TS Eliot declared April was the cruelest month but I would say this is not the case in Tipperary. Here I think it is August instead. August has the false promise if Eliot’s April – decent weather at last, a time to rest and relax, a break from the harder months – but, alas, fails to deliver. The warm weather comes with high humidity, the heat mixed with sudden and fierce squalls. Plant life goes mad as only Irish plants can. There is the miasma of slurry (and worse) some mornings following a flurry of overnight spreading. But worst of all, the flies are back. There have been fewer large flies this year but the tiny biting types are everywhere and they can get everywhere. Each day brings a new rash of painful, itching bites on feet, arms, legs – and other places I’m not going to detail.
August for us was meant to be a quieter month but in fact it has been rather frantic. I was preparing for the North Tipperary Agricultural Show last time I wrote. This took place on August 5th, the summer national holiday here. In keeping with August’s “cruelest month”, it dawned cold, overcast and with high winds whipping over the site. Despite this we managed to set up the gazebo with the help of our new neighbours, Alan and Michelle. They have a stand called “Noodles and Chig”, selling accessories for pets, especially dogs. As we were next to the show ring for dogs it proved to be a popular spot and a good day was had by us all, despite the ever-changing weather. Alan and Michelle do a number of shows around the area so do look out for them.
We had just recovered a little from the show when we were off to Limerick, to see the dreaded endocrinologists. On a scale of one to all the other appointments this came close to the bottom. Generally the junior doctors are quite positive, taking a good clinical history and being open to questions and discussions. Not so this time and a frustrating quarter of an hour culminated in him threatening to call security and have us removed! I was so startled I burst out laughing – “For two little old ladies?” I said. He went bright red, slowly getting more embarrassed as the appointment went on. After he wheeled in the obligatory consultant, the man we had seen previously and told him we were not seeing again, we left – without a security detail and with no help, advice or changes.
We wouldn’t have managed the trip, ghastly but necessary as it is, without our lovely friend Catherine. Despite being wiped out from organizing the show on Monday she came round and kept the dogs company, let them out and played with them and still had time to cut the grass for us. Our mower needs a new carburetor and we can’t find one anywhere so are watching as the weeds threaten much of our hard work. Thank you Catherine – we cannot say how grateful we are.
The grass cuttings were a godsend when our next visitor arrived earlier this week. Noel was on his annual trip to see family and friends and stayed for a few nights. Apart from being good company and bringing a few things for us he is an amazing and determined worker. With all the medical appointments and my ongoing weak shoulders we have struggled with the tasks we set ourselves around the land. Noel dived in and with a bit of help from me stripped out the wild growth around the site for the raised bed. Catherine’s grass cuttings were laid over the existing straw and cardboard layers, covered with more cardboard and weighed down with top soil bags. Come next spring we can cut the bags, spread the soil, add compost and we are ready to plant. The dogs loved him and a good time was had by all.
Things definitely improved this week as after over a year’s wait we finally got another appointment at the eye clinic. Jacqui had tried to phone, repeatedly, wrote to the department and we even called in hoping to get an appointment, all to no avail. It did mean another trip to Limerick (oh joy) but this department runs close to appointments and we were away for less time. The consultant we saw was a delight. She listened to the sorry tale, checked all the new scans and gave us two good bits of news. No need for injections at the moment, she said. But the eye problems are due to cataracts and she put Jacqui onto the list whilst we were there. I cannot express the sense of relief we both feel.
Well, the weather is still fickle, we are both now struggling with a cold – not covid, I checked – and the loss of the mower is a big problem. Still, I picked the first of our apples from the Katy tree today. It was delicious – sweet, a bit sharp and so juicy. There’s something quite magical about food you grow yourself. So maybe August isn’t quite the cruelest month after all.
Take care and thank you for reading.