Well that’s it, I’m just about off.  I may have a secret special treat for you either late on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day itself, so come and check it out if you fancy.  Other than that I will be maintaining radio silence for the best part of ten days, as I do not intend to post over Christmas particularly, although I may pop in and say Hi from time to time.

In Toad terms, I’d like to thank you all for reading and commenting and arguing and mocking and generally making this blog great fun to write.  Toad turned one year old sometime in November and I kind of forgot to mark the day, but who really cares.  It’s been good fun, and it’s really nice when you stop by and say hello.  It makes a fellow feel appreciated.

It’s all different too.  Some people leave comments.  Some people link to my stuff.  Some people have sent me personal emails instead.  Quite a few have said Hello on last.fm or Facebook, which has been nice because it helps me picture my audience a little bit, including some of the quiet ones.  The week I didn’t really post because of the house shenanigans my readership dropped very marginally, but basically the same number of people kept on popping by every day all week, which was also a really reassuring thing to see.

So thank you all for an excellent 2007.  I have some top treats lined up for 2008.  I am thinking of inviting local musicians to participate in Toadcasts from time to time.  I have interviews with iLiKETRAiNS and The Young Republic to write up over the holiday, and Song, by Toad Records is in the pipeline as well.  Not a ‘record label’ per se, just a way of getting some like-minded people together and helping them get a bit of attention for their self-releases.

So plenty of things to look forward to in the New Year, but for now I am going home to see the family, eat well, drink well, play lots of music, sit up late and talk and all the usual things.  I make fun of them, but they’re a nice bunch you know.

Happy Christmas everyone, and I’ll be back before Hogmanay to say hello.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Right Now I’m a-Roaming
This is actually a version of Wayfaring Stranger, one of hundreds, but why he chose to call it Over Jordan I am not sure.  It’s a gorgeous recording though.  Papa M. – Over Jordan
Tom Waits – San Diego Serenade (KFKP Sessions Version)