Calving time or harvest time?
“Calving time, for sure. I’m not from a farming background, nor do I work in a rural veterinary practice, but from my mid-teens till my late twenties, I spent a lot of time working with livestock. I spent every Easter holiday living on sheep farms, assisting with the lambing. Then, as a young vet in mixed practice in Scotland, I spent five years working on sheep, dairy and beef farms. Springtime highlights include driving home through beautiful countryside as the sun was coming up after successfully helping with a difficult calving. Witnessing – and helping with – the miracle of new life was always a highlight of my job. Springtime, generally, with new life all around, is my favourite time of year.”
Morning lark or night owl?
“I’m a morning lark: I wake without an alarm around six. My day starts with exercise to get my head into the best place for the day ahead. It could be a 5k dog walk, a 10k run, a sea swim in Bray or a spin on the indoor bike [if the weather is foul]. I fade early at night: my friends know not to call me after 10pm, because I’ll be asleep [in my thinking, if not in my bed].”
Long summer evenings or cosy winter nights?
“The long hours of daylight in summer are one of the joys of living in Ireland. As a vet, I often work till the evening, and in mid-summer Ireland, the evening is just beginning. The outdoor activities can continue, whether that is walking the dog, working in the garden or just socialising, the extra light makes all the difference.”
Beef or salmon?
“I’ve been an on-and-off vegetarian over the years. I’ve never had an ethical problem with eating meat when I know that the animals have had a life worth living and a pain-free, fear-free death. So Irish grass-fed beef cattle tick that box. Whether it’s a steak, beef stew or a roast for Sunday dinner, I’d prefer this to salmon. There’s also the age-old argument: if you eat bigger animals, fewer need to be killed. So, from an animal welfare perspective, beef can make more sense.”
D’telly or box-set binges?
“We’ve never been a household for sitting randomly in front of the telly: life is too busy. But on a rainy day, it’s hard to beat finding a good box set and sitting down for an all-day binge. Sharon Horgan is our current favourite, from Pulling and Catastrophe, through to the more recent Bad Sisters.”
Going for a spin or
heading for a swim?
“I’ve been doing regular triathlons for the past decade [half a dozen races every summer] so I need to keep plugging away at running, cycling and swimming so that I don’t make a complete fool of myself on race day. Of the three activities, swimming is my biggest challenge, but that said, I find great joy in a half-hour long sea swim on a sunny summer day off the coast of my hometown, Bray.”
Dogs or cats?
“As the owner of two dogs and three cats, I definitely have a foot in both camps. The unconditional positive regard that dogs give humans is hard to beat, but there’s something very appealing about a cat’s less automatic affection. A dog will always want to be with you, whereas if a cat chooses to spend time with you, it’s a compliment. Overall, though, my life would be diminished if I couldn’t share it with dogs and cats [as well as a few carefully chosen humans].”
Read more
The Podcast Playlist: listening for the rural life
International farm series: from beef to bugs in Wales
Calving time or harvest time?
“Calving time, for sure. I’m not from a farming background, nor do I work in a rural veterinary practice, but from my mid-teens till my late twenties, I spent a lot of time working with livestock. I spent every Easter holiday living on sheep farms, assisting with the lambing. Then, as a young vet in mixed practice in Scotland, I spent five years working on sheep, dairy and beef farms. Springtime highlights include driving home through beautiful countryside as the sun was coming up after successfully helping with a difficult calving. Witnessing – and helping with – the miracle of new life was always a highlight of my job. Springtime, generally, with new life all around, is my favourite time of year.”
Morning lark or night owl?
“I’m a morning lark: I wake without an alarm around six. My day starts with exercise to get my head into the best place for the day ahead. It could be a 5k dog walk, a 10k run, a sea swim in Bray or a spin on the indoor bike [if the weather is foul]. I fade early at night: my friends know not to call me after 10pm, because I’ll be asleep [in my thinking, if not in my bed].”
Long summer evenings or cosy winter nights?
“The long hours of daylight in summer are one of the joys of living in Ireland. As a vet, I often work till the evening, and in mid-summer Ireland, the evening is just beginning. The outdoor activities can continue, whether that is walking the dog, working in the garden or just socialising, the extra light makes all the difference.”
Beef or salmon?
“I’ve been an on-and-off vegetarian over the years. I’ve never had an ethical problem with eating meat when I know that the animals have had a life worth living and a pain-free, fear-free death. So Irish grass-fed beef cattle tick that box. Whether it’s a steak, beef stew or a roast for Sunday dinner, I’d prefer this to salmon. There’s also the age-old argument: if you eat bigger animals, fewer need to be killed. So, from an animal welfare perspective, beef can make more sense.”
D’telly or box-set binges?
“We’ve never been a household for sitting randomly in front of the telly: life is too busy. But on a rainy day, it’s hard to beat finding a good box set and sitting down for an all-day binge. Sharon Horgan is our current favourite, from Pulling and Catastrophe, through to the more recent Bad Sisters.”
Going for a spin or
heading for a swim?
“I’ve been doing regular triathlons for the past decade [half a dozen races every summer] so I need to keep plugging away at running, cycling and swimming so that I don’t make a complete fool of myself on race day. Of the three activities, swimming is my biggest challenge, but that said, I find great joy in a half-hour long sea swim on a sunny summer day off the coast of my hometown, Bray.”
Dogs or cats?
“As the owner of two dogs and three cats, I definitely have a foot in both camps. The unconditional positive regard that dogs give humans is hard to beat, but there’s something very appealing about a cat’s less automatic affection. A dog will always want to be with you, whereas if a cat chooses to spend time with you, it’s a compliment. Overall, though, my life would be diminished if I couldn’t share it with dogs and cats [as well as a few carefully chosen humans].”
Read more
The Podcast Playlist: listening for the rural life
International farm series: from beef to bugs in Wales
SHARING OPTIONS