Home, Sweet Home !

Posted on 2007/09/20 10:58:59 (September 2007).

So here you have a few pics of our living room I took this morning. As you can see, it’s a neo-colonial furniture which wasn’t too expensive (apart from the sofa) and has a certain “cachet”. We are still looking for a suitable coffee table.

Together with the living room, we have a rather large kitchen, two bedrooms, a desk room with a mezzanine where we “retire” to watch TV (it could be converted into another bedroom), a bathroom, a toilet room (without bidet, unfortunately!), a small loggia, a laundry room and a nice terrace with a view.
We also have a garage and an attic above it.
It isn’t big in itself (approx. 100 m2), but well laid out.

The area is pleasant and quiet, at a stone’s throw away from Vienne. The countryside is at our very doorstep. As for the neighbours, they’re just wonderful! It’s another world! They’re obliging and ever smiling. Quite a change from our previous flat. Not to mention that we are now members of the “owners’ club” …… or “creditors’club”, if you prefer !

The only thing which puts me off is the price. We bought it nearly twice the price it was 7 years ago ! I remember it all started with the Twin Towers attack. The stock market suffered a blow. Investors rushed and sought refuge in real estates. From then on property prices never stopped rising.
Experts and real estate professionals claim that the demand is higher than the offer, hence the rise. But that’s bullshit ! Seven years ago, the demand was equivalent. They’re manipulating the market. They know what they do. Fuckers.

Wow!! That is one classy appartment/flat/house (whatever)!! Marvellous! Congratualtions to all three of you, you now have a very chic place to resdie!

I notice the pictures of Brinsley and Christelle - none of you, Sheri?

Ah, your Grandfather's influence from the Belgian Congo??

I can imagine you now, writing away up in the writing-room! Splendid!

Now that all the trauma of moving is over, you can settle, enjoy the atmosphere and live a more sophisticated lifestyle! :)

Posted by Nigel at 2007/09/20 13:54:21.

Hi Nigel.
Actually, my grandfather worked for a Belgian company in Egypt. My father was born in Cairo.
He worked in turn for a Belgian company in Zaïre where I was born (Kolwezi).
So the oriental (near eastern) artefacts I have come from my granddad. The African ones from my father.

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/20 19:10:38.

No pics of me cose I'm prudish...
(Yeah... AS IF !!!)

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/20 19:12:25.

Bravo ! Your place is so gorgeous! I love it! You've got taste.

Posted by Sagamore at 2007/09/20 19:56:09.

Beautiful house, Sheri, lots of light and space! And the fact that it is your own, not rented, makes it all the better! I wish you and your family many very happy years there.

Posted by Bryan at 2007/09/20 20:48:54.

A personnal message for my beloved husband. Don't give up and trust yourself. I'm certain that we're going to be extremely happy in here and life will be very "sweet" indeed. Je t'........

Posted by Mrs Sheri at 2007/09/20 21:49:14.

I know you're such a prude, Sheri ;))

Hey, also... That view from the balcony is superb too!! So inspirational!! :)

Posted by Nigel at 2007/09/21 12:03:30.

Yes, to add to what has already been said, that is a very nice place you have there Sheri! Is it always that tidy? Or did you do a spot of spring cleaning especially for the photos?

Posted by John at 2007/09/22 12:34:14.

Good stuff Sheri!!! I like the pictures although there are none of the kitchen and bedroom... Nice shot! In Pizzaland real estate is crazy too, although it seems that things are cooling off a little...

Posted by Lox at 2007/09/22 12:40:46.

John, I don't like your insinuations...!

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/25 20:44:15.

Thanks to you all, guys ! I'm glad to annouce you that I'm back in business, as far as internet is concerned. Didn't work for two weeks. Had to post from elsewhere. A guy came to fix it today. Hurrah.

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/25 20:46:41.

Glad everything is working again!! :)

Posted by Nigel at 2007/09/25 22:01:18.

Nigel wrote "inspirational" but the question remains: is it easier to write in such a place or do you feel that the "creditors' club" is putting you under pressure?
What is your balance between your day job and your writing aspirations ?

Posted by Evelyne at 2007/09/26 09:30:37.

