I’ll admit it – as I write these words, I’m watching the FIFA World Cup. Five minutes ago the referee, in a shirt as blue as a broad-bodied chaser dragonfly, awarded a penalty. In the breathless silence of the kick being taken, I heard a whirring burst of melodic sound, as though the lid of a musical jewellery box had been lifted. The sound faded; the penalty was scored. A minute later, I heard the musical box being opened again. The sound wasn’t from the television.