holiday. The holiday has become something of a major mid-summer break for Bermudians who look forward to cooling-out at home but more and more seem to try to get off the Island. The principal aim of those on holiday is to enjoy.

With enjoyment in mind, we think locals should remember that their neighbours want to enjoy the break as well. We say that because we think that noise is becoming a big factor in spoiling people's enjoyment of Bermuda and the things it has to offer. We should take care not to enjoy ourselves by making the kind of noise which spoils the holiday for other people.

Recent stories in this newspaper have indicated some of the noise concerns expressed by Bermudians.

Power boats operated fast and close to shore can be great fun and may be acceptably within the speed and shoreline laws but can ruin the holiday peace and quiet of many people who live on or near the waters. Outdoor music of both the household and concert variety may be enjoyable for the people listening but a nightmare for the neighbourhood. The buzzing of jet skis can become a lazy afternoon irritant for those who live by the water. These are examples.

They are not the only noise pollutants. Of course, summer does not help because people tend to enjoy the outdoors where they are more exposed to neighbourhood noise.

As Bermuda has grown richer and life has become more opulent, people have been able to buy more and more toys. Some of the toys, like tiny controlled toy boats and jet skis are very noisy and can be great irritants in residential areas. Some very expensive boats are roaring noisy. People enjoy operating them but neighbours also have a right to enjoyment. If owners use them carelessly, Bermuda may well come to controlling the noise of boats the way it controls the noise of cycles.

Bermuda's waterways and the smaller islands have long been a place to get away, especially on long holiday weekends in the summer. But noise has also taken to the water. It is no longer true that a weekend on the water is a weekend of peace and quiet and, since Bermuda is so small, there is nowhere "further afield'' where you can still escape. We think that may be one of the reasons that many people now leave Bermuda on holidays. They escape abroad.

The truth is that undue noise on land or on water detracts from the quality of life in Bermuda. Yet we go on adding new noise pollutants. In recent years we added jet skis. This year we allowed the noisy and intrusive helicopter. What it takes to make things better is some concern and some understanding that things are better if everyone is given a chance to enjoy themselves.

Selfish behaviour leads to stress and rows and conflict and someone winds up having a thoroughly bad holiday. Solutions mean exercising consideration for others.