Thanks JOe if you have the checklist of what to do / and or.. I'll maybe call Apple .... sounds bit hairy to get going... new strong password ...
It sounds a lot harrier than it is in practice.
- Be sure all your devices have password logon enabled.
- Click on Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection > Turn On and follow the on screen instructions -- to the letter.
- Print your Recovery Key and save it someplace you will remember.
- If you have devices on your account that need updating it will tell you which ones and you will need to either remove the device from your account or update it.
- Suggestion for memorable strong password, choose a three or four word phrase, capitalize each word, separate the words with the separator of your choice and insert a numeral randomly in one word. For example Too~Much~Inform8tion
- You can pause at any point and later resume at the same point you left. (I probably stopped and restarted half a dozen times to update devices before it finally turned ON.