Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

N.D.P. Co, Waterford

Contributor

N.D.P.

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease)

Coverage

Ireland; Waterford; 2020s:

Date

18 April 2020

Language

English

Creator

Cork Folklore Project

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Description

GENERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION RIGHT NOW

Tramore, Waterford

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

I love documentaries and news programs so in late February early March I became aware of this virus. I am a full time carer for my elderly mother (83) who is semi bed bound and frail. I am 55. I can tell you I took notice immediately and how devastating this will be. I became very worried for her and my family. I made it clear I was cocooning her and myself before it became official (About 1 to 2 weeks before the official start) I felt others were a bit dismissive with me "Don’t be silly" as they didn’t yet see the danger. I stuck my ground and told them my reasoning why. It took them some time to come around to my thinking and follow my example. My younger brother also lives with us and he had brain surgery 1 year ago. Although he is nearly back to normal with an excellent prognosis he has been fantastic coming on board and followed me and my decisions to keep this virus from out mother. I am doing some shopping for an 80 year old neighbour once a week, he is so fearful off it all. He is a bachelor and seems to be quiet lonely even though his family live next to him they are keeping their distance, he can be quiet unfriendly to them let’s say.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

We live on a farm where our nearest neighbour is 1/2 a mile away, it has changed our daily routine quite a bit to be honest. As I am a carer on a rural farm I am used to the so called isolation. But I do miss the 3 or 4 trips to do the shopping and farm related jobs a week. Now I only venture out every 10th day or so for 100% essentials. Mother did go out occasionally for a spin usually on Sundays to Dungarvan, the mountains, Dunmore East etc. But she has settled into the routine and does not miss these trips at the moment. She knows that this virus is lethal, especially at her age and frail condition. Our land is rented mostly to my sister who lives 18 miles away. So I am also a part time farmer looking after her 26 cattle, barley and 85 acres. This has kept me busy enough and gives me another purpose during lockdown. I do pithy friends who have nothing but social media and mobile calls to keep them entertained. I am not on Facebook, twitter etc. as I have no use for them and don’t need them. I have an 85 acre back yard to walk!! I also have a hobby I am a part time artist!! I started this 3 years ago to have something to do over the long winters. I go to loads of craft fairs and sell bits n pieces here and there. I make very little profit! It is my get away and I love the break. BUT all this is gone now and I DO MISS IT!! I am still sticking to my daily routine looking after mother, meals, farming, art and decorating this old farm house, but at a more sedate pace. I am not as rushed now and enjoying having small jobs to do every day to keep me going. I don’t know how I would manage if I were in a semidetached house in a housing estate with 5 kids!!! PHEW!!!

Q. 3 GROUPS

As I mentioned I self-isolated very quickly and friends thought I was being silly. But very quickly they started to pay attention (Maybe 1 or 2 weeks later) and how right I was to take swift action. I had 2-3 elderly neighbours ring me for advice. I gave it and hopefully helped them! I could see that fellow farmers were taking it seriously but they were taking chances mixing with other farmers, agricultural contractors, marts, Co-Operative farm stores. They seemed to be mostly keeping social distancing but by the nature of their business they had to move off their farm to conduct business regardless and take that chance. Farmers have no choice but continue! REGARDLESS!! Cows have to be milked, cattle tended too, crops set. I as a part time farmer for my sister can be taken for granted. "A sure he will do the ploughing for me, pick the stones!" And in early March this was going to happen I would love to have ploughed the 40 acres barley, picked the stones and have family up to help with the setting and in for dinner (The tradition) But I had to lay down the law and say I am now not available as mother is a vulnerable lady. After a difficult phone call my sister and family rallied respected my decision that I just cannot help this year. The corn still got set and mother is doing just fine and spoilt!

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

I think we talk about these times with sense of fear and the unknown about this virus. We talk about how vulnerable the elderly are and hope that if we as younger people get it won’t affect us in the same way. But as it will take the young and old regardless we are now facing our vulnerability now regardless of age. This virus has brought fear into society.

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

It took only a few days to realize how serious this virus is and community done its little panic buying at first but it this community got the message very quickly and began social isolation immediately as requested. I believe the government needs to be praised as they followed the South Korea Model to flatten the curve. From my experience every one I met were 99% on board. I did witness a lady in a large supermarket handling many loafs of bread (with a disposable glove on)to find the freshest, she then handled the fresh broccoli and then in another aisle was going through packaged meat looking at the expiry date. I was just about to confront her when another young couple gopped off her. She was let’s say defensive "I have a glove on!" I stepped in and backed up the young couple and she soon backed down.

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

I am obsessive re protecting myself, (as I am type 2 diabetic) and my mother. I worry for her safety and future. I did worry about addressing the cocooning off my mother with my family and my decision to withdraw my help, as my sister is so dependent on me. But I am so happy I did take this difficult decision and she and her husband fell in behind me immediately no question at all! As I said “We will only get one chance at this. There is no dress rehearsal! If I fail everyone will say, that should have not happened. But if I win I will get no praise at all!"

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

We as a society will be paying for this for many years. And it won’t be over for a long time yet. There are some community organisations there helping the elderly "Alone" "GAA" etc. At this moment mid-April it is hard to tell and see how much help neighbours are giving to neighbours, looking after the elderly, needy, sorting small important jobs for some one else. It might be happening but I am not seeing it now. Modern community is different to community where they keep in touch through social media and mobile. I remember when our back door was never locked and anyone would call in. We chatted and gossiped face to face. Although we now have to keep our distance. Modern society has lost the sense of being neighbourly and a trusted neighbour! And this is a pity.

Q. 10 IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT SPRINGS TO MIND?

This is a great idea! In 100 years someone will look back on this and possibly say community was so strong then. Everyone locked down, looked after each other. What will it be like for them and how different will it be for them. A brilliant record. It has been fantastic how we Irish took all this on board so fast, adjusted, got on with it, are doing very little complaining and seem to be prepared for whatever comes next. Down the line it would be worthwhile looking at why and how did Italy, Spain got it so wrong. And why did we seem to get it fairly right so far. Was it their government or community response compared to our response.

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

In the farming community the impact has been mixed. We have to get on with the farming job regardless. There is fear as to how the business will be affected. This virus may have made farmers a little bit more isolated. No marts, visit to the co-op, chatting at the cross road etc. We will get on with it and adjust as we always do as the job has to be done! As an artist the art community will be devastated for a long time as we will be reluctant to return to craft fairs with large groups of people. The art sector was just recovering from the recent downturn, but now no one will have money for that art piece just to hang on the wall. As a carer it will not end until a vaccine is found so I will have to be on the top off my game until then.

age

51-69

gender

Male