Fall 2011 has come and it’s the time of year when I get emails asking if we are setting up a light show.  As this blog entry title suggests, our neighbours will be happy this 2011/2012 season as, once again, we will not be hosting an elaborate light show.  Like the past 2 seasons, there will be approx. 10,000 lights, all static, not timed to music.

As long as my parents allow us to host another show at their home, I do plan to setup at least one more fantastic display in the coming years.  I said to myself this would happen when my sister (with her kids and husband) visit for Christmas, from the US.  Perhaps we will setup a show every 4 years, similar to the frequency of the Olympics.

Congratulations to my brother Andrew and his wife Angela who just welcomed their 3rd girl to the world, Sept. 20 2011.  My son, Preston is now almost 17 months old and is quickly following in Dad’s shoes.

Thank you for your continued interest in our display.  Please visit this blog again next year for updates on a future show.  I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Martin

So with this news you have probably figured we won’t be hosting an elaborate light show again this season, and you are correct.  At the end of this year, I have a home energy audit to be performed, which means I need to complete a slew of tasks on my to-do list.  As well, I’d like to spend my first Christmas with Preston without the hassles of a big light show, traffic, neighbour headaches, etc.

This year’s setup will be exactly the same as last season, incorporating approximately 10,000 LEDs, all static, not timed with music.  I will get the webcams streaming, but it won’t be entertaining to watch.

For those who look forward to the lights as a seasonal ‘highlight’, don’t give up on us yet!  Remember, I now have a baby boy who will soon likely want to help setup a big show.  Depending on how 2011 rolls out, I may resume the show next season.  Taking 2 years off may also help alleviate traffic congestion for an upcoming show.

Thank you for your emails and my apologies for delays in some responses.  Also thank you to those offering to help setup.  If you are interested in helping setup future displays, please let me know!  I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Martin Lindsay

P.S. Be sure to read one of my 2007 blog entries: http://lindsaylights.com/blog/?p=77

Thanks for your responses and comments this season.  While I know a lot of you are upset we didn’t create a big show this year, this season ‘off’ has been good for me/us.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Martin

This month, we were approached by a production company who will be producing a holiday light show for HGTV.  They will have (3) families competing for the best holiday light setup.  I seriously considered making this happen, but couldn’t get the time and man-power to pull it together.  Andrew has been out of the scene for the past couple of years, and has moved on to other things (family life), and it can be difficult to drag friends out to help setup on sub-zero temperature days…

As many are aware, I am in the middle of renovating my new house that was purchased almost a year ago.  It is still heavily under construction and I need to keep my priorities there.  This was partially delayed due to my getting married this past September and having to work out west for the majority of the summer.  For the first time in many years, I need to put my personal life before the lights.

Setting up the show is a huge task alone, but babysitting the vehicular traffic, and tearing the lights down is just as much, if not more demanding.  I despise having to pay police officers $300/night (as we have had to do in the past) in order to keep traffic flowing, without incident.

Over the years, we had one selfish, complaining neighbour who never understood the value the lights provided to the community and local charities (these are the same type of people who turn off their lights at Halloween and refuse to give out candy).  Although all our other neighbours seemed ok with the show, dealing with one ‘bad apple’ is another headache I can do without.

I’d like to thank you for your support in the past, and hope I can come up with a show in the future.  I know local charities will miss our/your contributions this season and the community will be a ‘darker’ place.  However, I like to think our light show hasn’t come to an end, but a temporary hiatus.

Happy Holidays J

Martin Lindsay

P.S. Be sure to read my blog entry from 2007 http://lindsaylights.com/blog/?p=77

So we start fresh with a new blog. I may scrap the blog thing althogether.
Anyway….we had some mild days in February (about 3 days) and I was able to get a lot of lights put away. There are still a few to come down, but I need to wait until the ice lets go of the cords.
I’ll write more soon, if the blog is still here……haha

Due to the large amount of snow we received this winter, I haven’t been able to take the lights down as they are pretty much iced in.  Normally they are down and stored away by mid-January.  Warmer weather is finally predicted for next week, so hopefully the snow will melt so the lights can be removed.

