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A related issue here is that we get streets full of small stores all offering the same basic product. Whereas in western countries we tend to locate businesses in areas with no others doing the same, but with customers who would prefer to buy locally, here the business like to cluster together. So, we have light bulb alley, kitchen equipment avenue, liquor lane (aka whisky street), tobacco terrace, banana boulevard etc. OK, I made up the banana one. Beats me.

People in Scotland don't think so.

Thank you. That is a beautiful video and it is delightful to hear that after all your world travels you still have your delightful Scottish brogue.

I’m in awe of you for undertaking and sharing your grand adventure with us but this little sentence makes me very happy:

I posted the Chinese version of the Luosifen and Health video above. Yesterday, we completed the English language version. Translated and narrated by the me.

@Smithy Thanks for sharing your bold relaunch into your journey. It takes a boatload of courage to go “on the road” solo, not to mention publicly sharing the experience as it unfolds. Truly appreciated!

It does far more than appeal. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

I knew that. But thank you. 🙂 🤎

To clarify I know that your beloved husband is not with us...I was just trying to be delicate.

Welcome home! Funny, I was just listening to Jimmy Rankin's acoustic version of North Country. I think you might be familiar with The Rankin Family? The song is about a homecoming in the Fall, but somehow I thought it might appeal. The original version: And JImmy's acoustic version:

I have enjoyed travellling along with you. I'm glad you are safely back home with your 4-legged buddies.

The "Ultimate" Trader Joe's Cheese Tasting

Thank you for taking us all along. M.P and P.J. look very happy.

@Maison Rustique You'll have a blast going through those books. I find old cookbooks to be fascinating reading.

Thank you for sharing your first solo venture. I am in awe that you can drive, park and maintain that rig all on your own - not sure I could do that. Whenever my husband and I go on a long trip in the RV - the night before we will be home I pack an "evacuation bag" - electronic devices, medications etc. When we get home, we plug the RV in, take our evacuation bag in the house and call it a day. We start the cleaning process once we've had a good night's sleep in our own bed!

More leftovers: pulled pork with homemade BBQ sauce and coleslaw on a potato roll. Baked beans. No complaints.

Yay! I'm so glad you've made it!! I know you (and your wonderful husband) are perfectly capable of everything you do, but I always did/do breathe a sigh of relief when I know you guys are home safe and sound. PJ is LOVING that stream. Those are my favorite kind of capers. I need to order some.

I'm home! I spent the night before last at a Walmart parking lot. Although I gave the company plenty of money for pet food items and other things I needed then or would need soon, their deli was closed when I started shopping. That was okay; I enjoyed the last of the chicken and rice dish I'd made a week or two before. I also celebrated: finished one fine (by my lights) wine and opened another. I was almost home, and I had the blessed sound of frogs at the pond across the way. The first I've heard in months. Yesterday I arrived home around noon, finally got the Princessmobile parked on our snaky driveway, and began the fun of unpacking and enjoying being home again. The dog and cats felt the same way. It feels as though I've been gone forever, but it was actually only 4 months, as opposed to the 6 months my darling and I were gone each year. It feels longer. One factor is that I'm back a month later than usual. I have the green jungle ("yard") to prove it. The ramps are up. The chives are already about to flower. I've started laundry and emptied the boxes that have been waiting for me. Hallelujah, the capers I ordered back here have arrived! The packaging was superb. I've been on a considerable venture and adventure, and am on my way to establishing my new life. There's a mountain of chores and a sea of choices ahead of me. But I'm glad I went, glad to be back, and glad that I wrote about it here. Thanks for coming along, folks, and for your comments (culinary and otherwise) and encouragement. Maybe it's time to revive the Best Use of Stale Bread topic?

@curls thank you for posting that video. maybe a few people need to get a life. I say that , as I don't care for pistachio . Im please Dubai didnt make a version w pecans. P's prices have gone up enough recently.

@Maison Rustique - what a fun haul of books! I hope we'll see some explorations of (and maybe cookery from) them as your life settles. It's fun to see so much shellfish content...but I'm especially interested in "Liberace Cooks". Did he really? 🙂 Was he as flamboyant a cook as musician, I wonder?

Pan- fried polenta served with steak gravy was what my Croatian grandmother-in-law called “sconsa”.

Just saw this video… didn’t know that so many companies were making Dubai chocolate items! May still be time to add your own version to the mix.

Okay, I'm a grits snob. Instant grits just aren't as good as fresh stone ground grits. If you want the most freshly milled grits order from a place that actually has a mill. I've been ordering from Marsh Hen Mill (formerly known as Geechie Boy) for many years now. The mill is on Edisto Island in South Carolina. Anson Mills is another purvveyor. It is true that a pot of grits needs attention and close to an hour from start to finish, but it isn't at all difficult. Yes I agree that if you want grits frequently for breakfast you had best figure out how to cook grits ahead. I find leftover grits are just fine for breakfast, but this idea works really well and is bit more elegant. Make a large batch of grits. Pour when still very hot and soft into a sheet pan, making a layer of about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and try to get it smooth and even. When cooled, you can cut it into portions. These can be refrigerated and used as desired, by sautéing in butter or oil in a non-stick pan. The outside should be crispy and the inside melty. This takes only a few minutes on each side, and can be eaten sweet or savory, not just for breakfast, but for a fast easy easy side dish or a snack. And the squares can also be baked with a a variety of ingredients, like tomatoes and mozzarella.

Still too early for cherries in the PNW. Waiting to do cherry pies.

I'm still looking for things to do with all these cherries. Today it was cherry jam in a cream tea... I'm just back from collecting another couple of kilos (4 lbs)... Sadly, I think cherry fatigue is starting to set in. There's another four trees that are a couple of weeks behind the others, but my enthusiasm is waning. 'Pick Your Own' might be the way forward.