We’ve landed
At the end of July 2021, three weeks before we were due to travel to Sydney, our scheduled flights were cancelled by Qatar airlines. They blamed the entry cap changes set by the Australian government but it was more likely to be because they could now charge 10 times the price we paid. Our house sale was nearly complete, our vehicles sold and we felt we couldn’t wait until December for the ‘next available flight’ so registered for a repatriation flight and went on stand-by.
The next day we were offered a flight in just five days time. All systems go in the White household! We called in friends and family to help pack and prepare, Ian resigned with two days notice and we cracked on. Leaving Ian’s daughter, Beth and wife, Zoe, to box up the last bits and clean after we’d gone, we made it to the Heathrow Aerotel hotel at 1:30am. Was it worth a hotel for only four and a half hours sleep? Oh yes, that was the most welcome bed we’d ever laid our heads on.
The Qantas flight was slick and friendly, if a little cramped as every seat was occupied. The crew were in full PPE the entire time and had a busy cleaning regimen but they were kind and cheerful throughout. The bus and check-in to Howard Springs quarantine facility was equally slick and friendly, all done by the same flight crew.
The quarantine facility was originally designed prior to the pandemic as accommodation for construction workers so all rooms are utilitarian, single en-suite units but all have a veranda and air conditioning. Ian and I can share our rooms and outdoor space but aren’t allowed to leave except to visit the laundry on alternate days; a prospect that may well become more exciting as time goes by.
All meals are provided in the form of a hot meal in the evening delivered if PPE clad staff on a golf buggy, breakfast and lunch come at the same time and are stored in our room fridge. A call from one of the staff before we left the UK ensured dietary requirements were met and the food has been surprisingly good.
Although it’s winter, it’s pretty hot on a Cambridge scale, reaching 34 degrees by afternoon and, as our veranda is west facing, there’s no shade. So a quick boy scout application of a washing line and pegs ordered from the local store strung with sarongs and a bed sheet provided some welcome respite.
We’ve both embarked on daily exercise programmes in an attempt to reverse years of sedentary lifestyle and overeating and, very satisfyingly, it’s showing results after just a few days. Ian feels he is standing more upright and apparently is closing all his rings (sounds uncomfortable to me), whereas I can put my pants on without having to sit down, no spreadsheet or stats required to see that functional improvement!
What’s more, we get to watch this beautiful sunrise while we exercise.
