Dear Orkney News,

It’s a simple question – which would you rather be…

1. A)Short of money
2. B)Seriously ill
3. 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