Last week I learned that … making tea takes time!

That tea making has a lot to do with time.  I remember as a child; when first learning to make a pot of tea.  Before the invention of teabags and long before the sophisticated choices we have now.  We have to consider the colour; black, green or white at the very least, temperature and time.
So back to PG tips, the pot was warmed, a spoonful of tea per cup and one for the pot was scooped in  (this may not be good practice now more ‘good pinch’) -then carefully filled with freshly boiled water.  Then, the wait; Russian Roulette is a little dramatic but it was always a difficult decision; Mother like  short brew and Dad liked it longer.  Or was it the other way round?
Nonetheless the timing was paramount.  As I said the choices of tea now  require different timing and temperature . Thanks to my previous training; I can create quite a ceremony and a pleasant cup of tea beit black, green or white in all their many manifestations.
However, I have seen a tea-timer as an optional accessory when buying tea.  I was tempted as they look cool; but my alter ego Ebenezer Scrooge steps in, so I don’t dally at the ‘optional’ accessories too long.
Until I saw this little sweetie on Ebay; a retro egg timer; it was dusty and forlorn, looking for a new home.  I was hooked and clicked ‘buy me.’ The rest is history.
I haven’t used it as a timer yet; I would rather trust my instinct.  To watch a timer seems so pointless-  may as well watch a clock.
But I loved its shape and its need for a mother’s spit and polish.