Tuesday 29 November 2011

Totally Traditional Turkeys

If there is one time of year you need to consider the provenance of your food it’s got to be on Christmas Day. I mean really do you want an insipid, water filled tasteless turkey that has had a miserable life just to save a few quid this Christmas?    or ever for that matter?) No? I didn’t think that would appeal to you much .. so how do you ensure you are getting a great bird?  Well look for t a bronzed free range British turkey that has eaten good food and had time to mature -  it’s often your local farm shop that will sell this kind of a bird.

If I am being honest about turkey it is not usually my choice of meat for Christmas day, but this year I was sent a turkey from Totally Traditional Turkeys to try out I was delighted with the results and I will definitely be having one of these simply because they taste amazing.  The meat is tender and sweet and succulent, which I have to admit hasn’t always been the case when I’ve had turkey in the past.  

Its not an accident that these birds are so delicious  - it's down to a 12 point plan that Totally Traditional Turkeys  have  Quality Assurance Code guarantees that their turkeys are:
  • Reared and produced with the greatest care by independent farmers, dedicated to producing the finest turkeys
  • Grown slowly to full maturity
  • Fed rations containing at least 70 per cent grain with no animal protein and never given additives for growth promotion
  • Never given antibiotics except as prescribed by a vet
  • Housed in buildings giving both natural light and ventilation while providing essential weather protection with space at or better than Animal Welfare Code recommendations. Free range stock have open daily access to grazing for at least 11 weeks
  • Always handled with extreme care by experienced staff under the personal supervision of the farmer
  • Regularly bedded with comfortable straw or soft wood shavings
  • Grown on farms independently inspected to ensure that the code is met in full
  • Slaughtered on the farm to avoid the stress of long distance transportation
  • Always dry plucked and hung for at least seven days to mature and develop the natural flavours unique to this traditional type of production
  • Processed in facilities inspected by the local Environmental Health officer or Meat Hygiene Service
  • Individually inspected to qualify for the Totally Traditional Turkey guarantee
  • They are supplied with a money-back guarantee in the unlikely event of consumer dissatisfactin
So I decided to check out their 12 point promise and I popped over to my local supplier Fosse Meadows Farm and spend an afternoon with farmers Nick and Jacob to see for myself. You can listen to the interview here.. and I have to tell you that they are happy turkeys and it was hilarious .. the  children had a whale of a time running about with these gorgeous creatures!

Of course I couldn’t just cook the recipe and not share it.. so here I am cooking my Turkey which was stuffed with a Mango, sourdough and Bacon Stuffing  .. and you can see for yourself how easy it is to cook!

 


GIVEAWAY 
Win a Totally Traditional Turkey this Christmas

RULES

Please see competition Rules before entering. This giveaway is open to all readers over 18 with a UK mainland address.  The winner will be chosen using an online randomiser and announced on this page on 18th December  You need to have a profile the allow me to get back in touch however please do not include your email in the actual comment as well.

This competition on behalf of Totally Traditional Turkeys and they will be responsible for organizing the prize with the winner. Their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
There is one main way to enter and there are 4 more chances to win .. . and you must leave a separate comment for each bonus entry otherwise they will not be counted. 

For a chance to win one of these fabulous birds please comment and tell me what you are doing this Christmas

For a second chance to win please tweet this post using the button below and you MUST comment with your twitter ID telling me you have done so.

For a third chance to win please follow @TimeForTurkey on Twitter and comment below to tell me you have done so.

For a fourth chance to win please follow me @VanessaKimbell and comment below to tell me you have done so. 

For a fifth chance to win please tweet and tell me @VanessaKimbell what you are doing this Christmas using the #TotallyTraditionalTurkeys hashtag

Each comment counts and an entrance  you can make one comment per follow and details of what you are doing for Christmas and you may tweet this article daily to win this course. 

 Automated Entries are not allowed.  There is no cash or product alternative. 




127 comments:

  1. Ooh am I the first!!!

    For Christmas, I am kicking back on Christmas Day as my parents insist we still got to them for the day with a large bottle of champagne, a box of Thorntons and no worries!

