It has served him well over the five or so years he has been in possession of it, I'll say that for the thing. But if I were designing a domestic-use coffee roaster I'd take steps to ensure it was slightly less destructible. That the glass portion fit far more securely on its base, for one thing. Yesterday I forbore from crowing "I told you so!"

Even if I had, repeatedly to the point of nag-nagging, implied it.. Leave the damn thing on the counter, where it is, and use it there. But no, that wouldn't do. Mostly because roasting coffee results in the coffee roaster becoming very, very hot. And exuding a very emphatic odour quite resembling burning food in the process. To which our smoke detector located closest to the kitchen never fails to respond. Necessitating that we close all the doors leading to the kitchen to avoid the sharp alarm, driving us to distraction until one of us can race over and disarm it.

Options for my husband have presented themselves in carrying the coffee roaster downstairs to the basement level of the house and using it there. Well, then, leave it there, right? Nope. Alternately, in good weather as during the summer months, taking it outside to the deck, and using it there. If prevailing winds blow the burnt-coffee odour back into the house, then off goes the smoke detector.

On one occasion a year or so ago, when he was carrying the machine back upstairs from downstairs something happened and the glass cracked. Still usable. Until yesterday morning when, carrying it upstairs from downstairs yet again, the glass slid off its moorings and this time finished the job. So, we're in the market to acquire a replacement.

From Green Beanery. Trouble is, their Internet website set-up requires that one become a 'member'. We already are members since we order all our organically-grown free-trade coffee from them in any event. But their protocol spurned my 'password'. And even when we were given a new, temporary password by their office, it was rejected once again.

Leaving us feeling very unloved, abandoned, fearful of what the future may hold for our coffee-drinking pleasure. Better change that; I don't drink coffee; my favour goes to tea. And never once did I say to him "Toldjaso!"