On the subject of things being sent through the post;

One of the first things I noticed when first visiting Shetland homes, after moving there in the 70s, was a wizened, dried-up piece of dead sheep (usually a leg), hanging up over the range or fireplace. This unappetising object was a salted and dried piece of meat called 'Reesit' Mutton. It was usually made into a salty 'tattie' soup and served halfway during a dance to re-establish any thirst that had been lost and to enable proceedings to go on until complete exhaustion set in, usually the very early hours of the next morning.

This was such a delicacy, that their was a great demand from Shetland exiles (of which there are many throughout the world). Some friends of ours decided that they would expand their business to try and satisfy this demand and set up a mail order business.

They had an initial problem when sending one of their first consignments through the post. The parcel, having received some rough treatment had broken open and they received a note from the Royal Mail. The writer not being aware of the natural appearance of 'Reesit' Mutton, went on to say that: "We sorry to report that your parcel was damaged in transit and that the contents had 'gone off' and had to be destroyed".

Which was a shame but it does say a lot about the natural appearance of this acquired taste.

RECIPE SUGGESTION: Serve with 'grits'?