A very Cherry Mishmash

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Julian Earl — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:46:41 GMT

Thanks Stephe, Yes the ignorance of the public can besurprisig somtimes?!!

We'vebeen okay here, so far, touch-wood!re we still going to be worried about this virus and its consequences in 6-12 months do you think? I cannot see it disappearing completely ever!!

Anyway, stay safe and well, maybe see you again at a SVS-conferece in the future sometime? Cheers...

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Stephen Pointing — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:36:45 GMT

[quote userid="3094" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234971#234971"]Well thank you Stephen, that explains a lot!! [/quote]

My comment was directed at a non-vet. I was a bit surprised to learn that Arlo thought that all broiler birds were female - like their egg laying cousins.

Covid situation down here still very good. 84 cases in total, no deaths, 4 +ve cases currently in quarantine; 97% of the adult population (> 18y) triple jabbed. We are lucky to have a very cohesive and collaborative population down here - so few, if any, anti-vaxxers.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Julian Earl — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 13:54:37 GMT

[quote userid="13196" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234798#234798"]Important for the egg layers but not for the meat chickens. [/quote]

Well thank you Stephen, that explains a lot!! I am glad you told me I was in the dark about chickens clearly!! Oh, What's the phrase I need? Oh yep, Live and learn!!? P.S. What is your situation there in the Islands with COVID? Surely you should be very secure thanks to the little matter of the Atlantic Ocean keeping people well away?

Cheers.. Stay safe and well My Friend!

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Stephen Pointing — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:21:43 GMT

[quote userid="6080" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234780#234780"]Chicken soup cooked from older birds is a different dimension [/quote]

That's what I was thinking of when Arlo mentioned a cockerel - a bIrd which had been allowed to mature and strut around in the farmyard for a year or so. Generally not so good for roasting but better for making into soup as you suggest.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Stephen Pointing — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:18:52 GMT

[quote userid="2457" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234783#234783"] are killed at around 5 weeks old[/quote]

Hadn't realised that they could reach a killing weight after such a short period. How much further can they go?

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Stephen Pointing — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:17:42 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234782#234782"]I always thought they were 100% female.[/quote]

Important for the egg layers but not for the meat chickens.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 09:51:08 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234782#234782"]Really? Is that true? I've never found any testicles inside, but I can't say I've ever gone looking. I always thought they were 100% female.[/quote]

As broilers (chickens raised for meat) are killed at around 5 weeks old, they've not yet reached sexual maturity so gender is irrelevant.

Cockerels are bigger simply because they are allowed to grow up.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 06:13:29 GMT

[quote userid="6080" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234780#234780"]I’m confused. 50% of the chickens you get for roasting are male, as evidenced by the testicles you regularly find inside.[/quote]

Really? Is that true? I've never found any testicles inside, but I can't say I've ever gone looking. I always thought they were 100% female.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Claudia Niehoegen — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:24:02 GMT

I’m confused. 50% of the chickens you get for roasting are male, as evidenced by the testicles you regularly find inside. Butchered on the same day as their sisters they probably are a little heavier, but not much I would think, as they are still immature. I have never seen the sex mentioned on the label. Was that from a farm shop ?

This year I got some fully grown cockerels that lived on a farm open to the public. They had started fighting and had to go. Those spores were impressive! I miss being able to buy ‘soup chicken’ in the shops, female layers that are about 15 months old. In Germany you get them in supermarkets. In the UK they probably go to pie factories? Chicken soup cooked from older birds is a different dimension to that cooked on juvenile roasting chicken bones.

Is castrating chickens still legal? It always seemed extremely brutal.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 17:34:09 GMT

[quote userid="13196" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234777#234777"]Was that one of your own or the latest UK food fad? [/quote]

Neither, as it happens. My Mum suggested it as a more sensible option for a small number of people than a turkey (but more than you could feed with a hen, and more of sense of occasion than a hen). It was very tender, and perhaps had a bit more flavour, but the difference was subtle.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Stephen Pointing — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 16:26:51 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234774#234774"]Tried cockerel for the first time this year[/quote]

Was that one of your own or the latest UK food fad? The only cockerel I've eaten in the past (given as a gift) was as tough as old boots - OK for slow cooking in a pot but definitely not suitable for a Christmas dinner. I suppose its tenderness (or otherwise) will depend much on its age.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Julian Earl — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 15:00:30 GMT

Thanks Arlo, Yes despite my ongoing battle with poor mental health it was good Christmas as I described in the post just above! Since then I have tried to wait patiently for the weather to improve enough for me to get out a safely on the bike! Gales/ frost/ice and very muddy roads are not inviting because I do not bounce as well nowadays. I have received ongoing counselling that seems to help plus spoken to dear understanding friends. I have just returned to listeing to older favourite musc that ends to lift my mood . This ranges from Zeppelin, Rick Wakeman whom we saw in concert at Hull City Hall on the 22nd.: Brilliant of course as a keyboard player plus a great raconteur. I put above about the radio on Christmas Day being a highlight but that ignores going with the wife to her stables nearby and being honoured by five red Kites flying low and slowly just above us! Nothing But nothing lifts my spirits like seeing the once near-extinct birds of prey thriving here in Eastern England! I need to learn to whistle better to call out to them as shown to me by Sarah Keir's MRCVS, husband Jim a few months ago. Communicating with these wild birds was undoubtedly the best wildlife encounter/sighting in my entire life So very close and whistling with them I just need to "train" the Lincolnshire Kites to call- back as well nowadays But those on the 25th so close again were my best |Christmas present this year!!

