Silence that alarm!

Noise is a big factor in our everyday lives but it isn't discussed very much. We all react to noise in different ways, depending what the noise is and depending on our personal likings and aversions. Some things I can easily screen out while other things totally get on my nerves. The things that annoy me:

• Background music in restaurants and shops, especially music I dislike. I prefer silence so I can focus on conversation.
• Music blasting out of people's cars
• Souped-up cars with roaring engines
• Car alarms and security alarms
• Motorbikes
• People having loud phone conversations on public transport
• Leaf blowers. Why can't the leaves just stay where they are?
• People rustling food wrappers in a cinema or theatre

The things I'm okay with:

• Mild background noise when I'm falling asleep
• Jenny's occasional snoring
• The sound of pigeons
• The sirens on emergency vehicles
• Planes taking off from the nearby airport
• Chewing noises
• People tapping their feet
• The noise from washing machines
• Chainsaws

I'm glad I've still got good hearing, despite the deafening rock concerts I went to when I was younger, which left my ears ringing for hours. I'm also glad I don't have tinnitus, which is very common, incredibly annoying and unfortunately not curable. Thankfully also I don't have hyperacusis or extreme sensitivity to noise, so sounds always seem louder than they should.

Now excuse me while I go and sabotage a few leaf blowers.