Picks of the Week: 25th December 2000

Christmas doesn't really start for us here at Picks Central until King's College Choir kicks it all off with the opening notes of Once in Royal David's City, sung by a boy chosen for the job only minutes beforehand. Their site has the order of service for the Nine Carols and Lessons, a history of the tradition, and more background information about the choir and the chapel built by Henry VI. Actually, it was built mostly by builders, but he did lay the first stone in 1441.

Then it's off to bed after a night of seasonal TV, pausing only to leave sherry and mince pies out for Father Christmas. Santa has many little online helpers, but this one (run by the elves at Greenland Tourism) is particularly charming, and has plenty of games, downloads, and jokes to keep the little ones happy. There are also film cards that you direct, and the all important email hotline to Saint Nick himself.

What holiday (as our American cousins would have it) could be complete without a trip to a Panto - boo-hissing, thigh-slapping, cross-dressing fun for the whole family. It's Behind You!, run by those venerable dames of ugly sisterhood, Nigel Ellacott and Peter Robbins, offers a history of the slightly odd theatrical tradition native to our isles. Everything is covered, from Grimaldi and the commedia dell’arte to John Inman and the music hall, as well as news from this year's panto season - Oh yes it is!

You can be pretty sure that The Queen, The Great Escape, and Noel Edmonds will be on the box on Christmas day, but you'll need a guide to the films and Christmas specials that the channel bosses will be delighting us with over the festive season. UK TV Guide offers listings for each channel, with summaries for each programme, and allows you to search for a particular show as well. That should set everyone up perfectly for days of vicious fighting over the remote control.

This is also the time of year when, having exhausted us all with news of toys, perfume, and booze for sale, those nice advertising people turn their attention to our summer holidays. If you're planning to travel somewhere special this year, check out Travel Intelligence, a place for writing from all over the world by authors like A.A. Gill, Christopher Somerville, and Vitali Vitaliev. As well as the main pieces, there are places to see before you die, hotel reviews, and warnings submitted by punters.

Thanks for all the cards and presents - we'll see you at Picks Central in 2001!

Sites Featured in Picks of the Week:

• King's College Choir  - angelic voices.
• Santa Claus of Greenland  - men bearing gifts.
• It's Behind You!  - wandering stars.
• UK TV Guide  - shepherds.
• Travel Intelligence  - flight to Egypt.