by Peg Prendeville

We are now getting used to the fact that wearing masks is a new “must”. I was in Limerick for a short while on Monday and could see that almost everybody was either wearing one all the time or had them ready in their hands to put on before they entered a shop. I know we are told to not touch them and to wash them after taking them off but it proving a very difficult task for those of us who wear glasses. They immediately fog up the glasses as soon as we breathe leaving us blind. So then we have to take off the glasses and consequently cannot see the item we were going to buy, leaving us in a dilemma. I am glad I am not a shopper as it has taken whatever pleasure was in it away.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that the Virus has replaced the weather in the main topic of conversation. “How are you coping with Covid” is the introductory sentence to a conversation with anybody now. This Covid has the effect of bringing out the best or the worst in people. A sister-in-law of mine got verbal abuse from a customer in a shop recently for stepping over the 2 metre mark while she reached to get an item off a shelf. But it has also created a kind of comradeship between more civilised people. Whatever the case it will be with us for a while.

Life in Knockdown is quiet without the activity of the Knockdown Arms and the Killeaney Soccer club. We are very lucky and grateful that our shop is still thriving. Ta and Ita are to be commended for delivering such a useful service.

The good news is that there are loads of babies due from October onwards. I will be keeping you informed as time goes on.