Thanks Gert and everyone else for all your suggestions. I still think we shouldn't have to fortify our machines and prepare for battle every night. Have Australian consultants let head office know about these problems? Essentially every TM owner has a time bomb that even if they get repaired may not work again due to the damage that has been incurred.  Not to mention endless fortification to stop it from happening again - its ridiculous!
 

Ok, so this is a warning to all!!
I contacted Thermomix direct as my consultant didn't know what it was. They said that this problem is usually due to creepy crawlies
getting into the base of the unit. They suggested putting white paper under the unit and then giving it a shake and if black dots fell
down then it was most probably a cockroach problem. I did this and although the paper was clear the technician proceeded to arrange for a courier to pick up the unit. They rang me back today to say that it was a dead cockroach in the machine and that it would cost $306 to fix and that although they would clean the control board there was no guarantee that it wouldn't fail again.
So be warned everyone. I pride myself on a spotless kitchen with clean granite top benches and minimal clutter, but no-one can guarantee that creepy crawlies won't come out at night. What I can't understand is why the machine isn't sealed against this? My toaster, kettle, clock radio etc have sat on my kitchen bench over many years and have never be afflicted.
Essentially my 18mth old, hardly used, $2000.00 machine will cost another $306 to be cleaned with no guarantees it hasn't been permanently damaged or I can tell them forget it and they will charge me a courier fee to get it back broken.
Not a happy chappy!

I tried unplugging and replugging. I tried different power points around the house. I tried different surfaces. I tried using my spare bowl. I waited an hour. i used a hairdryer on it. Still flashes "Er23" and beeps! 

Hi everyone, I have just turned my Thermomix on for the first time in around a month and it just beeps 'Error 23". I have tried unplugging and replugging to no avail. I have dinner to cook and my oven has also broken down. Help!!