Mildred’s gone off again

Why do batteries invariably go flat in things like smoke detectors in the middle of the night. What do they have against daylight hours?

The batteries in my Mildred Valve always choose the most inappropriate time to clag.

My what?

A Mildred Valve is an electronic automated shut off valve for internal mains water supply systems. Its a safety measure in the event of a leak.

Mildred Valves are powered by four AAA batteries, which is bizarrely old-fashioned. When the batteries go flat it starts beeping incessantly until you take them out or replace them.

I’d never encountered a Mildred Valve until I moved into my apartment. One night it started going off and it took me forever to work out where the damn sound was coming from. I eventually tracked it down to the cupboard in the hall where my hot water service is located.

After witnessing the soggy carnage that ensued when my neighbour’s hot water service exploded last year, I understand that my Mildred Valve serves a valuable purpose. I just wish it would beep at a more civilised time and that I’d remember what’s causing the noise, inside of being completely befuddled every time.

I invariably wake up and wonder what the hell is beeping. Well, except for Wednesday night when I slept through it. I’m not sure whether that’s an indication of how exhausted I am from recurrent insomnia or if my hearing has deteriorated even further. Middle age is a blast.

However, the beeping did wake my sister up, who stayed awake for hours wondering what the hell was causing it.

Ooops. Sorry sis.

Mildred’s batteries go flat every 12 months and the minute I replace them I forget my resolution to keep a supply of new AAAs in the kitchen drawer. So I trudged to the supermarket for the second time in two days to get some more last night.

Ah, well, I suppose it gets me out of the apartment.

Have a good weekend. Mine is shaping up to be eventful. In a good way. I hope.

I will be back on Monday with tales to tell and photos to share.

PS People of a certain age will know why I used that photo to illustrate this post. It’s like carbon dating in social history form.

Song of the day: Simon & Garfunkel “The sound of silence”