BBC Radio Scotland highlights - December 2011

December is a quieter month on BBC Radio Scotland as we gear up for the Festive Season and look forward to mince pies and mulled wine! However there has still been plenty to write about on the blog...

The three final parts of the Islands Suite, specially written and recorded pieces of music relating to islands, were broadcast on Mary Ann Kennedy's Global Gathering. We filmed bits of the recordings and spoke to the composers.

There were some lovely recipes to download courtesy of The Kitchen Café and their guest chefs - Mary Contini's stuffed poussin, hot toddies, apricots in amaretto, and apricots in orange blossom syrup.

Shereen interviewed David Johnson, the outgoing Director of Waverley Care which was set up to support people living with HIV and Director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti.

Susan Calman learnt the "art of complaining" and Tom Morton listener Willie provided us with a very useful list of winter travelling tips.

Janice Forsyth was joined by special guest Billy Connolly, who also appeared with Brian Cox in the drama "The Quest of Donal Q".

There were special festive editions of a number of our shows including live music on The Jazz House from Liane Carroll and Brian Kellock; Vic Galloway from Aidan Moffat, Bill Wells and the Preston Pfanz & The Seaton Sands surf band, Travelling Folk with presenter Bruce MacGregor's band Blazin' Fiddles and finally the Get it On christmas choir performing carols as chosen by listeners to the show.

Here's Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells with Aidan's alternative Christmas song (contains adult humour).

Finally, we hope you have a great New Year, thanks again for listening to BBC Radio Scotland and for reading these blogs.