So, last night, the music started again. Not in a Phantom of The Opera way, in a Loud Shouty Rap And Big Bass Dub Form Across The Street way.

One o’clock came, and we decided to call the local police station. The rozzers showed up a split second later (don’t they have anything else to do?) en masse (two cars and a van) and rang the loud neighbour’s doorbell. The music stopped immediately. The police drove off into the balmy night.

Precisely four minutes after their departure, the music started up again. We put preventative measures in place - fan, low Necks minidisc, earplugs, and I went into the living room and did the crossword. But an hour later it was still going.

We called the plod again. They made noises about environmental health, and said they’d alert them. We snuggled up in bed and tried very hard to ignore the racket, dropping…..slowly…..into…..sleeeeeep…. rrrrrrrrrrrring rrrrrrrrrrring.

Bastard phone. The police, presumably, although they hung up just as I answered. By then it was half three, and sometime after that, we must have dropped off…

I tell you this now: if that kuhlschrankvixelnhinkelficker plays loud music again tonight through the wee small hours, I shall scweam. And then call the environmental health people.

I can’t stand that some people have that little respect. I think that’s what bothers me most of all….