By Bernie Bell

Pics by McB

February the Twelfth……………..Mike made a picture for me…….

Partly to remind me to connect with my inner bear for having my Covid jab tomorrow.  Partly kind-of as a Valentine – one bear to another – to remind me that I do matter.

February the Thirteenth………….To the New Balfour for my first Covid jab……….

….and I emphasise, my first Covid jab.  https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/02/14/smallbear-gets-her-covid-jab/

I now wait for my next one. Meanwhile, I’ll carry on living exactly as I have done since last March. 

Mike will be called for his first jab, then his second, and meanwhile, we will both carry on living as we have since last March.

We will continue to do so, if life permits, until the majority of the population of Britain have had BOTH jabs, and  have started to behave like reasonable adults. 

I know – that’s hopeful – people behaving like reasonable adults. What else is there to do, but hope?  And do what we believe to be the right thing in these circumstances.

February the Fourteenth……………Valentine’s Day …I don’t know if many folk were in the mood, what with the howling winds and thrashing rain.   On a day like this, this is the kind of food we want…..

Never mind the poncy Valentine’s stuff – Greek Beef (quorn) and Pasta Bake – hot, tasty, sustaining.

February the Fifteenth………..The Sun Shone!!!! ….making things shine again…..brightening  the world…..

After all that snow and rain and dreichy gloom……the sun shone, and the wind went away………..

February the Sixteenth…..As Billy Connolly said “If you don’t like the Scottish weather, wait 10 minutes and it’ll change”….started with rain and wind again……then sunshine…..still v. windy though……

Pancake Tuesday…and what it is to have neighbours with chickens.  Mike nipped up to Aviedale Cottage’s honesty box……….

……and got half a dozen eggs – not exactly free-range as they usually are, due to the Avian ‘flu situation – but still happy, well cared for chickies.  Note the bottle of hand sanitizer in the wee ‘shop’ – David & Katie do things right….. https://www.aviedalecottage.co.uk/

OK, that’s a blatant plug – but they are our neighbours!  And, one day, folk will want B&B in Orkney again.

February the Seventeenth………Harvesting the very last of the broccoli…..not bad….it’s seen us right through the winter…..same with the Kale…. a good thing we likes our greens!

February the Eighteenth……..We’re still not eating out, and are missing The Indian Garden https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/05/14/just-a-good-pace-to-eat/   …..so Mike brewed up a curry….

It was good…..but not quite as good!