged leave[s] all kinds of hooks and tacks up all year around so the lights can go straight on. He changes it up every year and there’s always plenty of decorations inside too. It’s very well organised and Ged helps the neighbours with theirs’ too. “
“The road sees thousands of visitors every year and on November 27, families piled in to see the countdown around 5pm. The annual event has not been without its challenges however as it was forced to close in 2020 due to Covid restrictions.
“In past years, some houses have stopped, or refused to take part because of the busy crowds that can gather. On the whole however, many people are supportive, especially as the display has raised around £90,000 for the NHS.” (Extracts from http://Hampshirelive.news/whats-on/family-kids/how-one-hamp…
Earlier this year Jackie and I met Ged at the Recycling Centre where he told us his wife had recently died.
The tradition is being continued by their son, Dax, although the charity being supported is now the Oakhaven Hospice.
“Dax said: “As the display became more of an attraction, we decided to start raising money around 15 years ago. This was largely to do with my mum who had been in ill health and Bournemouth Hospital were fantastic. We wanted to try and raise as much money as possible for the NHS, even more so after the Covid pandemic.”
“To find out more information on the lights, please visit the Byron Road Lights Facebook page.” (Hampshirelive news)
I have posted on these lights several times in recent years and therefore updating the story today.
Here is tonight’s gallery.
We enjoyed a long conversation with Ged and his 5 years old grandson, Dillon (?sp)
This evening we dined on Jackie’s wholesome cottage pie; moist spinach; tasty Brussels sprouts; tender runner beans; and crunchy carrots with which I drank more of the delicious Georgian red wine.
Love the Christmas decorations put up to help charity. Did I interpret your sentence that Miss Ellie and family will be joining you for Christmas? That would be quite a treat and we are all anxious to see how much she has grown.
Yes, they will. Ellie is quite the chatty little girl now. Thanks very much, Pat
Quite a display! I also like that the money will go to support hospice care.
Have you seen the grandfamily since they moved? I’m sure you’re eager to see them again.
Thank you very much, Merril. We haven’t seen them because they are too far away, but we get regular photos and messages.
I love all the Christmas decorations you posted (they are always beautiful even if not brand new)
Thank you so much, Luisa
You are so very welcome, Derrick!
It’s always my pleasure
You know some wonderful people!!
Merry Christmas to them all!
Thank you so much, GP
Beautiful festive pictures.
Thank you very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
What a wonderful thing! Creating a beautiful display and raising money to help. Doesn’t get any better than that.
I bet you are counting down the days until the grand family arrives!
We are. Thank you very much, Dale
What a wonderfully thoughtful and cheerful way to donate to charity, Derrick
Thank you very much, Ivor
This is so wonderful! So heart-touching! Hospital and hospice care are so important and appreciated. We must always remember to give all year round…but especially this time of year.
Ooh! Your photos today are festive and smile-bringing! 🙂
OOH! Ellie is coming to visit! That little chair will just thrill her, I’m sure! (I remember as a little girl loving to visit homes of family members and friends who had little chairs, or stools, for us little kids to sit on/in. 🙂 )
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Carolyn. The Hospice gave Susan palliative care at home. XX
❤️ Hospice workers are the most amazing and compassionate people. ❤️
Spectacular stuff, and yet another good find at the recycling centre. You must feel a bit like Aladdin sometimes.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal
I LOVE Christmas lights and using them for a worthy charity is like icing on the cake. Good find with the child’s wicker chair!
Several neighborhoods in Virginia did this kind of display when we lived there. Going out to see the lights on Christmas Eve is a tradition that my dad started way back in the ’60s, and my husband and I have been continuing it since we’ve been married. Many good memories.
Thank you very much, Liz. I am pleased you have the memories to continue
You’re welcome, Derrick.
The Christmas lights and decorations add to the magic of the Christmas Season. So sorry to hear that Ged has lost his wife. It’s good that their son, Dax, will continue the tradition 🙂
Thank you very much, Rosaliene
Another beautiful tradition in your area, Derrick and Jackie. I am sorry to hear that Ged’s wife passed away, but heartened that their son Dax is carrying on the tradition and raising funds for charity.
