The last time I checked it was still ‘recession’, but this queue last evening outside the Chanel store at Via Saint Andrea and hordes of shopping bag-carrying-tourists in Via Montenapoleone and Via Della Spiga convinced me that I’d probably checked a long time ago! Well, atleast the volcano has done some good to somebody... with most tourists stranded in the city due to flight cancellations, I guess retail therapy was the most distressing option!