The days are getting shorter and the nights longer - thank goodness we live in Manchester

I can deny it no longer - big coat weather is here.

Like so many, I struggle with this time of year - the darker evenings, the dropping temperatures, the closing stages of another 12-month dash around the sun. My thermals are back in regular rotation, and my hands are freezing as I type this. Some things about November are just not that fun.

So this week, I want to take the opportunity to check in with you. How are you? Hope you're doing okay. We've got months of this left, so let's make sure we're sticking together.

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Having said that, there are lots of little things that make this time of year easier. I've been enjoying the beautiful rusted autumn leaves as I drive around Greater Manchester, and cosy evenings in my flat or the pub. Nothing big, just everyday moments. But they remind me that even though the evenings are dark and there's a chill in the air, there's still a whole city out there absolutely full of things to do and people to meet.

Last week, Manchester Christmas Markets opened in town, and they're now in full swing. Whether you think they're Christmas heaven or hell on earth, there's little denying that they're a staple of Manchester's autumn/winter season.

So if you're in full Xmas-prep swing, what better to get you in the mood for sparkle season than this read from Adam Maidment.

Ok, so it's not quite Manchester, but there's something about the glitz and glamour of Blackpool week on Strictly Come Dancing I think we can all get on board with at this time of year - even if you