Sunday 30 October 2005

You know it's good for you

Here's another example of what invariably happens when politicians interfere with markets:
The only problem was that the west coast langoustines to be used on the menu that night were decidedly off. In fact, they were dead, even though they had been landed nearby on the Ayrshire coast.

Astonished staff at the five-star resort discovered that, as a result of new European Union food safety rules, the shellfish had been on a 900-mile round trip.

Isn't it sad to read this response from the Turnberry Hotel?
We are very happy to comply with the regulations
Perhaps they're scared to offend the powers that be. The correct response would be: Mind tour own goddamn business.

Of course, it's still possible to get fresh supplies:

The only remaining way to buy shellfish direct from a boat is nightmarishly bureaucratic. The buyer will have to register with the Scottish Executive. Every time a purchase is made - daily in the case of most seafood restaurants to guarantee freshness - forms will have to be filled in: logging who it was bought from, at what time and how it is going to be kept.
The Scottish Executive constantly tells us that it's now pro-business. Let them prove it by firing the spokeswomen who said this:
She added it was the Executive's view that the regulations would not cause any substantial changes to current business practices for buying shellfish directly from fishing boats.
Couldn't she do something useful? Like gutting fish.

1 comment:

David Farrer said...

Comments made on previous template:

Alasdair
Andrew - read Lillian Beckwith's books ... you will find them both reassuring and entertaining ...

2 November 2005, 01:01:48 GMT
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Andrew Duffin
Alasdair, I certainly hope you're right. 
 
It's just that I am not sure the Local Government EHO's (who will not, of course, be Oban people at all) will tend to see things that way. 
 
Out now!

1 November 2005, 12:02:21 GMT
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Paul
I once bought a hand of bananas in a supermarket in Geraldton in north west West Australia. The bananas were grown in the banana plantation just outside the supermarket. They were then transported hundreds of miles down to Perth for "ripening" and returned to Geraldton for me to buy. 
 
When oil does run out, they will look back on these times as an age of madness.

1 November 2005, 09:54:16 GMT
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Alasdair
Andrew - this is still Oban ... 
 
With traditional West Highland practicality and hospitality, Mistress McDonald will have a wee chat with the nice man on the boat, and he will show Highland hospitality by gifting to Mistress McDonald a wee bit fish for the evening meal, and Mistress McDonald, with equal Highland courtesy will give the nice man a little something so he can get himself and his crew a wee dram ... 
 
No fuss, no muss, nae bother at 'a !

1 November 2005, 00:18:01 GMT
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Andrew Duffin
Oh bloody hell. 
 
Where does this leave the wee green shed on Oban pier? 
 
I cannot believe we are going to buckle under and put up with this. 
 
Someone please tell me it's an April fool.

31 October 2005, 12:21:19 GMT