It’s the most wonderful time of the year, at least it is if you’re Betty Ann Jones, who delights in decking the halls of her home every December in tinsel, trinkets and a dozen Christmas trees.
The decorations are lovingly placed in every nook and cranny of the family home, much to the dismay of Betty Ann’s husband Keith, 80, a self-confessed “Christmas Grinch”.
“I have no idea how Keith can hate Christmas while living with me,” Betty tells Woman’s Day. “He thinks I’m mad!”
The 80-year-old grandmother vowed to Keith that she’d cut back on her lavish decorations, already worth around $64,000, but she defied her Scrooge-like husband and decorated her house once again this year after spending another $11,000.
“I previously said I was going to give up decorating the house,” admits Betty Ann, who even had a Christmas-themed birthday party this year. “But I couldn’t resist turning the house into a Christmas grotto again. I love the smile on people’s faces when they see it.
“It takes quite a while to get all the decorations up, especially now I’m getting older. And although he doesn’t like it, Keith does give me a hand with decorating the outside of the house.”
The couple have different opinions on the festive season.
With baubles, lights, reindeer and nativity scenes scattered on every surface, Betty Ann confesses that she doesn’t think she can buy any more decorations as she has nowhere else to store them – or even places to display them!
“I’ve bought an extra six Christmas trees this year in preparation,” she smiles. “I can’t imagine not living in a Christmas grotto over the festive period, although I think it might be time to slow down. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.”
This year, Betty Ann has around 20 Christmas trees in her home, along with Santa’s grotto and a full-size sleigh in the garden, where she will have children in to meet Santa to raise money for charity.
She delights in creating joy for the kids in the neighbourhood – they think her home is magical and that she’s friends with Father Christmas.
“I think doing this to the house is really special and unique,” says Betty Ann. “It brings a lot of joy to so many people, even if Keith isn’t so keen!”
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