For the past few months, I, and my fellow neighbours, have been striving to attain Zen equanimity. We have a new neighbour who has been renovating his flat ahead of moving in.

Living above a flat that emanates, often without any warning, an orchestral armoury of onomatopoeic sounds associated with hacking and drilling has been literally earth-shattering. It is, in short, a trial in understanding and patience.