Not fireworks this time. No, it was in the kitchen though nothing had been switched on at the time. All the neon lights that are usually on were still on. Then I pressed the on-switch of my dishwasher and it was very dead.
Death of this Bosch appliance has been expected because it was over thirteen years old. I have checked that the average modern dishwasher has a life of 7 to 12 years. I have been fairly lucky eg my boiler had lasted sixteen years before giving up this Summer. Since being on my own the d/w is the only thing left that I have not replaced. But it is only me here and I only ran a dish-load about three times a week. Even if it is repairable, the cost would likely be as much as a new one, and I think most repairmen would reject the job.
So I am thinking it won't hurt to do manual washing-up from now on!
Anyone else had theirs give up literally with a bang. It quite surprised me, to put it mildly.