The Helens have been on the move for the last while. It is hard to believe that Julie and David have been with us for nearly six years.

That day, at the clothesline, when Julie told me she was pregnant, I was filled with hope. Yet, in hindsight, I had no idea how much joy our first grandchild, Ricky would bring to our lives.

It is truly phenomenal how one little child can fill a house to the brim. In the four years and seven months that Ricky has lived with us, the walls pulsated with his noise, the infant cry, the toddler babbling. His lovely little voice bounced off the walls.

Overnight, he became a boisterous, curious, bubbling little boy. He was running in for morning hugs. He doled out night time cuddles. He was shooting us, playing hide and seek and racing and cycling in the living room.

As the moving was being orchestrated by Julie, I dreaded the day that would finally be called the day the Helens left for west Cork. Fate has a funny way of intervening.

I had been out to the shop early one morning a few weeks ago. I came back. Tim met me in the garage “don’t go in” he said. “Julie has just tested positive for Covid.” Needless to mention, that would have been a disaster for me.

Julie packed a few things for herself and Ricky and they were gone. We didn’t actually realise that they were gone for good. Still, it was the logical progression.

School uniforms

Over the last two weeks, I applied myself to getting Ricky kitted out for school. I relished the task. He will start school in St Mary’s school in Enniskeane next week.

I went into Cork City to see the quality and prices and then out to our local Dunnes Stores in Ballincollig. Quality matters when you know the uniform will be washed every week of the school year.

The uniform in Enniskeane is not crested so there are no designated outfitters, making things easier for parents. Crested also makes them more expensive.

Another neat idea is the presence of two slimline dishwashers. One is dirty while the other is clean, removing the need for storing away ware

So my list was navy pants, navy jumper, blue shirt, navy track suit and blue polo shirt. Being old hat at organising school uniforms, I had my tape measure in my handbag.

In one shop, the tracksuit pants were 3cms longer. If you’ve boys with long legs, it’s a good idea to measure.

My local Dunnes Stores had everything that Ricky needed, including the twistable crayons. Once the latest Covid infection was gone, the Helens came up for a sleepover and Ricky and I ironed on the name tags, hand over hand on his school uniform. We could give the job plenty of time.

There were a few big items still to be taken down so Tim pressed the jeep and box into service. Tim, Diarmuid and I went down for our tea.

Loneliness gets compartmentalised very quickly when we see Julie busy in her own beautiful kitchen.

Accessible kitchen

The whole house is accessible. I am so grateful to our dear friend Haulie Geaney of Geaney Kitchens who designed and fitted a completely accessible kitchen, laundry room, office, back reception hall and storage for Julie and David.

In the kitchen, one area of worktop is of standard height so that grannies and others can wash up or do food preparation. Then there is a huge island unit that is completely wheelchair accessible with sink, hob with downdraught extractor and breakfast bar.

The whole kitchen is fitted with dekton worktops that can take up to 400ºC, enabling Julie to move hot saucepans easily and carefully.

Incidentally, if I want to cook in Julie’s kitchen, all I have to do is sit down which is not a bad notion at all.

Another neat idea is the presence of two slimline dishwashers. One is dirty while the other is clean, removing the need for storing away ware. Haulie put so much thought into this kitchen.

The way appliances are placed, the style of the presses and drawers, how they open are all considered with Julie in mind. Of course, it does help that Haulie has known Julie all her life.

The bottom line is to find someone who understands your needs when deciding on a new kitchen. Haulie is our man. hauliegeaney@gmail.com