I think my vacuum was trying to phone for help

I would hate to be without mine. I don't use the timed setting, because it does get in a pickle sometimes so I would rather be around to rescue it from dangerous encounters with DBH's ties and dropped socks, but it's hilarious if I have 'Anton' (yes, sadly I have named him) going and he trundles down the hall just as one of the multitudinous postman call. They are fascinated, as is the Tesco delivery man.

DBH however gets quite grumpy as he is at home at the moment, and finds that sitting down to watch the tv in the mornings is not an option as Anton mysteriously appears whenever there is a little light handiwork that needs doing. He isn't noisy, not as loud as a vacuum, but just annoying enough to not be able to concentrate on endless reruns of Time Team or the Great British Railway Journey.

Felice neither had I! Sometimes GN is a revelation!

Perhaps Roomba should go on "I'm a Celebrity"

Be careful what you wish! Need to make sure fully trained, particularly very obedient, or else could spend your life trying to rescue it from trouble, like Elegran! . janerowena's 'breed' doesn't sound much more intelligent........
Found myself laughing out loud at their stories, priceless!

I had never heard of a Roomba until i read this thread, just had a great laugh, really cheered me up, I want one!!!!!

Sounds as though Roomba Boot Camp may be called for.

Mine manages fringes happily, but one day I forgot to remove the flokati rug next to my bed. I had to take the poor thing apart to get all the fluff off its rollers.

I have strips of something that I can place where I don't want it to roam, but it has never fallen down the stairs yet, despite knocking the strip down them. I have had to place one permanently under the tv cabinet though, as it goes in there and gets stuck. Also I don't like seeing it emerging from there smothered in cobwebs and waving them at me as it exits. I'd rather not know.

It also isn't all that keen on xmas tree needles apparently. I have to do a spot clean now that our tree has started to shed a little.

I suppose I could use the "virtual wall" gadget that puts an infra-red beam across places you want to keep the Roomba out of - but I would have to set it. I would forget. As it is, Thursday evenings are also the time to take out the bins and put a saucer outside the front door for the milk carton (to avoid getting a greasy mark on the step)

You can programme it to wake up once a day and get on with its chores, then go back to the docking station to recharge. It is when it meets hazards when going about its lawful business that it hits trouble. Remembering which doors to open and which to close when it is due to be around, that is the problem. In theory it turns away when it meets a drop, but this one seems to just freeze where it is and call for help.

It doesn't like the fringes on the rug in the conservatory either - they get caught in its brushes and make it squeal. I think I've got a Roomba wimp.

Danger, Roomba at work.

Ah, but it seems to need 24 hour surveillance, so could be tricky as a pet.

Almost sounds like the ideal pet! Cleans up after itself and doesn't need much other than recharging!

Check the docking station for missing bed boards?

Have you checked for tunnels Elegran - telltale little piles of dirt hidden in sneaky corners? Do a Roomba frisk for little pouches of dust from digging?

Mine got out of the back door once and was about to try going down the steps. I know it has a built-in sensor to save it, but I scooped it up and scolded it as I returned it to safety . . .

Take it steady JaneR, we don't want to read about you in the tabloids

We have to start somewhere. I think of it as getting a little practise in. My next stage hopefully will be being rude to people out loud and then swiftly following it up with the dotty old lady act so that they forgive me.

It's not looking too good for some of us, is it?

I have a Neato, and I find myself talking to it as it trundles around. 'Here, wait a minute, let me move the doormat for you!' and feeling sorry for it as it wearily trundles back halfway through the cleaning to recharge, with its pitiful little 'Please empty my dustbag and clean my filter' as it nudges itself back into position with an exhausted little shuffle. Today I found myself idly contemplating buying it a length of red tinsel.

I wouldn't dare leave my phone lying around near it though. It would be phoning all its little friends and telling them what a slut I am, and how I only move all the furniture out of its way if visitors are expected.

It wouldn't stand a chance here either - my cat would hunt it down, although she'd be very disappointed that it's cordless!

He'd get very giddy and confused in my house I fear, too many obstacles to avoid !

It did an extra shift as an alarm when ny mobile failed and was not avalable. It is quite pleasant to be woken early when you can watch the staff assiduously vacuuming round and under your bed,

Welcome to the Poor Little Roomba club........! Great to have another (nutty) member!
And to think I'd never met one until now!
(Just as well, as clearly lost the plot , is it by any chance a full moon [tchhopeful]?

How lovely to have a housework robot! We have steps everywhere, scarcely have two rooms on the same level so the poor little thing would be constantly falling down and bruising its little metal knees.

Crikey! What do we sound like! Was also imagining it panicking just then Mini!
WE need a stiff [drink] pdq ...... Men with straight jackets seen on the horizon?

Wait for me! I was imagining the panic your Roomba must have been in when it was trapped

I found myself telling it not to close the door the next time. I'll join you in the loony bin.

Poor little Roomba, needs a recuperative recharge me thinks...... Blimey, I must be losing marbles at a scarey rate if commiserating with a vacuum cleaner [tchhum] ,