As an aside, I've just braved the crowds to go and get some stuff for Fiona's birthday next weekend...trying to cross a busy road, I was standing next to a grandma, mother and two small kids, one of whom was so eager to get to the shops he made a mad dash half away across before he realised there was a car coming.Grandma pulled him back with a shriek and said , and I swear this is true," You don't want to get run over when it's so close to christmas!"( presumably any other time is fine)......exit small folksinger, giggling like a madwoman.