Update on Deliveries

Good news for gardeners that Gatehouse Nursery plants – of both the edible and decorative varieties – are now available very locally at the Kenmore Post Office.

Killin’s first digital farmer’s market opened on Monday 13th April. The launch of Killin NeighbourFood was brought forward by market hosts Ellie Banwell and Paula McDonald, from the Scrumptious Garden, in a bid to support the local community during the current Covid-19 crisis, especially those who are self-isolating. It will also give a boost to local suppliers who are suffering as a result of the pandemic.

Customers will be able to place an online order for a wide range of products from local farms, food producers, market traders and specialist suppliers including vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, dairy products, preserves and breads. Orders can be collected weekly from the Killin post office on Fridays between 3 and 5 pm.

To register for Killin NeighbourFood visit:  www.neighbourfood.co.uk/killin 

And finally on deliveries, sometimes parcel deliveries go wrong and Hellen Gardner, who is currently staying in Dunaird at Creagach wonders if anyone took in a parcel addressed to her, for safe keeping?  It’s quite important and if you let Fiona know at fiona@fearnanvillageassociation, we can arrange collection.

Life Under Lockdown

We have some more Lockdown Moments – the first sent in by Moira and Joe. 

Joe took these 2 evocative Fearnan landscapes, one at the Lochside and he managed to capture a stunning rainbow.

From Moira we have a pic of Belle the dog hanging out on her pony Alfie, contemplating the meaning of life, the universe and everything, from the look of it.  And a moment on a walk down the Brae with Belle, Shiro and, on the left, Arnold the cat (as in Arnie The Terminator, because he’s a ceaseless hunter).

Some of you will recognise Arnold, as he’s been extending his friendship network around the village, but now you have been formally introduced and know his name.

We’re delighted to be able to include an international dimension to Life Under Lockdown, with this piece from Alastair Barnett who lives on Vancouver Island.  Alastair and his brother Jim (who now lives in the US) were evacuated to Fearnan from Glasgow at the start of WW2, along with their mother and (later) younger brother Iain .  They lived in Thistle Cottage, and at Balnearn, and attended Fearnan School.  You can read more about their exploits and about life in Fearnan during the war here: https://fearnanvillageassociation.com/2014/08/03/talking-about-fearnan-a-wartime-childhood/

Alastair writes:

Hi to everyone in Fearnan!  Today marks three weeks of official quarantine in Victoria, (or is it four weeks?) It seems such a long time.  I hope you are all ok, I hope your family and friends are safe. I see on the Fearnan blog you’re finding ways to muddle through this maddening time with the help of many generous neighbours, friends and volunteers, all pitching in to help each other.

Normally at this time of year, the streets of Victoria teem with tourists from around the world, but they are still now and all but deserted. No luxury cruise ships dock. No horse-drawn carriages line the Causeway. No double-decker tour buses idle beside the 112-year-old Empress Hotel, which is closed, no float planes buzz in and out of the Inner Harbour, and no ferry runs to Seattle. It is unnervingly quiet.

At home on the outskirts of town, we are doing what we are supposed to do; social distancing, staying home as much as possible and looking out for each other. I have no complaint and feel blessed to be well.  Slowly we are adapting to the change and it appears we’re in it for the long haul.  

Every evening at 7:00 pm precisely, a cacophony erupts as neighbours spill on to the street, beating pots and pans, pounding bass guitars, honking noise makers and the nearby Fire Department blast sirens in a display of enthusiastic appreciation for our front-line workers.  It lasts only moments then silence descends as everyone retreats indoors. From then to dusk, only the occasional dog walker or cyclist passes along the otherwise empty street.

The local drug stores and grocery outlets have adapted well and take every precaution to keep us safe. Most essential stores and nearby restaurants deliver and in that respect I’m lucky to have a friend who is in the grocery business and delivers food and sundries every Sunday. (Hooray! That’s today – I always add a chocolate bar or two to my list.)

As I am well qualified to be characterized as Covid-19 high-risk, (age) I stay home and spend time in my small garden when weather permits. Unfortunately, when I contacted the seed merchant on the mainland, they were no longer delivering to the island, at least for two-months. So, I’m without a variety of flowers. Although I saved some sweet peas from last year.

