Neigh Problem

What a stooshie about the Irish food agency's findings of horse meat in hamburgers. Tesco, in particular, appears to have had the highest percentage of the meat in its burgers.

The food agency found that 10 out of 27 hamburger products analysed contained horse DNA and 23 of them tested positive for pig DNA.

In this country it's not tradition these days to eat horse meat but it's still eaten in France where I've consumed the meat more often than I can remember.  It's rather tasty - slightly sweeter than beef and was always very tender, although that could have been down to the cooking process.  I never bought horse meat and cooked it myself, but I would think it's treated in a similar manner to steak.

It's understandable for people to be angry with supermarkets for misleading them by displaying incorrect descriptions of their hamburgers, but I have no understanding of those presenting their faux outrage at the fact horse meat is involved.

I've never had any desire to eat horse meat these days because it is not available here but if my butcher did offer it then I may be tempted to buy the odd steak now and again.  After all, what's the difference between the meat of a cow, calf, sheep pig or horse? 

For years I've refrained from buying supermarket-own meat if at all possible.  Some years ago now a TV channel produced a damning documentary on the packaging system within the Tesco system and even today, when I look at Tesco's own branded meat, I'm vividly reminded of the horrors of that programme.  My meat is bought from a local butcher and yes, it is more expensive, but I just buy less.  If I need to buy meat products from a supermarket I ensure it's produced and packaged by a reputable company.  Highland Game's venison burgers are a favourite here.

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Price Checking

My 'local' choice of supermarket is Tesco or a small Co-op. The nearest competition to Tesco is in Perth or Dundee where all other major supermarkets are available.

Now and again in Tesco I take a written note of the price of my favourite coffee and certain favoured tipples because, if I'm going to the city, I like to shop in Morrisons and a price comparison can help towards diesel costs.  I've yet to be harrassed by staff or management for doing my market research but that's maybe it's because in my local Tesco it's nigh on impossible to find a member of staff except at the checkout.

However, it's not the same in all Tesco stores.  A Guardian journalist, in a Tesco somewhere in London, was writing down the prices of bottled water when his action initiated the presence of the deputy manager, followed closely by a manager.  You can read his experience here.

The Guardian chap obviously hasn't acquired the skill of the invisible shopper.

Being vertically challenged - or as I prefer to say 'wee' - I've lost count of the times I've hovered in aisles waiting for a member of staff to appear and assist me by reaching a product on a top shelf.  Usually, out of frustration, I either forget about the purchase or accost a taller shopper for help.

There are other occasions when I feel invisible or at best an irritation.  Not so long ago I needed two bottles of cider vinegar for a chutney recipe and there was only one bottle on the shelf.  Off I strolled to a checkout to ask if someone could check if there were more in the back stores.  Eventually a young chap appeared and insisted I show him the shelf which had proudly held the bottle which I'd been clutching in my hand for the past ten minutes.  After checking the empty section of shelf didn't contain another bottle by running his hand up and down the empty space, followed by a series of mmm's and frowns, he reluctantly agreed to check the stores. You can guess what happened next can't you?  He was never seen again.

So dare I suggest to Patrick Collinson that he should sub-contract his mother to do his market research.  Women of a certain age are of little interest to Tesco, especially when they have a laden trolley, a harrassed expression and an obvious inability to read even the largest print on labels. It's men in suits who concern them. Especially ones with serious looking notebooks.

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How Much More of It?

displayed by model

Last year a friend of mine was admitted to hospital as an emergency. When I visited the following day she asked me if I could possibly buy her a pair pyjamas as her husband had brought thin nightdresses and she was cold. The pyjamas in the picture above were my choice and she was horrified. "I can't wear these in bed, they're far too smart." We had further words - no bullying involved - with the result that a few days later she suggested, in an embarrassed whisper, that another pair wouldn't go amiss. During her recovery at home she wore these often as day/leisure wear. Only the three of us knew they were sold as nightwear.

Which brings me to my point. The woman in this picture has been banned from a branch of Tesco in South Wales. Elaine Carmondy had chosen her 'best ones' in which to do the shopping, but she still fell foul of the new Tesco dress code. Members of the public complained 'the sight of people pushing trolleys in their nightwear made them feel uncomfortable and embarrassed'.

Ms Carmondy's choice of pyjamas may not be mine, but they're far less unsightly than the bulging midriffs of grossly overweight girls/women who insist upon wearing crop tops with hipster jeans over which pour rolls of excess flesh. This is not criticism of overweight women but at how some dress. Many younger women in this country have lost, or never had, a sense of elegance and I feel sad they'll never experience the feeling of wearing a long flowing evening gown which inspires the wearer to walk tall and with pride.

I can hear makers of womens' leisure wear beating paths to the doors of their lawyers' offices. In fairness to our latest 'equality' rules, why are men, who look as if they've slept in their jeans and t-shirts, not being banned too?

An afterthought - if Ms Carmondy had perhaps worn hers with a smart pair of shoes and some chunky jewelry she could have insisted it was leisure wear.

source

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The Reason the English NHS is Not Fit for Purpose

This video is about the English NHS which has had 12 Health ministers since 1987 making two a year on average and not a single one has ever worked at the sharp-end of healthcare.  Not one. Here in Scotland we've had 3 in 10 years as far as I remember - Sam Galbraith, Andy Kerr and Nicola Sturgeon. Not a much better rate than England really is it, but in Nicola Sturgeon we have a Health Secretary who is highly regarded by the profession and also respected for the grasp she has of her brief.  May she stay long enough to continue to improve our NHS for all in Scotland.

Do watch the video because it is interesting even although the comparison is with Tesco.  

My thanks to Burning Our Money

Update 8 June:  Sam Galbraith was not Health Secretary once Scotland gained devolution, it was Susan Deacon.  Thanks to my reader for correcting me.

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