The process of going trough all the numerous insignificant boring annoying repetitive small preliminary tasks before you are set up to do a real meaningful interesting useful intended task.
twiddlediddledidoodiddling = fining a plug for your laptop, finding a free table, unpacking your laptop, setting up, booting up, logging on, trying to find what's wrong with the network, configuring your software, doing your system update, checking your email or facebook, moving to another table because there is a weirdo sitting beside you, renewing your library books online, checking your voicemail, ... packing your laptop, ...
Someone or something that bites your ankles.
To a postman, an ankle biter is often known as a dog.
To an adult, an ankle biter may be a toddler.
To hikers, an ankle biter is sometimes a tick.
And so on.
When a man will search for hours to find something that is laying out in the open on a table. Items are often easily found by a women.
Man: "I have been searching for hours for keys."
Woman: "You mean the ones sitting there on the coffee table?"
Man: "Where?"
Woman: "Right there in the middle of that table."
Man: "oh, must have been Male Pattern Blindness"