It is 2026. Watches have been widespread technology for over a hundred years. (Almost) everyone now carries a computer in their pocket. A sonic reminder of the time is obsolete and intrusive.
I have learned to handle the hourly chiming by counting along with the chimes. Knowing how many more chimes are left makes me able to get through it. But there is an inexplicable set of chimes in the early afternoon that do not correspond with the hour, and this set of chimes goes on and on for over fifty chimes! I try not to be around a clock tower when it happens, but recently I was unlucky with the timing of my errand trip and I ended up being right next to a clock tower while this horrible set of chimes was going on. I did not have my ear protection because I was on a bicycle, so I had to get some distance and then put my hands over my ears and stim until the chimes ended, which led to a crowd of people staring at me because I was in a crowded place.
I do not know why this strange set of long chimes happens, but I suspect it has something to do with Christian tradition and I hate it.
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We have an annoying as hell church clock here. It goes off every quarter hour, plays extended chimes at midnight, and also plays about fifteen to twenty minutes of shitty bell music (this is done manually by someone who is bad at the bells) leading up to masses (so every Sunday morning, and more on special occasions). Advent (pre-Christmas) is always a nightmare.
It was busted for a couple years, and we now live even closer to it, and they fixed it last year or the year before. Wish every day someone would break it again.
Anyway, the extra stuff you’re hearing lately is almost certainly because of Lent.
extended chimes at midnight,
Whoever designed that must have enjoyed causing mild suffering.
Anyway, the extra stuff you’re hearing lately is almost certainly because of Lent.
Sadly, this phenomenon persists all year. Many of the bell towers involved aren’t even attached to churches.
Wild, I always thought clock towers were so charming. Maybe it is because I didn’t grow up around them 🤷
I have severe sensory sensitivities.
This unlocked a pretty deep memory of being bothered by the same thing when I was younger.
Not as hard on me by a long shot, but I remember being mystified that it was an intentional thing that happened all the time. Haven’t thought about it in years and my sensory issues are very dampened these days but surely those things must bother quite a lot of people.
I have a memory of staying overnight at a relative’s home as a young child. They had a mechanical clock that would chime every half hour, even in the middle of the night. I could not understand how they slept with this racket. It is genuinely baffling to me that for some people, it’s “just background noise” and they don’t even notice it unless you point it out.
omfg yes. aaaaa more ancient memories resurfacing.
Yeah, when I work at the office I’m located effectively next to a Cathedral and the ‘ceremonial’ bell ringing is over the top and really shits me off.
Luckily, I wfh way more often now and I believe the extended ringing occurs at either 6pm or 6:30 (so really, I shouldn’t be around to deal with it but often used to be), but I agree with your guess as to why it happened. Really sucks that this happened to you and the circumstances made it unavoidable. Just ring the damn thing on the hour ffs
oranges and lemons
sing the bells of saint clemonswhen will you pay me
sing the bells of old baileyonly 1600s heads will get this deep cut