    Have retweeted via @diddlepops, am following @TotallyTurkeys as requested - also follow @Vanessa Kimbell and will tweet my plans to you on tWITTER SHORTLY!

    Hope that's all right x brill comp!

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  2. What lovely Turkeys. You are right, it aids digestion to know that your turkey has had a good life. I already have an organic, free range turkey on order. Happy eating! Jude x

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  3. just having the family round and a traditional dinner

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  4. sadly i am spending xmas alone- though i am inviting my friends over for 'after xmas' dinner- when they get back from their own holidays- i wish to have a lovely christmas, no matter What! Thank you!! p.s. xmas movies will be on the menu:)too~

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  5. you can come and stuff my turkey any day V!... its me and The Viking this year and i'm doing the traditional Turkey for the first time in ages xx

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  6. oh and i've done all the tweeting and following... please send me a turkey!!!!!!

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  7. I'll be having a proper Turkey this Christmas too, it's the most important meal of the year in our house.
    Will retweet this page Vannesa x

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  8. Going home to the family in the country. Taking over from mum more and more in the kitchen as the years go by though.

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  9. Family get together at my parents, look forward to it all year

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  10. now following @TimeForTurkey
    @Bdonna191

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  11. Also now following you @VanessaKimbell

    @Bdonna191

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  12. we are having the inlaws over (as usual!)

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  13. I am hoping my husband will be home from his tour in the army. he's due back but delays are often

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  14. I'm cooking for 6 including my Dad who's been really poorly this year so I'm hoping to make it a really special Christmas for him and my Stepmum who needs some TLC, so she can put her feet up while I cook the dinner!Those turkeys look great and kept in such good conditions, no wonder they taste so good!I'm following @VanessaKimbell on twitter and following @TotallyTurkeys I'm @lindyloo50. Thanks for the chance to win such a fantastic prize!

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  15. @emma1111111
    Can't wait for Christmas! There's no better dinner than Christmas dinner!

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  16. For a bonus entry into the competition I follow @TimeForTurkey on Twitter
    @emma1111111

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  17. For another bonus entry into the competition I follow @VanessaKimbell on Twitter
    @emma1111111

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  18. For a final entry into the competition I have tweeted using the #TotallytTraditionalTurkeys hashtag


    @emma1111111

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  19. I will be having a quiet Christmas, catching up with my family. We haven't all been in the same place since last Christmas!!

    Charlotte X
    @gofreecakes

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  20. Hi again V,

    I have tweeted, followed and added hashtags - all 5 stages of the competition entry complete!

    Charlotte x
    @gofreecakes

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  21. Having all the family over for Christmas including members from abroad, So excited. A fresh turkey would be wonderful

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  22. have tweeted as @maggie 6789

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  23. Eating lots of food (hopefully!)

    @Garcia_MrT

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  24. I follow you on twitter

    @Garcia_MrT

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  25. I follow @timeforturkey on twitter

    @Garcia_MrT

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  26. I hae tweeted this post on twitter


    @Garcia_MrT

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  27. I have tweeted to you using the hashtag

    @Garcia_MrT

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  28. This year we are all squeezing into my brothers house (result!) and all taking one food item, think I may cook a turkey on Christmas eve for a roast as christmas day is going to be more buffet

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  29. You just cannot beat the taste of real meat without any additives can you. We usually buy a traditionally reared bird from our local butcher- delicious.

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  30. We are having a quiet Christmas at home - lovely.

    I am @beachrambler on Twitter.

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  31. This Christmas will be spent at home, just the wife and I. We will cook a lush Christmas dinner, but prior to that we'll give the nags their treat by taking them to the beach for a good gallop :)

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  32. Shared the post on twitter @psychicsheep

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  33. Following you on twitter @psychicsheep

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  34. Follwing @TimeForTurkey @psychicsheep

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  35. hi, good evening, after years of family xmas, we are planning (daughter) willing to have a restful xmas at home, how does my daughter come in, she is expecting her first baby 27th Dec!
    oldwalshy

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  36. twitted/followed ontotal traditional turkeys
    oldwalshy

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  37. gone to your twitter and followed
    oldwalshy

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  38. posted comment on xmas, on your twitter account
    MERRY XMAS, TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
    oldwalshy

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  39. We're going to my parents for Christmas. We couldn't make it last year we're really looking forward to it. My Mum provides the main meal, and we take lots of wine, snacks and Christmas crackers with us.

