In common with most males, I struggle to come up with answers to the ‘What do you want for Christmas?’ question.

I however have lots of ideas for the ladies in my life – my wife and four daughters. In their various ways, they leave me in no doubt about what little surprises would enhance their lives at Jingle Bells time. I am apparently less forthcoming.

I am not a snappy dresser and have no desire to be one, as anyone who knows me will testify. I have enough t-shirts and shorts for the time being, thank you. I do not need or want socks, handkerchiefs or after shave.

As a frequent traveller I have been seduced too often by the duty free (allegedly) smellies that you have to navigate after security and have enough to last me decades. My wife and I have a pact every year. ‘Let’s not buy each other a load of unnecessary tat this year’.

But we both get cold feet and cheat, as we both know the other will do just that too. Maybe this year…

But I came up with an idea which I have just shared with my musical daughter. She earns her living as a singer and understands the whole sound file writing thing. I have researched and selected my favourite song from each year of my life and she is making me a cd collection.

That’s 72 tracks of my taste in popular music. She may regret having offered to do this when she has to listen to The Dickie Bird Song from 1947, or ‘How Much is that Doggy in the Window?’ from 1953.

I have had some tough decisions to make, as I decided to restrict myself to a no repeats of artists. Which Beatles song? Which Elvis? Which Bread? Which Don Partridge? ‘Who he?’ I hear you ask.

Ah well, you see, I was his ‘Roadie’ for a short while in the late 60’s. He was going out with a friend of mine and didn’t have a car; but I did. So ‘Rosie’ is on my list. I heard it quite a few times.

In case you were wondering - for Elvis I chose the version of ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ where he broke up laughing. ‘Always look on the bright side’ is my motto. And that’s in there too (1991)! And the Three Lions Football song from 1996. Eclectic or what?