public int getAccumulatedMinutes() {
        cal = new GregorianCalendar();
        
        // what if...
        // the current minute in the hour is '12'
        // and the minute on the hour it started was '45'?
        // we would need to reduce no. of accumulated hours by 1
        int minute = cal.get(Calendar.MINUTE);
        minutes = minute - startMinute;
        
        if(minutes < 0) {
            int left = minutes; // suppose 12 - 45 = -33 seconds
            adjustAccumulatedHours();
            minutes = (60 - left);
        }
        
        return minutes;
    }