Thanks lesley. Last night wasn't half as bad as previous years, so I didn't end up kipping on someone else's sofa after all.

My real problem last year wasn't Fasnacht itself but the whole year. "Frau Foghorn"* who has the bar next door would typically turn the music volume up after closing time and then carry on until anytime between 4:30 and 6:00, weekdays included. Repeated complaints were ignored until I threatened legal action.

* That's what I've christened her; she really does have a foghorn quality to her voice.

It's snowing now and settling too, albeit slushily. I wonder what will happen to today's parade if it persists.