We had planned to be with you all in April 2020, but the World had other ideas, it has now been 18 months since we visited you there.
Технологии прекрасны, и мы смогли поддерживать с вами связь в это трудное время.
We have spent much of the past 12 months in various types of lockdown in Ireland. The virus has put a lot of pressure on our (very underfunded) health system and the Government has decided that keeping many of us at home is the best way to prevent the further spread of the virus.
So, what is lockdown Irish style? I have been going to work in our local school for some of the time. As I look after children with special needs, these have been given priority as the country has been through lockdown and reopening. Don has been working from home for almost all of the past 12 months (he moved into a new job at the local Airport on April 1st last year). We are limited in how far we can travel from our homes (this is set at 5km presently) and all of our pubs and restaurants have been practically closed for the past year.
Для нас, ирландцев, отсутствие возможности пойти в паб или ресторан - это действительно большая жертва!
People are now being vaccinated in Ireland (our parents have received their first dose) so we are seeing the possibility of more of the country being opened in the coming months (slowly I expect).