So far, okay. While it’s not most people’s choice to spend two weeks holed up in a hotel room, it could be worse. And I am sure it is for many others currently experiencing MIQ. If pushed, the only niggle is the food arrives lukewarm. This is completely understandable when you consider the number of meals to box, transport and deliver over one and a half hours, so really, hats off. It continues to be good quality.

Some, nay many, of you express varying levels of shock/horror/dismay/bemusement when we reveal we are alcohol free for these two weeks.  However it seems the perfect opportunity to give our over-worked livers a vacation, and so far we are surviving. We can order barista coffee (contactless payment required – @ $6 per cup we are racking up $24 a day) and at least you do not need to specify double shots – really, Australia, get with the programme.

On day two I break out the charity shop jigsaw. There’s an issue when the size, 736cm x 584cm, will not fit on any flat surface in this room. Scott suggests we call the Defence staff and ask for some plywood as they love a challenge.  I’m, sure they’d love that. I eye the picture on the wall above the bed. It comes down and the reverse side is just large enough, leaving one cm to spare. Problem solving 101. Now I realise its bloody hard so I hope I finish it before time’s up.

We have Covid tests on days one, three, and six. We get blue wristbands when the day one test comes back negative, and have to wear these whenever we leave the room, which is only for exercise or a Covid test.

Those who run the systems have taken on some hard won lessons. We are in a “cohort” with others who arrive on the same flight. That means we are all on the same floor of the hotel, we go for Covid tests at the same time, and exercise at the same time, so there is reduced chance of cross contamination with a group from another flight (as happened in the past).

The daily outside time is 30 mins and we must call after 6.30pm each evening to book a slot for the following day. The conversation goes something like this: US: Hi. We’re Group D, can we book an exercise slot please? THEM: Just a minute. How’s 6.30am? US: Hysterical laughter. Anything later? THEM: Do you want the forecourt or level 5? And so it goes. I can tell you with certainty the forecourt is a circuit of 100 steps if you don’t cut corners and walk the absolute perimeter.

The level 5 option is 117 steps, but has the added interest of more corners as it’s set up as lanes, and there’s a welcome message from the office over the lane. Again, and I say this with conviction, there is nothing as depressing as walking around in a circle: half the time I feel like I’m in the Handmaid’s Tale and the other half in the movie Midnight Express, which if you are too young to remember you should find and watch.

There is no housekeeping service to clean the room, obviously, but they are prompt in delivering anything you need, such as more washing-up liquid or teabags or toilet paper; you can request a change of linen every three days and it arrives in a bag outside the door. The staff are unfailingly pleasant and helpful. Every day a nurse calls and conducts a health check and asks if there’s anything we need. Apart from freedom, there isn’t.

It is exciting to receive a care package from some of the family -puzzle books, another jigsaw, cards, magazines, cheese, crackers, charcuterie, chocolates and wine (saving til the last day). The paperwork states deliveries can not contain any illegal items which rather takes the fun out of it. In the interests of health and safety, other banned items include “but are not limited to, portable heaters, toasters, slow cookers, small ovens, blenders, mixers, electric grills, fryers, rice cookers, electric food choppers, air fryers, waffle makers, egg cookers, bread makers, portable cooking appliances using gas, candles, spirits used for cooking and incense.” Have no need of any of those, though a microwave to heat up our meals wouldn’t go astray.

I’m continuing with the puzzle, which threatens to do my head in; yoga; code crackers; and reading, while Scott is deep into the Fishing and Boating reading that came in our care package, and seems to find a never ending supply of youtube videos on motorbikes and fishing. And his Canadian Airforce exercises of course – though I seriously hope airforce pilots have more coordination.

So that’s week one – and I suspect week two will differ not at all.

Oh and by the way. If you think there aren’t enough hours in the day, there are plenty.