Dear Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall...........

[winestein]

You complete and UTTER BARSTOOL (ahem, I realise children are still up)

I have just been to THREE, yes THREE supermarkets for a chicken for Sunday Dinner and NOT ONE of them had any free range chicken left. Every other week I have been guaranteed of my pick, but no - not today - thanks to YOU and your evangelising, you G*T.

It would be good if it lasted, wouldn't it? Anyone else having trouble finding the chicken of their choice? (Already converted or new to the game?)

You can't blame Hugh for your bad planning! You should have foreseen this problem and panic bought earlier.

I know - I should have had 20 free range chickens lined up in the freezer in anticipation of the rush.

get lamb instead?

lol, it was so funny shopping yesterday - we always buy free range anyway, but there were so many people agonising over the chicken. The butchers had BIG sign outside 'FREE RANGE LOCAL CHICKENS'. Hope it lasts....

All gone at Tesco yesterday and lots of people reading the labels and asking where the free range were

Yes, I went to waitrose on Friday fro our usual chicken and none were left. I had a feeling that the staff behind the meat counter were sniggering at me as I paced up and down checking the aisle . DH finally tracked one down in M&S though.

Colditz - funnily enough I did get lamb

Lapin - I confess that I failed miserably the last (only) time I cooked pheasant. What's your tip?

Tortoiseshell and Sherby - viva la Revolution!

Bagpuss - I'll be round for dinner in an hour. I love lamb but I just fancied chicken tonight (I feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonig....)

well... put it like this - I have a log maul I use for splitting logs. I could have got the meat off better with that.

25 minutes you say?

hmmm. Sort of seeing what went wrong then!!

big pat on back to all pheasant eaters from me . So many get shot around our way but not all get eaten if I could collect them up and send them your way I would.

I find this really encouraging tbh! Sorry for you Winestein (says she smugly with her monthly stash of free range chicken safely in the freezer) but good overall .

Oh, come on Coby - I need some practice!

Have you got a gun? I'll ask some to fly your way, at least they won't be wasted!

I find it very encouraging too Vanilla - I really hope it lasts and I hope the lack of supply in the short term doesn't dry up the demand.

I'm just bitter today
And panic buying tomorrow.....

Well, I can get hold of a pirate gun which goes "pchooo" "pchooo" "pchooo". Will that work as well?

only if it has a flag which comes out the front which says bang on it

How utterly brilliant! Not for you, obv, but still! Fab!

Yes fingers crossed hey!

we went to the local butcher for all our meat. i do try but it was sometimes easier to get it whilst in tesco/sains etc. from now on i will def be going to the butcher all the time.
also we bought a chicken instead of a pack of chicken breasts - i managed to make a chicken n veg pie, chicken and veg soup and we had a roast! far better than any prepackaged stuff.

cx

free range is cheaper in our local butchers than morrisons etc - also it has a much longer shelf life due to it not having spent part of that being driven around the country.

Our local butcher only does FR chooks and chook bits and the chickens come from a farm 10 miles away so we are very fortunate

Bugger it - no "bang" flag. I'll just have to resort to speeding up when I see them instead of braking

Free range is much cheaper in my local butchers too - but since DS decided he likes to walk instead of sitting in the pushchair we don't get that far very often! I bet they are sold out next weekend.... may start queuing now, in the style of the January sales....

I am happy. Selfishly begrudging happiness.

I don't even live in the UK (but I can watch Channel 4) and went to 4 supermarkets yesterday to try and get a free range chicken..and failed miserably.................