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Original poster

Chilling view of the future.

54 replies

Sarahlou63 · 27/03/2020 22:23

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/a-letter-to-the-uk-from-italy-this-is-what-we-know-about-your-future

OP posts:
FlushedZebra · 28/03/2020 02:22

I think it's pretty accurate.

RosesandIris · 28/03/2020 02:33

I think that article is bang on. I recognise so much of it already.

RosieSunset · 28/03/2020 02:53

Thoughtful reflective piece with a lot of kindness, sad affection and wistfulness. Very human and humane.

Mothership4two · 28/03/2020 02:56

Many of you will fall asleep vowing that the very first thing you’ll do as soon as lockdown is over is file for divorce

Too true, happens several times a day. Grin

Thought article was pretty bang on

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 28/03/2020 03:01

Pretty accurate for how I'm.feeling right now, especially about missing your adult children. In my darker moments I do wonder if I'll.see them or my elderly parents again.

Kinsters · 28/03/2020 03:12

I'm in Malaysia and on day 11 of lockdown, we haven't left the house for a week. For me the only bit of this that rings true is the social life. I've been much more active on Facebook and WhatsApp. Other than that life has carried on quite normally except with the added pleasure of having my DH at home. It's been a special time for him to spend with our two month old daughter, time that he'd never expected to get.

Imstillskanking · 28/03/2020 03:29

How are people putting on weight?!

I've have been self isolating for over 3 weeks now (living in australia and our rules are a bit different - I did overseas travel then later developed some very mild symptoms, seems to be clearing up now, but the timing of it all means I've had to be stuck at home for ages) and I've lost quite a bit of weight! Already dropped a dress size and more seems to be gradually coming off. I needed to though as I was carrying some extra baby weight. I'm now about 2kgs off my pre baby weight.

There's not much food in the shops and every time you leave the house to get food you risk catching or spreading the virus. It's given me a mentality that food has to go further and really last. The uncertainty makes me think that there may come a time where we aren't able to get much food at all. It really makes me think twice before I go to the kitchen go grab a snack, or help myself to seconds at dinner... it's all food that could be saved for another meal!

DuLANGDuLANGDuLANG · 28/03/2020 03:33

The first regional lockdowns in Italy began on Feb 21st (according to Wikipedia) extending nation wide on March 9th.

So some people are on day 36.

Mothership4two · 28/03/2020 03:50

How are people putting on weight?!

Easy, my daily outside "exercise" is walking the dog (she won't/can't go for a run) and then there is only so many times you can run round the garden. Boredom and stress make people eat. Food is available around here (in UK), but just can't get everything you want so have to adapt. Also, have made a lot of cakes and biscuits with/for ds and then I eat some.

daffodil1224 · 28/03/2020 07:43

Oh is this really the time for the "HOW are people putting on weight?" Type comments?

People stuck and bored at home eat. Quite simple.

Imstillskanking · 28/03/2020 07:46

Oh is this really the time for the "HOW are people putting on weight?" Type comments?

What type of comment is that?

The reason I said it is because I'm very worried about the food situation. I really don't want to have to keep going out to the supermarket and increase my risk of getting the virus. And there isn't much there anyway. So I don't eat as much, even though I want to.

Maybe in the UK the supermarkets are full of food?

I explained all of this in my original comment. No need for the patronising attitude, I'm just worried.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 28/03/2020 07:49

A novelist, you say.

So big on facts and light on emotion, then?

Does she also have a book out now, by any chance?

wonkytonkwoman · 28/03/2020 07:53

I don't think it's chilling, it resonated with me in many ways.

I think you might have taken the message a little too literally, Mothership4two

LynetteScavo · 28/03/2020 08:35

It not scaremongering at all. It's pretty much what I'm going through now. I actually found it quite reassuring.

loobyloo1234 · 28/03/2020 09:02

I’ve seen a lot of scare mongering posts on here lately but this isn’t one of them. It’s accurate and actually pretty nice. I liked the ‘you will make appointments in the supermarket queue just to see loved ones’ part. I feel in a couple of weeks that really will happen as we miss our family more and more

Mabelface · 28/03/2020 09:48

I made an appointment in the supermarket queue yesterday just so I could say hello to my bf. Stayed 2m apart but it was good to see his face. I miss him.

LivinLaVidaLoki · 28/03/2020 09:55

@Haplap our % of deaths is massively skewed as we only test those in hospital.

Seventyone72seventy3 · 28/03/2020 09:58

I'm in Northern Italy and have been on lockdown for longer than the author who is in Rome. I recognize a lot of this - and yes, I have put on weight. We are cooking a lot and not moving - no exercise allowed, we have no garden. I was managing to hit my target of 10,000 steps a day before this started. Now barely a couple of hundred. We are actually sleeping a lot. Nobody really feels energetic or springs out of bed!
I know people need to vent but I am surprised that so many people are complaining after a week of still being allowed out to exercise! It makes such a difference and you really miss it. My kids are all really sporty usually, dd is a runner and they are like caged animals. Sad

Derbygerbil · 28/03/2020 10:01

The latest projections show that we'll be nowhere near Italy in terms of cases or deaths.

I’m not sure how you can be so confident. All we can say is that the growth in deaths over the past few days has been somewhat lower than Italy’s.

onalongsabbatical · 28/03/2020 10:34

I think it's a beautiful, sad, clear-eyed and empathic piece of writing, and I'm glad to have read it.

NotDisclosedToday · 28/03/2020 11:00

"I think this kind of media scaremongering is totally unhelpful. The latest projections show that we'll be nowhere near Italy in terms of cases or deaths."

Riiiiiiight. If you say so.

Smellbellina · 28/03/2020 11:08

I thought it was a nice piece, actually cheered me up a bit!

TrickyKid · 28/03/2020 11:12

That's not scaremongering.

Yeafortwo · 28/03/2020 11:18

Not scaremongering at all. It all sounds totally true and plausible.

We are actually sleeping a lot. Nobody really feels energetic or springs out of bed

This rings really true, I just lie in bed a lot and nap. Not unhappily but because I can't muster any enthusiasm. I'm staying at home, not seeing anybody and feeling good about my responsibility to the nation but omg it's fuckin boring

TiredofSM · 28/03/2020 11:36

I enjoyed the article. I have to admit I do find myself comparing mine and my siblings circumstances. Them with their big houses and gardens in the countryside. Me in stuck in London. Them on full wages at home. Me having wound my business up and still paying full nursery fees. Me at home with children under the age of 6, them with self sufficient teenagers. I’m really starting to wonder what we actually have in common. I know our experiences of surviving CV are completely different.