Turkey big enough to crow about
GOING to the poultry sale at the auction mart and buying a ridiculously oversized turkey has become a Christmas tradition – and this year was no exception.
The children are very enthusiastic about the whole process as it’s far more exciting to bid for one, or two if the price is right, than getting one off a supermarket shelf.
There’s usually a wealth of birds to choose from – chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Not only do you discover what breed it is, but there’s the added bonus of finding out where the bird resided, who reared it, what it ate and, finally, who plucked it. That is, if it’s trussed and oven-ready.
This year the trestle tables were rather emptier than usual. We noted that there seemed to be more potential buyers than there were birds.
It didn’t bode well – I had a feeling I’d be digging deep into my pockets or I’d be going home empty-handed.
I bought sweeties for the children, sat them down in the stands and then strategically placed myself ringside watching out for a big bird.
I didn’t have to wait long before a sweating drover limbered in carrying a 39lb turkey.
A few onlookers glanced in my direction – only someone deranged would tackle a monster like that. He was cheap; I bought him.
Christmas was good, noisy, untidy, we opened presents, ate far too much, enjoyed the company of friends and tended the animals.
We are now doing cold turkey and will be for the foreseeable future, certainly into 2017 anyway.
Happy New Year!