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There are few things as unappealing as the prospect of a two-week quarantine, unable to even go for a walk each day, let alone to the shops for last minute crisps. For those who end up in it because of travel restrictions, or anyone who is quarantining after potential exposure to COVID, it's vital to make it as luxurious as possible to stave off the inevitable brain fog that will occur as a result of 14 days in the same space.
Luxury means different things to different people and for those who truly believe in the upper end of the scale, there is a company who can help make quarantine really quite a wonderful experience. Air Charter Service is a private jet company, which has pivoted its offering in recent months to cater to the new way of travel and has come up with a quarantine service for its customers. Once you step off your jet, a chauffeur will drive you to your quarantine destination of choice, where Air Charter Service will then look after the rest. What do all quarantiners need? A case of Whispering Angel, Friday 'quarantini cocktail' delivery, two grocery shops tailored to your needs and delivered to the doorstep, a daily newspaper delivery, three newly published books to read and six virtual sessions with a personal trainer. They will also look after your ponies for you and walk any dogs, do all your post-holiday washing, give you access to Netflix and Amazon Prime, a new set of White Company nightwear and finally, an at home spa set. To be honest, it sounds like an ideal two weeks but not everyone can afford the private jet, plus the £5,000 extra for this marvellous service.
Instead, we can glean some ideas on how to make a quarantine as cosseting as possible. Firstly, you're not going to be able to see much sunlight, unless you're lucky enough to have expansive gardens that you can take a perambulatory wander around. Maybe it's time to invest in a Lumie light to stave off SAD and help naturally wake you up and ease you into a day of pyjamas, daytime drinking and copious amounts of Netflix. Instead of a case of Whispering Angel (it's passé), use the time to explore some new wine trends and expand your horizons. Shop Cuvée has an excellent selection of natural wines either on their online shop or as a wine subscription service, as do Oranj. Once you come out of quarantine, you can impress all your friends with your knowledge (and hangovers). If you're feeling fancy or classic, The Wine Society is always a good way to stock a cellar and new initiative Marlo is the place to look for one-off premium vintages.
Shopping and food supplies are the main concern when you can't pop out to the shops because you've forgotten a key ingredient. Once you've done an online shop for essential snacks, consider investing in some recipe boxes for the next two weeks. You'll get all your ingredients delivered to you, for anything from one meal to a week's worth and you won't have to worry about missing items. To break the days up, we suggest A Cook's Tour with Rocket; each month, it's a different menu from around the world and once the ingredients are delivered to your door (in fully recyclable and compostable packaging), you simply watch a live stream and cook along with chef Ryan Stafford, ending up with a veritable feast at the end.
Moments like that will save your sanity in quarantine and pick you up again if you end up in the doldrums. A spa treatment would obviously be the perfect thing to look forward to, but as a professional isn't allowed in your house, you'll have to go it alone. Instead, run the perfect bath and soak in essential oils and reviving steam for a while, with a glass of natural wine to hand, of course. It doesn't matter what's happened in your day, a good soak will always make you feel better. After that, what could be better than slipping into new, clean sheets? We know where to find the best bed linen and that's exactly the kind of small joy that will make a big difference. It's been scientifically proven that having flowers in the house makes you feel better, so what other excuse do you need than to have a fresh flower delivery at least weekly during the quarantine period? Pick from the best flower delivery companies out there for seasonal blooms to keep your spirits high.
Finally, it's important to keep yourself occupied for the 14 days and find projects that need doing. Ideally, a lot of these will be garden-based to make up for a lack of fresh air and exercise. Think about starting your own compost heap if you haven't yet, digging up and pruning back your plants as autumn turns to winter, sowing seeds and plotting a vegetable garden for the coming spring. It's all about tackling the things you've let slip, but in small doses so there are enough jobs to last the 14 days. Inside the house, consider some paint projects to lift your interiors (trust us, after 14 days in the same rooms, you'll be craving something new to look at!). If you really run out of things to do, it's not too early to be thinking about Christmas decorations. Plot which flowers to forage for a Christmas garland and get cracking on the Christmas cake before it's too late, and don't forget to catch up on the best Netflix shows for interiors lovers.
This article originally appeared on House & Garden UK.
