This text piece was created over 21 days in August and September as part of The Sounds of Silence project for the British Science Festival 2024. Each verse represents an hour of time from 5.30pm, after builders had left and the house was ‘silent’.

Breathing
Ticking clock
Humming fridge
Footsteps on concrete paving
Wind in the trees
Child laughing
Distant motor bike
Magpie song
Leaves rustling in the breeze
Murmuring voices
Creaking floor
Aircraft overhead
Distant music
Wind in trees
Car door slamming shut
Footsteps on a creaking wooden floor
A passing electric car
Aircraft overhead
A child’s voice
Distant ambulance siren
Suitcase on wheels
Howling wind building up
A dog barking
Humming gas boiler
Distant voices next door
Howling wind
Footsteps on concrete paving stones
A gate creaks open and slams shut
Cat meows
Woman singing
Voices across the street
Roller skates on concrete
A light switch clicks on
Fridge hums louder then clicks off
Children with parents walk by talking
Aeroplane overhead
Howling wind gets louder
Rain taps on the overhead window
Downpour of rain

Distant train
Rhythum of sand papering
Tin can
Distant voices
Drilling
Passing car
Low child’s voice
Wheelie bin lid closing
Housepaint brush strokes
Laughter
Kettle boiling
Gentle wind in the trees
Blinds tapping against the window
Humming fridge
Cough
Wind in the trees
Distant cars
Electric car passes by
Crow song
Ping! (text arrives)
Van door slamming
Car starts up
Footsteps on concrete paving
Hammering in distance
Ping!
Running water
Sweeping broom
Dripping tap
Wind in trees
Creaking door
Footsteps on metal step ladder
Running water
Water running into metal bucket
Passing car
Wind in trees
Crow song

Aircraft overhead
Dog barks
Tin can rattles down the street
Fly buzzing
Sweeping broom
Aircraft overhead
Murmur of voices
Cough
Cough
Cough
Distant helicopter
Ticking clock
Hooter
Children talking
Passing scooter
Childrens’ laughter
Car door
Aircraft overhead
Ticking clock
Passing motorbike
Crow song
Running water
Next door washing up
Ticking clock
Aircraft in the distance
Passing car
Footsteps on concrete paving
Electric wheel chair
Humming fridge clicks on
Distant car
Ticking clock
A front door closes
Distant siren
Police car
Aircraft overhead
Distant siren
Click from a light switch
Ticking clock

Car door closes
Murmuring parents and childrens voices in different languages
Aircraft overhead
Helicopter
Voices more distant now
Helicopter circling
Fades out
Distant siren fades out
Running water tap
Distance radio
Cough
Muffled talking
Sniff
Passing car
Wind in the trees
Scrapping sounds
Closing up a ladder
Seagulls song
Pram and footsteps on concrete pavings
Passing car
Wind in trees
Bleep
Bleep
Bleep
Car door shuts
Muffled voices
Passing car
Aircraft overhead
Distant voices
Breathing
Childrens voices
Blind moves in the wind
Crows song
Footsteps on concrete paving
Car door slams
Car starts and drives off

Crow song
Distant passing cars
Crow song
Car starts and drives off
Crow song
Passing car
Aircraft over head
Jangling keys
Magpie song
Door slams
Car starts and stops
Distant drilling sound
Crow song
Ping
Repetition of a scrapper
Running tap
Footsteps on floor boards
Gentle humming
Running tap
Aircraft overhead
Clang
Loud truck with skips clanking
Cough
Running tap
Electric car
Crow song
Wind in the trees
Distant drilling sound
Gentle humming
Soft singing
Crow song
Motor bike arriving
Aircraft overhead
Car door closes
Sweeping broom
Soft singing
Cupboard door shuts

Laughing
Whistling
Sweeping
Tapping
Running tap
Soft footsteps
Fast running tap
Distant drilling
Fast running tap
Leaves rustling in the breeze
Children laughing
Breathing
Clock ticking
Distant drilling
Leaves and blinds move in the gentle breeze
Leaves rustle in the breeze
Distant car horn
Passing van
Distant voices
Breathing
Clock ticking
Leave rustling
Distant aircraft
Sweeping broom
Aircraft overhead
Gentle breeze rustles leaves
Clock ticking
Car passes
Cough
Aircraft overhead
Passing car
Breathing
Dogs bell ring on collar
Leaves rustling
Front door shuts
Distant siren

Distant aircraft
Footsteps on concrete paving
Distant car
Car door shuts
Voices
Children talking
Clock Ticking
Breathing
Seagull song
Passing motorbike
Rustling leaves
Footsteps on concrete paving
Front door slams
Crow song
Passing motorbike
Bleep
Bleep
Bleep
Aircraft overhead
Crow song
Front door slams
Distant child’s voice
Distant radio
Knock
Knock
Bleep
Bleep
Aircraft overhead
Leave rustle in the breeze
Electric car
Tap
Tap
Tap
Hammering
Passing car
Pram on concrete paving
Slamming of dust bin lid

Shutting front door
Children’s voices
Distant radio
Distant voices
Dogs Barking
Distant voices
Ticking clock
Leaves rustling in the breeze
Distant aircraft
Crow song
Aircraft overhead
Passing car
Another passing car
Rustling leaves
Car door slams
Another car door slams
Rustling leaves
Footsteps on concrete paving
Passing car
Distant aircraft
Rustling leaves
Sound vibrations and noise from sander
Footsteps on concrete paving
Passing motorbike
Passing car
Aircraft overhead
Passing van
Chink of garden gate
Distant car door slams
Sound vibrations and noise from sander
Automated voice from van reversing
Dog barking
Children’s voices
Rustling leaves
Distant siren

Passing car
Distant voices
Car hooter
Soft footsteps on concrete paving
Aircraft overhead
Whistle
Whistle
Rustling leaves
Car door slams
Distant voices of adults and children
American woman’s voice
Siren
Cough
Aircraft overhead
Distant siren
Rustling leaves
Aircraft overhead
Siren
Passing car
Male voice
Faint voice from mobile phone on speaker
Passing car
Faint voice from mobile phone on speaker
Aircraft overhead
Footsteps on concrete paving
Whispering
Crow song
Passing bicycle
Ping of text
Baby cries
Childs voice
Magpie song
Meow
Aircraft overhead
Distant radio
Magpie song
Baby cries
Aircraft overhead

Rustling leaves
Magpie song
Passing car
Distant voices
Passing car
Distant motorbike
Electric wheelchair
Car door slams
Child talks to her mother
Siren
Chink of garden gate
Dog barks
Bulgarian voices
Screech of bicycle brakes
Distant car horn
Bulgarian voices
Soft footsteps on concrete
Children’s excited voices
Push chair on concrete paving
Caribbean man talking on mobile
Chink of garden gate
Closing sound of front door
Magpie song
Woman sings
Bulgarian woman’s voice
Aircraft overhead
Cough
Door shuts
Child coughs
Chink of garden gate
Laugh
Dog barks
Mans voice
Cough

Distant radio
Crows song
Magpie song
Leaves rustle in breeze
Bulgarian woman speaking English
Aircraft overhead
Front door slams
Footsteps on concrete paving
Birds wings brushing
Tap
Tap
Car door slams
Magpie song
Dog barks
Distant voices
Passing car
Dog barks
Buzzing fly
Laughter
Male voice
Aircraft overhead
Child running on concrete paving
Toy wheels across concrete paving
Child running across concrete paving and laughing
Dog barking
Car starts up
Dog barks in distant
Distant voices
Dog barks
Front door slams
Dog barks
Bleep
Bleep
Interior door slams
Motorbike passes by
Car door slams
Women laugh

Aircraft overhead
Baby cries
Passing car
Distant voices
Distant motorbike
Aircraft overhead
Clock ticking
Sparrow song
Door letterbox knocks
Smoke alarm chirps
Distant voices
Crow song
Dog barks
Paper rustles
Fridge clicks on and hums
Car door shuts
Passing car
Another car starts up and drives off
Car wheels splashing through puddles
Distant passing motor bike
Clock ticking
Brazilian voices
Passing car
Distant voices
Passing motorbike
Whistle
Clock ticking
Another motorbike revs up
Clock ticking
Distant dog barks
Distant sound of children’s voices
Sparrow song
Distant car door shuts
Distant man talking

Sparrow song
Distant man talking
Voices of distant children
Light switch clicks on
Passing motorbike
Passing car
Sparrow song
Clock ticking
Child crying
Distant motorbike
Car door slams shut
Clock ticking
Passing motorbike
Footsteps on wooden floor boards
Dog barks
Distant car door slams shut
Car key lock sound
Children’s voices
Passing car
Woman’s voice
Boys voice
Clock ticking
Breathing
Passing car
Womans voice
Distant voices
Dog barks
Fridge clicks on and hums
Clock ticking
Breathing
Electric car
Locking front door
Mans voice
Distant car drawing closer
Fridge hum seems louder
Clock ticking
Liverpudlian man’s voice
Distant motorbike

Passing car
Movement in house next door
Knocking
Clock ticking
Distant car door slams
Dog barks
Distant mens voices drawing nearer then fading
Passing motorbike
Faint child’s voice singing
Clock ticking
Breathing
Passing car
Distant siren
Dog barking
Siren draws closer
Light switch clicks on
Distant motorbike
Front door shuts
Passing motorbike
Muffled voices
Clock ticking
Breathing
Distant men’s voices
Distant siren
Footsteps on concrete paving
Clock ticking
Interior door closes
Fridge clicks on and hums
Dust bin lid slams shut
Distant siren
Passing car
Car door slams shut
Footsteps on concrete paving
Tap, tap, tap
Loud car door slam
Passing car

