A CHRISTMAS-loving man was shocked to receive an angry letter from a neighbour branding his 20ft festive decorations “cheapy, tacky and completely out of place in our quiet street”.
Dave Goodings, 31, accidentally ordered a 20ft inflatable Santa last year – thinking it was actually only 4ft.
He put it up anyway and says it drew crowds of people keen to get photos, so he added another 20ft inflatable – this time a £179 snowman – on Sunday.
But he was astonished when he received an anonymous complaint through his letterbox in Chessington, Greater London.
The disgruntled neighbour said the “tacky” decorations “ruin the character of the road and they make the whole area look ridiculous”, before stating that they would be informing the council if they weren’t taken down.
Dave, a DJ business owner from Chessington, however has remained defiant, and said: “We are expecting our first baby early next year, so this really felt like the Christmas where we could go completely over the top, and why not.
“It has become a bit of a tradition now.
“And let’s be honest, it would not feel like Christmas on our street without a giant inflatable. We have somehow become known for it.
“At first my heart sank a little bit as I never want to upset or hurt anyone but when you re-read it it’s kind of funny.
“It’s the time of year when you can let your hair down, but someone doesn’t feel the same as us.
“It brings so much joy – already this year we’ve seen people walking by and taking photos.
“They didn’t knock on our door to have a word with us – we don’t know who it’s from or who it’s come from.
“I get that they’re big, but it’s Christmas, not a crime scene.
“If I’m being honest, the letter has only made the whole thing even funnier.”
Angry note
The letter which arrived on Monday was posted through his door during the day, in an envelope bearing no name or address.
It said: “To the occupier of this house “I live down the road and I am absolutely horrified by the giant Santa and giant snowman inflatables you have put outside your property.
“They look cheap, tacky and completely out of place in our quiet street.
“The inflatables are an eyesore, they ruin the character of the road and they make the whole area look ridiculous rather than the nice tidy street it usually is.
“This is not a request, this is a formal complaint from someone who actually lives nearby.
“The display is offensive to the neighbourhood.
At first my heart sank a little bit as I never want to upset or hurt anyone but when you re-read it it’s kind of funny
Dave Goodings
“It is ruining the view from our homes and it shows zero respect for the community.
“Please take them down immediately.
“If they are not removed at once I will be reporting the matter to the council and the residents association, and I will be urging others in the road to do the same.
“So, do the decent thing and bring them in before tonight!
“Regards, An unhappy neighbour.”
Santa mix up
Dad-to-be Dave originally ordered what he thought was a 4ft £24.99 inflatable from B&Q last Christmas.
He said: “Once we had opened it we thought we’d put it up and give it a go – we ended up leaving it up for most of December.
“It was really popular and a big hit.
“No complaints last year and it all went down really well.
“Everyone enjoyed watching it and people walking by with smiles on their faces and kids getting photos of the Santa.”
Dave also added that living so close to Chessington World of Adventures makes the whole thing even bigger.
He said: “We are becoming the new tourist attraction in town.
“People slow down to take photos and some even make little detours just to see the giants in action.”
How to avoid having a tacky Christmas, according to etiquette expert William Hanson
ETIQUETTE expert William Hanson tells Joel Cooper the dos and don’ts of festive decorating.
ANYTHING FAKE IS NAFF: Fake trees are naff because they never have the allure or quality of the real deal. If you’re worried about pine needles dropping, get a good-quality tree and put it in water — it will drop less. And don’t get me started on pre-lit trees. The fun part is having this blank, green canvas and building it up.
PUT UNSIGHTLY DECOR AT BACK: A tree will normally go in the corner of the room so you could always keep unsightly sentimental baubles hidden. It’s what my parents would do with decorations we’d made at school.
USING NATURAL DECOR SHOWS YOU’RE CREATIVE: Decorating your living room using holly, mistletoe and berries is good, and usually compostable too. A poinsettia is the traditional flower at Christmas, while holly in a vase will look good. Mistletoe is nice, but not hung from a doorway, so put it in a vase and make sure it’s facing upwards. Arranging a centrepiece with ivy and berries is smart and shows you’re creative.
OUTDOOR LIGHTS MEAN PEOPLE ARE LAUGHING AT YOU: LIGHTS outside houses are almost always seen in non-desirable neighbourhoods. If you love them, it’s probably because you are from such a neighbourhood. However, lighting a tree outdoors if it’s particularly old or grand can look smart. But use clear lights, not multi-coloured.
FAIRIES AREN’T FIT FOR A TREE: A winged fairy is simply not the done thing in discerning households. Dame Joan Collins previously had a fairy atop her tree — let’s hope it’s a family heirloom, because if not, it’s very common. A fairy did not lead the Wise Men to Bethlehem, it was a star. A star should be silver or gold.
SAY TA-TA TO TINSEL: Tinsel remains the antichrist of decorations. Even though some trees — even royal trees in the 1980s — have been seen with a touch of tinsel, it is the commonest of Christmas accessories. It never looks good, is horrid to touch and is a waste of money.
