CHRISTINE Ritchie's house is every child's dream.
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Each year, on the first of December, the Epsom resident decorates her house in the spirit of Christmas.
She gets out the tinsel and baubles, Santa figurines and reindeer, her cake tins and special ornaments.
Ms Ritchie said December was her favourite time of the year.
"I like it. I just love Christmas. I love all the decorations," Ms Ritchie said.
"The presents, I love the shopping, the eating and the drinking.
"It's the one thing during the year where you go out of your way to do something special, whether it's for you or someone else, it doesn't matter. I get very excited."
Ms Ritchie said she started collecting decorations when her children, who are now adults, were young.
She said her favourite decoration was a Santa she had bought at The Reject Shop several years ago.
"Most of the decorations are from The Reject Shop. The special ornaments are from an ornament party we have once a year," she said.
"I don't do it for anyone else but myself and family.
"I love going to see the lights but I don't think I would ever do that. I want everything inside so I can see it."
Ms Ritchie said it takes her about a week to set up the display as she likes to rearrange the decorations.
She said her husband helps retrieve the boxes from the garage but is not allowed to touch the decorations.
"He just lets me go. He is not able to touch a thing," she said.
Ms Ritchie said when she was young her family would put up a Christmas tree.
"All I had was a tree. I remember it was a silver tree with red things on the end," she said.
"We did the lights thing, mind you there were only about four houses with lights when I was little."
Ms Ritchie's love of Christmas is not limited to her home, she has also tried to get her workplace involved in the festive spirit.
"I organised a room decoration competition," she said.
Ms Ritchie said she would celebrate Christmas at her sister-in-law's house.
For more photos of Ms Ritchie's Christmas display, visit www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au
I like it. I just love Christmas. I love all the decorations. The presents, I love the shopping, the eating and the drinking.
- Christine Ritchie