Diary of a Shopkeeper, 26th December

Penny the Penguin at BID’s Winter Wonderland

It’s traditional in late December to look back at some of the highlights of the year just ending. Some might say the high point of 2021 is the fact that it IS ending, letting us transfer our allegiances to 2022, banking everything on it being healthier and happier.

There was a while when it seemed 2021 might not be allowed to end as expected. Would the government announce new restrictions? It seemed they were teetering on the edge of doing so, but agonising at the prospect of having to reintroduce financial support for businesses. Apparently, the prime minister’s big idea was to simply postpone Christmas by a fortnight. By that time everyone’s Christmas holidays would be over, so we wouldn’t be able to get together, spreading the virus over the turkey and making the economy grind to a halt.

Not for the first time, our northern neighbours put a spanner in southern spokes. Foula, the most westerly Shetland island, already celebrates Christmas 12 days late – on 6th January to be exact. If the rest of the UK were to overtake it, there would be a diplomatic incident. Both Pope Gregory XIII and that nice lad with the Fair Isle tank-tops who nearly won Bake Off would have to get involved. And for a nation already weary with years of Brexit negotiations, the prospect of yet more jaw-jaw was just too much. So, Christmas went ahead after all.

At the time of writing, it’s still unclear what is going to happen about New Year. The Scottish Government knows that it daren’t ban Hogmanay. After all, what could be more Scottish? One idea under consideration at Holyrood is to formally declare every night of the coming year Hogmanay. If that comes to pass, we’ll all be free to celebrate in the traditional manner at any time over the next 365 days. Parties will be smaller and safer, but much more numerous. Shares in businesses that manufacture shortbread, whisky and paracetamol are soaring at the news.

The Ba committee is deep in discussion about whether the New Year’s Ba could be held 365 times. It would certainly get interesting in the summer months, when players would have to mingle with crowds of liner passengers along the street. And would the arrival of several thousand visitors by sea give the Doonies an unfair advantage? The prospect of an American tourist called Hank inadvertently smuggling the ba back on board the MSC Magnifica is maybe one risk too many.

But that is looking forward, when I really should be looking back. So, what have my personal highlights been in 2021?

With my Kirkwall BID hat on, it would have to be the return of live events. Both Costa del Kirkwall in August, when we created a beach and crazy golf course on the Kirk Green, and the Winter Wonderland in November, when we set up a skating rink and a giant snow globe at opposite ends of the street, were wildly popular. Heartfelt thanks go out to the hard-working BID staff, and the many volunteers and local businesses who were generous with their time and support.

With my lovely new Kirkness & Gorie apron tied on (thanks Logo Orkney!) I’d have to say the highlight was the loyalty and support of hundreds of customers who shopped local and helped us – and dozens of other Orkney-owned businesses – survive and even thrive in another challenging year. Last but not least, a highlight of a different kind has been the number of readers who’ve told me they enjoy reading these columns. It means a lot. Though what some of the columns mean is still a mystery to me. Maybe I will find out in 2022. Happy New Year!

This diary appeared in The Orcadian on 29th December. A new one appears weekly. I post them in this blog a few days after each newspaper appearance, with added illustrations., and occasional small corrections or additions.