Dear Orkney News,
It’s a simple question – which would you rather be…
- A)Short of money
- B)Seriously ill
- C)Dead?
I have had times in my life when I have been very short of money – sold anything worth selling, and when anything worth anything was gone, sold books, records, even clothes, to make ends meet. But, I managed – I got by. I survived.
I have also had times in my life when I’ve been very ill indeed. The last time, nearly broke me – it nearly broke me, but it also taught me the value of having my health. Not even necessarily good health, just reasonable health will do! Money, honestly, isn’t much use to you when you’re so ill that you feel that death would be a relief.
And when you’ve recovered, if you’re left with a state of health which means you can’t do a lot of what you’d like to do – well – what good is money, then?
This time round, I haven’t been dead – yet.
So, which would you choose?
Councillor Stockan has plenty of money, and appears to be in reasonable health. If his concern is for the Orkney businesses losing money, maybe OIC could stick with St. Rognvald’s for now, keep Orkney as safe as can be from Coronavirus, and share out the millions ear-marked for building a new care home, among the struggling businesses.
I know, I know – different ‘pots’ of money for different purposes, but, when needs must, you pool your resources and spend where it’s needed most at the time.
I was considering stretching out bit more – maybe going to Wellpark Garden Centre, wearing my facemask https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/06/20/funky-face-masks/ , but now, I feel more like pulling back again instead. I haven’t been in a shop for 5 months – asthma and other health difficulties mean that I’ve stayed at home, and I think I’ll continue to do so until, maybe – October?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – OIC are not good for my mental health. I’m not joking.
My husband does our shopping, once a week, and, for the next few months, I won’t be very happy to see him setting off to do so. However careful he is, there appear to be a lot of foolish, self-centred people out there.
What a world, what a world.
Yours, Bernie Bell, Orkney
Categories: Letters
Your views seem to me to be a fair and reasonable approach to the incredible situation we all find ourselves in.
Due to pre-existing conditions I’ve been at home and have to take the extra precautions as needed. I find it difficult to see those amongst us looking to “get business going again” as anything other than selfserving. If we provided a universal income rather than business grants for businesses to turn a profit (or offset their taxes with losses) we could ensure the health and wellbeing of our communities and still be in a position to grew economically once the situation changes fir the better.
What I don’t understand is…why would anyone want to go on holiday to somewhere where they will have to wear a mask, and social distance, and where many shops and restaurants, and visitor attractions are shut? We went to Skaill Bay today – the toilets are closed (good!), and Skara Brae is closed (good!).
Maybe they don’t realise that this is the case. The trouble is – it wouldn’t necessarily be them, that got ill.
We’re going further afield for walks, but otherwise – staying home.