Weiberfastnacht

We're in Karneval season here and today is the first Big Day and the women are in charge* - around here it's celebrated by dressing up in costumes and meeting up and drinking.  There's also the ceremonial storming of the Town Hall (the one that happens in Bonn is televised).  And any man wearing a tie is liable to have it chopped off.  "It" being the tie (Gentlemen, uncross your legs).

It's pretty much passed me by, I was in the office until well after 6.  And while I did see large groups of people in fancy dress heading to the pub, the idea of joining them took a distinct second prize to the idea of Going Home And Stopping.

The weather today was horrid.  It rained all day.  This was all the colour I saw today.  Gone in less than 5 minutes.

A colleague sent this link around today.  It's a song from a traditional type of Fastnacht gathering.  All  my colleagues laughed themselves silly at it.  Whereas I got a few words here & there and ended up wondering what language I've been trying to learn for nearly 5 years.  Etwas deprimierend.

*No change there then.