Prince Albert .........

........ would have had something interesting to say about finding himself encircled inside a "German" Christmas Market in Britain.

It somehow seems appropriate that one of the inventors of our traditional Christmas - it was an illustration of the Royal family sitting around the Christmas tree (a German tradition) in the Illustrated London News in the 1840's that got the British and the Empire off on that one, and they also had something to do with popularising the Christmas Card - should find himself surrounded by Christmas paraphernalia.

What he would have made of having to listen to the singing moose for 6 weeks solid, can only be imagined.

And for me - it is really surreal stepping between two worlds - inside the Town Hall, and up the stairs, working life continues. From the sculpture hall and down and beyond the steps at the front - "it's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas"