Amber McNaught's weekly column on all the things that make her see red.
Well, summer's here, and the temperature's high. Unfortunately for me, though, so's the noise volume in our street. Yesterday was perhaps the hottest day of the year so far, so naturally everyone was out enjoying the weather, and by "enjoying the weather" I mean "blasting out their God-awful music loud enough to make my ears bleed".
The couple behind us were out sunbathing - with the patio doors behind them open so they could hear the music that was playing inside their home. The man across the road was washing his car - with the windows down and the music up. The people opposite him had brought a stereo out onto their front lawn. It was like being at some strange kind of DJ convention, with all of the different types of music competing to be heard above each other, and it made me want to kill someone. Preferably the man washing the car, to be honest: I've had my eye on him for a while.
What is it about summer that makes people forget the rules of basic good manners? I mean, most of us surely know that if your music's so loud that it can be heard two streets away, it's maybe just a little bit too loud. Most of us realise that not everyone in the street wants to listen to Meatloaf at 3pm on a Monday afternoon - or at all, even - and that some people might be working/sleeping/watching Neighbours, and therefore don't want to be disturbed by the "louder than hell" level of music.
Yes, as much as I love it, I have to admit that my favourite season tends to bring out the very worst in people. It makes them think that lounging half-naked but for a pair of football shorts and an attractive socks n' sandals combo is a good idea. It makes them invite hordes of people around to their house, to screech and yell long into the night. It encourages that "all normal rules of good behavior are suspended" feeling, and personally, I quite like those "good behavior" rules. I'm not ready to give them up.
What's wrong with people, I wonder? Do they not read Shiny Shiny? Do they not realise that there are at least a thousand different types of MP3 player on the market, all of which come with - and this is really clever - headphones? Why can't they relax and enjoy the weather unless there's 100 decibel music playing in the "background"? WHY?
I love summer, I really do. It's just other people's love of it I can't stand.
Amber McNaught is a freelance writer and regular Shiny contributor. She burned her shoulder blades while out cutting the grass this weekend, so she's an even grumpier young woman than usual this week.