Meeting and eating under the COVID-19 cloud

Colm was dragging a lead into the office. I was in the kitchen, busy but slightly conscious of what he was doing. Tim was looking for a charger. Like every household, there is a constant search on for chargers. Curiosity got the better of me, so I peeped into the office. Colm was reeling out an extension lead and handing it out the window. There was a man in a car outside the window shaded by a shrub. It all looked a bit weird! I asked: “what’s going on?” “Edmond’s computer needs juice!” answered Colm. Edmond Curtin is our Dairygold rep and he was here to conduct a meeting about the account, collect a cheque, and take the orders for supplies for the coming months.

I think it preserves my sanity to go into my safe world of cooking and cleaning

I threw my eyes heavenward, realising that it was those damned COVID-19 procedures again. I do actually forget all about it sometimes! I think it preserves my sanity to go into my safe world of cooking and cleaning. You really don’t need to dwell on it too much. Then you realise that you actually can’t forget it for one second. So there was Edmond in the car with the computer in hand and the yellow lead going across the shrub, through the window across the printer and down to the plug. I looked at it and wondered if the virus could travel along the lead. I’m sure it couldn’t, but I can get paranoid.

In normal times, could you imagine the reaction if you took out the sanitiser because you handled something belonging to any of the people who call to do business on our farm?

Colm must have had the same thought. “Mom, have you hand sanitiser handy?” Handy! I have it everywhere! He took the sanitiser pump saying: “I handled Edmond’s computer and his lead without wearing gloves. I’d better sanitise.” He went into the office struggling with the pump. In normal times, could you imagine the reaction if you took out the sanitiser because you handled something belonging to any of the people who call to do business on our farm? By then, the men were well on with their meeting, Colm on a high stool so he could see Edmond and Tim faced to the window in the office chair. Bizarre!

SILAGE SEASON

Adrian comes to mow the silage. Later on that evening I hear Tim say: “the rake is gone in!” It’s perfect weather and the whole country is cutting silage about two weeks earlier than last year. It was late when the harvester and trailers followed. I was at the sink again. I heard the rumble of machinery and could sense the power, the speed, the danger of those big machines and the determination of the men to get the job done. The thundering noise and vibrations through the house were so welcome in this noiseless COVID-restricted time. It felt normal. There was a buzz and most of the winter feed for the cows would be pitted within a day.

Conversation was kept to the essentials. More food? More tea? More coffee?

The team worked for a few hours and then left to grab a few hours’ sleep. It’s tough work. They were back bright and early in the morning with renewed rumbling, banging and clattering. Tim told me to have a full Irish ready about 10.30am. I set two tables outside in the garden for social distancing for eight men. They arrived around the corner of the house. Pat Murphy, the harvester man, took the lead picking up the hand sanitiser and kitchen paper, passing them around. The ritual has been ingrained in us all. Tim, Colm and I served out breakfast while keeping our distance and moving on quickly. I started to talk. I stopped.

Conversation was kept to the essentials. More food? More tea? More coffee? The weather’s grand and they were away again across the valley to the neighbours and the rumbling, banging and clattering continued into the night muffled by distance with the bright lights dulled by darkness.

Once the men had left, I went into plague-conquering mode, cleaning surfaces and making sure that if the virus was on any hand then I had it covered. Each of us must continue to take responsibility to halt the spread of COVID-19

Five of us spent the evening covering the two pits. Rolling out plastic, arguing about which way the second sheet should be faced, throwing and placing tyres. The normality of working together, the hard physical graft, the beautiful weather and a job well done was good for our morale. Keep active and well.

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