It occurs to me that the flip-flop toaster is small enough that it doesn't have to take up counter space when it's not in use. (The Breville toaster-oven is enormous, occupying almost half the largest stretch of work surface in the kitchen.) For a couple of years, the equally large and ridiculously expensive fancy blender that Edmund couldn't live without has taken up the entire top shelf of the cabinet on the left side of the stove. I think it's time to admit that I'll never be one of those people who lives on smoothies, and find a new home for that blender. The flip-flop toaster can live on its vacated shelf, along with its European cousin the waffle iron.

I hardly ever eat bread any more, but very occasionally I will have an afternoon treat consisting of a crumpet or a tea cake with marmalade on it. The flip-flop toaster handles crumpets and tea cakes better than all but the most sophisticated pop-ups and toaster ovens, at way less than half the size of the Breville. Of course, that's because you have to stand over it, but if there's one thing I have plenty of these days it's time.