Staying home

 

It’s difficult to know how to describe the situation we find ourselves in. A mini-apocalypse? A plague? A warning for the future?
It’s been hard accepting how dangerous the virus is, and how contagious. Most of us, if in good health, kept up normal activities for a while, thinking it was just a bad kind of flu. Some are still not taking it seriously enough, obliging governments to impose confinement, curfews and fines.
In retrospect, it was a disaster waiting to happen, given the global amount of traveling that goes on, with no health checks whatsoever. The proof has been the rapidity with which the virus has spread worldwide.

However, this too shall pass, as have all previous epidemics: the object now being to limit the devastation it will leave in its wake, both in terms of deaths and financial.

 

I made this happy painting using natural powdered pigments, and loads of pink!


It’s interesting, and sometimes weird, to see how people are reacting. I still have friends who are on holiday, blithely ignoring the fact that they might be blocked from going home, maybe for months. Thousands of travelers, of all nationalities, are stuck abroad as we speak.

As with all extreme situations, this has brought out the best and the worst in people. Every day we witness incredible scenes—some of outrageous selfishness, some of great kindness.

 

Sketching what’s in front of me



Indisputably, we must come to terms with the new reality facing us for weeks, maybe for months to come.

I find myself back in confinement after the weeks when I could put no weight on my broken ankle—but this time without a cast! Bliss. I can now cook, and, as everyone knows, food is a great lifter of spirits. Improvising with what we have in the fridge, freezer and store cupboard. And I’ve been doing some foraging. There’s a little stream nearby, and its banks are full of wild garlic and nettles. Good for pesto, and soup, perhaps. There was a little yellow frog hopping about, and for a minute I thought ‘Frog legs!’, but then, Noo. No way 🙂

 

Another of my powdered pigment experiments


I feel so thankful and privileged to be able to go out in the garden. It’s such an escape from feeling like murdering the loved ones. I think of people stuck with small kids in tiny appartments. People worried about losing their jobs or going bankrupt. The refugees, piled in camps with no hygiene. People stuck in prison. The elderly who cannot see their families because they risk being contaminated. Africans who have no access to clean water with which to wash their hands. The list goes on.

I also have so much respect for the people with no choice but to continue working in very uncertain conditions. Nurses, doctors, policemen, firefighters, couriers, pharmacists, cashiers and many more.

 

Floral study

 

Apart from cooking, and reading, I’ve been drawing and painting, color being another spirit booster. Amazing how many ways there are of describing one cheerful vase of daffodils.

And let’s not forget that laughter is the best medicine. People’s sense of humor is flourishing, I’m pleased to report, with a spate of jokes, memes and caricatures flooding the web and my social media.

 

 

And I’m sure his mum was hovering just out of sight, in case he needed something else…

49 thoughts on “Staying home”

  1. I was supposed to fly into Athens tomorrow. I should be frantically preparing my suitcase, making sure I wasn’t forgetting anything. Instead, I’m home alone since Monday, with Internet, books and telephone for company. 😦

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    1. You would have been quarantined for two weeks before entering Greece. I planned to go by the end of April. Didn’t book anything bc my gut feeling said no. Our time will come! Enjoy reading etc. This too shall pass! Take care of yourself and your loved ones🌹

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  2. I was also thinking of homeless people with the food banks closing due to volunteers not being able to work and donations being down. Also people stuck together in small flats with little or no outside space – not so desperate perhaps but surely that way madness lies. I heard the divorce lawyers are predicting a field day when we come out the other side of this. I am so grateful to have space, both inside and outside and, for the moment at least, good health. Take care. x

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  4. I am lucky to live in a country village with a small population. But my wife still has to go to her job 3 days a week, and she is a doctor’s receptionist, having to deal with sick people all the time. She is unable to visit her 6-week old granddaughter, and has to be content with video calling to see her family. I still get out for 2-3 hours a day with Ollie, and I am glad that dogs cannot catch this, as he would not be happy about being stuck in the house.
    Thanks for showing us your pictures, and for spreading your positive attitude too.
    Best wishes as always, Pete.

