Merry Christmas to all readers of Ho Chi Tim, and, of course, a happy 2006 to boot. By way of a present, here is a picture of Osama Bin Laden's niece.

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/partypictures/2005/08_25_05/images/savemusic/Wafah-Dufour.jpg


Wouldn't mind flying my jumbo between her twin towers I can tell you.

This is my first ever xmas outside the UK and, thanks to a visit from my mother bearing lots of English books, it's been very pleasurable. The Vietnamese have embraced xmas in a big way, mainly as it's another way of making some cash, and the city is decorated far more lavishly (yet also tastefully) than cities in the UK. As today is the 25th, I've been at my usual watering hole for a very boozy turkey lunch, and am now resting between piss-ups, as the acting fraternity would say.

Well, it's the end of the year so here, roughly in order, are my favourite albums of 2005:

The Go-Betweens - Oceans Apart
System of a Down - Mezmerize (the most thrilling heavy rock album since RATM's debut)
New Order - Waiting for the Sirens' Call
Kraftwerk - Minimum-Maximum
Sigur Ros - Takk...
Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have it So Much Better
The Coral - The Invisible Invasion
Richard Hawley - Cole's Corner
British Sea Power - Open Season
Antony & the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now

Any other recommendations most welcome, and if anyone feels like sending me a copy of "Funeral" by Aracde Fire I'd be most welcome as I've heard very good things about it but can't find it here. Ta.