Sounds from the deckchair

The wind rustling the leaves of the sycamore tree... I hate it because it is a big weed and spreads its evil seed absolutely everywhere, but it is still a tree and belongs to next door anyway.

The shed door banging gently... I haven't locked it and it doesn't stay shut. A radio which is on a few doors down... beep beep beep beep beep BEEP for five o'clock but nothing else is distinct.

Kitchen noises through an open window, tonk tonk tonk as someone bangs a spoon on a metal pan after stirring it. The crunch of shoes as one of next door's students comes out into the garden... he has a mobile conversation which his housemates can't hear but I can though he can't see me, there is a big hedge between us.

Birds singing, lots of different kinds, I should know which is which, like trees, but I don't. A sudden loud flapping straight overhead as two of them leave the tree and fly over the house and away.

Milk bottles clattering and a back door closing. A kind of muffled banging, someone using a tool maybe, but not one they are that adept with. Tenderising meat?

The thwack of rope against the tall pole in the garden of our weird and not very pleasant three doors down Landrover-driving neighbour. I used to think it was a flagpole but I asked him once why he had a flagpole in his garden and he told me it was a radio aerial.

Diddle ooo doo diddle oo doo diddle ooo doo dar Hello? Another mobile conversation but this one's on the other side and it's not in English. I think it's the father of the Asian family next door but one. Diddle ooo doo hello there he goes again. No, it's not him, it's one of his friends.

More cooking noises, a grater, a fridge opens and closes.

Cars driving too fast up or down the hill then stopping... there's only room for one on that road. Crackly gravel as they come slowly down our street. Women laughing, car doors slamming.

A football being kicked, but only by one person.
Really faintly in the distance, a lawnmower.

Fly buzzing past my ear.

Fence creaking.
Window being shut.
Church bells. Weird, it's not a Sunday.

Three tiny biplanes roar over like something out of history, what's the occasion?

SQUEEEEak, it's our back door, C is coming out for a smoke. Next door have just put on Wonderwall. Time to get the washing in and retreat.

joella