It became apparent at a bell maintenance morning this week that the rope on a particular bell was badly frayed and needed replacing. Luckily we "inherited" a box of new ropes when we took over the tower, so no fund raising was required.  A new rope has been hanging in the corner for over 2 years stretching out because none of us enjoyed the experience of the brand new rope we had to replace when we first started ringing.  A few of us still view the 3 bell with suspicion because it's previously skippy properties were magnified when a piece of elastic was introduced. New ringers and new ropes can be a potent mix, and although we have since got to grips with the replacement, it is not everyone's favourite.  Although, there is a bell for everyone and one person rather likes it.

Now the 2 bell has gone the same way and my heart sank at the prospect because it is my favourite - my comfort bell when the treble must be yielded to others.  It is the original treble from a ring of 5, so I often find myself ringing it when numbers are short for a service.  It is a bit tricky to stand because the stay is far back, but other than that she is a well-behaved bell.

 "Well, that is one bell Mary won't want to ring now" someone quipped when they broke the news and although it is quite funny, it is also not very funny because it is true. My comfort bell has  become a challenge rather than a comfort.  It no longer feels safe because it has unknown properties and rather than relishing the unknown I fear it. Most ringers do not fear a new rope.  They take it in their stride and get on with it. I differ and my reluctance to ring anything springy with a plump new sally is almost a phobia. Show me a thin, worn sally and I am willing to try, offer me an extravagantly new rope and my mouth goes dry, my heart races and my hands shake. 

I do not choose this perverse reaction, it just happens. The more nervous I am, the more my style deteriorates, the more erratic my ringing becomes and the more likely I am to do something dramatic. This only goes to reinforce my fear that new ropes are a VERY BAD THING and to be avoided at all costs.

Is there a word to adequately describe an irrational fear of a new rope? Are there any other sufferers or do I suffer alone?

And now we will need to hang another replacement rope in the corner with a suitable weight to stretch it out prior to installation.  I hope that it is not the 5 bell that gets it next, because I am fond of that also, despite it being odd-struck and positioned under the wall heater.