7/15/2021

I know things change...

 It's been fifteen years since I moved to New Zealand. I have adjusted to a lot of things that living on a small island presents.

I have learned to live without filter/drip coffee and drink instant. When I first got here, I could get a cup of filter coffee in a coffee shop while Hubby had some fluffy, strong stuff, but not any more. 

Before you ask, there are very few places to buy ground coffee and the ones we tried did NOT suit at all. Hubby recently found a place that will send us Folgers coffee, but over $100 shipping for 3 large cans is more than I can bring myself to spend, even if Hubby is willing.

Upon my arrival, I could buy grape jelly at any grocery store. Strangely enough, it has not been found anywhere for a few years now. A member of a FB group of Americans in NZ found some a while back and we were all jealous! I guess all those grapes they grow here are for fancy-schmacy wine now!  Actually, most of our stuff is imported from Australia since we are too small to manufacture very much for ourselves. So, I guess I can blame it on Aussie.

I am not sure how Pizza Hut and Dominos pizza in the US and other countries have changed in 15 years, but they advertise terrible abominations here.  Ground beef/mince, Peking Duck, smoked salmon, spinach, cranberries, prawns. And then there is the 'swirl' of sauces on top--aioli, hollandaise,  BBQ sauce. *shudder*  What happened to simple Italian sausage with cheese? Progress? This is why we make our own now and then, but I still can't find Italian sausage in the stores very often.

Twenty years ago, if you had told me I'd have these 'problems' I would have laughed. But, life throws you a curve ball sometimes, and you have to adjust your swing. But the biggest change is that I realize that many of the 'problem' I have are because I'm old and set in my ways.

Ah, life is always interesting.