HQ day 2 - the weekend

An exciting day today - it's my day 2 covid test. Part of this experience is the requirement to get 3 covid tests over the 14 days of quarantine, on days 2, 7 and twelve. While the covid test itself is probably not something to get excited about, it is the first it is the first time I'll have come in contact with another person since arriving early Thursday morning. Definitely calls for taking the time to brush my hair and put on makeup today.

Started the day with another yoga session before breakfast arrived. Todays was a winner, crepes with nutella and banana; yogurt; a pastry and some orange juice. Shortly after I had my daily health check in call, and it wasn't long before the testers were at my door. Both nurses were lovely, but they certainly weren't there for a visit. I was asked to stand with my back against the door while they quickly took my temperature before a throat and nasal swab, and with that, they were gone as quickly as they came.

Alone in my room again, I did a bit of life admin and waited for the lunch time knock on the door. Lunch today was a vegetarian chili with mashed potato, cheese & crackers, a pretzel, a pear and some orange juice.

I tried to do some reading but crashed hard again this afternoon, clearly in recovery from the travel and the time change. 

The afternoon also included two special deliveries - first some flowers (and some drinks) to brighten up my space, and then uber eats with a small delivery from IGA. It's impossible to fully describe the excitement of the knock on the door - even when you know it's coming.

Before I knew it there was that knock on the door again, and dinner was served. Tonight was roast field mushrooms with tomato and basil risotto (not my favorite, despite my love of mushrooms), a bread roll and a slice of cheesecake.

After dinner I managed another 5k on the bike (have I mentioned how excited I am to have my bike and yoga mat?), had another long bath and headed to bed. 

HQ day 1

Last night, Marcus from Bensonqbikesydney dropped off an exercise bike and a yoga mat at the hotel, and already I can tell what a lifesaver this will be. I woke up early from the jetlag (yesterdays long nap won't have helped) and eventually pulled myself out of bed to start the day with yoga. 

Breakfast was delivered, right on time. Today was a simple breakfast of cocoa coconut granola, milk, yogurt and apple a muffin (rhubarb I think) a granola bar and some orange juice.

After breakfast I set up my work station because it was back to work for me. It was hard to get back into it after 3 weeks offline, and I did sneak in a nap in the afternoon, but the work and meetings were a welcome activity to help pass the time. And it created lots of opportunity for zoom calls and check-ins.

Lunch today was pesto pasta with olives, spinach and tomato; crackers and cheese; a bread roll, an apple and orange juice. Dinner was a spinach and ricotta filo, corn and kale slaw, a bag of chips and a vegan coconut raspberry nicecream. 

HQ Day 0

What you might not realise, is that the day you arrive is not actually your first day, rather, it is considered day 0 of hotel quarantine. My day 0 was definitely one of gratitude.

After 'checking in' or rather, being locked into my room, I took the type to unpack and get set up. I knew that I wouldn't want to live out of my suitcase for two weeks and so i found a home for everything - even the things I knew I wouldn't need, and then put my empty suitcase away in the closet until it's time to pack to go home.

Shortly after I arrived breakfast was delivered - I was starving after the trip, so really grateful that breakfast was served even though I'd probably arrived after the morning run. When you check in there is the option of a few basic dietary preference, so my meals will all be vegetarian. Breakfast today was a breakfast fritter with crumbled feta, capsicum and tomato chutney and a grilled tomato. It was served with yogurt, a croissant with jam, an apple and orange juice. I know not every hotel does a  breakfast service (in many a contental breakfast is served with the previous days dinner) so I was thrilled to find out I'll get a fresh breakfast each morning.

The rest of the day was spent doing life admin, napping, and rearranging furniture so that the room works for me over the next two weeks. I also made what was probably the BEST decision of my quarantine and hired an exercise bike and yoga mat from BENSONQBIKESYDNEY to ensure I can get some exercise whilst I'm in this room. Marcus was amazing and delivered the bike within an  hour of booking. I can't wait to start using it... tomorrow. He even included a few treats to help make HQ a little bit sweeter which really brightened my day. I highly recommend him for anyone entering HQ in Sydney.

