DONNA and Debbie Ball, their brother Wayne, Valerie and the rest of The Ball family, were mightily 'on the ball' for yet another year. The Christmas Light spectacle they created at their homestead "Longtail Cliff," off East Shore Road, Somerset, was breathtakingly beautiful, fantastic, action packed and mind-boggling, as one visitor put it.

Their production won plaudits from judges in the Annual BELCO/ BF&M Competition as the best in the western division. But the hordes who have ventured to "Longtail Cliff" from all over the island, have been unreservedly complimenting The Balls, openly wondering if there was anything else in the country that could have topped their effort.

It was not just another splash of multi-coloured lights here and there. It was a themed production, animated with coordinated music and other seasonal sound effects, beginning with the big welcoming arch at the western driveway leading into to the estate and continuing through to the eastern end where a giant palm tree was alight with multicolored bulbs. There was a nativity scene on the rooftop; a Grinch corner; a choir stationed behind a donation box, performing at the mere clap of the hands.

There was Santa's Alley; an eight-foot inflated Snow Man at the entrance to Snow Village, where artificial snow flakes fall from a snow machine. Also Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus' Home was a spectacle of its own. On the outside a train was in motion; there were singing and dancing polar bears and penguins. There was a Walk of Lights at the northern end of the home. Lights were everywhere. In all there were about a dozen different 'pieces,' as Donna described them.

On the night of the judging a lively new dimension was added for the benefit of Judges and the first night viewers, who have become accustomed to the show. Family members and neighbours in seasonal costumes appeared, on the scene, along with Santa Claus. Donna led the way garbed as Head Elf, with other Elves bringing up the rear. Son Philip a 16-year-old CedarBridge student played his part. Daughter Neva, a 17-year-old Saltus student depicting "Miss Peppermint Cane," was effectively outfitted in red and white, carrying a basket of matching colours full of candy canes that she freely distributed.

Also there were individuals playing Nut Crackers; someone was costumed as a Christmas tree. There was of course a Grinch, all neighbours and friends playing their roles. Probably the best was yet to come. Refreshments for everyone. There were mouth-watering hot hourdevers right out of The Balls' kitchen. Eggnog, hot Ovaltine with or without marshmallows as well as cold drinks was served. Children were given gifts from Santa's sack; adults received Christmas mugs.

"We wanted to be sure that everyone, especially the children received something, toys or other gifts we had put together," said Donna.

The opening night show as perhaps stolen by the matriarch of The Ball family, Mrs. Gloria Ball, who is in her mid-eighties. Donna said, "We know mother does not mind being in the limelight, but we did not wish to impose on her by asking her to wear a costume. However, she totally surprised us when she appeared on the scene beautifully dressed completely in red. With her silver hair she needed no make-up, only her red outfit and red shoes. We dubbed her, "Mother of Christmas." Donna had no hesitation in crediting the success of their efforts to "team work and family." When her husband Eddie Minors, her brother Wayne and his wife Valerie Ball decided they would enter the contest for the fourth time, "Debbie and I left the island on October 31 t o see what items were out for Christmas. Our whole idea was to get something different, pieces that ordinarily would not otherwise be in Bermuda. Our shopping began in July viewing at home The Christmas in July TV Christmas decoration promotional show. We decided on the major pieces we would like to get." They planned to have a far more extensive display than last year's effort, which also took first-place Western Division honours. They wanted a greater variety of sights, sounds and action. They also realized from past experience they had to enhance their infrastructure, such as building up the embankment on the waterfront end of their property, bringing it up to road level to prevent displays from falling over as they did last year. Fencing was added to the strengthened foundation. The weather was far from favorable "Every weekend we planned something it rained, setting us back yet another week. That took a toll on us. Everyone was drained physically and emotionally, having to be out there until the wee hours of the morning. In fact we were working on the setting right up to the week of the judging on December 11. Everyone took off from work to get the job finished. The freak storm we had in December damaged some of the places that had been set. Not only did we have to go back and restore them, we also had to complete the balance." "When I say we were strained, I mean just that. But everyone put forward their best efforts." Donna was particularly grateful to two neighbours, her cousin Myra Bristol and Dorothy Morrisey. Wanting to help, they put on a bake sale raising funds to contribute towards the BELCO bill. Also on the day of the judging Myra came around helping in the kitchen preparing the hot refreshments. "It was a real Christmas party atmosphere and it pleased us much." Donna said she and sister Debbie have always been motivated in winning the island wide competition in order donate the prize money towards institutions that serve the welfare of children. Recipients in the past were the Women's Resource Center, Physical Abuse Centre, and Committee of 25. This year their prize money will go to Big Brothers and Sisters Organization.