Hi Evelyne. Given that we no longer watch TV*, I have much more spare time in the evening for my writing. Now I'm reading a book entitled La Peste, from Camus. I'm jotting down notes as I intend to adapt it for the cinema. If everything goes well, the script should be finished by Christmas. Then I'll submit it to producers, and that's another challenge.
Otherwise I've got enough work to pay for the bills, soothing in so doing my feeling of guilt (I always tend to think I'm a loser, professionally speaking...)


*We don't have TV cose the cable plug is in the living room and I refuse to extend the cable all the way to the room which has been assigned to it. We occasionally watch DVD's, and that's all. You cannot imagine the time we (Christelle, Brinsley and I) spend together now. Real quality time.

p.s.: who are you and what size is your bra... ?

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/26 11:22:43.

Sagamore: you said you were French. But do you live in France ? If so, where about ?

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/26 11:24:40.

Sheri: You are NOT a loser! You write very well, in more than one language!! The only losers are the BBC!! :)

Posted by Nigel at 2007/09/26 12:57:49.

Ok, I'm not a loser. I'm just... maladjusted. I do not fit the mould (which is somehow a pretentious thing to say).

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/26 16:05:42.

Sorry Sheri, but I’d rather tell the size of my bra to your wife… or your mother-in-law if you were kind enough to provide us with a picture.

As your friend Nigel would like to put it, I’m another loss to the BBC. We sent our scripts around the same time, and with the same depressing result. If it can make you feel better, here is an interesting topic about the Writersroom:
http://www.writersdock.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=27037&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Albert Camus died in 1960, which means La Peste won’t fall into public domain before 2030. It’s unlikely that a producer will buy the rights, knowing that there has already been an adaptation in 1992. The film failed to reach its audience in spite of starring William Hurt, Sandrine Bonnaire, Jean-Marc Barr and Robert Duvall.
I’m sorry to bring bad news, but it’s better for you to know the risks before deciding to spend your evenings on it.

From what you posted on the Writersroom blog, two of your scripts were given a full read, which means you do “fit the mould”. Maybe your evenings would be better spent sending these scripts to all the other places that accept unsolicited material. Danny Stack keeps a helpful list on his blog.

Posted by Evelyne at 2007/09/26 21:59:36.

Gee, thanks Evelyne ! Are you Sagamore's girlfriend ?

Concerning La Peste, I knew about the rights. Just wanted to have a try anyway. I like the book. The fact that it has already been adapted, and dind't meet success, doens't really mean anything, does it ?
However! I think you're right. I had in mind for some time now to write a comedy involving French, Italian and British characters. A 'comédie de moeurs' (comedy of manners ?) about a bunch of friends who met via internet and decide to spend a holiday together. Pretty colourful as they have, among other things, different dispositions...

Pleaaaaase, tell me more about you !

P.s.: Christelle doesn't mind when I talk 'pervy'. Can't touch you anyway, can I ?

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/27 07:00:27.

Thanks also for the link. Couldn't say it was enlightening though. Don't know what to think of it. So many viewpoints...

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/27 07:13:37.

Come to think of it, I feel depressed now.

Will read Danny Stack's blog later.

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/27 07:22:51.

Forget about Danny Stack’s blog for the moment. Here is one that must cheer you up: http://doms-world.blogspot.com/2007/09/bbc-writersroom.html

Your 'comédie de moeurs' project sounds exciting to me. Especially if there is lighthearted teasing as in Maison de Stuff. Producers would think of L’Auberge Espagnole, probably the best touchstone for getting a European project off the ground.

Sagamore isn’t my friend but I wish he was: he’s really gifted at communicating positive feelings. Sagaplus, we need you here!

Posted by Evelyne at 2007/09/27 11:56:07.

Is he a blogmate of some sort ? Or a colleague at work ?

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/27 12:22:37.

I mean, Sagamore.

As for Dom Carver, yes it does cheer me up. A little.

Posted by Sheri at 2007/09/27 12:29:10.

I live in Lyon. I see I make you curious, frankly is not a big deal!!!

Posted by Sagamore at 2007/09/27 13:26:24.

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