There’s a university tale I like to tell that has become somewhat embellished over the last 15 or 20 years that involves a Mexican stand off over washing up. So the tale goes, fed up with one housemates “turn” at doing to the washing up involving washing three mugs and a plate rather than the normal sink full of manky evil, there was a downing of tools on the washing up front.
Nobody was eager to be the first to crack, so the extensive range of crockery in the cupboards was gradually used until the final denouement occurred when one of the house occupants was found drinking tea from a gravy boat. Such are the vagaries of time, that I’m not entirely convinced this didn’t happen in some form, possibly not involving the gravy boat or me to that matter.
Still, there’s nothing better than a good story about university and a degree of embellishment is almost expected. Right now though, we’re having a very similar (but ultimately more hygienic) stand off at work. A few years ago the decision was made to replace the KETTLE with a drinks machine. The logic behind this was the KETTLE was being more or less continuously boiled since it serviced about 40 people. We got through kettles like a baby gets through nappies. The machine makes a passable cup of tea, and a better than instant cup of coffee.
However for the last fortnight the tea drawer has looked like this:
![IMG_20140402_095120[1]](http://doitanyway.co.uk/files/2014/04/IMG_20140402_0951201.jpg)
Nearly everyone drinks tea.
The old kettle has been fished out by someone and is now used by many for tea making purposes.
I’ve tried to prise the clear perspex cover off to get at the one remaining sachet (which is probably about 3 years out of date but it’s the principle) out to make one final symbolic cup of tea but failed.
I’ve switched to brewing myself a small strong tea and topping it up with water, or if I’m adventurous an Earl Grey. Nobody has touched the decaf but I secretly use it for everyone else when I brew up and make a round.
There may be some normal tea downstairs on a high shelf but we’ve reached that point where everybody who would be willing to do it is utterly fed up of being one of the handful that usually end up doing it.
Me? I’m looking for the gravy boat…
