Italy We are effectively under 'house arrest'....

Nope....an hour and a half South of Rimini slightly inland (near Macerata). We catch the train to Bologna on the Bari-Milan line which recently introduced the 200mph Freccia Rossa trains (before they had the Freccia Argento and regional express trains -both still quicker than anything the UK has) which is cheaper and faster than taking the car and airport parking.

 

My wife is hoping so. 24/7 with me !!!? We have enough space and varied interests... (I go to my music studio and she goes to her knitting and sewing space.
We meet for meal times and evenings and share gardening duties as well as having some shared interests but give each other space. It doesn't do to live in each others pockets!

 

Classic tune. Hope all is well *thumbs up*

 

I've already had overseas clients have to cancel weddings (one based in Hong Kong today). The nightclubs / bars are likely to be shut if we follow Italy's path. Loads of my subcontracted workforce, who are not exactly rich will be up **** creek & DJing is one of thousands of businesses affected. This could be the biggest recession since the war in my opinion.

 

It gets better!! Just had the Whatsapp stuff from neighbours etc. In order to leave the your own commune you have to have a self certification document authorised. You can only do so if your reason is essential travel i.e. work. Even if you simply want to leave the commune to get petrol you must have the form. The police/carabinieri are doing spot checks (even on pedestrians) and sign the form . Anyone caught without gets a heavy fine and possible sanctions i.e 3 months prison.
Falsifying a document is 2 years!! prison and several hundred euros fine!! Ouch!

Fortunately we have a bar, restaurant, pizzeria, smallish supermarket, butchers, bakers, garden centre, My Drs' surgery farmacia and petrol station all within our small commune.... maximum distance1.5km.

They are not messing about!! We normally go to the next commune town for the supermarket which has a better butcher and is bigger and other restaurants as it is actually closer but hey-ho!

 

Yep ALL weddings, christenings and, ironically, funerals are banned (I think funerals can go ahead with the local priest and absolute immediate family but none of the usual mass gatherings and processions to the church and cemetery.
Not sure what happens with church services and mass given the majority of attendees would be in the high risk category due to the average age. Then again theses days there would be plenty of space in the church given the size of congregations. I would suspect drinking the sacrificial wine and biscuit at mass all sharing the same cup is a definite no-no!!

 

I know you’re gonna dig this

 

Italians hev nivver got 10 yards away at a free kick so no chance of this one metre thing working. They`ll always encroach.

 

Not foolproof but they didnt even scan for anyone with a fever. We were all scanned on the way in. Even if it hapenned to be 50% reliable or catching at teh right time that would be 50% more than none.

 

The UK has the same number of cases now as Italy had 2 weeks ago. They chose to do nothing to stop the spread. Whereas we have...
so you can guess what we have to look forward to.

 

I'm expecting the worst. Will be a struggle for all self employed people. I seriously think if we go to the Italy level we'll have masses of small / medium businesses failing & possibly a few larger ones, like travel firms / airlines. Worst recession since WW2 ahead. Mark my words. Just hoping Rees Mogg dies of it, would make it all worthwhile.

 

With this PM it’s dither and delay all the way , he hasn’t got a clue and with Cummins Stalin like purge on the other advisors it’s all down to his whim .

 

I work from home, so I'm lucky. I do ave a lock up & a bunch of overheads, but it isn't the same as having business premises. I have been in that predicament. A couple of months closed & most small businesses in town centres will be finished.

 

Essential travel is allowed between place of work and home. But you must only travel between the two points. Delivery couriers, for example, are an exception and OK provided they have the correct documentation (self certification to justify the journey which is then signed off ...or not!!) by the Police or Carabinieri carrying out the check when they are stopped. As I said the fines and punishments for breaking the rules severe. Applied for our KLM flight refunds but not holding out too much hope as our tickets were non refundable non transferable and their website has not yet updated to show the emergency refunds rule apply to all tickets for Italy only travel to China.
Oh! and all church services including MASS...shock horror!!! for non-Communist church going devout Catholics (mainly but not exclusively old people) are also banned. People CAN go into church as individuals but must strictly adhere to the 1 metre rule. off to the very local bar tomorrow lunch to show solidarity. New Motto: 'Have tape measure - will travel!'

 

Jeez.!!!.. And some on here call ME odious and a vile person (basically for disagreeing with them). I have certainly never wished someone dead even in jest!

 

It is Rees Mogg, he's not human, he's a shape-shifting reptile.