I currently find myself locked in the house with my adorable family for the next seven days thanks to the positive RAT diagnosis of Covid-19 of one of my children. While I'm incredibly grateful not to have contracted Corona myself (YET!), I find that my four-bedroom home has now become incredibly small given that none of us are allowed past the letterbox for the next seven times 24/7. While my children have suddenly decided they have a desperate want to school - these are the same children I drag out of bed on a daily basis to throw on a uniform at the last minute amid cries of "I don't want to go". They have also decided they have an uncontrollable desire to go snorkeling, do a bungee fitness class, take a bushwalk, visit an animal sanctuary and "insert random activity here", most of which I couldn't have got them doing for love nor money. I do, however, find myself fantasizing about the things I'm going to do the minute I'm "out".
Top 10 things to do when you get out of ISO:
1. Go to the Beach/Bushwalk – living near the beach is the most unreal thing in the world until you can smell the fresh beach air and it's a perfect 27 degrees outside but you're not allowed to head down to grab a few waves. The beach is first on the list of things to do when out of Covid-19 isolation.
2. Get a real coffee – while there is nothing wrong with my coffee machine, all of a sudden it seems to be lacking when there is no option to head down the road to my favourite (or in fact any) coffee shop.
3. Take the kids for a bike ride – never has there been such a desire for the whole family to head out on the deadly tredley's.
4. Go shopping for new shoes – a stroll around the closest Westfield or down to the local boutiques for some new shoes (or anything for that matter) is definitely on the cards.
5. Have a playdate – my favourite sort of playdates are the "Mummies and Kids playdates"…this is when the mummies get to play (read: drink wine and eat cheese), while the kids entertain themselves with Nerf gun fights, jumping on the trampoline, make-up and dress-up, slip and slide or whatever works with the least amount of fights and squabbles (and parent intervention) - while the mummies (and dad’s) get to do their thing!
6. Go to the movies – I don't even care what we go to see. But I'm guessing it is more likely to have talking animals in it than a character from one of the Bronte sisters' novels.
7. Book a holiday house on Search and Stay - This crosses the boundary of things to do in and out of ISO. Book a holiday house on Search and Stay so you can get as far away from the home you have enjoyed ad nauseam for the past seven days. Search and Stay has holiday rental properties from all around Australia, all managed by holiday real estate and vacation rental professionals, so you can be reassured that the holiday rental you chose is going to be just as you booked online – with no hidden surprises.
8. Visit an animal sanctuary - Apparently a lifelong dream for certain members of the family!
9. Get a haircut or massage – Even though it will only have been a week, these things usually come at a time when you are already desperate ….and if not a haircut then after this week you'll need a massage.
10. Get as far away from my family members as possible! - I love them absolutely but my greatest desire at the moment is to get a solid hour or two outside in the fresh air to sit in silence away from my beloved family – with no cooking and washing dishes (apparently my kids believe being ISO turns the kitchen into an all-hours restaurant with an open menu serving anything your heart desires!), no nagging, breaking up fights, putting on a happy face to keep spirits up, no playing board games, no watching forward flip...after forward flip... after forward flip on the trampoline, no holding the hose for a run around under it and away from the constant sound of something being very loudly driven/blown-up/shot/chased on a computer game. This might mean booking a mummy-only weekend away on Search and Stay.
