In December 1965 Frank Borman and Jim Lovell were far, far from Home.

They were astronauts – the crew of Gemini 7 orbiting The Earth on a 14 day mission.

Naturally as they looked down on their home Planet their thoughts turned to the upcoming Christmas celebrations.

So when they were asked by Mission Control if there was any music they wanted to hear their reply was unhesitating – ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’.

It’s the wish, the fondest hope, of every soldier who has soldiered in every war since Christmas was first celebrated.

Nothing makes the heart yearn for Home like the approach of Christmas.

Whether it’s your childhood Home or the Home you’ve made for yourself as an adult, Home attracts with a primordial power.

And, if you can’t make it Home in person because of a War or the tides of life then you can, you can, be Home – if only in your dreams.

I don’t know which version of Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram’s Song the Gemini 7 Crew listened to (probably the masterful Bing Crosby original) but the one I always turn to is by the enigmatic Leon Redbone.

Rarely for me I’m going to give you no disquisition on Leon except to say that you will be doing yourself a great favour if you invest in his records forthwith!

I’ll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me

Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams

I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

I hope you make it home for Christmas wherever you may be today.

And if you just can’t make it Home I hope that the Home you find in your dreams is the one you have always been searching for.