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Never spend more than three days with any of your family

Oonagh O'Hagan on the Christmas link to her love of notes

What is your favourite Christmas memory?

When I was about four I came down one Christmas to find not only had the tree been covered in chocolates and gifts but there was a note from Rudolph with a hoof print!!! I think I was baffled and thus believed in Santa until I was far too old. Turned out my Dad (who is pretty creative) had made a potato stamper of a hoof… ingenious! Maybe that is where my love of notes has come from.

What is the worst present you’ve ever given or received?

Possibly the Casio synthesizer, which was truly rubbish. I had hoped for a career similar to Kraftwerk but I couldn’t really get past just using the demonstration button! Or perhaps it was the year after I had seen the ‘Snowman’ cartoon which was drawn entirely with Lakeland pencils (a grand box I have found out latterly). Instead of a huge box of Lakeland pencils I had a dozen from Boots. An end to another burgeoning career!

What are your plans for this Christmas?

Ironically I have just stopped sharing with flatmates – hooray! So my parents are going to come and visit me and my boyfriend. Unfortunately for them I am going to cook, so it will be yuletide toast and jam!

Are you giving any books this Christmas?

Apart from my own book! I will probably give quite a lot of art books. I quite like looking for first editions as presents. It’s an excuse to potter in wee shops.

What book would you most like to receive this Christmas?

I would quite like the John Berger book based on the 1970’s programme ‘Ways of Seeing’, and any art and fashion books... but definitely no other humour books!

Any tips for surviving the festive period?

I have the three day limit. Never spend more than three days with any of your family without a break. The fourth day will just end in a slanging match. Otherwise hide in the loo for a while with a good book... perhaps a humour book, perhaps... ok, ok I’ll stop the hard sell!

Posted 30/11/2007 12:17:17 by Oonagh O'Hagan with 0 comments.

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