Ö÷²¥´óÐã

In amongst all the Christmas preparation is a list I always forget to make - and naturally I only remember it just as I need it. Music to play throughout the festive period. It's one of the few times in the year that I get to indulge my own musical tastes and to play them for as long and as loud as I like. But there's nothing worse than scrambling around just before the main course goes on the table because you've forgotten that Barbra Streisand CD or a Del Amitri track you just fancy listening too - worse still you're in the middle of doing the roast potatoes and you're in the mood for Van Morrison and your favourite CD isn't there.

The obvious answer of course is to get it all sorted and organised way in advance - but of course the downside of all of this is that it takes time - usually because most of that time is spent listening to those old favourites. I like to start off on the day itself with some good old Christmas Carols - it puts everyone in the mood. Then I like to switch the radio on and tune in to whatever I've ticked off on my programme list ( haven't organised that one either)- then around midmorning I like a bit of lively Scottish music. In fact I like the broadest mix possible - but very definitely Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Van Morrison and the Chieftains, a good mix of Gaelic music, Amy Macdonald is there, Del Amitri, Pink Floyd - nothing is off limits. That's probably why I need a list and several days to wallow in my favourite pastime. I ought to have taken notes throughout the year of the songs I enjoyed - then I wouldn't have this problem. Maybe that should be my resolution for 2011. Happy Christmas to you all, wherever you are.