Unfortunately, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has dropped off the front pages and also the US congressional agenda. In its place, we have had the spark in the Middle East ignited by Hamas that has caused immense suffering in Gaza as Israel retaliated with a steady rain of bombs. The ancient fault lines that have resurfaced have also led to unintended consequences, from radicalised individuals on a rampage in Paris to extenuating cultural and religious divisions in multi-religious societies.
My favourite version of this seasonal classic, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, was crooned by Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra, whose nicely soothing baritone is much-needed warming I need for my trip to Uzbekistan this wintery year-end period, where the thermometer is seen to dip to as low as minus 19 degrees.
Hopefully, like our local weathermen, the forecasts will be wrong. But Sinatra melting the hearts of lady fans in his time and the stuff that all retirees crooned in their final office karaoke, My Way kicks off this year’s Christmas music edition after the more upbeat Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas in 2021 when the column started, and last year’s hope and prayer — Do They Know it’s Christmas.
