The Silence Experiment

dreamfired — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:46:39 +0000

I like R’s photo’s and R which outweighs ‘I don’t like photos of me and will feel uncomfortable being photographed’. So I was looking forward to this. The room was warm, the hot chocolate thick and the armchair wing-backed. Before we started R had moved things about to de-clutter the background. I think perhaps it was that which set me to giggling. Almost constantly. Because I couldn’t hear myself above the bar noise it felt silent nonetheless.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Me and Rachel T
Site: Fino Lounge, Whitchurch, Cardiff
State: Photographer and model
Surprises: R wondered if it would feel intrusive taking photos silenty it didn’t particularly for either of us

dreamfired — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:29:18 +0000

I’m cold and stomping along Somerset Street quickly in the silence not paying a lot of attention to anything until the fox crosses my path. He’s big (I remember a cat called Taboo and wonder if the fox is living off kebabs) but trots softly and purposefully across and down the steps. Which reminds me that the views across Bristol are impressive from up here. City lights. Still too cold to stop for long but much revived.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Just Me
Site: Somerset Street and beyond, Bristol
State: Walking
Surprises: Look up. Look around. Feel better.

dreamfired — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:12:52 +0000

We’d grown the fascination earlier in the day, talking about characters who use knots not writing to record histories. Silently C and I knotted from two ends of the same string. With the sounds of talking and playing drifting down the stairs we both added small metal, tying with bunny ears because that was easiest. The dual decision to pick metal from the array of tat we had to choose from wasn’t telegraphed or specified – it flowed.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Me and Camilla
Site: Cam’s Living Room, King’s Heath, Birmingham
State: Knotting
Surprises: Cam talked about road noise after – I hadn’t heard it

dreamfired — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:43:46 +0000

Under the ground the stream is bubbling. Under the frozen snow, yes sometimes. But also under the ground itself. Under a layer of stone and spagnum. It’s dancing in the cracks and I can track it by ear, and by eye to the spot where it sneaks out in an watering can spurt. I am glad we stopped, even though the stream has to fight with the sound of wind in my waterproof and my ears hurt.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Me and Ben
Site: Side of a hill on the road between Merthyr and Brecon
State: Listening
Surprises: Only when I turn to look at the road below do I hear the noise of the cars

dreamfired — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:27 +0000

Replicate a previous silence precisely. Technically, it was well into the wrong day but since I hadn’t been to sleep I’m not worried about midnight as an arbitrary date changer . The bed was the same and the layers of bedding – but nothing else as it turns out. This time I fell swiftly into worn out sleep . Woke later to the now familiar alarm tone of my galaxy note II as it heralds a silence end.
The Silence Experiment
Silent: Just Me
Site: My bedroom, Richmond Road
State: Trying to fall asleep
Surprises: I did.

dreamfired — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:00:15 +0000

Reluctant to engage. So reluctant that I decide to see what it is like doing a silence as I fall asleep. Of course it means instantly I am awake, not in the least sleepy, although now undressed under a layer of duvet, one of fleecy blanket and a third of sleeping bag, and thus not inclined to get up and do anything. The house is quiet. Is everybody out? I’m not sure and it makes no difference.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Just Me
Site: My bedroom, Richmond Road
State: Attempting to fall asleep
Surprises: I was sure I was tired

dreamfired — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:00:44 +0000

I turn off the radio on the drive home, and yes, the sound of the road and the water on the road does grow louder. But what I hear is the sound of the fan heater and the inside of my head. Chasing questions of identity and then watching tail lights. Mapping out meetings and next steps then deciding to pass a lorry. Staring at the radio, my usual companion on the road. I want it back.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Just Me
Site: State
State: Driving down the M5 in the dark (it’s not my photo, don’t worry!)
Surprises: I thought I’d enjoy this silence. I didn’t like it at all.

dreamfired — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:19:26 +0000

Soup at The Crown. A rich leek and potato with good bread. G and I fill the silence with hungry tearing and dipping – no audible slurps. Unusual for us to be silent, words are the work we share. I focus on the food and on the laughter of a gaggle of girls out of sight, assuming it is a hen night, then realising that’s unlikely mid-week and wondering why I think laughter suggests a special event.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Me and Geoff K from The Challenge Factor
Site: The Crown, Tiddington, Stratford Upon Avon
State: Eating
Surprises: Having to gesture at the bar man checking everything was ok

dreamfired — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:16:56 +0000

Another rueful silence. Child’s pose – surely the easiest yoga pose to hold. In my lazy wisdom I disdain tidying floor to set down yoga mat and try to do the pose on my bed. I’m under the duvet because it’s cold. The mattress swallows up my knees and chin, and I rock restlessly from side to side grabbing the duvet for warmth – then pushing it away again hot, and ludicrously fearing suffocation. Frustration bubbles noisily.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Just Me
Site: My bedroom, Richmond Road
State: Restless
Surprises: That difficult? Really?

dreamfired — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:05:21 +0000

St Andrew’s Park had been sledged to within an inch of its life. Shallow slopes to start with, now mixed ice scraped away grass and treachery against boots supposed to be made for walking. B and I tried to share the bucket swing. We didn’t fit well but it was fun until a passing parent applied passive aggressive conversation with her child to persuade us to move. The solo swings went higher and we both felt seasick.

The Silence Experiment
Silent: Me and Ben
Site: St Andrew’s Park, Bristol
State: Swinging in the park
Surprises: Adults are supposed to give way to children in matters of fun. During the daytime at least.