Stay safe, stay well Arlo!! st wishes Julian...

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 11:21:42 GMT

[quote userid="3094" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234772#234772"]I hope that you have had/arestill having a wonderful Christmas Time? Plenty of bottle-opening? Though never too much of course!! And that your family are friends are staying safe and well?[/quote]

Hi Julian, yes, thanks, and safely out the other side now! As a bonus, my daughter was well enough to open presents and enjoy the day, and we don't seem to have given Granny Covid!

Tried cockerel for the first time this year (as it was just the 5 of us), and was left wondering whether, if blindfolded, I could tell the difference between that and a hen, or a turkey for that matter!

After the cockerel, we all fell asleep in front of the appropriately named film, "Don't look up": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11286314/ (it wasn't worth waking to look up at the movie).

Best to you and yours too, Julian, and to everyone else!

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Julian Earl — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 16:50:47 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash"]

yping this before I open a bottle and lose the ability to type.

Hope all you have a great time, and in particular enjoy a little time off from the problems of the world!

[/quote]

Hello Arlo,

I hope that you have had/arestill having a wonderful Christmas Time? Plenty of bottle-opening? Though never too much of course!! And that your family are friends are staying safe and well?

I have had a prety good time, Annka in the Swedih traditon cookig the dinner for Christmas Eve and inviting a group of local friends around! All COVID- negative and fully-vaccinated to partake in the food and drink etc. This brightened my current mood being good friends with them no even if I barely knew them in advance the, but developed new friends it seemed. Hr-Day-itself all we had to do was eat the leftovers that went down well and saved a lot of work for both of us! We had great fun on the2t5th as well with Radio 2 and Anneka Rice's Junior Choicein the morning then..., in the evening, Morecambe and Wise both the old and the "New Lost Episode!" I look forward to being able to get out riding soon, weather permitting! This will mean, No more gales, Nor thick fog on the narrow Wolds roads here carrying tlots of dratted tractors and trailers too close to my right shoulder, and no frost nor ice anywhjere if possible because I definitely need to stay upright!! I have plans for the year and more broken bones would hinder my progress I am sure:( !!

o very Best Wishes to you and yours Arlo...!

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Julian Earl — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 09:50:15 GMT

[quote userid="2457" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234770#234770"]Puff the Magic Dragon always makes me cry though. [/quote]

Okay, thanks Gillian. Puff the Magic Dragon... Never did Anything for me though. But An Old Windmill in Amsterdam is a strange one just for the extremely silly lyrics! Little Mice with clogs on, going Clip-Clippety-clop on the stairs! Where? There! On the stairs, Right There!

ot exactly Dylan or McCartney lyrics

are they?/!

Maybe I'll listen again in the future though!!

Thank you. TTFN!

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 09:40:06 GMT

[quote userid="3094" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30132/a-very-cherry-mishmash/234769#234769"]Earlier in the day, listening to Anneka Rice on Radio 2, she had some very enjoyable nostalgic music from my youth! [/quote]

We listen to junior choice every year. Brilliant background music for Christmas morning ... This year it was on the car radio as we drove to Leeds.

Puff the Magic Dragon always makes me cry though.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Julian Earl — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 14:13:27 GMT

I cannot resist putting on here my hristmas Highlights. Not particularly the Morecambe and Wise Lost episode though I did enjoy both of the episodes** shown a huge amount! Always been a big fan! No, Earlier in the day, listening to Anneka Rice on Radio 2, she had some very enjoyable nostalgic music from my youth! Proper youth as in childhood when she had requests for old Junior Choice Music! My sister tells me this happens every year but I'd not heard this election for donkey's years,. Bearing in mind please my ongoing battle against depression please humour me! She started playing these: An old windmill in Amsterdam, which is easy to singslong to!! Plus Captain Beaky's Band! By Keith Michell, Ultra-silly and childish there but light-hearted enough to make me smile! But finally one that had me laughing out loud with tears down my face tears of joy/ humour, nothing else... Hole in the Road by the late and great Bernard Cribbuns. Inow have that on YouTube to cheer me up whenever bnecessary! I would bet that most of you of my age can remember these easily?? Thank you. Happy New Year to everyone!!Bernard is here...:

Bernard Cribbins The Hole in the Ground - YouTube

""If you disagree, it doesn't bother me... End Quote!"

** I looked it up afterwards and Dame Shirley Bassey is now aged 84years and still performing! True ShowbizRoyalty? But being on M and Wise is surely her career highlight, No??

stay safe and well Everyone!!

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Julian Earl — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 16:55:25 GMT

And to you Stephen... Stay safe and well over there!! Happy Christmas HNY!!

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Stephen Pointing — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 14:43:18 GMT

Great Xmas present from my next door neighbour - a whole home grown cauliflower. Might not sound much to you but veggies are very expensive down here and the imported ones don't always look that good by the time they reach here. A cauliflower of this size would probably set me back £6 or £7 in the supermarket. The simple presents are often the best ones. Happy Christmas everyone.

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Kate Richardson — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 12:22:46 GMT

And to you!!

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Jill Butterworth — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 12:17:07 GMT

Merry Christmas to you too!

RE: A very Cherry Mishmash

Coopers Wamae — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 11:40:19 GMT

Merry Christmas chief. I will be celebrating here in Ireland together with friends and family.

Merry Christmas to all MRCVS & FRCVS.