I transform my living room into Santa’s Grotto in September, I have 100 decorations, my fiance hates it but I don’t care
A HOMEOWNER showed off the winter wonderland she created in her living room three months ahead of Christmas.
Tracey Drew says she’s been putting her Christmas ornaments up in September for the last 35 years.
However, not everyone is a fan of the Christmas-obsessed gran’s early enthusiasm.
Tracey revealed that her fiancé “can’t stand” the decor and has told her to take it down.
And after this month’s weather turned “miserable,” the mum-of-six decided to beat the autumnal blues, putting her decorations up on September 9th.
Photos show Tracey’s living room covered in more than 100 decorations as she transforms the space into Santa’s Grotto.
The 53-year-old says Christmas decorations are one of her favourite things about the festive period.
She added that she also loves watching her grandchildren open their presents on December 25th.
But after decking her house out in autumn for the Christmas celebrations, she claims her grandkids have called her “crazy.”
Meanwhile, Tracey’s fiancé has pledged to take her away next September so she isn’t at home to put them up.
Despite the remarks, Tracey says she will not be removing the decorations and is even adding a new Father Christmas statue to her growing collection.
She revealed that her partner doesn’t know about the latest addition yet.
“I always put my Christmas decorations up early but this year it was even earlier just because the weather has been so miserable,” said the Bristol native.
“I just love when it’s dark in the evening and you’ve got your Christmas lights on, I love this.
“On Sunday, I sent my son up into the loft to get the decorations out and he managed to get them all out. On Monday, I spent the day putting them all up.
“I’ve been putting my Christmas decorations up early for the last 35 years, since my eldest child was a baby.”
However, her partner was less than impressed with her jumpstart on decorating.
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“Much to my fiancé’s disgust when he came in from work because he went absolutely mental and told me to take it all down and I told him it was staying up,” Tracey said.
“He can’t stand it. He did say to me on Monday night that next year we’re going to go away in September so I can’t put them up until at least October.
“I love it when I come back into the house. I can’t wait to get back from work and I turn all the lights on.
“I’ve got grandchildren. I sent my oldest grandchild a photo of all the decorations up on Monday and she said: ‘Nanny, you are crazy.’
“When guests come round, they say I’m mental. What they can’t understand is why I want all this clutter in my house. To me, it’s not cluttered and it’s displayed nicely.”
Tracey says it took her around three hours to deck out her living room with a collection of Christmas trees, lights, and festive ornaments.
The gran-of-eight says she hates Halloween and doesn’t celebrate it but finds Christmas “pretty” and loves coming home from work to see her house lit up with festive lights.
“I’m Christmas obsessed, I used to work in a school kitchen and I used to dress up as Father Christmas every year and the kids loved it,” Tracey said.
“I’ve got over 100 decorations in my house and these are things I’ve collected over the years. I try to add to the collection every year.
“I try to transform the living room into a Santa’s Grotto for the children.
“I’ve even already wrapped some of my Christmas presents as I buy these throughout the year for the grandchildren. They’re hidden away at the moment.
“I think the decorations are one of my favourite things about Christmas.”