WE PETS LOVE
Faced with isolation and worry, Karen Lawson (57) found comfort and peace in two furry friends…
Waving to my parents through the conservatory window, they both began to cry. “Goodbye,” I choked. Four years earlier, my marriage had broken down, and I’d moved back in with my mum Ann (84) and dad Peter (82). They’d been there for me through my divorce and I’d been there for them as they’d got older.
Only now, the pandemic had hit. And, as my parents were vulnerable and I was an NHS key worker, I had no choice but to move out. So, I packed my bags, and booked two nights in a hotel. Beyond that, I had no idea where I’d go. When I arrived in the eerily empty room, tears finally fell. After two days, work agreed to cover the cost of extending my stay for two weeks. Then, people who owned rentals started contacting the NHS, offering up their vacant rooms. I put myself forward. And that’s how I found out about Veronica and Jo.
Their farm, with a holiday cottage and B&B, was standing empty so they wanted to open it to key workers. And they’d chosen me. Although I felt safe and grateful, I also felt lonely. My daughter Georgia, 24, was stuck in America and I could only see my parents through a pane of glass. On top of that, work was incredibly stressful. Showing me around, Veronica pointed towards the fields and said, “If you ever want to meet the donkeys, they are there for you.” I smil
