I was laminating some cut out notes for improvisations and classroom-type things and the final piece was just a single crotchet, about 10cmx5cm in the middle of an A4 home laminator. As far as I can tell the thing never came out the other side. I sent a few more things through to keep the rollers going but still nothing. Held it up to the light and I can't see anything stuck in there, but if it's not in there where on earth is it? I was working in the middle of my hall floor, so if it was on the floor it would be the only thing in the room!

Any experience with getting stuck objects out of a laminating machine? One more for the classroom teachers, perhaps.

Are you sure you put it in?

Did two quavers pop out instead? Did you not notice them?

It's definitely missing, I've counted and recounted. It's a diamond Charlie (for anyone who is familiar with Cellobabies) and he is most definitely AWOL. Perhaps he is with my daughter's Charlie and Lola socks, which she went into her room and took off and promptly inserted them behind a light fitting it seems, as they are well and truly gone. I think this house has a leak into another dimension.

Or it's stuck to the bottom of my shoe/back of my skirt/forehead...

If I assume it's still in the laminator, will that cause any problems if I just do nothing about it?

This is a very difficult situation, one which I can empathise with as its common place for me to lose a crotchet when I play music, but to lose one in a machine must be even more frustrating - I think perhaps you should contact the "Most Haunted" TV programme and ask them if there may be paranormal activity taking place.

Unscrew every screw you can see and take the wretched thing apart! When you put it back together you will probably have three semibreves left over.

Hmmmm a crotchet stuck in your laminator - sounds painful. Hospital job I'd say !

As someone who regularly jams laminators at work, puts in two things at once by mistake, and has to dismantle the thing with a kitchen knife often . . . . . I feel your pain!

If the laminator is continuing to function normally and isn't issuing forth smoke or nasty aromas, I'd be inclined to let it alone and get yourself another crotchet. In my experience, dismantling electrical appliances leads to more trouble than it is worth!

Why is this in the diploma forum?

That was going to be my quetion, confutatis...

Now if you'd got a diploma stuck in the laminator, I guess it would be OK to post it here

Would getting a diploma stuck make the person who did it a bit of a dipstick?

Very Good! Someone's on form today!

I've just found the crotchet I lost last week when playing a piece of Bach. Trouble is, its a G sharp. Is that any good? I'm happy to let you borrow it but I will need it back for the December diplomas.

Perhaps it is the lost chord?

Maybe it's just having a rest?

did the laminator laminate it inside another lamination job?

It wasn't, it seems to have been on a grand tour by the moderators, it started in teachers, because teachers are the people I know who laminate things all the time - it was in that context I was laminating a crotchet anyway. It now seems to be in cafe. Oh well!



Ah, that's a suggestion, I shall check everything to see if it's too thick.

That's not a bad tongue twister for diction training!

I've no advice to offer, but someone please put this on the list for Most Intriguing Thread in next year's awards