Willkommen

Next year will be the 150th anniversary of the completion of one of Manchester's iconic buildings - the Town Hall (commenced in 1868, finished 1877).

I was there for a meeting this morning. The gothic exterior of Alfred Waterhouse's magnificent building is matched by its gothic interior. It is remarkably unchanged. Which is good. And bad - after 150 years it needs serious attention, with a bill of approx £330m. Expensive, but a lot cheaper than the cost of sorting out the Palace of Westminster, which is a similar age. Iconic and much loved buildings do need looking after for future generations.

Meanwhile outside, a hive of activity as the Christmas Markets take shape (thus this lorry all the way from Germany). They open this Thursday ! I could accept that if they were renamed Winter Markets, which would be very appropriate this week.