So according to the rules, you're supposed to start the timer when the verb menu first appears, which happens after the beginning cutscene with Dave and the other two kids.

However, Dave moves around during this cutscene, and the position he starts in depends on where he was when the cutscene was cancelled. So theoretically, you can wait until he walks closer to the left side of the screen and start your run a little closer to the loading point (which can be desirable depending on your route). This can save about a second compared to walking to that point while the timer is going.

I guess my question is; is that allowed? Is it something worth addressing or is it not a big enough deal?