Saturday, 8 July 2023

I am sick today.  It’s Saturday, and I’ve been sick since Monday.  Fortunately it’s school holidays and, as I work at a school, I don’t have to take any time off.  It’s very frustrating though.  There’s a lot I wanted to get done and instead I’m resigned to my bedroom so as not to spread my lurgy about.  Ah well, it happens.

Work on the Upper Room has progressed.  The plumbing has been done, and the shower, basin and toilet have been installed.  The electrical work has also been completed and we now have power and light fittings.  There have been a few hiccups along the way, but that always seems to be part and parcel of building projects.

This is also the day when Heir Number One wants to move into this new space.  

The backstory to our Upper Room Project goes like this…  

Clive and I want to travel and have adventures.  Clive has a decent income.  Me, not so much. I do have an income, it’s just not particularly decent.  (I’ve changed jobs a few times over the last few years for various reasons including life balance and also not really knowing what I want to be when I grow up, sigh.)

Clive’s first idea was to have student boarders, but the problem with that is I am an introvert and prefer a bit of privacy.  The thought of other people sharing my space, well I’m just not sure about that.

BUT… we have a big garage with a mezzanine floor above it.  So, whilst I’m a little reluctant to share my house long term with others, I’m pretty sure I could manage having people stay on our property if they were in a separate space.  Hence the idea of turning the mezzanine area into a studio unit.  Let’s have a place that we can rent out.  And so that’s what we are doing.  It’s all a part of our “How to Become Independently Wealthy” quest.   Don’t worry, I’m rolling mine eyes too!

This has all coincided with Heir Number One deciding that he too would like to save some money.  He definitely has a decent income, and has his own apartment, but has decided to rent out his apartment and be our first Upper Room resident. So, while market rent will obviously go out the window for our first tenant, it will be really nice to have him around.

This is how my ideal moving-in day would go. The Upper Room is completed, has been fastidiously cleaned, tidied and is beautifully appointed – so  much so that it looks like something from a magazine.  First tenant moves in and carefully places all personal items in the storage areas provided, exhibiting only a few tasteful items.  Everything still looks magazine-worthy.  I sit (albeit) on my sick bed, happy in the knowledge that all is beautiful in the land above the garage. 

This is not how it will happen.  I’m preparing myself for that now.  

The kitchenette has not yet been completed.  I have been sick so have not been up there to clean and tidy all of the renovation debris.  There are boxes (along with plenty of things that are not in boxes!)  everywhere from said new tenant’s previous apartment.  He tells me he has been sorting it out. Hmm, I’ve asked for photographic proof!

Maybe it’s better that I can’t see what’s going on up there!   I will lie here and hope for the best.