Well this is it boys and girls of the blog. The last one before Christmas (obviously) and the last of the year. Christmas greetings to you all. This completes a whole year of blogging! Thank you for joining in! I hope next year we can do more and better. Thanks for all the song suggestions and show comments, here's to making 2011 really rather top notch.

First post-blog job is picking up the Turkey followed by being jolly. And I will stay being jolly until someone convinces me otherwise.

Favourite moment of the day so far was a man from the National Secular Society on Radio 4 accuse the Pope of pontificating. If anyone is permitted to pontificate surely it's the Pontiff?

Continuing on the multiple-channel theme, I'm on 5 Live this afternoon at 2 with the Wittertainment Christmas Special, part of which is a quiz featuring the skills of Toby Jones, Jason Isaacs and Mark Lawson. We recorded for hours on Tuesday and it was a fine evening I think. Quite a lot of what kept everyone going will have to be edited out I'm afraid, for legal reasons mainly but it should still be worth a listen.

Then our Christmas Eve All Request Friday promises to be great fun. I love being on for Christmas Eve and look forward to being a part of quite a few Christmases tonight. But we need a song as brilliant as yesterday's. Nice one Alison in Eastleigh. Bob Dylan's mad Christmas rant was great fun and just the right way to kick things off. Your choice is required!

Wishing you and yours a thrilling and heartwarming Christmas, see you after 5 and then on the 4th of January.

Well Grandma's made it. She's taken up residence and the Christmas routine swings into gear. The delivery woman from the supermarket has been and left our festive groceries. The man from the brewery has delivered a crate of wine. The boiler is still ticking over and the windows have new glass in them. Kids are all asleep. What could possibly go wrong? The foxes that killed my snowman have not been seen for a couple of days, shamed I hope into preying on someone else's handiwork. The season of good will does not extend to foxes. Bah, and indeed, humbug to them.

Hope you all enjoyed Thea Gilmore last night, she really has some fine records under her belt and in her 2 songs last night showed what a talent she is. Thanks to her, Kate Rusby and Lauren Pritchard for their songs this week.

Today dear bloggers, is all request Thursday time. Today and tomorrow is the big getaway so we thought we'd double the amount of your requests and calls. Being on the radio at Christmas is really quite something and it's great to know what most of you are up to ( I don't mean that in a wikileaks kind of way. I can't see you, even if you can web-cam me in the studio). Feel free to tell all here.

And Nigel will tie up any loose ends for you today. After he's cooked the most moist bird of all time (he promises) he'll tackle any food queries you might have. Email [email protected] or blog here and we'll try and get as many queries on as possible. Loved Heston Blumenthal's sprout tips on Chris yesterday-no water! Who'd have thought?

So let's get those tinsel-laden hits on from 5, your choice in our Christmas box below!

Have a joyful and affirming Christmas Eve Eve, see you after 5.

Exhausted of London here. Why is it that the more tired you are, the less sleep you get? What's going on there? Feel rather envious of the enticingly long 3 week break about to be enjoyed by Chris and the gang. Your Drivetime team run till Christmas Eve and return on the 4th of January. Hooray for hard work and the righteous glow of the Stakhanovite (that one's for my history teacher Mr Corrin who taught us Russian history and would give me an extra mark for working that in). I was up late recording a movie quiz for 5 Live which involved a lot of huffing and puffing, singing and yelling. Will take it easy today maybe.

Lauren Pritchard is a star in the making and her voice sounded terrific last night. Lissie (who performed that extraordinary version of Stairway to Heaven for us) and Lauren should have a really exciting 2011. And she brought me 6 mince pies, always a nice touch. Yes, I'm easily impressed. Today Thea Gilmore sings some Christmas tunes for you. I've mentioned her 'Strange Communion' Christmas album from last year which has, amongst other things, a duet with Mark Radcliffe on it. I will not be playing that role tonight you will be relieved to know.

Nativity oldies:the end. We'll finish with GIFTS and PRESENTS of all sorts.There's GOLD, FRANKINCENSE and MYRHH to consider of course but all gifts are welcome. Giving, and generosity in all it's guises is the theme for the day. Leave your gift in our box below. Thanks.

