I Had a Good Day
University - 02
My Apartment
I deliberately keep the weekend quiet. I am conserving energy for the onslaught to come.
I have drawn up a study schedule for the next year. Frankly, when I look just at the lectures, tutorials, essay groups, it is not so bad. Never more than four lectures in a day. But it is relentless, day after day. And then there is all the reading, essay work. Putting together notes and references for my dissertation. An extra two years study on top of what I was expecting.
Much of my time this year will be spent between the Institute of International Relations and the Institute of Journalism. Luckily, they occupy the same campus, so not too much time lost. I can walk from my apartment to the campus in just over twenty minutes. Stroll in 30 minutes. Via coffee house, 2hr30.
The building containing my apartment is, I think, early to mid nineteenth century. It is on a corner plot, in a busy area of the city centre. There are many shops and cafes, bars, boutiques. Many people around, by day and by night.
There is a lot of traffic. Parking is difficult, but there is a small, secure private car park not too far away. I have contract to use this and my car spends a lot of time there.
Street level of my building is a shop. It sells high-end imported "status" products - watches, jewelry, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, espresso machines, leather goods - plus stuff like scented candles, crystals. It seems a bit mixed up, but is usually busy and knows its target market.
The woman who owns the shop owns the whole building. Her apartment is on the second level. She is very pleasant, always helpful. Her shop manager also. According to Papa, the owner is "connected", so there is never any trouble for shop or building. It is very safe here.
My apartment is on the third level. It is what I think Americans call a "walk up" (if I am wrong, please correct me). The entry lobby is beside the shop entry. There is no elevator.
How to describe it? In plan, it is like reversed 'L', with outside long leg facing main boulevard and outside short leg facing side street.
My apartment entry door is about two thirds along inner long leg. Enter and you are immediately facing kitchen and eating area. To left, corridor leads to bathroom, visitor bedroom, my bedroom. To right, living area.
Walk to left. First door on right is bathroom.
When Papa bought lease on apartment, just over two years ago, it needed some work. We replaced the bathroom, got rid of bath and fitted big shower cubicle. Plenty of room, for two. Basin. Toilet. Bidet. Floor dark grey slate tiles, walls, ceiling black ceramic tiles, ceiling has array of recessed spotlights. All bathroom furniture bright white, polished chrome fittings. The window, in the wall opposite the door, looks out on to the main boulevard. The wall beside the door is floor to ceiling mirror.
Next door on right is visitor bedroom. Not very big. Bed, small wardrobe, dressing table with drawers. OK to stay a couple of nights. Again, opposite door is window looking onto main boulevard.
I have decided to convert this room to permanent office, for my studies and work with Papa. I will get rid of this furniture, I am sure there is charity will take it away. I will find nice desk and chair, book shelves. I will spend a lot of time here over next three years, so I want it to be business-like but comfortable.
Facing at end of corridor is door to my bedroom. I have a lot of closet space, drawers, for my clothes. Large double bed. Large window looking onto main boulevard, under this my dressing table. I try to keep room tidy, but there always seems to be some item of discarded clothing somewhere.
Apart from these three rooms, rest of apartment is what I think you call open plan.
Kitchen was replaced same time as bathroom, before I move in. There is refrigerator and freezer cabinet, washing machine for clothes, hob and oven, sink. High level cupboards above. Worktop with cupboards under window. Then eating bar with four stools. This is quite cosy for entertaining. Lighting is like in bathroom and can be turned low for intimacy.
The living area is the short leg of the reverse 'L'. It has one window facing main boulevard and three windows facing side street. Here I have my current work table and chair, sofa and two armchairs around coffee table, lot of book shelves, hifi music centre - I still listen to CDs!
Before I moved in, I decided I wanted decor to reflect my room in family home. The floor is wood boards, stained black. Walls and ceiling are white. Doors, window frames, skirting boards black.
Kitchen units are white, with black marble work surfaces and eating bar.
I have a few prints and posters on walls. Family photos. Rugs for comfort in certain areas.
Heating and hot water come from boiler in basement. Always very efficient.
I hope some of that makes sense. I have probably left out some vital piece of information that makes whole thing nonsense. Any questions, just ask.
And this was going to be short piece about weekend... So, weekend was quiet and apart from a little shopping, a little people watching in coffee house, I studied and caught up with sleep.
