by Peg Prendeville

We are into the last week of January. Some people find this month very long and cannot wait for February to come. I don’t mind it too much – I actually love frosty weather and enjoyed last week. The wind and rain is a different story. Thankfully storm Isha did not do much serious harm around here and we hope Jocelyn will be as kind to us on Tuesday. It must be very hard and frightening on those people who live near the coasts.

This time of year often reminds me of when I worked in Dublin fifty years ago. On going back to work after Christmas  the talk among my work colleagues from Dublin was on planning where to book their summer holidays.  At that time not many country people took overseas sun holidays and I was always amused at their plans. Our holidays would be in the bog or the meadow. Not alone were they going abroad but they were going to their local Credit Union to take out a loan for same! It seemed ludicrous to me. But, fifty years later, I hear all the next generation booking their summer holidays and if its not done by the end of January it almost brings on a depression. How times have changed. And they will continue to change and so it should. Nothing stays the same.

Another big change is the serving of hot lunches to the schools. A great idea in this cold weather and a relief to the busy parents who do not have to prepare lunches in the morning as well as getting the children out to school and getting themselves to their place of work. Parents these days have it so much harder than we did in my opinion. So much stress and pressure all the time.

I must extend sympathy to Ann Wallace’s family from Glin. Ann, originally from Carrigkerry, who died last week, was a very kind carer to my father for the few years before he died. Sadly she got a stroke some years ago and needed care herself for the past while. May she rest in peace.

Carers are great. I am most appreciative of the carers who come into Jim. It is a great backup and helps one not feel so alone. It is a service we hope never to have but when we need it it is great. So thank you to all of you who are doing great work helping vulnerable people to stay at home, rather than in a Nursing Home or Hospital.