2009 AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

PLEASE READ IMPORTANT CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR ARRANGEMENTS BELOW

Plus, if you take delivery of your order before 4th December, you can claim a free gift.

The Auchtermuchty Sausage Sizzle
Eat Scottish Venison Day
Our growing team – meet Vikki and Trevor
Tutored game tastings and venison dinners
Postal deliveries replaced
Ordering venison in November and December
New Year Orders
REDUCE your carriage charges!
Small Order carriage charges
Last Delivery Dates
Take early delivery and save hassle!
What to do about late deliveries
Sending presents to your friends & family
Farmer's Market dates
The Farm Shop
Free Gifts – our seasonal thank you

The Auchtermuchty Sausage Sizzle

Our summer here at Reediehill has been an exceptionally good season with the grass, the hedgerows and the fruit and vegetables in my garden have grown as never before, and the deer have been loving it!  Since it didn't pour with rain during the Auchtermuchty Festival we were able to run our annual childrens' sausage sizzle.  The rules are that everyone has to walk the 2 miles up the hill to the farm. The rewards are Fletchers' Seriously Good Sausages, lots of games, and a chance to pretend they are driving our quad bike!
(pic)(pic)

John Fletcher sizzling the sausages

The quad bike was just as popular

Eat Scottish Venison Day

On the 4th of September we were involved in launching the first Eat Scottish Venison Day – it is to be an annual event.  We met at Blair Atholl Castle for a venison breakfast prepared by Tom Lewis of Monachyle Mhor Hotel. And as you can see, I enjoyed my breakfast enormously...
 

Our growing team – meet Vikki and Trevor

Our little team is growing yet again.  We welcome Vikki Banks, who is taking over the day to day running of Fletchers. So it will be her cheery voice that you may well enjoy on the end of the phone.  She's had lots of experience with mail order speciality food, and she describes this as her 'dream job'. 

And those of you at the Fife Farmers Markets will have now met Trevor who is cheerfully manning our stand for us.

Tutored game tastings and venison dinners

This releases me for other interesting events.  My next book 'Caviar, a Global History' will be published in the Spring and I have a couple of exciting film projects, of which I'll keep you posted as they progress.  I'm also back at my goldsmith's bench.  You can see some of my latest pieces at www.nicholafletcher.com.  I've also been cooking some sumptuous dinners as well as doing more teaching workshops and my unique Tutored Game Tastings. My last group came for their joint stag and hen night celebrations.  Again, see my website for more details.  Exciting times all round!  So you can see why we need Vikki to keep a hold on your venison orders!

Tutored tasting

Postal deliveries suspended

Not so good is that due to the current wildcat postal strikes, we have been forced to suspend our 'small order carriage', which normally went by Royal Mail Special Delivery.  All mail order parcels will therefore be sent out using our Fedex carrier – (see small order carriage charges below).  This does unfortunately mean a slight increase in the delivery charge, but we trust you will understand our wish to ensure that your venison is delivered on time and in good condition.

Ordering venison in November and December

We are extremely busy at this time of the year, and although we always do our best to fulfil late orders, we need 2-3 weeks notice to be certain of being able to complete your order.  However, don't hesitate to phone and check availability with us as we often find we can manage last minute orders – it just depends on what everyone else has ordered that week.  Ordering early in the week has most chances of success.

New Year Orders

Working around public holidays, this year we are able to make limited deliveries before New Year.  We can despatch on Tuesday 29th for delivery on Wednesday 30th.  The farm shop will remain open, and the first delivery date for 2010 will be January 12th.

REDUCE carriage charges!

If you can make up an order of £140 or more, carriage is free.  So how about sharing an order with friends, either to share the carriage charge or even make it up to the carriage free rate? It helps your carbon footprint too!

Small Order carriage charges

If the weight of your goods is less than 2kg, we will send this as a Medium pack which costs only £10.00, and will arrive before 12noon.

Last Delivery Dates

Our last despatch date for 2009 will be Tuesday 22nd for delivery on Wednesday 23rd December.  If we have problems with your delivery date we will contact you, otherwise assume that it will arrive before noon on the date you have requested.  Remember to mark in your diary when to expect the parcel and to make sure someone will be at home all the time to sign for the parcel.

Order early and save hassle!

Our vacuum packed venison has a shelf life varying from 3 weeks (joints) to 6 days (spicy parcels and pies).  You can also safely freeze the packs.  So why not avoid anxiety and take delivery early?

What to do about late deliveries

Although our carriers are very good, nevertheless at Christmas all carriers work flat out with the increased traffic.  Also, weather conditions, traffic jams or security alerts can occasionally lead to a delay.  So if your parcel has not arrived by 12noon, do not patiently wait – telephone us immediately!  If we have not heard from you by 1pm we will assume your parcel has arrived.  This allows us to plan our day.  Remember – we can only solve a problem if we know about it; the later you let us know, the less time there is for us to sort it out for you.

Sending presents

We are delighted to send presents to your family and friends, but please, we need you to help us to help you.  We'll need your friend's postcode, address and phone number.  And please remember, we can't send venison as a surprise because our carriers need a signature on delivery and won't leave a parcel unattended.  Also, your friends need to know that the contents are perishable.

So please make sure your friends realise it is essential that they stay in to sign for it.  Also, please give them our number to ring if there is a delivery problem.  We will send the receipt for the order direct to you.

Farmer's Markets

Remember that we need 2-3 weeks' notice for market orders as well. 

• Edinburgh markets are weekly on Saturdays with an extra Christmas market on Tuesday December 22nd from 12-6pm.
• St Andrews is on Saturday 5th Dec,
• Dunfermline is on Saturday 12th Dec,
• Cupar is on Saturday 19th Dec,
• Perth is on Saturday 5th December and Saturday 19th December
• Kirkcaldy is on Sunday 20th Dec.

The Farm Shop

The shop is only closed from noon on Christmas Eve till 10am on 26th December, and on 1st January, but to be sure of your order, please remember that we need three weeks' notice. 

After New Year, the butchery is closed for recovery (of staff!) & maintenance (of premises) until 11th January.
 

Free Gifts – our seasonal thank you

As always, we like to encourage orders outwith the busiest weeks.  As a way of thanking anyone able to help, we would like to offer you a free gift if you can TAKE DELIVERY of your order before 4th December.  We offer three choices:

either

• a 227g jar of our wonderful home-made Rowan Jelly,
  
  or
   
• a free copy of Nichola's paperback book 'Charlemagne's Tablecloth'
  
  or
   
• a 350g pack of either our NEW Venison, Chilli & Chocolate sausages or Venison, Prune & Brandy sausages. 

Great presents, for you or for friends!  Just put your choice in the 'Special Instructions' space on your order.  If you are making use of the small order carriage charge with a limit of 2kg, remember that the paperback book weighs 300g and the rowan jelly 227g

We send you our best wishes for the coming season, and our thanks for your support and enthusiasm in 2009
 

Nichola Fletcher & The Team (Vikki, Graeme, Pauline, Gemma, John & Dave)