Did you know Ireland still has milk men? We have one in our neighborhood. It’s one of my favorite things about living here.
When I first spotted the milk man in our neighborhood, it was winter time and I was out for a walk. It was quite dark and getting late in the evening. I saw this truck loitering on our block, and a dark character running from house to house. I imagined it was an elaborate robbery scheme and started walking very quickly home. (I’ve been known to watch way too much Law & Order!)
But when I got close, I realized the side of the truck was open and scattered with loose milk cartons. A milk man! It was so mysterious creeping around in the dark. Now that it’s summer and the sun stays out very late, I was able to catch a few photos in the daylight.
There’s a man who drives the truck, and then a teenage boy who runs back and forth from the truck to the customers’ front porches. I suppose I could have asked the milk kid to pose for a photo, but I think I prefer the mystery of him running up and down our street like a flash! I wonder if the milk kid is a track star?!
3 Comments
The milk man! Great.
They’re extinct in America as far as I know. When I was a kid our Hood milkman was Mr. Healey. He delivered milk, cottage cheese, cream. On hot days he’d hand out ice to the kids. Not flavored ice. Just chunks of ice. A big treat. Thanks for bringing it all back, Emily.
Hah, yes, they’re experiencing something of a revival around Ireland at the moment – in Limerick my parents get actual proper milk bottles delivered, which they leave back out when they’re finished to be collected and reused – so much more environmentally friendly!
I know in parts of Dublin as well you can have the Sunday Times and a croissant delivered with your milk on Sundays.
In London they take this a step further and deliver your shirts pressed for the week, your milk, the paper, and a hot breakfast to boot on Sunday mornings! How decadent is that?! 🙂
Oh, the proper milk bottles would be so tempting! They certainly get a lot of business around our neighborhood!