Firstly is anybody out there? Hopefully the answer to that one is yes?  There seems to be a blanket of silence that has descended over the trade since the world cup started. When you go out to eat, the restaurants that you once had to make reservations for are empty. At about 3 o’clock each day the high street falls quiet and the roads seem less congested. The sunny weather has only compounded the problem. World Cup + Sunny Weather = Diabolical trade! I know its not very patriotic, but now that our boys have come home (pc talk for failed!) we may turn a corner, hopefully people will start to venture out a little more – and if it could just rain a little – BINGO – things could be on the up!! This is I am aware a strange thing to wish for – rain and national humiliation – by hey – just four weeks to go and its school holidays – another obstacle in the life of a meat trader to overcome!