    I am particularly looking forward to my Mum's boozy Christmas trifle :-)

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  40. I will be spending time with my son and my family/friends for hopefully a peaceful Christmas , pulling a few crackers and eating loads of delicious food, relaxing and watching re-runs of fave movies!

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  41. Now following @TimeForTurkey
    @mountaingirlee4

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  42. and now following you @VanessaKimbell

    @mountaingirlee4

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  43. @WISHGIRL123 I'm having 16 people here Xmas day. Family, plus we have rounded up people we know would otherwise be on their own. I'm gonna be busy cooking and feeding this lot!

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  44. Tweeted @WISHGIRL123

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  45. me and my brother, not sure whether I can arm twist my bro into visiting my aunt and uncle...

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  46. I already follow you on twitter @fionamaclean

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  47. I am now following @totallyturkeys

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  48. following @timeforturkey on twitter @fionamaclean

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  49. I'm about to tweet you and tell you what I'm doing for christmas!

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  50. Oh, that turkey looks divine! I will be having a very quiet Christmas at home with mu husband as there will probably be three of us next Christmas!

    Have tweeted (bev_metallica)
    Have followed Time for Turkey.
    Already follow you.
    Just about to tweet you!

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  51. This year, as always I shall be mostly wrapping presents! I have the biggest family you can imagine, four children, four siblings, countless parents/ parent-in-law/ step-parents plus neices, nephews, etc etc etc.

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  52. I had cancelled xmas this year fed up of all the adverts on tv and pressured selling, I'm trying to get out of debt from al the other christmases we have all had, until I spoke to a few of my neighbours and friends who all seem to feel the same, were all single no children at home or in the fella's cases their children will be with their mums so it's quite a miserable day for most, so we have all decided to have xmas at mine with a few bottles of wine and a shared xmas dinner, the more the merrier, so an extra turkey would never go a miss in one of our ovens.

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  53. Sorry no good at tweeting don't use a phone that understands it, I still have an old brick. Anyway I think I have tweeted you and turkeytime my twitter name is Luckybug44
    Merry Xmas xxx

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  54. Christmas this year will be with our family after a difficult year, and the turkey

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  55. Spending Christmas with the family.

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  56. spending christmas with my lovely husband Paul, my 3 children, my dad and my father in law. i've also invited my brother who is having his children on christmas this day

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  57. oops should of said tweeting as dancer2712 when i wrote about my hubby, and family lol x

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  58. Since loosing my mom, my sister has hosted xmas, last year we were in Australia eating prawns form the barbie, turkey outside & then walking on the beach! It'll be nice this year to have a traditional xmas day x

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  59. Following @TimeForTurkey @baggiesbabe69

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  60. Following you @baggiesbabe69

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  61. left you a message on twitter @baggiesbabe69

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  62. LAST YEAR WE TRIED GOOSE, WILL DEFINATELY GO BACK TO TURKEY

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  63. Christmas Day My Son's and Daughter will come around my daughter will then leave to go to her husbands family my son's will stay because they still love the way mam cooks her turkey

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  64. We're descending on my parents for a week for a full-on traditional Christmas as it's my son's first!

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  65. Tweeted the message @Isis1981uk

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  66. Following Time for Turkey on Twitter @Isis1981uk

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  67. Following you on Twitter @Isis1981uk

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  68. Christmas spent with family and friends.Tweeted @Dobie1Milne

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  69. I'm working Christmas Day so we're going to have our Christmas on Boxing Day

    @ammalinetheduck

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  70. I have to pick my son up from the airport at about 01.00am Christmas Morning then a Good Old Fashioned Dinner for the family. X

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  71. Already a Fan on Facebook

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  72. Following you on Twitter - I am new at twitting and tweeting so hopefully done this right! my twitter name is @tabbaz123

    Also added totally turkeys x

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  73. my daughter is cooking xmas dinner for 14 of us!!! should be an interesting day, even if the food is bad, the company will be brilliant

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  74. First Christmas at home with His Lordship in more than a decade so we are doing everything traditional! As long as I can find the time to rush around next week!

