Well, you did ask -

- At least one person did!
So here is the update on the soup maker. It's a big success and we would recommend it even at full price (ours was half price!) The instructions of this particular one only gave a few recipes but Covent Garden comes to the rescue. In answer to the question 'can't you just use a pan?' the answer is yes. But this thing is much quicker and you don't have to stand over it.
You won't be surprised to hear that it has been a bad day for blipping!