Now I must try to catch up with diary.
My Apartment
I deliberately keep the weekend quiet. I am conserving energy for the onslaught to come.
I have drawn up a study schedule for the next year. Frankly, when I look just at the lectures, tutorials, essay groups, it is not so bad. Never more than four lectures in a day. But it is relentless, day after day. And then there is all the reading, essay work. Putting together notes and references for my dissertation. An extra two years study on top of what I was expecting.
Much of my time this year will be spent between the Institute of International Relations and the Institute of Journalism. Luckily, they occupy the same campus, so not too much time lost. I can walk from my apartment to the campus in just over twenty minutes. Stroll in 30 minutes. Via coffee house, 2hr30.
The building containing my apartment is, I think, early to mid nineteenth century. It is on a corner plot, in a busy area of the city centre. There are many shops and cafes, bars, boutiques. Many people around, by day and by night.
There is a lot of traffic. Parking is difficult, but there is a small, secure private car park not too far away. I have contract to use this and my car spends a lot of time there.
Street level of my building is a shop. It sells high-end imported "status" products - watches, jewelry, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, espresso machines, leather goods - plus stuff like scented candles, crystals. It seems a bit mixed up, but is usually busy and knows its target market.
The woman who owns the shop owns the whole building. Her apartment is on the second level. She is very pleasant, always helpful. Her shop manager also. According to Papa, the owner is "connected", so there is never any trouble for shop or building. It is very safe here.
My apartment is on the third level. It is what I think Americans call a "walk up" (if I am wrong, please correct me). The entry lobby is beside the shop entry. There is no elevator.
How to describe it? In plan, it is like reversed 'L', with outside long leg facing main boulevard and outside short leg facing side street.
My apartment entry door is about two thirds along inner long leg. Enter and you are immediately facing kitchen and eating area. To left, corridor leads to bathroom, visitor bedroom, my bedroom. To right, living area.
Walk to left. First door on right is bathroom.
When Papa bought lease on apartment, just over two years ago, it needed some work. We replaced the bathroom, got rid of bath and fitted big shower cubicle. Plenty of room, for two. Basin. Toilet. Bidet. Floor dark grey slate tiles, walls, ceiling black ceramic tiles, ceiling has array of recessed spotlights. All bathroom furniture bright white, polished chrome fittings. The window, in the wall opposite the door, looks out on to the main boulevard. The wall beside the door is floor to ceiling mirror.
Next door on right is visitor bedroom. Not very big. Bed, small wardrobe, dressing table with drawers. OK to stay a couple of nights. Again, opposite door is window looking onto main boulevard.
I have decided to convert this room to permanent office, for my studies and work with Papa. I will get rid of this furniture, I am sure there is charity will take it away. I will find nice desk and chair, book shelves. I will spend a lot of time here over next three years, so I want it to be business-like but comfortable.
Facing at end of corridor is door to my bedroom. I have a lot of closet space, drawers, for my clothes. Large double bed. Large window looking onto main boulevard, under this my dressing table. I try to keep room tidy, but there always seems to be some item of discarded clothing somewhere.
Apart from these three rooms, rest of apartment is what I think you call open plan.
Kitchen was replaced same time as bathroom, before I move in. There is refrigerator and freezer cabinet, washing machine for clothes, hob and oven, sink. High level cupboards above. Worktop with cupboards under window. Then eating bar with four stools. This is quite cosy for entertaining. Lighting is like in bathroom and can be turned low for intimacy.
The living area is the short leg of the reverse 'L'. It has one window facing main boulevard and three windows facing side street. Here I have my current work table and chair, sofa and two armchairs around coffee table, lot of book shelves, hifi music centre - I still listen to CDs!
Before I moved in, I decided I wanted decor to reflect my room in family home. The floor is wood boards, stained black. Walls and ceiling are white. Doors, window frames, skirting boards black.
Kitchen units are white, with black marble work surfaces and eating bar.
I have a few prints and posters on walls. Family photos. Rugs for comfort in certain areas.
Heating and hot water come from boiler in basement. Always very efficient.
I hope some of that makes sense. I have probably left out some vital piece of information that makes whole thing nonsense. Any questions, just ask.
And this was going to be short piece about weekend... So, weekend was quiet and apart from a little shopping, a little people watching in coffee house, I studied and caught up with sleep.
Now I must try to catch up with diary.
