Managed to get some yesterday. It is currently braising, should be falling apart and ready to eat by 5. It is smelling lovely.

Weird thing is I had to order it, even though I use a good Butcher. He told me there was no demand these days for Ox Tail and even to my surprise Beef Shin (my favourite cut). Thing is the Ox Tail pieces were really cheap. With the veg etc will probs get 6 to 8 portions of stew for less than a fiver. The Butcher told me he used these cuts for his pies instead (his pies are spot on BTW).

What is the World coming too? Why do people want expensive meat?

Beef Shin for me also. I get it from Morrisons. Great in the slow cooker.

Beef Shin is divine, give it 6 hours, totally THE best tasting Beef.

Probably because the expensive cuts are nowhere near as dear as they used to be. I live in Sedgefield and there's a constant procession of cars into Bowlam's to buy cheap steaks.

We live in an era of low food prices, some of it absurdly so (2 litres of milk on permanent offer at the Co-op for £1).

It can't last, and with a population heading rapidly upwards from 60 million there'll be 'ell on when the bubble finally bursts.

Love ox tail. When it comes to a casserole though I don't think beef skirt can be beaten when cooked in a pint of stout with carrots, barley and shallots.

Sounds like a euphemism though. Last time I asked for a look at some beef skirt I got slapped.

I always thought it would be great if Ian Botham opened a window covering shop.

I can picture it now, Beefy Curtains.

It was 'banned' by the government during the Mad Cow Disease/BSE scare like all meat on the bone I believe when the 'ban' got lifted people had got out of the habit or didn't want to buy it because of the BSE scare.