14.5.11 Mugs

'TMWSC Junior' was, whilst on holiday, making some tea for us all, late one morning.  The self-catering apartment (within which we were all loafing about) was kitted out with four cups and saucers.  Now, why anyone setting up apartments still thinks that cups are preferable to mugs is beyond me.  The kettle boiled, and let off the familiar burning smell that prompted me momentarily to consider reporting it to Reception.

"These cups are pitiful.  You hardly tilt the kettle and the cup's full!"

Junior was of course referring to the fact that the cups held no more than four mouthfuls (something he was soon able to prove with a quite straightforward demonstration).  The saucers resided (still) in the cupboard, as they were pointless. 

"I like the fact that the milk's called Sandra", he said.  There was nothing to say in response to this; as brand names go, it was a peculiar choice.

"Right, how many sugars go in these thimbles?"

The cups sat on the worktop, awaiting sugar input, and I chipped in with a reply for two of the cups; "Two heaps".

This caused an exclamation of incredulity from Junior (and his fiancee) and cries of "How much?" and "What?" filled the room and terrace.  It appeared to me that I'd somehow uttered something truly outrageous.  In their eyes, my utterance was actually outrageous, what with the smallness of the cups suggesting a lower level of sugar would be more suitable.

I then suggested he put one spoonful in each cup and let us each top up the sugar to the desired level.

"No, there's no point in that.  It's like when a waiter puts down a tall glass, pours an inch of drink into it and then puts the bottle down next to it.  There's no point in that; the waiter might as well fill the glass, or just leave it empty and put both things down in front of you."

I completely agreed with his comment and logic, delivered without any swearing, although with a definite level of affront.  The next manoeuvre was to take two cups out to the terrace (those requiring no sugar top-up).

"I can't hold these cups!"

The holes in the handles where fingers are supposed to go were of course only big enough for the forefinger, or for any digit owned by a four-year-old.

"What are you supposed to do?" asked Junior.

The answer of course . . . . . . . . Mugs.

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