Ullapool's Sonic Adventure

The sound of Beth painting light

Rowers oars dipping, ferry tooting, wind whistling

The sound of a family fantasising about mountains

Big plastic balls bouncing, Tesco trolleys clattering, recycled bottles smashing

The sound of wild swimmers whooping

Cheery hello, a smattering of Gaelic, divining the meaning without hearing the words

The sound of deafening pipers in the Macphail

Rain smacking down, gale roaring, chattering at volume

The sound of a quiet little group reading the words in a musical way

Men’s Shed hammering, it’s what they don’t say, whispering and giggling in the library

The sound of a diesel generator on the Coastguard ship

Seagulls screaming and squawking, endless repetition of the same chord,

harmonising in the Free Church

The sound of the pull of the tide through pebbles

The rush of primary school kids shouting in anticipation

Knowing something good is going to happen

...

Ullapool’s Sonic Adventure by Barbara, Madeline, Sandy, Alastair, Ray and Lorraine, Open Book Ullapool