Unlike the idiots who swarmed over Bondi on Friday, ignoring the 1.5-metre rule and putting an untold number of people at risk, I chose carefully.

In both cases, the beaches were all but empty. And the few people on them kept their distance. One kid had even drawn a circle around his towel. Exclusion zone marked.

Having seen the Bondi Petri dish and the unfathomable decision to allow cruise ships to dock and disgorge, I've spent the day wondering if Sydney should be sealed off so the virus doesn't overwhelm the regions.

I'm hoping, too, the advice not to travel during the upcoming school holidays becomes an order. We need people to stay home more than we need their cash. Sure, already hard hit economies will suffer but that's better than everyone getting sick and dying. Out here in the regions, the health system barely copes with a normal flu season, let alone a pandemic.

Being the weekend, the challenge has been avoiding coronavirus stories. That's why I spent a couple of hours in the surf and left the Apple Watch behind. As well as nagging me to keep moving (which is good) it receives calls. And it notifies me of major breaking news stories. Handy during the work week but bad during downtime.

I know I can probably set it up to receive less info from the outside world but that would require the expertise of a young person and right now I'm working from home without any close at hand.

There's another challenge, unique to this WFH arrangement. I've coined an acronym for it: INS.

It. Never. Stops.

I think I'm going to have to set up a lighting system that changes colour when the day is done. You know, just like a submarine. Blue light for day. Red light for night. And I'll need to stash the laptop in some kind of vault that can only be opened at certain times. Rest and recuperation are key ingredients for staying healthy.

And that's why, second thing in the morning (Jack's walk comes first) I'm off the empty beach again.

What are you planning for Sunday?

john.hanscombe@austcommunitymedia.com.au