New arrivals - 2

Buying chickens the Highland way

"I'll meet you at the Indian carry-out in Bonar Bridge. I'll be there with a white van from 1:30 to 2:15 and I'll be surrounded by hundreds of other chicken buyers." explained Donald MacDonald of Skye when I phoned him on Friday to order some chooks. There's something ... erm ... poignant? about picking up your chickens from the Indian take-away don't you think?

So I set off in the van with neighbour** for the 90 minute or so drive to pick up the four browns I'd ordered. I chose browns after much deliberation and after learning that browns were all that Donald MacDonald had left. Neighbour had been more organised and was going down to pick up six black rocks she'd ordered months ago.

Donald MacDonald was indeed by the Indian take-away and was indeed surrounded by a motley collection of fellow customers who arrived in vans, and cars and with or without trailers, announced their name, handed Donald a box and a wadge of cash. Donald put the cash in his pocket, rifled through the heap of pre-written receipts and gave one to the customer and then withdrew the ordered birds from the van - which was absolutely packed with poultry boxes - and gently but firmly put them into the customers box and happy customer loaded up vehicle and drove off. For us, after the long drive, the operation took about 2 minutes - so incredibly well organised was Donald MacDonald of Skye. So quick it was all a bit anti-climatic so neighbour and I had to seek out a cafe and linger for a bit to make the drive feel worthwhile.

But here they are - four splendid browns. All we have to do now is build the chicken house.

**She lives about 7 miles away - so that'll be a near neighbour then.