Lunch and dinner were both delivered right on schedule, and I've already discovered how much one looks forward to the knock on the door - regardless of the quality of the food! When food arrives there  is a knock on the door, and then your food is left just outside. You wait 30 seconds, put on your mask, and then are able to open your door to take your food inside.

Today lunch was an egg & mustard mayo sandwich, cheese and crackers a pear and apple juice. Dinner was vegetable fried rice with eggplant and capsicum, a spring roll, carrot and wattle seed cake and a small bottle of water. 

All in all it was a good day, capped off with a long, hot bath. The room is relaxing, the bed is comfortable and I really have nothing to complain about. I'm home, and I'm just 14 days away from being with my family again. 

Home for the next two weeks

Words cannot describe the relief I felt when I walked through the door. As I mentioned in my last post, I had spent months full of anxiety over each and every step of the process of getting home to Canada and back again. Each step made way for a new worry, the last of which was the uncertainty of where I would find myself for my two week sentence. 

As soon as the door closed behind me, I turned on my camera and explored my new home at the Sheraton Hyde Park. 

Feeling grateful, relieved and exhausted. Ready for a shower and a cup of coffee.

Arriving in Australia

It's hard to explain what this journey has been like. From the moment I got the call from my mum telling me I needed to get home, through the application for an exemption process, booking a flight and travelling to Canada and back, it has been a never ending series of paperwork and anxiety. In the lead up to my trip I spent a lot of time in various Facebook groups for people in similar positions. It was helpful in many ways - a source of information and advice which gave me the knowledge I needed to navigate the process, and preparing me for what was to come. But it also heightened my anxiety, hearing story after story of people stranded overseas due to flight cancellations and other complications. When the day finally came and I received my boarding pass for my flight from LAX back to SYD I burst into tears and the check in counter because for the first time in 2 months the fear of not getting home lifted off my shoulders.

Late Tuesday night, myself and 12 other passengers left a crowded terminal at LAX and boarded our flight to Australia. With only 13 passengers and 13 crew, it was the most comfortable flight I have ever taken. The staff were kind and caring and I thoroughly enjoyed the 14 rows I had to myself. Fifteen and a half hours later, just before 7am, we arrived in Australia.

I remember how eerie my departure had felt flying out of Sydney a few weeks earlier. The terminal was nearly empty, with only 2 coffee shops and a chemist open, and a small number of passengers and police about. Even that experience didn't prepare me for the dystopian feeling of international arrivals. 

We were met by a welcoming committee of federal police, Australian defense force and and medical staff with what felt like a never ending series checkpoints. We were met first by a health team with questions about both our physical and mental health. We had our temperature taken and were given information on the quarantine process. From there we cleared customs and immigration collected our bags, and were escorted through an otherwise empty terminal. We were then escorted onto a large bus by the ADF, destined for an unknown destination.

It's worth saying that everyone we came in contact with was friendly and helpful, and despite being a little unsettling, the entire process was efficient. It was less than on hour from when we arrived until we were leaving the website on our bus, trailed by a police escort.

Once on the bus, my anxiety quickly turned to where I might be headed. I had read varying accounts of people being quarantined in accommodations ranging from five-star hotels to dated and dirty basic accommodation and all things in between. It was such a relief when the bus finally pulled up at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park. A quick search of the 14 days hotel quarantine Facebook group told me I had hit the hotel quarantine jackpot.

As I was the only solo traveler on my flight, I was the only passenger to check into to the Sheraton. After leaving me and my luggage in the hands of the NSW police, the remaining travelers were taken to accommodation more suited for families.

Check in was brisk and friendly, and included stops with both the hotel staff and the police, Instead of a room key I was given a stack of paperwork outlining the rules and regulations for my stay. I was then escorted to my room by 3 lovely ADF personnel who let me into my room, and wished me well for my 15 day stay. As the door closed behind me my anxiety was quickly replaced by relief as I explored my new surroundings. More on that shortly.