Like many Canadians this holiday, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson is looking forward to indulging in a few of her favourite things on Christmas.

In an exclusive interview inside the historic Rideau Hall, Clarkson told Catherine Clark, daughter of former prime minister Joe Clark, that she hopes to get books from Santa this year.

"I can never have enough books," she told Clark as they toured the governor general's official residence.

Clarkson also admitted to looking forward to eating her favourite sandwich made from Christmas leftovers.

"It's white bread, spread with cold gravy, stuffing, and then slices of the cold meat, and the same thing repeated so that it's stacked like this, and then you eat. It's delicious," she said.

From a Christmas tree donated by the Canadian Forestry Association to jade trees grown from Rideau Hall's own greenhouse, Clarkson proudly shows the greenery that adorns the home she has occupied for the past five years.

"It's the most historic house that's been continually lived in in Canada. Since 1867, this house has been inhabited by governors general," Clarkson said.

However, despite the governor general's lavish home and high-profile role in Canada's affairs, Clarkson still recalls her humble beginnings as a child caught up in war-torn Hong Kong during Christmastime.

"I'm afraid that my Christmas memories are not of the happy variety. I was born in Hong Kong, and we were attacked by the Japanese around the 11th of December, I think, and on Christmas Day, of 1941, Hong Kong surrendered," she said.

"My first memory is of hiding in a basement. So it's not a particularly wonderful memory but it is one that marks Christmas in our minds."

Clarkson's father was a volunteer in a Hong Kong militia who fought along with the Canadian and British armed forces.

The governor general said it is a recollection that makes her aware of the importance of peacekeeping.

"That's why I'm really pleased always to go and see our peacekeepers, because they are working hard to keep the peace. That's why it's good to go and see them around Christmastime," she said.

Clarkson plans to ring in the new year with soldiers serving overseas.