Thank you very much, Lavinia
awww… I bet you’re both excited to see the family again soon. Christmas lights are still going up around here but not as many as past years. The cost of electricity has much to do with it. Also, new lights from recent years have stopped working with just those up to ten years old still surviving. I’m sure it has to do with the newer products being cheaply being made – and sold at twice the price of course. No new lights for us this year. When the older ones fail, it will be no more Christmas lights at our house. 🙁 Other decks are still seen by day. 🙂 Happy Advent season to you and Jackie.
And to you both, Chrissy and Norm. Thanks very much.
Fantastic displays.
I hope you are enjoying your delicious Saperavi, Derrick.
I am. I wondered if anyone would know it
Why, I love Georgian wines and miss them here. I used to go to Georgia on cruise ships to produce TV documentaries. The ones available in the US do not have Kosher certification, but the same wines sold in Germany and in Israel do. I don’t know the reason.
There is nothing about kosher on my bottle, Dolly, which seems surprising because we bought it in Lidl. It was the last one and they had sold out of Ukrainian.
There might be a kosher certification on the label that you do not recognize; there are hundreds of kosher certifications, especially for foreign products.
Ukrainian wine? Since when have they started making anything but sugar beet samogon?
Most of our wine comes from Lidl. There was no Ukrainian left when Jackie bought the Georgian.
By Ukrainian you mean Crimean, am I right? It is technically Russia now, but who knows, from one day to another…
Lidl do have Bolgrad and other Ukraine wines: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ukraine+wine+lidl&sca_esv=e4c2120ac903b910&sxsrf=ADLYWIK4m2K7v7WpmFzyCq7Q92f7xXc-mw%3A1733645174959&source=hp&ei=dlNVZ8LZN7KihbIP7J2P8Qw&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZ1Vhho48HvV_9t1f1xVH7VE7Jjg8lsUp&oq=Ukraine+wine&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IgxVa3JhaW5lIHdpbmUqAggBMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB5I7mNQAFjOQHAAeACQAQCYAYACoAHiC6oBBTcuMi4zuAEByAEA-AEBmAIMoAK5DMICCxAuGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIIEAAYgAQYsQPCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARiKBcICERAuGIAEGLEDGNEDGIMBGMcBwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QLhiABBixAxjRAxjHAcICDhAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGMcDmAMAkgcFNy4yLjOgB49V&sclient=gws-wiz
Ah, it’s a little town near Odessa, populated by Moldavians who cultivate Moldavian wines. In my time, they mainly had sweet and semi-sweet reds, which has never been my taste. Now they have acquired the Georgian Rkatsiteli and Saperavi grapes and also started producing dry white wines. None of them have kosher certification.
Thanks very much, Dolly
You are quite welcome, Derrick.
Beautiful lights!
Thank you very much, Anne
Lovely display of Christmas decor Derrick. Miss your post on Ellie too.
Thank you very much, Arlene
What a beautiful tradition!
Thank you very much, Riba
The chair was a good find.
Thank you very much, Andrew
The lights are gorgeous. Ged has done a wonderful job over the years, but it’s sad to hear about his wife.
Yes. He clearly still misses her, Sue. Thank you very much
What a fabulous idea! Long may it continue.
Thank you very much, Sheree
That’s an amazing light display. Thanks for the back story. Very interesting!
Much appreciated, Jan
Hi Derrick, this display is beautiful and the charitable cause is most worthy.
Thank you very much, Robbie
Lovely lights.
I want to believe Ellie will fit into that chair just right. How is she doing?
She is becoming very chatty and girlie. We receive regular pictures and videos. Thank you very much, Mimi
Can’t wait to have her feature in one of your pieces
It’s a wonderful charity to support
Thank you very much, Gary
I thoroughly enjoyed this post and the story behind the lights, as well as the portrait of Ged. I recently heard a story on BBC’s Happy Pod (podcast of only happy news), where a man in the US was personally decorating his own street just to make his wife – suffering with dementia – happy anew each year. She is apparently not remembering past years clearly. He said he will continue as long as he can, and if he loses her, he will continue in her memory. I am touched by the idea of raising money and awareness for help organizations with a display like this. What a good instinct that this Hampshire family, and now their neighbors, have.
Another uplifting story, Crystal. Thank you very much