Thank you, Gordon. I hadn't realised that about slotted spoons at all, so that might explain some of the related comments in my caree's appeal. So, you're not necessarily expected to have to drain a saucepan of boiling water (although a slotted spoon wouldn't work for things such as rice, I suppose), but are you able to explain the thinking behind what someone is expected to be able to do in terms of cooking food? Water, whether hot or cold, has to get into the pan in some way so that you can cook your veg or whatever, so should the focus in fact be on whether they can get the water *into* the pan in the first place, rather than getting it out afterwards? My caree couldn't e.g. boil a kettle and pour it in because it would be too heavy, and we've already ascertained that she can't safely (if at all) chop or cut meat and veg for food preparation purposes.
Carer for a long-term ME/CFS sufferer 
