The Colonel learnt a long time ago....
... that he should always try what Lady Blink suggests first - no matter how ludicrous (like 'take some of the milk out the fridge and see if that stops it making that funny noise when you shut the door'), before moving on to the more engineering-based theories. That way when the ludicrous doesn't work, one can look pityingly at her and say 'can I try something a bit more considered, now?'. And when the ludicrous does work, one can claim that one had come to the same theory as well.

PS Removing the milk did stop the fridge making a funny noise - the extra weight was making the floorboard shift and rub against the skirting board when the motor was running......
(Colonel Blink is now officially a pretentious prick, Fri 16 Nov 2012, 17:10, Reply)