The last few years we've been in the habit of heading off to Berlin for a spot of conferencing and Christmas shopping, but this year we have other agendas of course and aren't planning to venture so far from home. Fortunately the city of Manchester has come to our aid in the form of a whole bunch of Christmas Markets dotted around the city centre to give us that continental-ish fix. We plumped for the one in Albert Square which describes itself as the "European Christmas Market" but we think it would be better described as the "Eat Until You Explode Market". From strudel to sausages to hog roast we picked our way around the stalls through crowds of milling people and enjoying the buzz and the sights and smells.

Aside from the foody bits it is very different from most of the "real" German markets we have visited in years gone by - but only because it is aimed at Brits and actually has way more variety of produce and not just stripey hats and sugary treats. They had lots of carved nicknacks, scarves, small shrubs and festive lights and decorations on offer. We couldn't resist a block of Mousse de Canard to take home for the fridge - and were sorely tempted by a whole lot of fancy olives and hams.

Laurel was of course delighted by all this bustle and watched from the tranquility of her push-chair before deciding that it was all a bit much and closing her eyes. However we have learned a thing or two about pushchairs, crowds and why mixing the two are just a bad idea - the number of near misses and people just stepping out in your path left me slightly miffed and Jackie even locked wheels with another pushchair user at one point in the mêlée only to be blanked and brushed aside. Next time it's definitely going to be a job for the sling.