Unrefrigerated avocados in the US Refrigerated avocados in the UK
After five years, I still have not adjusted to the refrigerated stones that are sold here as avocados. Maybe we are so far north that they have to be picked so early that avocados have no chance of getting to its yielding, easily-bruised ripeness and leaving them out for any time in this comparatively sunless clime would turn them instantly into lumps of mold and mildew. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but I am under the delusion that the avocados I bought in the US were at ambient temperatures throughout their journey including their pause on the grocer's shelves.
Refrigerated eggs in the US Unrefrigerated eggs in the UK
Eggs, on the other hand, I am certain I remember accurately. Those were always refrigerated in the US, even at the grocers. They were in the diary section because apparently, eggs in the US come from cows. But here, they are in the aisles at stored at room temperature. Judging by the egg shaped holders on the refrigerator doors, I suspect I am expected to refrigerate them once I get them home. The holes are certainly too small for avocados.
Photo Credits
Unrefrigerated avocados in the US:
Wikipedia emphasis added
Refrigerated avocados in the UK:
Me
The Cow That Laid and Egg:
Amazon
Like most people in Britain, I spent most of my day unaware of Thanksgiving Day, one of my favourite days happening over the other side of the sea. It was an unusual day on many counts. The most unexpected event was the crowd of 80 or so people gathered at the roundabout just outside the railway station in the centre of town. I was just trying to remember to stop at the grocers on the way home when I ran into them. I was nearly through it when they started counting down: 10-9-8… I emerged from the crowd just in time to catch the lighting of the Christmas tree in the centre of the roundabout. I chuckled to myself as I walked into the grocers as I became aware that the town tree was lit in the middle of Thanksgiving day.
Another unusual event was steak night at the pub. It happens every Thursday, and we have been before, so it was not unusual in its existence or our appearance. The 'Thanksgiving Special' on the menu and the presence of a little Thanksgiving-do at the centre of the pub replete with mini American flags and party horns was, however, atypical. The musical selections was the essence of the British stereotypical concept of American music: Vegas Elvis, truncated Don McClean, 80's Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, Frank Sinatra, and late 80's Heart. Mmmm. My beloved pointed out that nearly every time we have come to that pub, around half a dozen times or so, we have encountered Americans there. I am still resistant to the idea that Americans would wave flags and blow part horns on Thanksgiving Day. But this was the same day that my wife had to point out to me that term 'fish fingers' was English, not American. So I am clearly no longer able to distinguish betwixt the twain. The question remains: why so many Yanks in Surbiton?
