2011!

Well I wouldn't have thought the past year would have gone so quickly!  2011 already?

But, we had our best year so far for turkeys!  Lots of new customers, some of them from John(owner of my favourite allotment website) put an article in his newsletter, which gave us 5 new customers, and some more from the allotment site itself.  Plus quite a few repeat orders from last year and some recommendations.  So I'm really pleased!

2 people let us down over the turkey poults they ordered for when they came off heat.  I wouldn't mind, but they were both people who had turkey babies from us last year!  But on a bright note, if they had picked up their turkeys, then we would have run out! lol  So we do have some over, but they are jointed and in the freezers.  Most we will eat ourselves, but we do have a few people who come and buy a turkey breast for their Sunday lunch occasionally!

We got 12 bronze's this last time too.  Brian said he wasn't going to sell any, they were just for us, but 4 people wanted one, so we sold them a bronze and they all said they were lovely!  Best turkey I've ever eaten was said more than once!

Here are a few of the emails I got after Christmas!

"just a quick word to say how delighted i was with my turkey, it was without a doubt the best bird we've had in thirteen years of christmas dinners! I have bought free range before from m & S , etc. but have never tasted anything so nice. E veryone remarked on the flavour and tenderness of the meat. i cooked it as you instructed, not bothering with the usual butter and bacon palava and it was so moist. fabulous. i will be first on your order list next year! Well done and all the best for the coming year"

"Just to say the Turkey was lovely, cooked excellant and everyone enjoyed it! Now I just need to decide what to do with the left overs"

"Probably the best turkey in 44 years!  Many thanks. It was very moist and a great flavour. We’ll be back to you again."

"Just wanted to let you know your turkey was georgous.  Was a bit worried when I weighed her as she was barely 4kgs.  Was thinking we might need a medium next year.  But . . . . the boobs on that girl!! Wow.  She was all meat, and delicious.  We had a lovely christmas dinner, and have several more tasty meals to look forward to.  The curry this year is a particularly good batch, and there is loads of it!
So, wanted to say thank you very much for a job well done.  And gold star to the courier too for getting it here through all that snow."

That last message goes to show that even the smaller birds go a long way.  Although I can't remember how many this lady fed on Christmas Day, but birds processed the old fashioned way don't shrink like the commercially processed ones do!

"Just a quick note to thank you for the turkey it was lovely best Ive ever had and we still have loads left went down a real storm."

So all in all, a good Christmas!  And for us too, because we had company this Christmas for the first time in quite a few years!  Brian went to fetch my friend Julie on Christmas Day as it was going to be her first Christmas on her own, and on Boxing Day, a young Londoner who now lives in our village came for lunch with his friend, and we had a lovely couple of days!  Much better than just sitting there staring at each other and moaning about the rubbish on the TV!

Well now I'm 60, I've told Brian that I want to retire, but he can carry on with the chickens and turkeys!  I've never had the time to do so many things, so this new year I am going to make the time.  Still not got much money, but I can do frugal very well!!! 

In October when I was 60, I had a small lump sum from a private pension, so I treated myself to a wii with the fitness board.  I haven't used it over Christmas, but I must get it set up again!  I also got myself a 3 year Senior Railcard!  And in May, when I can officially retire, I will get my buss pass!

There'll be no holding me back then!!!!  I'll try to get on here more often too and let you know how Brian is getting on!!!! lol