I remember as a child I used to go to my maternal grandparents home to spend weekend with them. During summers we would sit in my grandfather’s carabao-drawn cart to go to where the fresh produce can be had. We would get the sweet potatoes, gather vegetables like string beans, radishes, onions, garlic and other that I can’t remember what.

My grandfather had several carabaos then. I see other farmers have horses and cows but it was a mystery why my grandfather didn’t have them. Perhaps the upkeep is more expensive like having some horse supplements or maybe milking machine for the cows.

He didn’t also have pigs, although there were a number of chickens that are just left roaming around in the compound.

I miss those simple times when having a good run in the field and eating cold turnips were some of the thngs I looked forward to.