I've just spent the afternoon strolling around Westfield (it's only 5 minutes from my home and I've been intrigued for years by what they were turning the waste ground into).

Fabulous. Packed to the gills (quite impossible to get a seat in any of the restaurants and cafes - the Vietnamese one I fancied had a long queue), the shops are incredible and people (including me) were wandering around with a beam of pleasure on our faces, fascinated by the size and spectacle (there was a fashion show going on whilst I was there).

Clean, bright, airy, enormous (and I mean enormous), puts the US malls to shame, everyone polite and well dressed (seven people came up to me to shake my hand and say hello including a policeman who said "everybody in the force knows how disgracefully you were treated JK").

Several thousand smiling, gasping punters.

If anything proves how silly this recession talk is, it's Westfield.

Do come to London and visit it (I'm sure the queues will ease off; I intend to eat at the Vietnamese cafe next week).

An absolute joy and filled me with delight at how the very best of our species is truly impressive and uplifting.

Was anyone actually spending money though? I guess it was a cheap day out for most.

The shops were packed (especially Apple) and I spotted hundreds of bags indicating sales. Not a seat to be had at champagne bars or coffee places; no, there was loads of business going on...

Sounds quite delightful! I was very unsure, and the guardian said it was most a most embarassing remnant of the era of "bubble and boom", but then, you know what the guardian's like for naysaying capitalism, particularly in an opportunistic climate such as the one we're currently in. I shall be most looking forward to somebody inviting me to lunch in this vietnamese restaurant in the near future...

well I'm not so sure JK !

I've been visiting Wetsfields in Australia as they are built by Australia's richest man-Frank Lowy who I noticed opened the UK one.

The problem-just like WalMarts in the US small local businesses suffer and eventually close down. It usually spells the end of High Street shopping plus-if the new London one is anything to go by-for God's sake do as I do-photograph where you leave your car as these places are designed like mazes.

In fact, I had a good friend who worked for Westfields and they are deliberatley designed to keep you in the massive building as long as possible.

Still-I guess that can't be stopped.

An added problem for retailers can be once they are in.,, rents can go a bit crazy.

Funnily enough one of the most impressive things is the car parking.

They give you tickets with scratch off patches on the back so you scratch off where your car is and find it with ease.

I thought this was very clever indeed.

Amazing !! we haven't got that here yet. I must complain !

incidently Frank Lowy arrived in Australia penniless in 1944 after fleeing the Nazis..now worth 6 billion and the largest shopping centre owner in the world.He paid 3 million for the shopping centre in the World Trade Centre a week before 9/11..and got 30 million in an insurance claim.

I have to admit-these giant markets are seductive !

Reports today suggest its full of window shoppers. Initial buzz appears to have died down. Not surprised really.