Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

Rosemarie, Ballincollig

Contributor

Rosemarie

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease)

Coverage

Ireland; Cork; 2020s:

Date

04 May 2020

Language

English

Creator

Cork Folklore Project

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Description

GENERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION RIGHT NOW

Ballincollig

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

We heard news reports from China about the virus. Then it became clear that there were reported cases here. The schools closed nearly overnight.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

My husband and I are working from home. Some people we know are working every second week only as their business sector is so quiet. The girls are doing obair an lae every day.

Q. 3 GROUPS

My children miss their friends a lot. They also miss school and their teachers. We are lucky our children are 8 and 11. A friend of mine is pregnant and she has 2 other very small children. She is finding it very difficult.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

When we go walking people normally just pass and don’t salute you, but now people say hello. It’s like there’s no escaping the realisation of the virus because now people say hello or if you walk on the grass or road and leave them on the footpath then they say Thank you. Even on TV there a sign on some programmes at the top of the screen reminding people to stay home. It’s difficult to commit to any future plans that the children want to make as the uncertainty of when the lock down will be lifted is always there. Hearing my daughter who is 8 saying Coronavirus seems like a really big word. We did a drive by to my daughter’s friend one day; we stood at the top of their drive while they chatted from inside the window. I met a friend in a car park one day for a chat. We left a car park space between us while we chatted from our cars.

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

The car parade we had on St Patrick’s day was a huge lift. We lined up on the road and drove through our local town, everyone beeping horns. The local radio station RedFM was there too. We passed some of our daughter’s friends in the car so she was delighted to see them. I think the lockdown was necessary in order to contain the virus and movement of people. 2 of my friends were tested for Coronavirus but the tests were negative. They were isolated in their houses for 14 days. The results take a few weeks to come back.

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

I worry for my children, will they settle back to school eventually. Is this going to be the new
Normal? On the positive side it’s great not to have to be on a schedule because we aren’t running to activities. That a relief. Also we are eating our dinner in the evenings a lot later, I suppose because we don’t need to be finished quickly to make it on time to football or camogie later!

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

At the beginning I felt inundated with newspaper articles and newsletters with ideas for drawing, gardening and baking etc. We are all exhausted so were doing well to live, work, exercise and eat! Making sure we all get daily exercise and fresh air can be difficult. Sometimes it’s the weather. Sometimes the girls just don’t want to go. That’s fine too. At least 3 of the Sundays were wet so far so it makes for a very long day. Any cough or sneeze immediately raises an eyebrow. We are encouraged to sneeze into our non-dominant elbow. Joe Wicks, (exercise on YouTube) Will Sliney (drawing online) and Don Conroy are all familiar names to us now. My daughter drew an owl by following Don Conroy live on YouTube and we tweeted it. She also drew the cover of her favourite book and sent it to the author. They gravitate towards what they enjoy. Their friends have become pen pals so they write letters and post them. Face Time, Zoom is all being used to connect with friends. One Mum asked me afterwards how was the roast chicken as we heard you saying in the background that was for dinner!! Before Coronavirus our children didn’t use technology to connect to friends but it has become the new normal. We think twice before going to the shop and just make do. I find juggling work and obair an lae can be tricky but the ability to clock out early and finish work later in the evening has been a help.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

I think going forward more people will work from home because it’s been proven that it can be done now and its working successfully. Also I’d imagine a lot more people will cycle more too.

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

Our windows still haven’t been cleaned! It’s on our list. It’s something we don’t have the energy for among everything else. I have a good book to read but even as a book lover I don’t have the concentration to read it. I listened to audiobooks and podcasts instead for escapism. We discovered the woods up at the back of our estate last week; it had been mentioned by a neighbour. It was a welcome change to social distancing on the footpaths. It’s now become a shortcut to our local park!

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

It’s important to have hobbies and interests for during lockdown. Even if it’s singing or listening to music. My daughter completed a 500 piece jigsaw of Killarney National park. It’s was great to tip away every day at it. It’s not something we’d normally have time to do. This too will pass have become a phrase in our house? We also made a list of things we’d like to do when this is all over and we go back to normal. Whatever that will be.

age

36-50

gender

Female