You know the other night when Ming and I had that argument and he fled from my wrath to his shed? Well, the argument was about the fact that even though he moved into his shed months ago, he still hadn’t cleared a lot of his stuff out of his bedroom in the house. I had been extreeeeeeeemely patient about his procrastination until that night, when I snapped, the reason being that this bedroom was to become my new office so that I can get out of this little back veranda hovel that the mice like to invade (they like paper).
After Ming stomped off to his shed, muttering things like “You always make me feel so bad”, and me shouting, “Just clear your stuff out tomorrow or I will chuck it all out the front door!” he and I reconciled via texts and he promised to do the job the next day.
Well he kept his promise because at exactly midnight I was awoken by some very noisy activity in his ex-bedroom (which is adjacent to mine). I lay there grinning like a hyena listening to what I realized was Ming moving his stuff out of that room. This went on for about an hour and then all was quiet again, I tiptoed into the next room to find it totally empty! Elation! Then, on the hall table, Ming had left a long list of things he would do when the sun came up. I grinned again and went back to bed.
It wasn’t until after breakfast, that I discovered that he had simply moved all of his stuff into the living room! But it’s okay now – all of it is in his shed which now resembles the chaos of a crime scene (what happened to my neat and tidy boy?)
But my room is ready for me now and I am so excited! It is a room with lots of history because it used to be Anthony’s mother’s room, then it was the office where I wrote my PhD, then it was Ming’s childhood bedroom. We have now taken the huge musk-pink carpet mat out (over 40 years old) to reveal the beautiful jarrah floorboards, and Ming has vacuumed from corner to corner and cleaned the windows inside and out, and we have arranged for a handyman to fix the cracks and holes in the wall and ceiling. Then we will get my painter friend in to paint it crimson (just joking – white!)
It is a big, light-filled room with a view to the front paddock from the north-facing windows. That’s where I will put my desk, computer etc. tomorrow!
The interesting thing about this little adventure is that, for me, it feels like I will have my own beautiful space in this house for the first time in 20 years. It’s not that I felt deprived but, having married an older man and moved into an already established household, I have never quite felt a sense of ownership and, in terms of making any sort of mark, I have done very little in the way of interior decorating, renovating or changing anything – so much so that when Anthony’s relatives drop in they feel they have stepped back in time!
I have decided to call this old/new room my writing room. A new beginning. It will be wonderful to move out of the hovel of an office I am in now where things go bump in the night constantly, especially in the ceiling where rodents, goannas and possibly snakes have sprinting competitions.
Ah, the joy of change!
jmgoyder 
So happy that you have your own space to relax, reflect, just “be,” Julie. Enjoy!
It was supposed to happen yesterday but new plan is for weekend – yay!
Enjoy your new writing room.
I will! Thanks, Susan.
I so enjoy and need my own space. My husband isn’t near as needy….as I am. But we do need to give him his own space….somehow. I love my ‘bike room’ and my writing cabin. 🙂 Enjoy your space Julie!!!!
I already had space but it was/is a little back room so I am looking forward to moving into my new room (there have been a few delays!)
I hope your hands start to cooperate!
So do I!
I am about to get a craft room and know how you feel. Elated my room where everything has it’s place and no excuse if I can’t find my good scisers . We lived in a 100 year old limestone house.
The kitchen had the most discusting old green Lino. Just before we sold we went to replace the Lino and to my horror underneath was the most gorgeous wide jarrah boards!!!! The first week living in the house I made the kids a caramel slice. After the chocolate top layer Had cooled and I was ready to slice I came into the kitchen to find three chocolate covered mice having a feast.
The whole lot went in the bin tray and all. But oh how we loved that house with many a happy year. My son aged four cried when we moved in and again years later when we moved out.
Julie, do you have a blog? Thanks so much for this comment which made me laugh my head off re the mice etc.! Juliexxx
enjoy your new/old room Julie. It’s how I felt when I turned the big room downstairs into my studio space. Like I was claiming room all for me — what a gift. blessings my friend.
Such an exhilarating feeling!
Definitely a wonderful way for a new start. I wish you many happy hours of writing in your new space.
I am going to relegate all of the bills/paperwork.red-tapey stuff to this room so I can be free in my Writing room – so excited!
How exciting !! 🙂
Yes!!!!
Julie, I was really getting into you getting your new office, into the fixing up, the patching, the painting, I was even enjoying the row between you and Ming, and your final victory. The you said snakes in the attic, and I crapped my pants. I hate SNAKES, and would never be able to sleep in your office, nor any place in your home, I am such a chicken, and snakes love chicken or at least the eggs. Well, dear I truly hope you enjoy and love your writing room, and I look forward to the production that comes from it. Take care, Bill
Well you don’t look at all like someone who would be afraid of snakes, Bill! All you have to do is bop them on the head with a shovel.
