You don't half see life from a bus.

This morning's cabaret was provided by hordes of students walking home from their end of year festivities at the Wilmslow Road SU building.

The No 43 passed two six-foot penguins and an assortment of sundry bright young things wrapped in blankets or bits of cloth masquerading as frocks.

Face painting seemed popular (no not THAT kind of face painting) with the occasional post-modern reference to Ziggy Stardust, but mostly flags - persumably of origin.

I witnessed one gentleman, outside Platt Fields, with an Irish flag penned on his cheek, ladelling white powder up his nose. In the middle of the street! At 6.40am!!

And the sun not even within winking distance of a yard-arm.