Pre-Carnival Jitters, Germany

Not being German, shopping in Krefeld (Helau!) veered on the surreal today. I bagged a shimmering pea-green pop-girl bob, cotton cow-hind pants with cowgirl hat to match, the kitschiest set of shades this side of the Rhine and silver lashes every girl would die for not. The kids went for ‘rough-boy’ pirate kit and an Indian wielding a feathered bamboo axe. And Matthias? Spot him Saturday night in Cologne (Alaaf!) razzing from bar to bar in shiny petrol-blue trousers and tight green curls.