While I was cleaning the portable fridge the other day, my gaze was drawn to an important looking orange sticker under the lid. It was written in 10 languages, all of which seemed to be trying to convey something terribly important, judging by the number of exclamation points scattered about. I eventually found the version written in English. It said: “Do not fill in water!”

 

So what could that mean? Is it trying to warn me against standing in water while filling the fridge? Perhaps the result would be electrocution? But could anyone really be that dumb? The mental picture of me standing in a pool of water while packing cans of beer into the fridge is more than somewhat ludicrous!

 

Does it mean that I am not supposed to fill it with water? It’s a fridge, not a water chiller, but maybe…? Or perhaps the fridge itself is not supposed to be stood in water? I’m sure a lot of campers plug in their fridge and then stand it in water – not! I was left no better informed after brooding over the mysterious label while I cleaned its innards.

 

I was inclined to be irritated, thinking that it is an exceptionally pointless sticker, but on second thoughts, maybe it’s incredibly cunning. When the wretched thing stops working, in the unlikely event of it happening a week before the guarantee expires instead of the usual week after, the manufacturer will probably claim that whatever use I put it to voided the warranty. After all, it DID say “Do not fill in water!”