Last night I wondered down towards the Thames to take in the atmosphere before I leave for New York this weekend. Was lovely, if a bit chilly, down at Trafalgar Square where the Mayor had organised some carol singers from local schools to sing.

Parents, tourists and Londoners began to gather around the tree as the singers sang all the usual suspects. It is a time like that where you can really appriciate humanity and your confidence in it is restored.

On to the Rockefeller Center!