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A letter received from the UK PM.
This strange new world we inhabit has some interesting side effects.
For example, we received a letter from the British Prime Minister himself this morning, along with a helpful brochure on what we should do during this time. Hint: it’s not have big barbecues and invite the friends and relatives over. I also cast doubt on whether he signed it himself but it’s a good effort, especially seeing as he’s been ill.
The Queen has also been in touch, but over the television. She’s looking well. It does cheer you up when the leaders of the country you live in take a bit of notice and act like they care. I did find a bit alarming the idea that the ExCeL exhibition centre, where I have spent many a happy day trotting around and sampling dairy goodies, is now the Nightingale NHS hospital, a 4,000-bed facility. However, I am quite amazed that they put it together in nine days. The speed at which things can be done once we put our minds to it is incredible and it does help. We humans can be very innovative in a pinch.
A lot of the dairy folks have been busy these last few weeks. On the equipment side, several have received letters telling them they’re essential suppliers to the trade. One processor up north in the UK says his number of doorstep customers has gone up by 1,000 to 7,000. An email exchange with a cheese maker reveals that he’s still headed off to work to help feed the nation, and his spouse is making him do lots of house-based chores on the weekends when he’s indoors. I guess moving a 5,000-litre cheese vat or two home is not an option.
Fair enough. We stay at home and have planted the potatoes at the allotment. We are also enjoying watching Jamie Oliver, the chef, get more haggard on his show every day, as the grim reality of being at home all the time with five young children sets in. Poor fella.
