See I am always torn by these topics. For people who adjust to their new homes fairly easily it's hard to hear someone complaining about the little things because it's the little things that don't matter really. You can buy and find almost anything here. Let's face it the UK is not the middle of nowhere.
BUT one also has to understand that people do get homesick and miss things. Even those well adjusted folks get a wild hair up their butts sometimes and miss things. Some people are never meant to leave home. Some don't adapt well and some people are just miserable gits no matter where they live and never happy. I don't care if you move from one state to the other or move countries. For some a move to a different town is just as hard. Others adapt so well it's amazing.
Amiloo it sounds like good old fashioned homesickness to me. I am sure you will start to find places that sell nice food stuff here that is close to Trader Joes. I know it's not going to take the place of missing family and friends, but that too comes in time. I was always taught from an early age that home is where your heart is. It's not a physical place so much as the love between people. As you get married and grow your heart home expands to include others like your spouse their family maybe and even your own children. While your physical surroundings have changed a lot you now have the great chance to have two homes. When you get homesick think of that. Think of how lucky your are to be just where you are now. Think of what life would be like without it all. Also realize that eventually the physical place might even become home. You have a tough spirit lady I am sure you will be fine.
As for food subjects... I can say that I have always been very bad about missing food. I miss our "local" Bakery in Atlanta Alon's all the time. It was a place to get great breads, incredible freshly roasted sandwhiches, greek Total yogurt ans lovely cheeses. I miss Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, GA.... winner of lots of cheese awards, I miss the lovely breads and tajines I had in Morrocco, I miss the burgers at the Vortex in Ga, the milkshakes and cones at Dumar's in Norfolk VA., I miss being able tot go to a bar in Spain and get cheap and great homemade food, I miss the street yakimandu in Korea and well my mom's beans and rice and her wonderful fideos and tons of other things. One of the great things about food is that it, like our sense of smell reminds us of good times and places.
I think it's not so much about the apple rings, but about the life one lead while buying the apple rings.
Well that's it for my long winded post.
I guess I just want to encourage people to seek and use foods that they love to bring back memories and keep traditions going. Also to try to always keep things in perspective and be thankful for what you do have.
