This week has been all about deliveries. I have been encouraging people to use me as their personal shopper, delivering unique gifts for special people (or treats for themselves) during lockdown.

My friend Fiona from my BNI business group commissioned two paintings for her grandchildren Her grandson’s beloved guinea pig had died and he had got a new one to replace it. He had been so devoted to the first one that she thought a painting would help him to remember him.

With a bit of artistic licence, we united the one which had passed away with the little new one (with the funky hairstyle) for the painting. Obviously, she wanted one of her granddaughter’s guinea pig too. I delivered the paintings earlier in the week, just in time for their lockdown reunion. What a thoughtful gran. They were delighted.

It isn’t the first time that I have brought a beloved pet back to life, by painting them from their photographs. Pet portraits continue to be incredibly popular, although these were my first guinea pigs!

I always get a digital image made  of my paintings and drawings , so it is possible to create prints , coasters , mugs , greetings cards,  placemats etc at a later date for stocking fillers .

This week I also delivered an embellished, felted ,underwater seascape picture to one of my psychiatry colleagues , Diane, from during my training days at Dykebar hospital when I was just a baby psychiatrist ( late 1980’s). It is so nice to reconnect with friends after all these years as we all hit retirement and have more time on our hands.

Despite being a technophobe there is no denying that the internet and social media facilitate connections. I have to confess that, at last, I have decided to make an effort to address my technophobic status.

My business colleague Ryan suggested that I try free online training modules on Google Digital Garage about search engine optimisation etc and I completed a 3-hr module this week! I hope to gradually be able to talk the same language as Philip Patrick who is currently redesigning my website!!!

Rhona x