What will you say you achieved during lock down?

Well, I will definitely be saying that I developed my new pointillism art range and that I have committed to taking a launch business stall at the next two Scottish Trade Fairs in the SSEC, Glasgow. Exciting times.

However, much of this week has been taken up with reading my crime fiction novels in the garden ... a rare treat to have such lovely weather in Scotland.

I have a tan in April, and I have not left the country to get it! Zoom meetings with friends, business colleagues and Rotary clubs have become the new norm for this technophobe as has baking and online scrabble.

However, I am very aware that I am one of the lucky ones who has a nice home, garden and technology to help me ride this protracted pandemic.

Across the world people are coping with isolation and bereavement without their normal support mechanisms and this may be having a negative impact on their mental health.

Vital charities are curtailed by lock down and the detrimental impact on fundraising activities. As a doctor these issues are dear to my heart. Therefore, I have also been pondering upon how I might utilise my creative talent for the greater good, to add my support at this time.

I have come up with the idea to design a charity greetings card which can be sold to raise funds for End Polio Now , a campaign supported by Rotary International , and which can be sent with a message of hope to those affected by covid 19 .

There is the potential to raise a lot of money for charity. More details to follow with how to purchase a pack of cards and support this venture. I have battled with trying to produce a video which can be viewed by Rotary clubs around the country, to raise awareness of my Message of Hope campaign.

Trying to get my phone camera at the right height involved a table , jigsaw box and car cleaning kit in a tall pile and my phone propped up on top by a jar of curry sauce !!!

Amidst these arrangements I have still been drawing and painting . This week I completed a pet portrait for my friend in Canada and a drawing of the Wallace Monument in Stirling. Stay safe and well.