LOL scottish mags,,, it would be easier "panning"" for gold in the hills at wanlockhead,
does anyone use there local abbotoir(spelling) just wondered what kind of stuff they might offer,, dont fancy the thought of actually visiting them but would like to know from you guys if anyone has had any success with them.

we called the abattoir nearest to us and they said they can't give anything direct to the public and said something about not being allowed...Though, we might keep on trying though...

Not an abbatoir but a wholesaler. Read my post above Scottish Mags.

We nearly lost the lot when the legislation changed after the outbreak of E.coli in Lanarkshire - prepared meat had to be kept separate from raw meat all the way down the line, and the alterations this required to premises more or less killed them all off - either it was too expensive, or, in the case of some of the better Orkney butchers, things like conservation of listed buildings made extensions impossible.

Because the one we use worked as a separate retail outlet, it was able to reopen when it changed hands. Orkney meat has a superb reputation (even Harrods stocks our "Island Gold") as it is all grass-fed, and with minimal or no artificial gunk used at any part of the process. It may not always attain full "organic" status, but it's pretty close.

Some here may remember a post I made a few months back, about a double killing here (a man shot his wife, then himself) - he had run a butcher shop in Stromness, of the best possible kind -

we used to ask for (eg) two fillet steaks. He'd cut them in front of us, asking how we wanted them. Then he'd write the price on a paper bag,using a pencil he kept behind his ear . Then we might ask for some sausages - he'd wash his hands, dry them, then weigh out the sausages and write the price on the bag. "Anything else?" If yes, he'd wash his hands again, dry them, and sort out the next item and write the price on the bag. Then he'd tot up the lot, on the bag, and usually he'd knock off all the odd pennies (eg total £13.69 - "call it £13 for cash!").

Nowadays, you just don't see this standard of service. Often, knowing we had a dog, he'd throw in a free bone (usually a massive one*) or a couple of beef sausages.

*Some of these bones were so big that Kali could only look at them with popping eyes until he could work out the easiest way of tackling them! I'm talking about the whole knob-end of a thighbone here!

What seems to be happening is that maintaining this standard (which certainly pleases customers) is falling victim to the concept of having everything cocooned in clingfilm and expanded polystyrene. Nobody seems to be interested in training new butchers properly, what we get instead are "meat-cutters" trained to hack the meat into an easily-sold size, with all the less-attractive bits hidden underneath, and wrapped in plastic.

So, if you're lucky enough to have a "traditional" butcher in your area, vote with your feet and go there. **** the supermarket, they make enough out of selling canned cr*p. The local butcher is better for you and better for your dog!

Snorri

Thanks Mags I got a parcel this morning..Listening as we speak.. Thank You.. (and for the reppy)

And Christine.. Thank you too