Simon and Justine consider the ringing of church bells to be a glorious sound and can often be found at the end of the ropes when visiting England. It's the sort of sound that becomes part of life if heard on a regular basis, it doesn't disturb and it is noticed if absent, like planes if you live under the flight path, seagulls if you live by the sea, or the Maria Alm church clock if you live in Maria Alm (which incidentally was only temporarily broken - see 1 - 7 June). We visited several towers this week and recognise that now may be a troubling time for this 500 year old, almost uniquely English, tradition. There are a lot of bells, not enough ringers to go round, it's hard work keeping them all swinging and efforts are often unappreciated or even unwelcome. But if the sound dies away and is no longer a part of the English sound-scape, the neighbours will really complain if, at a less troubled time, we try and get them ringing again. At this time of persecution we need to double our efforts and ring with yet more enthusiasm (if it is possible for bell-ringers to be even more enthusiastic about bell-ringing) and be grateful that we are not being thrown to the lions. We are sorry that we are not there to lend support.
