No Humbug here

Say, whatever happened to Alan Shepard and Verna Judge?

Remember? They had Humbug’s The Christmas Store in Osborne Village for seven-and-a-half years, then moved Humbug’s to King and Bannatyne for another three-and-a-half, then closed Humbug’s to open that great Steppin’ Out Restaurant that continued six more years at King and Bannatyne, then 10 more on Provencher?

"Oh them. Such nice people, I really liked them!"

Me too, which is why I’m happy to tell you they are alive and well, otherwise occupied professionally these days, but as merry and Christmassy as ever, as evidenced by the massive decorating job they perform on their Machray Street home each year. It’s just spectacular!

Before I give you a bit of a tour, I’m also happy to report I spoke with Alan earlier this week and asked him what it was like to run a Christmas store 12 months a year for so many years, the standard question he fielded being, "But how do you get enough business in summer to make it worthwhile?"

Alan says that question would often come from some customer standing in line outside Humbug’s in mid-July, waiting to get in and buy something.

"Our main market actually," Alan says, "was the souvenir market. Tourists visiting the city who wanted to go home mid-summer with a Christmas decoration, maybe a little Canada Goose or some bauble, with ‘Winnipeg, Manitoba’ written on it. It was a popular destination year round."

I ask him if he and Verna encountered any Christmas addicts during their years in the business.

"Absolutely... there were then — and probably still are now — people right here in Winnipeg who would keep their tree up and decorated all year round."

Yeah, well, there are definitely worse addictions, but that certainly would feel a little Groundhog Day-ish to me. I wonder if they listen to Christmas music all year long, too? Just shoot me! How much Johnny Mathis can one person take?

Anyway, let’s get back to Alan and Verna’s yearly Christmas decorating effort, obviously a labour of love.

"So," I ask, "who is the most passionate of the two of you when it comes to doing all of this? Do you share the work equally?"

"No," says Alan with a laugh. "No, I do the work. Verna is most happy to sit back with a glass of wine and watch me do this. And she’s even given me permission to say that."

(We’re on the phone and I hear Verna laugh in the background.)

Yikes. When you consider that there’s extensive decorating artistry happening both inside and outside of their merry abode, that’s a LOT of work. Not to mention a LOT of wine. Verna’s definitely winning this one...

"So Alan," I ask, "when do you launch this yearly mission?"

"Normally we wait till after Remembrance Day, but this year, with no snow and plus 13, I couldn’t resist and dove in November 8. What a treat! We’re usually done the outside by the 15th or 16th of November. I really enjoyed it this year."

It’s no question we were blessed with an absolutely beautiful Fall.

Then the inside of this beautiful old heritage home, with all it’s gorgeous wood... unquestionably, that would have taken a ton of work. Alan is equally creative, artistic and a tireless worker when it comes to completing the interior Christmas effort, with great attention to detail.

Even the arrangement he puts together on the banister of the stairway is a work of art, combining pine boughs, lights, ribbons and more, resulting in a most inviting climb up the old wooden hill.

Eye candy everywhere. There are 12-foot garlands adorning the oak moulding between the dining room and living room, another gorgeous garland over the dining room window, lights, little statues, bows and balls everywhere. There’s even a little drunk chef Santa snowman statue on the centre of the dining room table (Alan’s a chef), hinting that perhaps Verna doesn’t drink all the wine.

Naturally, their home is a huge hit with all the family and friends who pop in for food and festivities over the Christmas season. Applause to both Alan and Verna for continuing their commitment to this festive time of year — and by the way, they make about the same effort for Halloween, so there’s just no stopping these two.

I, on the other hand, am putting up absolutely no Christmas decorations this year, except a string of lights around a small live tree that I shall place on the dining room table, then save to plant in the spring.

"I hear some humbug in your approach," says Alan with a merry old chuckle. "Don’t be surprised if you’re visited by three ghosts one of these nights."

"Eh?"

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

lmustard1948@gmail.com