Those with the best memories amongst you will know that the blog has already trod boldly in these footsteps before.
Merry Christmas
But on the grounds that you can never have enough season's greetings, I'd like to repeat myself on this occasion.
I'm not expecting to file on a daily basis over the holiday period. But please keep the comments coming in and, whenever possible, I shall try to publish them. I'd like to thank Joe O'Brien who helped me with the comments in recent weeks, and wish him well with his new career.
Later today the Inside Politics producer Robin Sheeran and I are due to record our review of the political year. Tomorrow there's no programme, as Talkback will take over our slot. But the hour long review is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster on Saturday December 29th, starting at noon.
Presuming all goes according to plan, my guests will be the SDLP Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell, the Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long, the DUP Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton, the UUP MLA Basil McCrea and the Assembly's youngest MLA, Daithi McKay of Sinn Fein.
I'll be asking the politicians to look back on the momentous changes during 2007 and peer forward into 2008. Will all the Executive parties sign off on the budget in January? If the May target date is missed, when will justice be devolved? Hopefully, between the six of us we can provide a bit of Christmas and New Year craic.
UPDATE: The more keen eared amongst you will have noticed that there WAS an Inside Politics on December 22nd, presented very expertly by Jim Fitzpatrick, on the topic of the political fallout from the Omagh trial. My thanks to Jim for turning the programme around at short notice.
The curse of the Christmas period, or a necessary social lubricant? On his way out from talks at Hillsborough with the Secretary of State, Ian Paisley gave his customary warning to the ladies and gentlemen of the fourth estate to "stay off the devil's buttermilk".
Sinn Fein, meanwhile, has been doing some strategic thinking on alcohol related isses. Concerned about under age drinking, Sue Ramsey has tabled a motion calling for "the clear and identifiable marking of carrier bags provided by off-licences". And with an eye to the litter problems posed by bottles and cans dumped in the streets, Mitchel Mclaughlin wants the Environment Minister to introduce "a refundable deposit sufficient to encourage people to return containers to the point of purchase".
Sinn Fein have long enjoyed a close relationship with Ken Livingstone. Now they want to follow the London Mayor's lead in seeking a special relationship with the Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez. Mr Livingstone has struck a deal with President Chavez which should secure a 20% discount on oil to fuel London buses.
Now Martina Anderson has tabled a motion calling on the Executive to explore the possibility of entering into partnership with the Venezuelan Government, in order to provide low-cost home heating oil to low-income households here.
I am already looking forward to the joint Paisley McGuinness visit to Caracas.
How much the Social Development Department paid towards the planning costs associated with the Big Wheel outside Belfast City Hall. The rest of the costs have been met by the World Tourist Attraction Company.
It's certainly given the City Hall Christmas Village a more striking backdrop this year. So was it money well spent?
That's how many of the Stormont security guards, officially known as "doorkeepers", are Catholics. Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson asked the question. The Assembly Commission told her that of 27 directly recruited doorkeepers, 5 or 18.5% were Catholic. There's a secondee whose religion cannot be revealed as it would break his or her privacy rights under the data protection rules, and the Commission doesn't keep any information on 19 agency staff employed on the Assembly doors.
But will Martina enquire how many are indigenous Catholics and how many are migrant Catholics?
That's how long Paul Quinn's father, Stephen, said he spoke to Conor Murphy, when the Newry and Armagh MP phoned his home. Mr Quinn wouldn't prolong the conversation because he wants the Sinn Fein MP to first publicly clarify that his murdered son was not a criminal.
I'm 
