Watching the World Go By

So…I managed to get Covid-19 despite rarely leaving my home except for walks in the countryside. It was gastro-intestinal, and over and done with in a week. However, there was quarantine to contend with, a little fatigue, the every accruing amount of paper work and documentation for classes, and not one but two accreditation processes. I have mysteriously achy elbows and forearms, which makes household chores difficult to contend with – and I feel guilty just saying that because it sounds like sheer laziness, but it’s true.

In Turkey when you are diagnosed with Covid-19 you are immediately quarantined for 10 days …and at my workplace you may not show up until 15 days after your symptoms disappear. I was immediately visited by two sweet covered women who gave me my anti-virals and a box of the controversial hydroxychloroquine…They whispered to me, somewhat embarassed, that if I felt ok to skip that box and just stick with the anti-virals. However, when I researched, I learned that the hydroxychloroquine is used to suppress auto immune reactions and inflammatory responses…and knowing other health issues I have I decided this might be a good thing to go for considering it was only short term. I also got a drop in visit from the gendarme, who were friendly and just wanted to make sure I was actually at home and not, say, romping around the city bars. They laughed when they saw my wooly Turkish house slippers- a clear indication that I was not on the run or out carousing.

Well, I am fine now.

But I spent a lot of time with my fur babies…two dogs and a cat. When I was feeling well, a few weeks later and during a school holiday, I managed to capture my canine friends in an oil…which I haven’t worked with in a decade or so. I love the smell of oils…that and ink…they both make me feel like I am getting some serious work done and trail in wisps of childhood memories. So here are my boys, Rooney and Atlas; unfortunately this is minus the cat, Karamos, who was sitting in the window sill also watching whatever they were watching…the frame just got too crowded and he didn’t make the cut. I shall have to give him his own piece, as he very much runs the crew.