They apparently re-cycle oyster shells, but in what way, I'm not sure. Either way, they are first assembled into great piles on the beach right here at Whitstable, prior to processing. One Christmas some 40 years ago, at my Uncle Horace's annual do, I ate about 25 oysters with a bit of lemon juice, pepper and hot chilli sauce. A few hours later I became violently ill and I didn't recover for several days. I've been unable to face eating them ever since, which is a shame. The mind/body relationship is an odd thing - also about 40 years ago I consumed way too much Scotch whiskey and was terribly ill. In fact, I vomited out of a bedroom window onto a glass conservatory roof, under which sat my parents and the hosts of the New Year's party which we were all attending. I had also vomited in the host's bed, where I had collapsed earlier in the evening. Since that day, the very whiff of the offending spirit makes me feel very queasy and there is absolutely no way I could ever consume it again.