Cous-cous, Fresh Herbs, and Garlic

I kept meaning to clear out and clean up the little wheeling trolley of baskets in my kitchen before the movers got in there. I usually keep potatoes, garlic, and onions in the lower baskets, and dishtowels and hot mitts in the top drawer. But I forgot, and only after they were mostly done with the kitchen did I think to ask them if there had been any food products left there. Yes, they packed my fresh garlic. I wouldn't have planned to bring that, but they assured me it is no problem, as it is "non-perishable." Okay. Apparently I remembered to get rid of the onions and potatoes earlier.

On my kitchen window-sill sat two fresh herb plants (the ones I later gave to my neighbour) - did you know that in England the H in herb is pronounced, as in the man's name "Herb" short for Herbert? So the packers asked me whether those plants were going...and I raised my eyebrows and asked whether that was possible. Again, they saw no issue with it...they said some people do take their plants, and they just water them before packing! However, we will not see our shipment until 12 days after they drive away with it. These little plants would definitely have died if I had sent them. They almost perished when we were away for only 4 days a while ago. One young packer guy correctly and happily identified the herbs as basil (pronounced BAH-zyl here, not BAY-zyl like in the U.S.) and thyme, crediting the viewing of cooking shows.

When I was in another room and the packers were wrapping up some truly non-perishable canned and dry foodstuffs, I overheard something to the effect of, "Oooh, cous-cous! I like cous-cous. It's really good."

The packing crew were really very friendly and personable, as well as professional and hard-working. Another thank You.

Today is a lovely sunny day, perfect temperature, with a little breeze. It will be a nice memory of the UK to take with us. Can't believe I only have one and a half more days of driving on the left. It will be quite an adjustment to get back to driving on the "other" side of the road in La Confédération Helvétique!