Getting things done

I'm now terminally fed up with the regular pathetic meeping of the power-starved smoke alarm in the empty house next door. Their windows are open, so it means I have to have our bedroom window shut. Repeated requests to Haart, the estate agent, to nip in and either change the battery or remove it, have produced soothing words and no action.

This morning I called the council noise officer. He's going to ring Haart and tell them to get their asses down here - all of about 200 metres away - and deal with it double quick. With the warning that if it is still beeping at bedtime tonight, the council are prepared to break the door down. The friendly noise officer sounded as if he would quite relish the opportunity.

[Edited to add: 3pm. The noise has stopped now. BLISS.]