To Papershop Village, to enquire whether any more sausages have come in from the nearest organic farm. (We only found out about this farm because they had an open day last year, and it was only after we’d spent a happy half hour scratching pigs’ backs and generally making friends with their livestock that we discovered the shop was quietly stocking their sausages and bacon. But then, given that it sells out pretty quickly, I suppose need-to-know marketing makes a certain sense.)
‘There should be some in next week,’ Papershop woman said.
‘Oh good,’ we said.
‘In fact I think they’re going to the abattoir tomorrow.’
‘Oh right,’ we said.
‘Yes, they’re probably still gambolling round their paddock as we speak, completely unaware of their fate.’
I find I’m still enough of a townie to wonder whether anonymously shrink-wrapped meat from Tescos wouldn’t be a bit less disconcerting all round…
Wuss!
Funny, I’m too much of a wuss to buy the meat in Tescos of vague provenance, slaughtered in an unknown abattoir and having been shipped several hundred miles to get to Tescos where it has all the flavour removed (at least I don’t remember ever saying “that was a fantastic bit of meat” about a supermarket-acquired one…) prior to sale.
Better to be able to go see the beasts in the field, talk to the farmer rearing them, know where they’re being slaughtered, etc.
http://www.craftbutchers.co.uk/butchers/
Oh no, we will buy them, it’s just it does feel a bit more personal when you’ve met the pig.
Less disconcerting but less tasty, I’ll warrant! There’s also the fact that you’ll likely appreciate the meat more, knowing where it came from, and that’s got to be a good thing.
Too true.
I find meeting the meat before eating it leads to a better dining experience. I knew for a fact that Brian (the pig) had a happy life right up until the point he was loaded into a trailer, taken ‘on holiday’ and killed. I have no idea what kind of life ’2 for one on pork belly’ had, or ’8 rashers of hickory smoked bacon’ and neither tasted as good as Brian.
.. and I bet Brian was with you right up to the point where he discovered what his ‘holiday’ entailed.
Bah, I’ll be vegetarian if this continues
The word ‘vegetarian’ caught my attention. The vegan lurker is watching with interest, but not holding my breath.
I agree with Dom – If you must eat have bacon,then better to be bacon from a happy Brian than to cause a pig to live a grim and even shorter life in a crate in the dark, and never have had a scratch or a snuffle. But ‘on holiday’?! Vegetarian!? You meat eaters are so sentimental… (and exits sharpish)
I know – if you ever catch me banging on about ‘not eating anything with a face’ feel free to have me shot. And turned into sausages.
Never mind all that, what a philosophical turn of mind your papershop owner has. Is that a Scottish thing, or are the customers particularly stimulating (or not stimulating enough)?
I don’t know about a Scottish thing – they’re as much Londoners as I am…
I always thought gambol was a verb best applied to lambs.
Do pigs gambol? Amble and bimble I can see, but not gambol.
It’s become one of those one-use words hasn’t it? Only ever applied to lambs.
Yeah, but don’t the home made ones taste better than Tesco’s? No use being into sustainable living if you get squeamish about it. Tuck in!
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