And it's Nigel's Christmas pudding tonight. Its a corker too-I have seen it's glory! And verily, you shall all want one.

Have a sparkling and dazzling Wednesday, see you after 5.

Ring out those Solstice bells! The longest and darkest day is with us and from tomorrow everything gets so much better. Or maybe I've read that wrong. In fact, checking with the Met Office information for these parts, today's sunrise is 8.05 and Thursday's is 8.06. Anyone know what's happening there? Anyway those who study these things say a big storm of wind and rain from the Atlantic will blast the cold away after Christmas. And we'll be back to normal. Which feels quite welcome. The return to 'normalcy', as one old US President had it, sounds good to me.

Apologies for the absence of the Fishermen's Friends yesterday, snowed in and stuck in a myriad of places, none of them my studio unfortunately. We wish them all a very happy Christmas anyway and hopefully link up next year. However, wasn't Kate Rusby magnificent? The "Sweet Bells" album is a terrific listen and if you're looking for a neat festive offering, that's a good one. Today it's Lauren Pritchard (born 1989! Curses!) who sang for us at the Electric Proms. Her album is 'Wasted in Jackson' and we played her 'Not the Drinking' song a lot this year. But it's festive songs today and she has a great voice to deliver them too.

Nigel has Christmas preparations day 2, it's the trimmings today. Sprouts, sausages and bread sauce, that sort of thing. And doubtless er, a little something to wash it down with.

And Nativity oldies-it's the WISE MEN! The gifts can wait till tomorrow, today we'll do the KINGS/WISE MEN/MAGI who weren't called Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar but could have been. Leave your wisdom below. I'm wondering if 'Wise Man' by Uriah Heep will sound too old fashioned and cheesy. We'll see.

Have a thrilling and enthralling Tuesday, see you after 5.

Well that was some weekend. The Met Office got it right almost to the hour as the snow arrived mid-morning Saturday and turned our streets into a Dickens classic. By the afternoon folk were pulling their shopping around on sledges.

We ventured out to see Child 1's end of term drama show, barely no snow when we arrived, 4 inches when we came out. There then followed a splendid snowball fight in our street which only ended when, in classic Beano style, a snowball smashed our front window. I don't know if you've tried to get a glazier recently but eventually (8th call) we found one and he cheerily chiselled and putty-ed his way into our bank balance. After our boiler blow-out, I think we really are re-creating 'The Gas Man Cometh' by Flanders and Swan.

So retreating to the garden we built a skinny snowman which won't grace the cover of any Christmas card but was demanding to be built. He stood for 24 hours before a pair of foxes attacked him! We watched from the kitchen as they pushed him over and then rummaged around in his nether regions. An outrage. They ran off when we yelled at them but the damage was done. I think he'll lie there for a while now, his carrot nose poking up through the wreckage.

Showtime! Live Christmas music this week starting not with Fisherman's Friends, who are sadly snowed off, but by the wonderful Kate Rusby.

Nativity oldies this week will feature stars, wise men and gifts in that order. Our final 3 days of crib-classics start with STARS. Or maybe just STAR, the one that moved a bit apparently. Songs with stars in please in our Christmas box below.

Hope you have a well insulated, thermally comforting Monday, see you after 5.

Sounds like Band Aid on the radio. Haven't heard it for a while. Shops don't count obviously as they run their Christmas compilations from September but on the radio, it still sounds fine to me. I haven't played all these old Christmas songs for years and I'm loving it. Next week we have loads of singers and musicians in to play some good ol' festive tunes. Fisherman's Friends, Kate Rusby, Lauren Pritchard and Thea Gilmore will put you in a fine old mood. By the time we get to Christmas Eve we will have been serenaded into a state of seasonal bliss.

All this is assuming any of us can move next week. If the winter apocalypse descends all bets are off.

Nigel's 5 bird roast was a treat yesterday and his stuffing was quite delicious. Not quite convinced I would be as patient as you need to be to put bird 1 into bird 2 and so on. Or that my local butcher would do all the de-boning I would need to ask him to. All the information's on the website should you want more. And use the blog if you have any queries about Christmas food and drink you might have. Nigel will be on everyday next week at 5.20 so we have plenty of time to tackle most issues.

