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This reminds me of an old joke illustrating the difference between a mathematician and a physicist.

They are each asked how they would make a cup of tea and they both reply in the same way just as jigjag has written.

Then they are told that this time there is already water in the kettle and it has just boiled.

The mathematician says he would continue with step 2.

The physicist says he would empty the kettle and then start with step 1.

Orson, you've reminded me. There are 10 sorts of people in the world - those who understand binary, and those who don't.

jigjag

Hope you enjoyed your cuppa after all that effort. There are even more stages if you use leaf tea.

Orson, ChrisE

Thanks for the jokes which I enjoyed. I have heard that to save energy during the crisis, the washing-machine should be set at 40 degrees. I can just about tilt it, but can anyone lend me a protractor please.

Grunger

I loved the washing machine thing, thanks for that!
I hope you're continuing to mind your Ps and Qs,. That's probably fairly easy for you, Pies and Quiches are such an integral part of your life.

Jigjag

I'm sure you enjoyed your carefully-prepared cup of tea. I think it probably took you as long to write/type all the steps as it did to follow them.

Orson,
I really enjoyed the physicist, tea, story.

Malone

Thanks. I am having a "steak slice" today as an experiment. It does not look appetising, possibly a steam-roller has been over it.

Jigjag

I tried your tea-making method. It seemed such an effort, all that walking around between kettle, teapot, bin, sink, and fridge. I tracked it with my pedometer and was surprised to find it was 27 metres, so I really needed the tea after that.

Grunger,

I hope the 'steak slice' tasted better than it looked..

I feel I must ask do you live in a very large house with a very large kitchen? Or maybe just a normal- sized or small-sized house with a very large kitchen? I too tried out Jigjag's tea-making method and certainly didn't cover the ground you did. Compared to your 27 metres, I think my journey was maybe only 2.7 metres - if that. My kettle's near the sink, the bin is about a metre away in the other direction. There wasn't a lot of actual walking involved, 'swivelling' might be the more accurate term.

Malone

It tasted even worse than it looked, which is saying something.

I suppose it is a large kitchen, but badly designed. The large table in the middle has to be negotiated on the trek from sink to fridge and bin. The teapot is near the kettle but not near the sink. Of course I dont take sugar or it would mean another trip to the cupboard. I could have saved a few metres by picking up the milk from the fridge when I put the teabags in the bin, but I had to double back for it.

I will try a coffee in the morning and measure that distance. I think it will be considerably shorter.

Malone

I made a coffee and walked 0 metres! I had to plan it of course. Filling the kettle and getting the milk out of the fridge in advance. But from switching on the kettle to my first sip, I did not take a step. I followed your advice on "swivelling". there was plenty of that to get cup, jar, spoon etc. The drink was awful but at least I didnt expend much energy in making it. So I should be fresh to make a cup of tea later.

Incidently I know there are people who make the tea, solve the TImes puzzle and then pour it, knowing it has brewed perfectly. I am not one of them. I have breakfast, do the puzzle, then know it is time for lunch.

Grunger

Thanks for the updates, and for being prepared to try out a slightly more 'time and motion' way to get a hot beverage. I'm delighted to hear that you didn't have an exhausting walk, you might have needed something stronger after that. I'm disappointed that the drink was awful, but I have high hopes for the tea.

I have varying experiences with the Times puzzle, but never as speedy as having it solved while my tea mashes. No, on days when the setter and I are in complete harmony, I can have the puzzle finished mid-morning. Other times, when the setter is particularly wily or smart, I can be grappling with a puzzle until mid-afternoon.

Grunger, Jigjag

If either of you are looking in....

It's a good job I'm staying alert. I spotted yesterday that the crossword setters are still influenced by your interests and activity. I noticed these in the Jumbo.

Little sleep and some food - what babies need? (7)

Trader in public space coarse in speech (11).


I thought of Tyke, but there were no pikes in sight.