diff --git a/STATUS.md b/STATUS.md
index c928f5c..675ba93 100644
--- a/STATUS.md
+++ b/STATUS.md
@@ -10,6 +10,25 @@
 > *Rebuilt from the register on 2026-08-07, from 258 lines. The old "what shipped recently" log is what
 > the per-repo `CHANGELOG.md` files and the register are for, and is not restated here.*
 
+## ⚠ BOTH DEMO MACHINES ARE OFF AND MUTED — unmute them when they are home
+
+**Powered down 2026-08-09 14:08 CEST** for the move back from the vacation home. Guests stopped
+cleanly first (no vzdump was running, no locks), then the hosts. Confirmed off at the fabric, not
+merely unreachable: the tailnet is healthy and both peers report *"offline, last seen 1m ago"*.
+
+**Both customers are BLOCKED on the hub, deliberately, to stop four false alarms an hour into the
+drive.** Blocking gates every monitor and the notification intake; it does **not** gate config pull or
+report intake, so the boxes come back normally on power-up.
+
+> **THE TAIL, and it is the reason this banner exists: while they are blocked, a box that FAILS to
+> come back up is also silent.** When the machines are home and powered on, unblock them and confirm
+> both report:
+>
+> Hub → Customers → **demo-hp** → Unblock, and **demo-felhom** → Unblock.
+>
+> Then check both read ONLINE on Hosts. **Until that is done, the hub cannot tell you either box is
+> in trouble.**
+
 ## What works
 
 A blank machine boots the Felhom disc, installs itself unattended, and is claimed by the customer, who