If you haven’t seen the video of the past show, check out the videos page on our website.  It was shot in HD this year and looks great.

Enjoy the rest of winter

Martin

Traffic was terrific this year! I didn’t have to spend 1 second babysitting traffic. However, with less visitors, the donations have suffered greatly as we haven’t even hit the $5000 mark yet. Quite a drop from only a couple of years ago, though maybe this is a sign of the times.

I have shot HD video of the lights and am about to edit and upload for you watch. This is normally done before Christmas, but I have been very busy with my new house. With help, I’ve spent the past week completely gutting the interior, ready to build new. Below is a picture of the way it stands now.

Again, Happy New Year!

Martin

So far, traffic has been great this season.  It reminds me how it was years ago.  I think this is due to less lights, less media coverage, a shorter show, lots of snow, and cold temperatures.  I won’t be hiring police officers this season to direct traffic.

Christmas Eve is typically a very busy night.  There may not be anyone directing traffic tonight, so please be patient and courteous when visiting.  Please don’t block driveways, and avoid parking in the court.  If you’d like to park, please do so on the adjacent streets.

Merry Christmas!

Martin

So this is how things are setup this year:  There is (1) 2-minute musical sequence, followed by a 15 second “all on” sequence.  There isn’t a narrative introduction/voice over and there aren’t any other sequences.  The idea here is to keep the show as short as possible, in order to keep traffic flowing.

I am trying to lay low under the media “radar” this season.  This won’t stop interviews, but the information provided on TV and in the Papers will be limited.  So far the Weather Network, Global Television, and the Globe and Mail have covered the lights, however, the details of our address have been limited.  While I’d love for them to publish this, we’re trying to keep the popularity of the lights to a minimum as they are already very well known.  Again, this is an attempt to prevent traffic chaos.

So far, the traffic has been very reasonable.  This may be due to a combination of cold/wet weather and less media coverage.  I don’t expect there to be traffic issues until schools get let out for the holiday season.  Therefore, if you’d like to see the lights without being rushed through, I’d advise that you visit as soon as possible.  Delays of up to 45 minutes to view the show will likely occur around the Christmas week.  

Although we’ve scaled back on the amount of lights, it’s still a fairly impressive show.  I have gone from 80,000 lights to 55,000 lights and more than 90% of these are LEDs.  This display only uses about 4000 watts of power (average) and can peak to 8500 watts.  This will raise the electric bill by less than $90 for the season.  I have listed all the details of the display on the “quick facts” page of the website: http://www.lindsaylights.com/quick_facts.html

I’d like to thank Creg Fran, who helped setup the lights this season.  I’d also like to thank Jasmine, who helped wrap the lights for the new addition to this year’s display.  Speaking of that….you’ll notice that we did add a new feature to the display this season.  It can be called a lot of things from light fountain, to scrolling sign, etc.  I’ll post more details about this on our site, soon.

If you aren’t already aware, the lights can be seen, worldwide, through our streaming webcam.  This webcam includes audio and is live!!  Check it out:

http://www.lindsaylights.com/webcam_streaming.html

It seems like I’ve said this before, but this will be the last time “Lindsay Lights” will take place at this location.  Maybe I’ll take a break next season, as I will be gutting and renovating my house from top to bottom.  However, this lighting “bug” seems to be in my blood, so we may move the show to another location…it’s all unknown at the moment.  To those who’d be interested in buying the lights and equipment, I won’t be selling anything at the moment.

I ask everyone who visits, please be patient and courteous to others…slow down, enjoy the lights, and remember…it’s the holiday season!  Please don’t litter, don’t honk your horn, and don’t blast your radio. Please be careful NOT TO BLOCK driveways or the street!  It’s a real problem when our neighbours can’t get into their own driveway.  Last of all, please take extra caution while driving…there are lots of kids and families walking around. 

I hope to get pictures and video footage posted on the website by mid to late December, so please be patient.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Martin