Shopping local

This is just a little shout out for shopping local. Yesterday, before the rains came (at last), I had a wander down to our lovely local community shop. I counted my blessings as I went. The shop is owned by the community (you can read of the story here) and during the pandemic has been the heartbeat of the village. From there, deliveries, papers, food, milk, went out to those who needed to stay home.

As I went, I passed a few neighbours along the way and stopped for a blether with each, exchanging views on the weather and the pandemic, for what else is there to discuss?

The road goes downhill from our house, past a woodland which has been restored over the last year by an amazing group of volunteers called Inspiring Innellan, who have just entered our village into a Beautiful Scotland competition, past the pub which thankfully has just been bought and re-opened by new owners – we aren’t much for pub-going but it is lovely when all the family is gathered to have an hour or two with other locals and a good game or five of pool.. and waved to the owners of the local hotel, taking in deliveries.

In the shop, I banked petty cash from the recent ceramics fair, posted out orders and birthday gifts, bought local milk (delicious bottled milk that has cream on top…) and cheese, collected bubble-wrap saved for us and a copy of the local paper, not to be missed.. On the way home, it’s all uphill and I walked back through the restored woodland, stopping for a moment to admire the view…

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