JAMES RUNS TIGHT SHIP

"You never know someone until you live with them", old adage that applies here. Each and every new soul coming into the Somerset Apartments is a neighbour.

Or so, James, my mate who runs a troubled complex believes.

 A neighbour one is going to have to deal with and sort out if the promise of 'good' is not realized. Risk? Is there any kind of life without risk?

Were it a perfect world, brilliant folks near, would be beating down the door to live here. They are not. Were it a perfect world, all who wanted flats here would make buckets of cash and go to work every day. All do not. Perfection would be to not see folks so down on luck. for whatever reason. Economy has forced many to down-size living, making the flats at the Somerset Apartments the only place to go. Folks on benefits, with limited incomes, have few options. The Complex is not a perfect world, just a complex seeking to be more brilliant and attract tenants who will add to the brilliance to come.

Having vetted all, James is of opinion that new tenants will add to the mix nicely here. Mind, James is  not GOD and there is always the possibility that lies have been told to. There may be problems. One has to have faith.

What James  knows is this. All of the folks moving have been told what is expected of. Rules have been explained to in great detail. Flats have been made as good as possible, knowing that more might have been done, but realizing that price limits the benefits one can add to a unit. Nothing is broke, and every effort has been made to right all wrongs in units. No lies have been told and no false promises made.

What passed as acceptable in past, no longer flies here. Tenants are given every opportunity to enjoy flats in comfort, knowing that repairs will be made if needed. Make do with horrid is no longer an option. Folks who want more out of life than drugs and cheating the system are the goal. The landlord does care and management listens.
James will always remember being told by management of past; "You must allow poor folks grace, give special treatment to, they have nothing and are owed that." Rubbish. Am not scraping the bottom of the barrel anymore, am determined to siphon off the Crème de la Crème of poor but honourable folks looking to live in a safe, clean environment. Bravo James...

Trompe l'oeil

Plain wood made 'expensive'

 Trompe - l'oeil -to fool the eye is what the restoration work that Mischa is an expert craftsman at doing.  The company Mischa works for in Switzerland never lacks for projects, as you can see from the examples on display here.

Giving 'age' to plain pine

 Mischa is clever by half and then some.  'But you know....' he is Swiss...

Mischa's 'tools of craft'

 Mischa works bloody hard and plays just as hard.  During his long stay at the Hilo Bay Hostel, it was common sight to see him head off to beach with surf board taller than he to 'hit the waves'.

'NEW' old wooden wall

 The snap just makes you think of the smell of old wood.

Antique look to doors

 You have to wonder what secrets will be told behind these doors.  Or nasty deeds....

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21st Century looking 18th Century

Truth be told, you have to love a gentleman who calls you a 'dirty' old geezer...

Last look at stats for me blog show that 31 per cent of you are in Europe or UK.  If you have a manor in need of repairs, call Mischa, he needs a new surfboard...