I have three songs to add to a playlist:

‘Of Whoredom and Falconry’, by David Ford and Duke Special: ‘I see the lights in Belfast from the top of Castle Street’ – just reminds me of home and makes me want to be home. It makes my heart ache for home.

‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’, Oppenheimer (Belfast band): This reminds me of the car journey going up North (always the weekend before Christmas) – the hope, the happiness, the excitement, the sense of freedom – such a joy.

‘Home for the Holidays’, Emmy the Great & Tim Wheeler: This one evokes the pleasure of going home for Christmas and seeing my family and school friends. But it also reminds me of when I was living with friends in Belfast as a university student.

We always went to our families for Christmas but came back to our shared house on Boxing Night and went to a pub on the Lisburn Road wearing our new Christmas clothes/shoes/coats/jewelry.  Everyone was so happy.  The party would continue back in the house after the pubs shut.  We would always bump into other friends and they’d come back too. There would be sore heads in the morning of course but totally worth it.