Love lighting others’ lives

LJ HOOKER Christmas Lights Ramble winners Beth-Jean and Colin Lucas with LJ Hooker representative, Tania Ruki. 354071AD

Winners of this year’s LJ Hooker Christmas Lights Ramble Competition, Beth-Jean and Colin Lucas, like nothing better than watching other peoples faces light up when they see their display. At night their property at 1 Bryce Street, Kihikihi becomes a glowing reminder of the festive season. They regard its location on a corner as a bonus.

“We get a kick out of how much enjoyment other people get out of it,” Beth-Jean says. “We mainly started it because we enjoy seeing it so much ourselves. Not even in our wildest dreams did we think it would grow to create such a talking point in the district.”

Mr Lucas says the children seem to be getting just as much pleasure out of seeing the lights as the adults. There is a basket of lollies on the front deck for children who visit.

“I’m amazed at some people’s reactions when we say they can walk through the section to see all the lights and features. I told Beth-Jean that she had put so many hours into erecting them that she might as well open the section to the public.”

They have had as many as 30-40 visitors at a time. Mr Lucas says he’s seen the same cars come for a look two or three times. Some have stayed for over half an hour.

Because she had many, many more lights this year, Beth-Jean started putting them up earlier than usual, in September. One tree alone has 25 sets of 250 bulbs (6250 in total).

“I’m definitely hooked on the light thing. I lie in bed at night thinking of how I can improve the display,” she says. “Next year I’ll have a whole new theme. I’ve got to make changes, I can’t have people saying that’s the same old, same old.”

LJ Hooker representative, Tania Ruki, says this year’s ramble collected a record 19 entries.

“Property owners putting up light displays are making more and more effort and the feedback from the public has been extremely supportive and appreciative.”

LJ Hooker still has Christmas Lights Ramble maps available at the Mahoe Street office.