As I turned the key in the lock, opened the door, and entered into a magnificent architectural foyer, I walked over to turn on the lights, got my camera ready to start taking some photos, and then...

"WARNING! INTRUDER ALERT! Your presence has been detected.  Security has been notified!"

I thought I'd been transported to outer space, and Robbie the Robot had entered the room!

"If you are authorised to be here please put the key against the flashing light"

"What key?" I said to myself?  "What flashing light?"  There was a funny little round silver keyring on the set of keys that I'd picked up from the lettings agent, but I couldn't see any flashing light!

And then...a piercing alarm started to ring out.  I couldn't stay inside with this racket going off, so had to go outside and call the lettings agent who managed to contact the landlord to turn the alarm off remotely. Ahh thankyou peace and quiet!  Only to find 60 seconds later... yes you've guessed it - "WARNING! INTRUDER ALERT! Your presence has been detected.  Security has been notified!"

I need to find this b!&@dy flashing light!  As I walked up the first flight of stairs, there it was - a MAHOOSIVE blue air-raid siren sitting proudly on the window ledge booming at me "security has been notified, if you are authorised to be here please put the key against the flashing light" and as I approached this bellowing beast, I could JUST see a small light flashing at the top - and reaching up I held the little round silver keyring up to it and Hey Presto! it stopped!

Thank goodness for that!

Well, it's not often that I get caught out like that when I go to take some photos at a commercial property I can tell you!  

But this building is really a lovely place - right in the centre of Hitchin, with large office space over 3 floors, and (if you're the CEO or something) allocated parking spaces too!  I spent the next hour getting some pics for the agent's marketing materials.

And my ears have been ringing ever since! hahaha