The toaster

Sadly, I have to announce the retirement of my old-fashioned French toaster. Le grille-pain, a simple metal device that can be heated on a gas ring, enables slices of bread to be scorched at high speed.

Inevitably, a briefly forgotten toasting causes clouds of smoke in the kitchen. Recently, my grille-pain has buckled and flakes of oxidised metal are now shed during every use, covering the stove with black crumbs. Traditional grille-pains are hard to find these days and cost more than basic electric toasters. Requiescat.