And it was about this time of the year. I’d seldom ventured beyond the North Circular so this was as far as I’d ever been from everything I’d ever known. And it was fantastic. One night we stayed in a remote settlement near the Burmese border with an indigenous tribe called the Karens. The Karens?? I was expecting a gaggle of Essex girls dancing round their handbags but no, these Karens were very different. Gentle and charming, they spoke not a word of English but weirdly, they did recognise certain Christmas tunes. I began to hum this one and suddenly they all joined in. It was a truly unforgettable moment. I do love Sinatra’s version but nothing could ever come close to that captivating choir of Karens.
