Laying the table

An essential and handy guide to making your Xmas dinner table perfect for your guests...

Holiday Table Setting Made Easy featuring Thomas Lauderdale

Season's Greetings! - My Kind Of Panto

It's that day! To some, it's Xmas. To others it is Saturnalia. To most people, it's a day off work and an excuse to eat and drink more in 24 hours than you would normally imbibe in a week. However, there are some things that always come to mind at this time of year - such as Pantomime!

Featuring The Tiger Lillies' Martin Jacques and Justin Bond, in my case...

According to the blurb:

The Twisted Tale Of A Christmas Crack-Whore: A reality faerie tale for our times. Poor Sinderella (Justin Bond) is a whore with deep psychological problems caused by resentment towards her wicked stepmother (Martin Jacques), a sadistic whore with introspective complications. So far, Sinderella's problems can only be assuaged by crack. The world awaits the coming of Prince Charming, whomsoever he/she/it may be.

Season's Greetings, dears...

Tiger Lillies with Justin Bond - Sinderella

Star of wonder, star of night. Star with royal beauty bright.

As the countdown comes to its natural end this evening, what better way to acknowledge the fact that it is the eve of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, Brumalia, Saturnalia or Yule?

Not with Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, but with Debbie Harry...

Blondie - We Three Kings

Shopping is easy

As the weather continues to make that last-minute shopping an even bigger nightmare than usual this year, let's hear from two ladies who have already made their shopping lists.

Miss London and Miss Kitt cared very little about the queues in Marks & Spencer when someone else was obviously going to bring them their heart's desires...

Julie London - Daddy

Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby

La période des fêtes

Ah, Dalida! A supremely talented woman taken away from us too soon...

Yet who knew she lived long enough to give this song her own very special treatment? As the countdown continues, enjoy a slice of Gallic class!

Dalida - Reviens Moi (Last Christmas)

Countdown begins

I do hate this festering season - amateur drinkers vomiting everywhere, false jollity, endless repeats on telly, huge queues at the shops, and every music channel turned over to "The Greatest Hits Of Christmas" (which will inevitably feature Mariah-bloody-Carey, Chris Rea or Johnny Mathis at some stage).

However, this is indeed the season for tackiness, and so without further ado here is the first of my choice of songs in the countdown to Saturnalia. Laydeez and gentlemen, give a warm welcome to the Del Rubio Triplets!

Del Rubio Triplets - Winter Wonderland