Turn Off That Alarm

I can always tell that it is summer. This has nothing to do with the temperature, sunshine or brown patches on my lawn. No, it’s because I have to leave my window ajar at night. And, invariably, because I have broken the lovely double-glazed seal, I will be awoken to the sound of bins being emptied or taxis coming to whisk people off on their holidays. These are the sounds of summer and should not be complained about. However, I am now also awoken by the sound of a car alarm. This particular alarm seems to have gone off several times in the last week. It will wake me up with its noise, then it will sleep. As soon as I think it’s finished, it will start again. Unfortunately, this will go on for hours and hours through the night. It goes on so much that I am surprised nobody has thrown a brick through the car window. I don’t know which car it is for. I have no desire to wander around looking at parked cars at 4am, but it’s out there, and if it’s yours, please, please, please get it fixed. I would wholeheartedly support the banning of car alarms. In fact, we should start a campaign, just like the one those New Yorkers affected by this problem have started.

On this day…