1 December – In summer, we’ll go and have a picnic outside

To start off this festive month, we’re going back in time. You might have been alive in 1965, but do you remember today’s song? The set alone must have cost, well a tiny amount to set up.

Anyway, 1965 was a nice little contest in sunny Naples. The winner was one of the most contemporary of all time. But the scoring system meant that only a small number of countries scored from each jury. It also meant there were four countries – out of 18 – that scored nothing at all. Today’s birthday girl Lize Marke (née Liliane Couck) was on of that ‘lucky’ quartet. It may not have been plucky little Belgium’s highest point, but they’ve scored in every contest they’ve participated in since.

Lize is 83 today.

Gefeliciteerd/Bonne anniversaire, Lize!