Curfews, vaccinations, restrictions and an army of lockdown volunteers - life in Italy for a former Farringdon woman
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Sandra Perry, nee Laws, from Farringdon and husband Greg run a small bed and breakfast and olive oil business in Cingoli.
But just like Britain, Italians had to adjust to the pandemic and Sandra gave the Echo an insight into life in her new homeland.
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Hide Ad"Economically, it is very tough and we had a large amount of cancellations at the start of the year for our bed and breakfast,” said Sandra.
"Our olive oil business is based on supplying top end restaurants. Many have either closed or cut back on ingredients and our largest UK olive oil customer sadly passed away.
"This year we have few olives and reluctantly decided not to pick them this month as our extra virgin olive oil would probably remain in our cantina for some time until our customer base can be redefined.”
Sandra, in her sixties, was the daughter of the late Arthur and Ada Laws. Arthur, a former telephone engineer, is still fondly remembered as one of the founders of Farringdon Social Club.
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Hide AdLater, she met a Business Studies undergraduate from Sunderland University (then Sunderland Polytechnic) and eventually married Greg.
Greg spent one year working at Haskel Energy Systems on North Hylton Road and then returned to complete his final university year. Sandra worked in Pallion for Bonas Machine Co eventually becoming responsible for shipping the firm’s looms throughout the world.
The couple moved to Lincolnshire where Sandra soon became employed using her legal skills.
Greg worked in sales and marketing and had the chance to visit Bologna and Milan on business. He took along Sandra and now they call it home.
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Hide AdSandra added: “Here in the Region of Le Marche there is a curfew from 10pm to 5am and travel is at the moment still free but you are advised to remain at home or within your comune area.
"Bars, restaurants, pastry shops, ice cream parlours and clubs now have to close. Bars and restaurants can offer a take-away-service until 10 pm.
“Cinemas, theatres, museums and exhibition halls remain closed. Shopping centres are closed at weekends and during public holidays whilst pharmacies, groceries, tobacconists and newsstands remain open.
"Nursery, elementary and middle schools remain open with students having to wear masks and 100% distance learning is the norm for high schools.
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Hide AdLombardy, Calabria, Campania and Tuscany are some of the red regions with a high number of positive cases.
Sandra added: “We are very cautious when we go out and choose very carefully the day, time and venue for shopping.
"Quieter times are the best, it was scary a couple of months ago in a local supermarket when some of the shoppers decided to pull their face masks down and not maintain their distance, I have had to use my shopping trolley on a number of occasions to keep other shoppers away when waiting at the check out.
"Our local supermarket automatically counts the shoppers and if the maximum number is exceeded the entrance gate is locked.
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Hide Ad"It is mandatory to wear face masks in shops, supermarkets and all public places but outside too at all times. Failure to do so can lead to a fine between 400 to 1000 euros."