Meet the Howe family...

They run a small family farm in the lush Kent countryside, and have been raising truely free range turkeys there for the last 40 years. The traditional and slow growing breeds of turkeys roam the grassy paddocks of the farm from 10 weeks old and are fed a natural cereal based diet with no additives or growth enhancers so they reach maturity naturally and produce a bird that is succulent and delicious. It's clear when you speak with any member of the Howe family, how much pride they take in their farm and the standard of birds they produce there. I spoke to Rebecca Howe, and she was happy to talk me through how they work and their ethos, which is a simple one... to produce the very best turkey they can.

The fact that they can boast a Golden Turkey guarantee is testament to this. This award is given by the Traditional Farmfresh Turkeys Association and backed by the EU as a mark of quality, a guarantee that you are receiving a traditional speciality turkey that is not available in supermarkets. (Find out more at www.goldenturkeys.co.uk)

Christmas only comes once a year (which butchers everywhere are glad of - there'd be nervous breakdowns all round, otherwise!) so we all want to make sure everything is just right, especially the all important turkey! We did our research on this one, and John Howe turkeys have come roundly recommended by everyone we've spoken to. If you're ordering from us for the first time (or just want a reminder) please check out our Christmas at Sauls information page for all the nuts and bolts, otherwise, please browse our Christmas Shop and try not to let you mouth water too much.... Happy Christmas everyone!!

This year we are proud to selling our delicious pork rolls at the Northampton Saints ground again, from a new, all singing and dancing purpose built unit in the village area. As part of the new signage we were looking through some old photos of the shop and family that we might be able to use to illustrate our sense of tradition but the conversations brought up an old family story that I'd half forgotten about...that of 'Old Jiggle'.

Albert Jiggle was my grandfather's grandfather...or my great great grandfather if you're getting technical! He owned a bootmakers in Rugby opposite the school and legend has it that as well as mending the boots of all the rugby players, he was one of the first, along with Gilberts, to make the rugby balls for the school. Obviously, Gilberts made a much better job of it as they're still around, but Old Jiggle did have one duty that made him memorable - it was his job to take the ball onto the pitch at the beginning of each game, in particular for the centenary match in 1923 where, according to his obituary, the press reported he added "a picturesque touch". Old Jiggle's daughter married Frank Saul who opened FE Saul and Sons on the same spot we are now in Spratton.

I love this old family story. I like to think that as well as huge rugby fans now, we have a little bit of rugby history in our blood! Perhaps we should rename the Saints trailer as "The Jiggling Pig"!