More travel gubbins

To be honest I'm a bit out of the loop on travel gadge. Its been a while since I had to trudge across the globe cattle class and get up for a meeting the next day, or drive 5 hours for an evening presentation and then turn around and come straight back stopping, briefly, in a Welcome Break car park for a power nap. So, I'm a bit gutted that this little beaut didn't exist when I was still doing a shit ton of miles in a plethora of Vauxhall Astras. In fairness, PDAs were still a thing back then, with iPhones a mere glint of billions of dollars in Monsieur Jobs' eyes. Still, I'm glad it exists to give even the lowliest of Marketing Executives a bit of Facebook respite while they eat their Burger King Chicken Royale on the M3 at 10 o'clock at night.

Publix conveniences

You hear a lot about convenience in the US, but it's taking a bit of getting used to for this Limey pair (yes, I capitalise Limey - it is a proper noun).

In the UK convenience is a Tesco metro.

"Ooh - handy - we can nip up the road and get some extra yorkie puds if we run out on Sunday."

Adorables.

Brits - let's take a step back and explore the 'convenience' of this. Let us presume you are making a roast chicken with the works. Maybe you've got the kids coming over too. A lovely family meal. And if you run out of something you can walk round the corner and get pretty much anything you need.

Now, let's make this whole scenario a smidge easier. Rather than everyone come to you, chef, let's all meet at a restaurant, where they buy and cook the food. They nip out for extra yorkie puds. They even provide the loo roll and clean the toilet for you. And, you don't have to walk anywhere, just drive up and get a freshly cooked meal. You can probably have a yummy rhubarb crumble for afters too. And you don't have to do the washing up! See where I'm going with this?

Yes, yes - none of us can afford to go out every night to eat, but what if it was comparable to eating in? And what if it was a challenge to buy fresh fruit & veg unless you want to pay through the arse and go to an organic shop, a farmers market or Target and buy it pre-diced and bleached? Welcome to America, bitches. Where convenience just met affordability. I will have to actively seek out cheaper fresh ingredients in order to be able to affordably cook at home. Wtf??

I'm sure I'll find somewhere, but it's not as easy as Florida (damn I miss Publix). California seems to be lacking a Tesco or an ASDA. Whats wrong with wanting to buy fresh meat, local fruit & veg, Heinz ketchup and Frosties all in one place? I don't want own brand organic ketchup, so that's Trader Joe's out. I don't want my fruit to have been flown in by private jet from Libya, so I won't bother with Whole Foods, but I would like to buy fruit that is not pre-cubed and put in a plastic tub (thanks Target - I can do that myself). 

Gonna try Safeway and see if it's anything like the UK Safeway was. Wish me luck. I have the local Thai restaurant on speed dial just in case...