Group of women’s sing song voices
Dog barks
Another passing car
Movement next door
Distant passing cars
Light switch clicks
Car alarm sounds
stops and sounds again
stops and sounds again
Footsteps on wooden floor boards
Light switch clicks
Click of pulling open car door handle
Passing car
Another passing car
Car door slams shut
Dog barks
Distant radio
Clock ticking
Crow song
Distant Aircraft
Wind rustles leaves
Distant voices
Passing van
Dog barks
Passing car
Distant siren
Clock ticking
Passing car
small dog barking
Two small dogs barking
Passing car
Fridge clicks on and hums
Movement around interior next door
Flapping birds wings
Passing motorbike
Passing van

Distant circular saw
Soft footsteps on concrete paving stones
Distant car
Knock
An object drops on wooden floor next door
Crow song
Passing motorbike
Aircraft overhead
Passing car
Distant womens voices
Footsteps over loose concrete paving
Key turns in lock
Radio
Dog barking
Distant voices
Passing car splashes through puddle
Two small dogs barking
Bulgarian voices
Key turns in lock
Clock ticking
Front door shuts
Electric van
Another passing van over humps in road
Distant siren
Small dog barking
Man talking on phone
Passing bicycle
Van pulls up
Knock, knock, knock
Doorbell
Distant aircraft
Bleep, bleep, bleep
Bleep, bleep, bleep
In the background a crane moves materials clattering
Van pulls up and sits with engine on
Passing motorbike
Hand bell from church

Aircraft overhead
Sash window is pulled up
Whistle
Passing car
Distant voices
Passing car
Running on concrete paving
Mother and child talking
Car starts and leaves street
Squeaky brakes
Balloons rubbing against man’s jacket as he walks holding their strings
Car moves in and out of parking space with engine sound and squeaky brakes
Sound of break
Car door slams
Passing car
Honk, honk
Two small dogs barking
Women laughing and walking on concrete paving with high heel shoes
Another passing car
Woman talking on mobile phone
Hovering car interior
Dust cart with automated voice
“Vehicle reversing”
Passing car
Old fashioned sounding phone ring
Parking car
Moving rubber tyres against concrete kerb
Footsteps on loose concrete paving
Front door shuts
Crane picks up rubble in background
Two dogs barking
Crow song
Cement mixer in background stops

Stationary car with engine on
Passing van
Car door slams
Distant voices
Three different car door slamming simultaneously
Car starts up and door shuts
Passing lorry
Honk
Passing car
Young person singing
Passing car
Honk
Footsteps on loose concrete paving
Opening and slamming of front door
Dog barking
Crow song
Passing motorbike
Aeroplane overhead
Car horn
Sea Gull song
Crow Song
Front door shuts
Passes vans breaks screech
Hooving in house opposite
Front door shuts
Crow song
Children laughing
Passing car
Birds wings flapping
Car door slams
Back door shuts
Crow song
Passing electric van
Distant voices
Car door slams
Aircraft overhead
Small dog barking
Crow song

Knocking on door knocker
Knocking on window
Distant voices
Crow song
Baby trying to talk
Dog barking
Knocking on window
Dog barking
Ringing doorbell
Laughter
Opening and closing front door
Key turning in lock
Passing car
Clock ticking
Children’s voices
Clock ticking
Interior door shuts
Footsteps on wooden floor boards
Footsteps on loose concrete paving
Passing car
Cough
Car engine
Car door shuts
Clock ticking
Dog barks
Pram wheels across concrete paving
Children’s voices
Knock, knock, knock
Dragging metal cans over concrete
Dog barking
Bulgarian man’s voice
Clock ticking
Fridge clicks on and hums
Two small dogs barking
Clock ticking
Chinking sound
Passing motorbike

Distant music
Aircraft overhead
Distant voices
Passing car
Siren
Car door slams
Siren gets closer
Van door opens
Car starts up
Passing car
Another passing car
Footsteps on wooden floor boards
Dog barks loudly
Another dog joins in
Car door slams
Car door slams again
Loud whistle
Passing car
Front door opens
Car door slams
Passing car
Clock ticking
Breathing
Distant aircraft
A piece of grit falls down the chimney
Distant radio
Passing car
Distant voices
Another passing car
Clock ticking
Light switch clicks on
Car door slams
Car door slams
Distant voice
Car door slams
Car door slams
Car door slams

Childrens voices
Patter of rain on concrete
Passing motor cycle
Passing car
Thunder cracks
Dogs bark
Aircraft overhead
Lots of dogs barking in the distance
Distant voices
Thunder rumbles
Rain patters on street
Rain taps on skylights
Distant voices
Small dogs bark
Cough
Children scream in the rain
Small dogs bark
Car passes through puddles
Muffled voices
Rain piles up in gutters and overflows
Distant aircraft
Rain gets heavier
Distant voices
Rain slows
Footsteps on staircase next door
Distant siren gets closer
Small dogs bark
Passing car
Heavy rain
Car passes through puddles
Front door slams
Over flows of water in gutters
Aircraft overhead
Dogs barking
Car passes through puddles
Rainwater floods from gutters
Rain patting on windows
Loudly pattering rain
Car passes through puddles
Very heavy rain
Pieces of grit fall down the chimney
Rain eases off
My fingers tapping on my key board.

© Alison Marchant 2024