Last year, we were already committed to our Lenten abstinences when we were subjected to lockdown number one.
As is traditional at this time of year, many people give up a vice – perhaps sugar, fat, alcohol or nicotine. Others choose to take something up instead, some form of self-improvement or exercise, or doing a good deed for someone.
This year, and I heard it more than once, many people felt that after a year of on-and-off lockdowns that they had given up enough. It’s an equity thing – fairness.
Press releases land in my inbox every week. Most of them tell me about a community event or new company product launch. I pass them around to the team as relevant to the different projects that they may be working on. We have already had some discussions on a holidaying at home feature as a topic for summer 2021. And we were thinking perhaps a foodie destinations theme.
With that in mind, Ciara has been compiling any travel releases received. About three weeks ago, still in the depths of Lent, I got two fabulous press releases from UK travel agencies encouraging me to book my skiing; that “it was not too late” and the slopes “awaited me”.
Travel – out of, or back into this country – has become quite the hot topic
I sent it on to Ciara, laughing, with a sarcastic comment of “You know what I gave up for Lent; skiing! I gave up skiing.” She jokingly replied: “It’s in the file.”
We may have been joking, but travel – out of, or back into this country – has become quite the hot topic, particularly since the introduction of the mandatory hotel quarantine. Another topic that I have heard discussed in a semi-joking, semi-serious kind of way is the cosmetic treatment “Zoom boom”.
Not sure if it quite fits with the Lenten self-improvement, but with COVID-19, people have never spent so much time looking at themselves and may have become a little bit more self-critical as a consequence. That said, none of these conversations resulted in anyone actually jumping their 5km limit to do it.
We know that the lockdowns are different in different countries and it is hard not to feel a hint of jealousy when you hear about the freedom that other people have
So I can understand people’s anger when they read about the two Dublin ladies who travelled abroad for just that reason. When so many people on one side of a county have not gotten to see their families on the far side of the county for many months, it seems unfair.
We know that the lockdowns are different in different countries and it is hard not to feel a hint of jealousy when you hear about the freedom that other people have. My sisters and brother in Western Australia (WA) celebrated St Patrick’s Day decked out in the loud ties and green wigs in a pub. We were all a little green.
That £600 horse of Shark Hanlon’s is after winning the Grade 1 and the owners are all in the pub, they have pints and all
Social media and the connectivity of the world makes the inequity of all this very evident. But mandatory quarantine was introduced in WA on 28 March 2020 with all travellers required to undertake 14 days of quarantine.
On Easter Sunday, with the Fairyhouse races running in the background, we were eating the lamb in my mother’s, when her partner Pat shouts out from the TV room: “That £600 horse of Shark Hanlon’s is after winning the Grade 1 and the owners are all in the pub, they have pints and all.” There was a long pause as we digested this snippet of information; before the clarification came: “They are in Dubai, that’s that pub in Dubai we were in Mari, on the way to Australia.”
We all went back to the lamb and a really nice vibrant green mint sauce.
Read more
Neven Maguire: a two-course lamb feast for the whole family
Rural policies must be synchronised if they are to benefit farmers
They just didn’t suit you
Last year, we were already committed to our Lenten abstinences when we were subjected to lockdown number one.
As is traditional at this time of year, many people give up a vice – perhaps sugar, fat, alcohol or nicotine. Others choose to take something up instead, some form of self-improvement or exercise, or doing a good deed for someone.
This year, and I heard it more than once, many people felt that after a year of on-and-off lockdowns that they had given up enough. It’s an equity thing – fairness.
Press releases land in my inbox every week. Most of them tell me about a community event or new company product launch. I pass them around to the team as relevant to the different projects that they may be working on. We have already had some discussions on a holidaying at home feature as a topic for summer 2021. And we were thinking perhaps a foodie destinations theme.
With that in mind, Ciara has been compiling any travel releases received. About three weeks ago, still in the depths of Lent, I got two fabulous press releases from UK travel agencies encouraging me to book my skiing; that “it was not too late” and the slopes “awaited me”.
Travel – out of, or back into this country – has become quite the hot topic
I sent it on to Ciara, laughing, with a sarcastic comment of “You know what I gave up for Lent; skiing! I gave up skiing.” She jokingly replied: “It’s in the file.”
We may have been joking, but travel – out of, or back into this country – has become quite the hot topic, particularly since the introduction of the mandatory hotel quarantine. Another topic that I have heard discussed in a semi-joking, semi-serious kind of way is the cosmetic treatment “Zoom boom”.
Not sure if it quite fits with the Lenten self-improvement, but with COVID-19, people have never spent so much time looking at themselves and may have become a little bit more self-critical as a consequence. That said, none of these conversations resulted in anyone actually jumping their 5km limit to do it.
We know that the lockdowns are different in different countries and it is hard not to feel a hint of jealousy when you hear about the freedom that other people have
So I can understand people’s anger when they read about the two Dublin ladies who travelled abroad for just that reason. When so many people on one side of a county have not gotten to see their families on the far side of the county for many months, it seems unfair.
We know that the lockdowns are different in different countries and it is hard not to feel a hint of jealousy when you hear about the freedom that other people have. My sisters and brother in Western Australia (WA) celebrated St Patrick’s Day decked out in the loud ties and green wigs in a pub. We were all a little green.
That £600 horse of Shark Hanlon’s is after winning the Grade 1 and the owners are all in the pub, they have pints and all
Social media and the connectivity of the world makes the inequity of all this very evident. But mandatory quarantine was introduced in WA on 28 March 2020 with all travellers required to undertake 14 days of quarantine.
On Easter Sunday, with the Fairyhouse races running in the background, we were eating the lamb in my mother’s, when her partner Pat shouts out from the TV room: “That £600 horse of Shark Hanlon’s is after winning the Grade 1 and the owners are all in the pub, they have pints and all.” There was a long pause as we digested this snippet of information; before the clarification came: “They are in Dubai, that’s that pub in Dubai we were in Mari, on the way to Australia.”
We all went back to the lamb and a really nice vibrant green mint sauce.
Read more
Neven Maguire: a two-course lamb feast for the whole family
Rural policies must be synchronised if they are to benefit farmers
They just didn’t suit you
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