Christmas Is Nearly Here

I suppose we had to succumb to something soon, Myself and all three children are at home today with colds. It's a toss up as to who is the worst, i think it may be Jess, then me, Hannah and James. Phillip, who has just stated his busiest week in the butchers shop is still Ok and keeping his distance!, however true to form he will go down with everything next week went he adrenaline finishes and he's left flat.

One night last week at about 9.30pm I had a phone call from a gentleman who wanted to order some meat for the Oswestry Market. He'd had some last year and it was brilliant and he wanted the same again this year. I explains that we had given up doing Oswestry Market nearly 12 months ago. He was amazed, "Oh why did you do that your meat is so good". Perhaps if I hadn't been half asleep, or that I don't want to seem churlish I may have put him right by saying - well it doesn't pay the bills customers just coming once a year at Christmas for their meat we need sales all year around to be able to attend farmers market.

One customer this week left a curt message on the phone to cancel his order it was no way to run a business. He had placed an order on the Internet I had been ill so not in the office for some time, so we were unaware. he had phoned Philip, Philip had told him i would phone him in the morning, as soon as I got back from taking all three children to school, on the morning that the roads were covered with black ice so i was back at 10.30 ish instead of 9.30, I phoned him and left a message, then played back my messages to find his message already left cancelling his order. I phoned again apologised and explained what had happened, when i switched my e-mail on there was another message from him, which I answered in more detail explaining how the complications had arisen, to date I have heard nothing from him.

On the brighter note a customer phoned this week and asked for a sirloin joint, chatted about where the beef came from what we did, how it was raised and butchered and it was a pleasure to do business with him.

I think what it is important to get across is that we are not Tesco's or Safeway's or Aldi. If one of us is ill we do not have back up and jobs have to be prioritised, when placing orders with us its not a supermarket or big business you are placing orders with but a small family business who are doing the best they can, and satisfying 99% of all the people we deal with.

I am sorry to those few ( only 2) who feel we are not up to scratch.

Challenge of Rural Leadership Course 2008

A photo of the course students on the last evening. 18 of the finest agricultural brains ( or so we like to think!!!!)

I have yet to look at the DVD which I have just received from the Duchy College which shows our media interviews, perhaps this is a cop out on my behalf, but it will certainly remind me of all the friends I made during the two weeks.

Going from right to left there is Matthew, Me, (front to back), Nick, Mathias, Anthony ( The Colonel) Tom, Oliver, DJ (David) Andrew, Mike, Clive, Julie, David, Dale, Tom, Dr Phil, Thammi and Paul.

Hope you're all still looking on from the Balcony...........