Many of the displays have to be taken indoors nightly for protection from the elements. And they have to be set up again for the next night. Donna said it takes nearly an hour to set everything back in place in time for lighting up at 5.30 p.m. Once they are in place someone has to stay outside to meet the guests and make sure none of the displays are disturbed, some being very delicate and they don't want anyone tripping over the cords which for the most part are hidden.

"We understand that there were not as many entries in the competition this year as in the past," Donna said, adding, "personally I feel in order to have more entries BELCO and BF&M Insurance need to give people greater incentives, such as a discount off their bills. As it stands now stands the only persons who get those benefits are the winners, three each from the West, Central and Eastern divisions. It is expensive as well as physically and mentally straining." "I think I need to take a break," Donna confessed, adding, "I am not sure I want to do it next year, but in any case we have a plan in mind." Donna is a Dietary Supervisor at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where her husband Eddie works in the Maintenance Department. Debbie is Manageress of Hunts Enterprises in Warwick; brother Wayne works for HWP. Sister-in-law Valerie works for ACE Group of Companies. They are the ones who have made both an art and a science out of Christmas lighting and displays at "Longtail Cliff." The Balls have been asked many times for an estimate of the number of lights on display. Her answer is that it's anybody's guess, well into the tens of thousands. As to the dollars and cents cost, that is not easily determined, when taking into account the time and energy of family and friends, which is over and above $7,000 spend this year along on set pieces.. We have had a lot of visitors. King Edward Hospital sends its Seniors Bus; Lefroy House; Mr. Butch Bean has brought about 15 children in trips with his horse and carriage. We were tickled pink seeing the children; we went into Santa's sack and gave them gifts.

When we know the Seniors are coming we open the gates to make access easy for them Otherwise the gates are closed to vehicular traffic to prevent damage to the displays. We welcome visitors but they have to park outside and walk in." Visitors arrive from all over, by taxis and private cars. And small boats and ferry boats putting into Watford Bridge Wharf come close to the shore to get a view of the display's southern facing.

IT was a pleasant surprise when just before ten o'clock Christmas Eve, a group of bright-eyed youngsters knocked on our living room door saying "Merry Christmas," when I opened the door. In the friendliest, most magnanimous Yuletide spirit I invited them to come in.

Momentarily, I was dispirited, rebuffed, when they declined my invitation.

But I was soon restored, when I looked in the yard, and beheld the biggest cavalcade of carollers that I had seen in decades. I mean all sixty or seventy years.

They were from the Calvary Gospel Chapel, that beautiful blue edifice situated on the main road near the entrance to Port Royal Golf Club in Southampton West. All 45 or 50 of the carollers, youngsters and seniors alike, accompanied by some of their Elders, Mark Hall, Troy Hassell and Tim Usher to mention a few.

They sang and sang. It was overwhelming to say the least. All I could think to do was leave them outside singing to themselves while grabbed my camera. For a moment I could not figure out where I had put it.

Then I remembered to ask, "Where is Anthony?" He is my youngest son, who with his wife Michell is profoundly engrossed in the work at Calvary. Anthony is somewhere in the dark fringes of one of the above photos I took (see pictures below).

The cavalcade took off in about a dozen cars on the East Shore Road to the residence of June Godfrey. Her husband David was funeralisd at Calvary Chapel only last month. They also visited the nearby Bromby residence carolling at such places as Hayden Homes, Willow Bank, the Anderson Brothers and Rockaway estate.

When they were gone, I was left pondering over how carolling has changed over the years.

As I hear so often on the talk shows, "back in the day" when we had outgrown our Santa Claus qualification, the most exciting thing as youngsters we had to look forward to on Christmas Eve was Marching with the Shepherds (Lodge) to St. James Parish Church for the midnight service. It was a tradition that had been going on for generations.

The Shepherds wended their way to church in procession, singing and at times and at times to the accompaniment of some good hearted musicians. It was the Christmas of 1919 that some of those musicians after having Marched the Shepherds to church, decided to organize a band. That band is now the Somerset Brigade Band, formed the following February, and going from strength to strength.

The band was an attraction for more and more persons to join in the march to the church. Many of them spiling out from the clubs and bars in the parish. They often lent a less than religious taint to the good efforts of the Shepherds.

The disintegration of the Shepherds Lodge and the indulgences of some of the marchers led to the discontinuation of the Midnight service. The carolling continued though, because groups of the musicians would go to selected homes throughout the night, carolling until after sunrise on Christmas Day, especially where they were certain to get some "souse" (and maybe end up "soused-up"). That was all part of the Yuletide spirit, back in the day, when alcohol was king.

In later years stalwarts of the Salvation Army musicians and songsters could be seen and heard by the roadsides, wherever they was a bright street light, bringing Christmas cheer.