Christmas Markets...

I can't believe it's been a year since we last saw these wooden chalet-style stalls in our city centre. The smell of gluhwein and bratwurst signals that the UK's largest Christmas market in Manchester is off and running for the festive period. Featuring 300 stalls this year, the market has grown from just a handful fifteen years ago. Over 120,000 people visited during the first few days and 7 million will visit between now and the 22nd December. Not that you'd have believed it from my picture, not sure if this guy was trying to attract shoppers with his flute playing or if that's what saw them off in the first place!