As for the architecture, no, I wouldn't have wanted a mindless pastiche of the past. I grew up in Bath, England, and have seen what a slavish devotion to one era can do (the problems with getting a bold design approved for the Holborn Museum extension were really sad to see). But I do like boldness and flare, and there seems to be very little of that evident in Cardiff's new buildings. The library is a step in the right direction, though.

Cardiff has a significant number of indie clothes shops, but these are struggling to keep their custom. Your reaction is to blame the consumer - but surely the emphasis should be on how stores can redress their failings and get people back. And if they can't offer the combination of quality, service and importantly, price, that the customer wants.. then they have had their day and the natural selection of the market will sort the wheat from the chaffe.

Would you have preferred St David's to offer a pastiche experience of a late 19th century shopping arcade? It references the arcade, particularly in the Hayes arcade with the small jewellers stores and its colour scheme and use of stone (not tiles!) is subtle and understated as opposed to overtly loud and brash. The materials used (with the exception of the car park) are also of very high quality if you take the time to examine them. I for one am glad we didn't get some hideous attempt at recreating an old fashioned "arcade" - the original design for the Capitol, after all, was some late 1980s post-modernist attempt to strongly reference 19th century design.