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  75. I have tweeted, kind regards. @UtterlyBumpty

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  76. I have followed @TimeforTurkey on Twitter, @UtterlyBumpty

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  77. And I already follow you on Twitter, @UtterlyBumpty. Many thanks and kind regards.

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  78. I am going to be cooking for 16, and so I suspect I shall also be drinking gin!

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  79. Laying the table, serving the wine and washing up - my wife does not trust me in the kitchen!

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  80. Following @TimeForTurkey on Twitter as @VictorLudorum1

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  81. Following @VanessaKimbell on Twitter as @VictorLudorum1

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  82. Also tweeted this post @VictorLudorum1

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  83. On the big day, for the first time in years it's just me and my husband. So relaxed, nice. So if not lucky on this win. We have got a large organic chicken, which has cost as much as a turkey. Will be a nice treat for just us two.

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  84. Following @TimeForTurkey on twitter with @phyllgerry

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  85. Following @VanessaKimbell on twitter with @phyllgerry

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  86. Following @TimeForTurkey. @jaizduck

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  87. Following you on twitter. @jaizduck

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  88. I'll be with my family enjoying everything like the big kid I am!!

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  89. following @TimeForTurkey
    @angiehoggett

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  90. already following you
    @angiehoggett

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  91. Going to the inlaws so no cooking.

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  92. Following you on twitter @ericahughes

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  93. Tweeted with hashtag @ericahughes

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  94. we are going to my parents this christmas, however I am cooking the christmas dinner - first time ever!! Fingers crossed i manage to get it all cooked for the same time!

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  95. just me and my partner for christmas dinner, really looking forward to it

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  96. I have tweeted your message @feejee3

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  97. now following @TimeForTurkey

    @feejee3

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  98. Ive also just started following you on twitter too.

    @feejee3

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  99. Staying at home with SWMBO this Christmas!

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  100. Following @TimeForTurkey on Twitter.
    @gouldie7

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  101. Following @VanessaKimbell on Twitter.
    @gouldie7

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  102. Tweeted you a message.
    @gouldie7

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  103. Having 11 round for christmas.will be buying a 20lb fresh turkey,unless i'm lucky enough to win this one,all the family love turkey

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  104. We're not actually having proper christmas dinner on chistmas day this year as my husband is away with the army, so me and the kids will have a chicken on Xmas day - it'll be a very quiet day - and then we're going to have a proper christmas dinner on 17th January when he comes home....with both sets of Grandparents :-)

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  105. Tweeted as @LinzLou30

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  106. Following @TimeForTurkey on Twitter @LinzLou30

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  107. We will open stockings when we first wake up and then go downstairs to open presents. We'll then have bacon sandwiches and bucks fizz for breakfast and spend the day eating lots and watching TV. We'll also have relatives round. :)

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  108. I have tweeted on twitter. @green_day87

    http://twitter.com/#!/Green_Day87/status/148494176365981697

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  109. I am following @TimeForTurkey on twitter. @green_day87

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  110. I am following @VanessaKimbell on twitter.

    @green_day87

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  111. My brother will be coming over and we will probably get invaded by the neighbours. We are having gammon and turkey and I might sneak some gammon to the neighbour as her other half doesn't let her eat it and she craves it

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  112. following @timeforturkey - I am @essexgirlSE

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  113. following @VanessaKimbell am @essexgirlSE

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If you are reading my blog I must warn you that I am not impartial. I want to influence you. I want to make you stop for just a moment and consider the effect of a lifetime of seemingly insignificant decisions and how making small delicious choices can change the world.

I believe that we can change the world one bite at a time.

It's a delicious revolution.