"I'm not worried about the pans, it's just that they're heavy," I explain as I cross the room to stoop in front of the stove. "I get what you're saying, but they're really not ideal. Take a look in the cupboards, we've got to at least have some big ladles or something in there."

Not that I relish the idea of trying to dig through a snowbank with an oversized spoon, but needs must, as they say.

"You know what, there might be some lids for the bigger copper pots that aren't as heavy as the pans."