Music is a huge part of my life, both listening to and creating. I have been playing instruments since I was a diddy bit. I wouldn't say I am the greatest musician ever but I appear to have the skill of picking an instrument up and being able to play it be it saxophones, oboes or the hose that attaches to the bathroom sink I also have a large and eclectic range of "favourite" songs which, if you've ever watched my messenger feed, you may have picked up on. Quite often I'll listen to a bit of Neil Diamond, followed by some Rage Against the Machine and topped off with some Queen

Music is more to me than something to pass the time however, music is my memory. I usually like a song not because it's particularly ground breaking in sound but because it reminds me of something. This can be for the obvious like Take That's "Rule the World" - our wedding song to the less so, Kelis' "Milkshake" - which to me is a glorious holiday in Cornwall

I love this time of year because it presents the chance to re-live some seasonal memories. It's the only time of year I let myself listen to Christmas songs (bar the years we used to rehearse carols in July!). I can listen to a bit of Bowie and remember warm Christmassy days sat at home watching Top of the Pops Two and wishing I hadn't had that last slice of turkey. I can remember my Grandad whilst listening to Walking in the Air - the first video we ever had recorded for us by him just before he left us. I can listen to Winter Wonderland and remember freezing my socks off outside Rainbow singing with the choir to raise money for various charities or in Notcuts for the infamous Christmas tree.

I also cherish music because I know it might not always be there. Deafness runs in my family. My dad is profoundly deaf as are my Grandparents, Uncle, Great-Grandparents, you get the jist. I'm very aware that this could one day be my fate and so I'm going to make the most of what I can hear now. Dad no longer remembers what music sounds like, I'm going to enjoy it for him too.