A series of daft events on the way to healthier eating.

To confirm my identity as a tea freak, I can assure you that I only use teabags for Redbush. Leaf Ceylon for breakfast, Earl Grey for afternoon.

rosequartz I don't think you should have put the egg in before putting the silicone cup in the water. Without going back to have a read, I'm sure Ana said you drop the buttered cup into the boiling water and then put the egg in. She said something about breaking the egg into a cup first to make it easier.

Re boiling eggs cracking. If you put them into cold water and bring it up to the boil they don't. you have to adjust your timings a bit.

Have you tried one of those pseudo eggs that you put in beside the eggs? They change colour as they heat up and show when your egg is how you like it.

AshTree, you're right!

And I forgot to say that you're supposed to keep a lid on the pan while the egg's poaching...

Mine still do.

I was given one of those egg 'timers'. Now gone to a better place - charity shop. I prefer to guess! (I'm not fussy)

Isn't it difficult aiming the egg though Ana? When the holder thing is bobbing about? I will have à go at lunchtime. Should be fun.

Yes, jinglbells that went through my mind. If I've still got mine at the back of a drawer/cupboard somewhere I will have a go.

Re eggs cracking, I always pierce the wider end of the egg with one of those little egg-piercing gadgets first. This releases the air inside the egg which is what causes the eggs to crack, as it expands on heating.

jingl I actually hold the top edge of the poacher thingy with one hand while pouring the egg in with the other. There should only be about 5cm of water in the pan so your fingers don't get scalded!

Fried eggs are simpler!

With the egg boiler,if you want to poach the eggs, simply break them into the bowl provided, add about 30mls of water (depending on how well done you need) put on lid and Bobs your uncle in a few minutes. So straightforward. You can guess I'm a convert. Getting a bit egg bound though!

I used to have one of those little prickers! (Don't! ) Wonder what happened to it.

Think you can just use an ordinary needle, but it would all go terribly wrong if I tried it...

To stop your egg bursting open, even straight from the fridge in boiling water, drop it in on a spoon and keep on turning it/them over and over with the spoon. This distributes the air evenly around the egg and lets the outer skin set quickly all around.

I had to learn all this because I have kept chickens for years, and initially had children who were very picky as to how they would eat their eggs. When you have cooked eggs for breakfasts pretty much every day for 30 years it soon sinks in.

If you use a draining spoon (yes, I have used a spaghetti spoon too!) and it doesn't look quite cooked and 'watery', it's very easy to pop it back in again for a few seconds.

I think teaspoons turn into wire coat hangers which seem to flourish !

I put a drop of vinegar in the water when I boil eggs, that stops them cracking.

Someone once said that he would recommend to the MOD that all future submarines should be made spoon-shaped, as every time he emptied the washing up bowl there was always a spoon in there that he'd missed

Good idea Ashtree. I do reckon that the suggestion that they turn into wire coat hangers could explain a lot!

My teaspoons seem to think they make good compost as that's where they regularly turn up.