Thank you for your continued interest in the display.

Merry Christmas!

Martin

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