All request Friday coming down the tracks very fast! And next week it'll be an all request Christmas Eve! And guess what! We are going to do an all request Thursday as well! (too many exclamation marks I realise, sorry) So lots of great tune ideas please, can be festive can be non-festive, whatever you fancy really.

Child 1 returns from University today, doubtless starving and inevitably penniless, so we'll have a great Friday. Hope yours is a belter too, see you after 5.

Greetings to you all this cold and dark Thursday. Getting the feeling that some of you are breaking up already, maybe finishing for Christmas tomorrow? Some schools are off now and increasingly getting those 'off to airport' style 3 worders. And then there are those of us who will keep going till Christmas Eve. Anyway, your blogging contributions still very welcome. Indeed there would be no point in doing this without them!

Hunkering down for another cold snap and glancing nervously at the boiler every 5 minutes. Everything humming and thrumming reassuringly at the moment. As soon as it starts to clunk and grind, I'll be round your place, family in tow, asking for a room.

Loved having Paul Carrack on the show yesterday. As many listeners can attest, he is one of our unsung stars. As the voice of so many great songs with Squeeze, Mike and the Mechanics, Ace and his solo stuff, he really has a formidable back catalogue. And he's a gent. And turns up when he says he will (it's ok, I'm over it now).

Today Nigel continues his Christmas preparation with a 5 bird roast. As I understand this, it's a Russian doll arrangement with one bird inside another, inside another and so on, ending up with some kind of big bird one imagines. More with Nige at 6.

And nativity oldies. Well yesterday I thought we were doing wisemen but they wouldn't be there without a baby to bring gifts to. So it's time for the BABY songs please. All oldies linked to BABIES of some description. Then next week we can do wisemen, gifts and stars. Or chocolate Santas, fairies and aliens maybe.

Have an energising and captivating Thursday, see you after 5...

Morning to bloggers old and new, those who have had their Christmas lunch and those yet to indulge. Here's to a great Tuesday.

Well I said I'd tell you how it went with George Michael. As you might be aware, it didn't. He changed his mind. He decided not to do the interview which is why I told you he was on but then he changed his mind. Apologies for leading you up the garden path on this one but I kind of assumed he'd stick to his decision to appear, that's how this whole guest thing works. But he obviously sees it differently which is his choice. I think it's unlikely he'll be appearing on Drivetime anytime soon.

So to the wonderful Paul Carrack who plays today. I know lots of you have loved his work for many years and he's always a pleasure to listen to. His new album is a huge work with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra called 'A Different Hat'. It's fair to say it'll be a slightly more stripped back version that gets on air today. A bloke and a guitar basically. Paul's on after 6.

So our nativity oldies continue, let's do ANGELS today, please ding-donging merrily on high as they do. Apparently. Your ANGEL suggestions to be scattered like Arctic frosting throughout the show.

Have a reliable and reassuring Wednesday, see you after 5.

As one listener noted, imagine sitting next to Annie Lennox at the carol service. You could sing any tune you fancy and no one would know. What power the woman has! When she went for it last night, the whole building shook. You can see the film we took of the whole thing here-it really is worth a few moments of your time. Hope you enjoyed her carols last night, we have a whole bunch of live Christmas music for you next week with Fisherman's Friends, Lauren Pritchard, Thea Gilmore and Kate Rusby all singing some festive favourites. Feel free to join in at home.

More Nativity oldies today. I think we need an INN or HOTEL for Mary and Joseph to stay in (or try to) so any TAVERN songs that springs to mind, your thoughts welcome as ever. Ta v much.

Have a fruitful and efficient Tuesday. See you after 5...

Monday greetings to all bloggers, hope your weekend was all you hoped it would be. Star event here was the purchase of the Christmas Tree amid all the usual hoopla. Child 2 always insists on the tallest available, while Mrs M would rather something more subtle. Child 1 wont notice and child 3 doesn't mind as long as he can hang his tardis from it. Anyway 11 feet of Nordman won the day and is now delicately and tastefully decorated. Last I looked, no Dr Who attachments were in evidence. But early days.

We have Annie Lennox singing for us today with some songs from her new festive album and something for the Great British songbook too. She is still one of the towering figures of British music, having sold millions of records over 4 decades and that voice is as powerful as ever. Annie with us after 6...

