pumpkinstrokemarrow

After the unsuccessfull hunt in Kingston, unexpected conclusion in Epsom's upper high street. Happening to be in the foodie shop there ("Cook in thyme": a shop devoted to the supply of domestic cooking and eating equipment (excluding cookers) rather than materials), happened to notice an entirely satisfactory clock. Perhaps intended for the kitchen and so not tricked out with Latin, Gothic or any other odd numerals. Not cased in a Sylvanian oaken box. Generally rather smart and sensible; according to label a product of Sweden but the package carried a small symbolic version of the Swiss flag. So, given that the Swiss do, undoubtedly, make clocks, we are not sure where it actually came from. Retired to the Vestry to pore over our purchase, which we found to have no accompanying leaflet, guarantee or anything at all beyond a screw and a plug to attach the thing to the wall with. Screw, as is often the case with these sorts of things, too short. Hole for battery, but no indication of what sort of battery to use beyond the intials 'ABS'. No indication of which way around to insert the battery beyond what looked like a small symbol of a head at one end of the battery hole. Maybe there is a standard direction of insertion? Should I enquire of Directorate XCVIIIa(1) at Brussells?

Went back to the shop. Not a clue, so they got a ladder out, leaned over their front window display and fetched theirs down from the wall. They were using a common or garden AA battery which they said had been working without a problem for the 18 months since they opened up shop. Noted down which way around it had been inserted. (Having now lost the note, must remember to do the same when I come to take the battery out of our clock). They then presented me with 5 AA batteries (no extra charge), one of which seemed to do the business.

Back home, short dispute with BH over placement of clock on the wall. Should it be exactly half way between the two radiators (I won't go into the reasons why this might not have been a good idea) and how high up should it be? Having got this out of the way, pushed the drill into the wall - no effort at all required to go through modern plaster and blocks. Let's hope they do better on a spread load than a point load. Being in a thorough mood, cut a nice pine wooden plug about a quarter of an inch in diameter and two inches long. Hammered it home with the aid of some wood glue to lubricate it down and hopefully to then lock it down. Drilled small hole in plug. Screwed large screw into plug and hung up clock. Everyone now happy and the clock showing invisible time has now been retired to somewhere else in the demesne.

Now get around to investigating what ABS might be with Mr G.. On the first attempt learn that there are lots of outfits using the intials A.B.S., including for example, the Architects' Benevolent Society. On the second attempt, learn that ABS and batteries are indeed mixed up. To the extent of there being an advance battery systems incorporated (http://www.advanced-battery.com/about.html). They appear to be a rather specialised outfit, but who also make things which look rather like AA batteries. But why should a Swedish (or Swiss) clock specify one of those? Something else to make enquiries about at TB over the odd Newky.