Hear me roar
That’s what the furnace said - eventually! 
I pushed that little button over and over and over. And let me tell you, that was no easy feat. It involved squatting in front of the sink in the garage and poking my arm around the side of the washing machine (at an angle my arm was not designed for!) and sticking my finger in a little hole (and trying very hard not to think about what kinds of things might live in there) - after two hours of doing that every few minutes, the heat still wasn’t staying on for more than 10-15 seconds.
But men have their uses (apparently ;-)) and Scratchy came home and after dinner (you have to get your priorities straight!), he shoved the washing machine half-way across the garage and fiddled and faffed with the button and screwdrivers and I-don’t-know-what and the heat came on and stayed on 
So no sleepover tonight. I love my children, and I don’t mind them being in with me, and they’ve all left my bed and my room in their own time - but I do prefer not to have to pick my way through an assortment of legs, arms and heads while crossing the bedroom floor to get to the bathroom! 
Posts
What a trauma! Glad it’s all back to normal (well, normal for your family anyway!).