Christmas really takes hold today, not just with Annie but we'll start Christmas confessions today too at 5.40. And the oldies this week will be (very) loosely building a nativity, starting with MARY and JOSEPH and PARENTS in general. MOTHERS and FATHERS is our theme today so plenty to go at I should think.

Plus, with this X FActor talk of Matt and Rebecca on TV last night, you need the original Matt and Rebecca. Live from 5!

Have a prosperous and enticing Monday...

Morning all. Hope you are all tip-top. Warm as toast here, thanks for asking. The man and his spanners arrived, tut-tutted his way through an hour of boiler fiddling and whoompph! we were off. Delicious heat spread its way through the house as I ran naked from radiator to radiator greeting the return of modern life. Or something like that anyway. Inevitably, we set the thermostat too high and everyone complained it was too hot. Ho hum.

And what's that word I need today? You know the one...it's...you know, oh er...I know! MILD that's it. 5.5 degrees is a heatwave really. But we enjoy it while it's here before we hunker down again next week.

Enough temperature related padding. Or lagging. Another two show Friday with some movies discussed on 5 live between 2 and 4 and then the bike to Radio 2 and that all important start to the weekend. Wondering whether we should start the show with a Christmas tune or not? What do bloggers think? I feel it's too soon really and we should keep our powder dry till next week but let me know your thoughts and that choice of yours below. Ta.

Have an affirming and optimistic Friday, see you after 5.

Temperature in office -2 degrees C. Blog brief today. Coat and hat worn all night. Roger Royle bedsocks worn for first time in years. Mrs M likes the look.

Nigel with his Christmas cake will be lovely and filling. I've seen the recipe and the pictures-it's a winner.

Hands shaking.

Condensation frozen.

Send for the mountain rescue.

But we'll do OFFICE PARTY songs today. Tunes inspired by the annual career shortening experience that is the Christmas works do. The boss, her secretary and the photocopier. and all that.

I have now lost all feeling in my finqiwuen'9123ne

This morning I head to interview Colin Firth, unwashed. It is a shameful admission indeed but that boiler at home has left me with no choice in the matter. And my suspicion is that he will notice of course but will be too polite to say. I will then steer matters to "The King's Speech", his fantastic new film and all will be well. I will report back.

I appreciate all the broken boiler advice and I've tried most of it. Hammers, kettles and laying on of hands-all tried with no success. That gas-man needs to cometh again.

Radio 2 office today (nice and warm) to write these words while listening to Jools Holland's new cd called "Rockinghorse". Top songs as you would expect and he plays live tonight in the studio. Hooray for Jools.

Adn let's do songs about CHESS today please. There's a big tournament starting in London today (The Chess Classic) so songs inspired by CHESS and all it's pieces, moves and schemes.

I know you were worried. But late yesterday, the man with the appropriate spanners and magic in his bag visited. And behold, he lay his hands on our pipes and the boiler did spring to life. And warmth did spread all through the house. And we gave thanks. Until it switched off again in the middle of the night. So your host could be spotted in a furry dressing gown (which may have been my wife's, it was too dark to tell) in the garden, in the dark, pouring boiling water over the condensing pipe. I hope thats right. It might have been the bayleaf plant now I come to think about it. The gas man might have to cometh again...

Anyway songs for the joys and comfort brought about by CENTRAL HEATING today. We celebrate WARMTH, RADIATORS and FIRES that keep us all going. And that we miss big time when they all pack up. You know what to do.

And top news as we bring you Bill Bailey, my favourite comedian. His new show is as splendid as ever. Clever, inspired lunacy. Comedians can be, well, tricky to interview at times but Bill has so much going on in his head that he (usually) is nothing less than fascinating. He's in at 6.

Have a thrilling and bountiful Tuesday, see you after 5.

"Ahh yes Mr Mayo, that hissing sound is your boiler dying". Great start to the week! Wondering now if Chris's boiler problems are infectious and I've passed on something hideous. My hands are shaking, the icicles forming on my nose and I'm going to read some Dickens very soon just to feel better.

Maybe the whole family should just decamp to our lovely warm studios and stay there. It's actually quite tempting. We'd be ever so quiet, I'm sure no one would notice.