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  5. Thank goodness the plaster is off and the final road to recovery is happening. How awful it would be to break a limb during the current scenario. Love your initiative of gathering wild things. We are in the middle of the wild mushroom reason and have been gathering mushrooms daily for two weeks now. Sadly the season will end soon – but the vegetable garden is in full production and we’ve been freezing beans, tomatoes, and all sorts of soups.

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    1. Yes I’m so happy not to have to go to the hospital at this time. My physio showed me the exercises I can do at home, so that’s ok too. Must take a mushroom course, we also have plenty in season but I know nothing about them so I’m scared to poison everyone!

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  6. People showing their true colors. Some hoarding so there’s nothing left for the people who look after our safety, some exposing beautiful initiatives by doing groceries shopping for those who can’t, walking the dog, looking after children. Entertaining us with hilarious videos of what they do during self-isolation. If this storm is over the entire world will be a different place. Take care of yourself and your loved ones!🌹

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  9. Your philosophical attitude and cheerful art made me smile, but the ‘Greeks in Quarantine’ image made me cackle out loud. I think we could all use a bit more of that! Stay well.

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  10. I am so pleased that you are able to move around easily now. Getting out into the garden, foraging ~ great balm to the soul. I love you paintings too, especially the second powdered pigment experiment. The daffodil painting with the strong black outlines is really interesting too. Stay well!

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  11. You are making the most of the situation we are in. Your creativity is marvellous. Like you, it worries me that many “are still not taking it seriously enough,”….what will it take to get the world to wake up.?

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  12. To me this is a ‘warning for the future’ . . . but will we heed it ? I also work and study from home and live in a garden-surrounded house in semi-rural Australia. Rather enjoy it that way ! But both my on-line food deliveries and transport having been stopped during the past few days, there are many Q-marks . . . . and, meanwhile, some 25,000 young Sydney Aussies thought it appropriate a couple of days back, to have a night-long Corona-party on the famed Bondi Beach. Oh, and in spite of the beaches now being closed, the board-surfers were out in full force this morning . . . well, the police cannot follow, can they . . .? Absolutely love the ‘Greeks in Quarantine’ photo . . .

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  16. Well, you’ve had some practice it seems and now you have the added freedom of easier mobility and appreciation for the garden and cooking. I find the flowers and garden such a gift too and am so glad I have daffodils that greet me every morning.

    Your watercolours are just beautiful, they make me want to try and I’ve never done that ever!

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  17. I don’t often comment here, but your wonderfully optimistic is a treat amid all the gloom and doom surrounding us.
    I love your watercolours. Such a lift for the spirits. Thank you.

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  20. What a heartwarming read. You list all the horrible things happening now, but ended up making me laugh, and I envy you your garden. Here in Rome we’re hoping we might start getting a grip on things by another 2-3 weeks, Hopefully Greeks and travellers of all kinds will end up realising this is serious, or not we’re into months and months of world-wide pain…

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    1. I think of all my Italian friends a lot. And all others in Italy, too. Some people are still quite unconcerned; they want their freedom, but freedom entails responsibility, too. I saw the videos of Italian mayors shouting at people to stay home! Keep safe😘🌹

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  22. Your sketches, color experiments, and studies are encouraging. Now might be a time for me to look closely at the small wonders right in front of me. It’s late here, so when I go outside and breathe deeply I’ll study the night sky and try not to think of all the suffering somewhere nearby or far away. . . No, I will think of them, and of all the good people who are helping. Thank you for the reminders.

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    1. This is likely to last for a while, so we must hang on to our sense of humour, and enjoy small things. We are privileged, compared to others. So mama refugees, homeless, African villagers with no access to clean water etc. 🌺

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