In cartoons, storytellers will sometimes reinforce a particular abstract concept with a sound effect. The sound of falling in love could include flutes and tweeting birds; abandonment might be accompanied by violins and slightly out of tune piano (in a minor key) while befuddlement resulting from a knock-out blow to the head will get tweeting birds but no music. There are also a rich variety of sounds associated with different aspects of financial exchange. Two that immediately spring to mind include noises of cash registers opening, and fruit machines hitting the jackpot, both signalling the imminent likelihood of increased cash flow.

Today, I wake up to the sound of builders on my roof. While dragging myself to the kettle, I overhear the following monologue: “Its fucking fucked mate, the worst I’ve ever seen, total shit. I mean look at that: fucked, and it goes all the fucking way down there too, see? I’m surprised no one’s got fucking killed from bits falling off looking at the fucking state of that. Here, see, fucked, fucked, fucked” etc.

And all at once I realise that this is the sound an overdraft makes as it hurtles straight towards you.