Another book club day choice for you today and it's Simon Garfield's "Just My Type". We haven't done non-fiction before but this history of fonts is fascinating stuff. If you need convincing, try the sample chapters we have for you on this site. Many years ago, SImon wrote the book about Radio 1 'The Nation's Favourite' and he has always picked great topics for his writing. Helvetica versus Comic Sans and other favourites after 6.

And it's Coronation Street's 50th birthday this week so a perfect opportunity to do Corrie oldies. Your top choices below please!

Have a warm and centrally heated Monday (can I come round to yours?) and see you after 5.

Greetings to all bloggers wherever you may be. Friday already and the weekend arrives not a moment to soon. The promise of a balmy 2 degree increase soon is something to look forward to don't you think? Weather man Philip Eden on the show yesterday said there will be an easing of the freeze but almost before you can say Sepp Blatter it'll be back. But it's Arctic cold next time not Siberian cold, so we can't even blame the Russians.

First Carol Service last night after the show, child 3's school putting on a fine show. We 'Hark the Heralded' and 'Away in the Mangered' and, rather splendidly, Ding Dong Merrilyed'. I've always liked that one, especially the lung-crushing Glorrrrrrrrrria you have to go for. It's not exactly a Van Morrison moment but if the priest had suggested we did a G.L.O.R.I.A we'd have gone for it. Looking round, I did wonder if some parents were actually miming.

And it's child 3's birthday today-11 glorious years-and he wants, nay demands, a mention on "All Request Friday". Well it's cheaper than a present so he'll get it at some stage tonight. Percy Pigs and Haribo all round, we'll keep you some cake and you can have a go with his sonic screwdriver if you like.

First to 5Live with the good Doctor for some movie chat then to Radio 2 for the perfectly proportioned All Request Friday. Warm us all the brilliance of your choice below.

Have yourselves a supportive and fullsome Friday, see you 5.05.

Hell hath no fury like a child in snow who has to go to school. The news doesn't help here to be honest. Obviously the worst weather makes the news as do the areas where all the schools are closed. Expectations are raised, then cruelly dashed as mean, evil parents point out that travel is possible and school is open. Yes life is so unfair.

Hope things are lovely with you, dear bloggers. Today we have young Nigel after 6 and we start our Christmas foodie suggestions. I seem to remember its the yuletide pig today. Or the Christmas ham or somesuch. Any blog queries I am happy to put to him as part of your gold star luxury package privilege access etc (He's lost it again here-Prod). Cake next week I believe.

As you know England find out this afternoon whether the World Cup comes to these shores in 2018. 3 o'clock or thereabouts. Clearly it's the best bid. Obviously it's England's turn . So much is self evident. Which of course counts for nothing at all so today on the oldies we need an either/or situation. It is basically a WIN! or LOSE! time. ENGLAND TRIUMPH! songs and ENGLAND LOSE OUT AGAIN! songs. I realise it's twice the work but twice the thrill surely.

Have an absorbing and beguiling Thursday, see you at 5.05

Loving listening to The ABofC with Chris. I've interviewed him 3 times (ABofC not Chris) and really enjoy listening to his brain working. Not sure he likes being the top man really but he does radio fantastically well (ABofC and Chris). Rock on Rowan (as it says in the good book). (Too many brackets already. First paragraph too. I need to cut down a bit).

Loved the show yesterday and loved Martin Shaw. Wise, gentle, top actor and looking great. He's 65 for heavens sake, looks 50. The key to interviewing Martin is 1) go see the play 2)enjoy it and 3)to not mention Doyle who he hasn't played for 30 years. Then everyone is happy. Today it's Duffy who's back with a fine new album of songs and she'll be here after 6.

Hat news. To my surprise, child 2 returned with my hat she had stolen yesterday and I have now hidden it. I now wear the top hat and all is well. A Dickensian Christmas will be mine.

Now as you might be aware, it is December 1st today and the advent calenders are out (no you can't have the chocolate santa before breakfast! etc). So lets do ADVENT oldies today. Lots of DOORS and KNOCKING (of doors). Or WAITING will work too. Thanks.

Have a supportive and encouraging Wednesday, see you at 5.05