In ‘What Is The Best Present You Can Give A Russian Woman?’ I warned against lavishing gifts on Russian girls. It only gives them the wrong idea.

Before you know what’s happening, she will slip her skinny little arm in yours, pull you close and whisper something really intimate. Like, ‘I want go bankomat wiz you’.

At the same time, however, I can understand men who want to give a special woman that little something. And here Novgorod’s market came up trumps. In our typical local rinuk, there are two stalls that sell nothing but pockets - or plastic carrier bags as we call them. As you can imagine, high quality Western carrier bags, able to hold several kilos of cabbage without splitting, are much prized in Russia. And if colourful too, such an admired carrier can fetch as much as 30 roubles.

One of Novgorod’s chic ‘pocket’ shops

So I’d like to add these bags to my list of suggestions of ideal presents for your Olga. Crush a stash in your suitcase before your next trip. Plastic bags are practical, bright and gifty-looking without actually containing any gift whatsoever. Perfect.