Hotel guest in Australia turns room service bags into a cowboy outfit and a HORSE

Tired of watching the same TV shows and reading, one hotel guest has found a rather ingenious way to keep himself entertained during a two-week quarantine. 

David Marriott is currently held up in Brisbane, Australia, and ‘out of boredom’, on day three, he decided to start fashioning the brown paper bags and bowls his room service came in, into an outfit. 

He settled on a cowboy character with a bowl used for his hat, complete with a brim. He then made a waistcoat and chaps. Next? A horse, of course.

After three days of being confined to a hotel room in Australia for quarantine, one man went to quite extreme lengths to keep himself entertained. Out of ‘boredom’, David Marriott decided to start fashioning the brown paper bags and bowls his room service came in, into an outfit

He settled on creating a cowboy character with a bowl used for his hat, complete with a brim. He then made a waistcoat and chaps. Next? A horse, of course

He settled on creating a cowboy character with a bowl used for his hat, complete with a brim. He then made a waistcoat and chaps. Next? A horse, of course 

He found an ironing board in his cupboard and tied on a desk lamp for the neck and head, creating a skeleton. Coffee pods became the eyes and nostrils and he used some white cardboard to create teeth. 

He named the horse ‘Russell’ after an old dad joke: ‘Have you heard about the paper cowboys? They were caught and hung for rustling.’

The creative world Marriott made inside his Brisbane hotel room became more intricate by the day and he started posting video clips online with mini plotlines.  

He created another character called the Clingfilm Kid using more catering materials and he became the villain, out to steal Russell while he was sleeping.

The creative world Marriott made inside his Brisbane hotel room became more intricate by the day and he started posting video clips online with mini plotlines

The creative world Marriott made inside his Brisbane hotel room became more intricate by the day and he started posting video clips online with mini plotlines

He created another character called the Clingfilm Kid, pictured, using more catering materials and he became the villain, out to steal Russell while he was sleeping

He created another character called the Clingfilm Kid, pictured, using more catering materials and he became the villain, out to steal Russell while he was sleeping 

Like Wilson from the Tom Hanks movie Castaway, Marriott says he can use Russell the paper horse as a sounding board.

‘It’s an existential conversation, quite philosophical,’ he says. ‘Like, why are we here? What are we doing?’

And he’s given the Rydges hotel staff a laugh by asking that Russell be taken for walks.

‘It’s been cheering everyone up,’ he adds. ‘The hotel staff, they’re in hospitality but they have all these guests that they can’t see or interact with.’

The story behind Marriott’s quarantine stay is more sobering. 

His father Harry had a fall at his London home and was taken to a hospital, where he had an operation and was starting rehabilitation. But then he caught coronavirus and sadly died.

The story behind Marriott's quarantine stay is more sobering. His dad Harry had a fall at his London home and was taken to a hospital, where he had an operation and was starting rehabilitation. But then he caught the coronavirus and passed away

The story behind Marriott’s quarantine stay is more sobering. His dad Harry had a fall at his London home and was taken to a hospital, where he had an operation and was starting rehabilitation. But then he caught the coronavirus and passed away 

‘I was really lucky my mum and sisters were there and were allowed in to see him,’ Marriott said. 

‘I would Zoom with him at 3am. To see him deteriorating was heartbreaking. But I was able to say goodbye and make peace.’

Marriott flew over from Australia for the funeral in what he says was a grim trip. Like other Australians returning home, he was required to quarantine at a hotel for two weeks.

Marriott said he's been making props his whole life. Even when he was a kid he used to get in trouble for breaking his dad's tools. He went into the creative industry and currently works as an art director on TV commercials

Marriott said he’s been making props his whole life. Even when he was a kid he used to get in trouble for breaking his dad’s tools. He went into the creative industry and currently works as an art director on TV commercials

Marriott says he’s been making props his whole life. Even when he was a kid he used to get in trouble for breaking his dad’s tools. He went into the creative industry and currently works as an art director on TV commercials.

Because quarantine guests are considered potentially infectious, their food is delivered in disposable containers and plates that are discarded rather than recycled, which Marriott found a bit grating. 

But he says he’s barely thrown anything out since his stay began, and has only needed to order in a few extras like sticky tape and clingfilm.

And when he leaves on Saturday, he’s hoping to take Russell and his other creations with him. He said there had been interest from a film centre, which wants Russell to start in an art show.

‘He’s a bit of superstar now,’ Marriott said.