To add a bit of colour to my patch and keep busy, I dug out some old garden ornaments and with the help of a companion, re-energized them with acrylic paints which I got a couple of years ago but are still perfectly useable. I’ve attached a photo of our efforts and now instead of a display of blooms, I’ll be greeted by these gaily painted chaps when I step out to feed the birds in the morning. It’s not a perfect solution but it provided us mindless diversion for a couple of days and I’ll give them away when things get back to normal and I can plant again.

To further occupy my time, I registered for an online keyboard music course (proving that hope does spring eternal), I’m not sure the neighbours appreciate my endeavors but I enjoy making what I call, a joyful noise! Come to think of it, perhaps it would fit perfectly with our seven o’clock evening commotion!

As I retired many years ago, I’m used to spending most of the time at home and admit my life has not changed in a dramatic way due to the pandemic. So far just a few minor inconveniences which I can put up with. But I miss jumping in the car and picking up some odds and ends and visiting local garden markets.

When I can find flour ― everybody is baking now creating a scarcity ― I bake for myself and for a few neighbours.  I tried my hand recently at Petit Fours, (I won’t be doing that again any time soon. It proved to be a messy project.) On Friday I made Scottish Morning Rolls which turned out fine. I also cook and I supply a friend with dinner every evening.  (Because he can’t cook!)  Gosh, I wish we had an outlet like Lawers Hotel that delivers real Scottish mince and tatties!  What a treat that would be. 

It’s heartwarming to read the news from Fearnan during this ghastly time and how you are all coping and caring for each other. It reminds me of another time when a worldwide scourge altered our lives. And just like then, this pestilence too will end. The spirit of Fearnan lives on!

To everyone: my very best wishes, stay home, stay well and stay safe.

Alastair

Thank you, Alastair, and we send our best wishes to you and Jim and trust you keep safe.  Keep in touch!

Knitting Hearts Together

The Intensive Care Unit at Ninewells has put out a call to knitters and those of a crafty disposition.  They explain:

Among the many challenges hospital staff are currently facing, we are struggling with the inability to facilitate family members being present and providing comfort during the last hours of life for their loved one.

As ICU nurses and doctors, this is now a very difficult process for us because we usually give extremely close care and support to our relatives and facilitate all manner of requests during our patient’s final moments. Normally, this allows us to bring comfort and an element of closure to both our patients and their loved ones.

The difficulty and pain experienced by the relatives who cannot be physically present with their loved one is unimaginable.

We have been given permission to accept donations of duplicate knitted hearts, roughly 7×7 cms in diameter. We have also had kind offers to fashion the hearts from Harris tweed and velvet securely enclosing some stuffing.

The idea behind this is to provide the emergency contact of those who unfortunately pass away in ICU, a comforting link to their loved one. One heart stays with our patient and the other is given to their nominated contact.

This provides some comfort to those who are unable to be with their loved ones in their final hours.

Is this something all you arts and crafty types would be interested in joining in with?

❤️❤️The only stipulations are that the heart pairs are roughly 7x7cms in size, of matching colour (no black please) and pattern and that they are left in a sealed zip lock bag, with the DATE AND TIME SEALED on them, for 72 hours at least, before posting. This is to allow for the virus to become inactive. ❤️❤️

Please send your hearts to:

‘Knitted Hearts Appeal’
ICU, WARD 20,
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY.

There are some suggested pattern links below for both crocheted and knitted hearts. Others are available via Google.

Many thanks in advance from all the team at Ninewells and PRI.

https://www.crochetleaf.com/basic-crochet-heart.html

https://www.lilleliis.com/amigurum…/amigurumi-heart-pattern/

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hearts-28

More Lambing News

Work continues in the lambing season, and we have some more photos of Alastair and Anais in action at the birth of twin lambs at Ewetopia.  In the second picture, the ewe is licking her new-born lamb.  Many thanks to Angela for the photos.

These other pics were taken by Peter in the lambing season last year.

Please note that all images are copyright and the copyright belongs to the person that took them. Similarly, all text is copyright to the person that wrote it.