I’m sure you’re going to really enjoy your new space, Julie. What a great idea, and so easily achieved, after a bit of nagging on your part. 🙂
Hasn’t quite happened yet but new goal is the weekend!
Good luck. 🙂
Everyone deserves some space of their own, Julie, so I can appreciate how much this room means to you. It has good memories though, so it will be doubly blessed.
Blessed for the old memories and blessed for the new life you are giving it.
Are you sure you want white paint though – perhaps off-white might be kinder to the rest of the house’s colour scheme.
Don’t put a window or a door behind your chair though, you’ll end up in a draft.
Yes – off-white it is or cream?
Off-white would be good and you won’t believe how many shades of it there is. Some are ‘cool’ tones, some are ‘warm’ tones, Some are ‘peachy’. Some have a faint greenish tinge – don’t get the wrong shade of white.
Cream, as in ‘buttermilk’ cream, might be too ‘yellowish’ OR it might be perfect for your taste & house decor.
They say the colour Yellow stimulates the brain. So I suppose all school rooms and studies should be painted yellow? Personally, I don’t like yellow walls. I don’t mind a nice shade of pale lemon though.
I’m a ‘winter’ colour girl, so I’m not keen on Autumn or Summer colours in decorating.
I highly recommend you buy a sample pot first.
You’d be surprised how different it looks on the walls and whether the day light shines on them. Light changes so much am & pm. This office is going to be your sanctuary and personal space and ultimately you may well spend lots of time in there. Ensure it makes you feel good when at your desk. Depending on door & window locations, don’t face the wall. I have my tiny desk facing a wall next to a window and if I swivel in my desk chair slightly, I can see out the lounge balcony doors to my potted herbs and the main path leading to this block of flats. I usually have my balcony door open so I see & hear the birds.
I see everyone who comes in & out of this block. I see the Changing of the Seasons and the eucalyptus branches blowing in the breeze/wind in the street, so even though I look at the internet weather forecast every morning, I can tell by the branches blowing whether it’s going to be a good day for flower photography or maybe a better day to stay indoors.
Nothing is nicer than sitting on my ‘chair’ watching the rose flowers & branches blowing in the breeze on a Sunday morning when all the main road traffic is absent (not that I hear it much on my side of the block though).
Nothing is nicer than watching the birds in the trees when I’m typing or browsing through images to use. I have stopped putting bird seed on my feeder though, that rat I photographed one afternoon keeps stealing it.
Ensure you have a nice outlook so you can spend some time just staring and thinking – very relaxing.
V
x
Ooooh, a room of one’s own, a writer’s dream! So happy for you, Julie. x
Me too!
Enjoy your new writing room!
Diana xo
I will!
I am sooooo jealous, I just have my chair next to my chair sitter. I have an extra bedroom ( our home has only two) and I have said many times I want that room for an office but I get resistance from the chairsitter or one of the family needs a bed for a while and it is not big enough for both. So yes very envious. Now let me ask a question are there really a lot of mice and snakes ??? I don’t know I could bear to live with those type of critters oh wait I do know….. I could not! Anyway congrats on geting your own room and het move anything you want toss what you don’t, Ant won’t care that you make the place YOUR home. love and hugs
I am about to go to bed so will reply properly tomorrow – yes re the mice! Yick!
Lots of critters yes! But Ming has organized for a guy to come and patch some of the holes in ceiling so that the room so that mice don’t fall onto my head (kidding – sort of!)
Sounds great Jules…and totally (and I mean totally) get your feelings behind ‘your’ new space. Enjoy! xo
The first thing I will write tomorrow will be about you (don’t worry – I will be subtle. Is this okay?
Me and subtle in the same sentence? Good luck with THAT! and of course it is…though cannot imagine what.
Not on the blog but I do want to ‘use’ your rather unique personality to fashion a character in a short story I am writing. I will send it to you when I’ve finished it. Love you!
I am honored just thinking YOU think me unique. Cannot wait to read it. ILY2
I am the first to love change with rooms in my house. I love it and am so happy for you!!! Have fun!
I will need your decorating advice!
I will be right there!!!!
yay, mission accomplished. a bit of a bumpy ride along the way, but that’s how it goes. i’ve claimed a little bedroom in my house as my creative space and i have made it exactly how i like it and love spending time in there. congrats on your own little corner of the universe!
Nearly there!
That’s great… just a little more renovations…getting rid of the things that bump in the night… Diane
Ratsack!
A lovely returning to a new beginning. Sounds so nice, all of it.
Getting there….
Ah, a room of her own. A good thing.i am curious what this wood floor looks like. I love wood. I have an original hardwood floor, with honey tones-so warm and calming.Wishing you peace and creativity and a great view.
The wood is jarrah – beautiful and a deep brown colour.
Enjoy it.
We have had a few delays but I should be in there by weekend.
Congratulations on your new writing room!
Nearly there now Trisha!
Reading that he moved it all into the living room cracked me up, boys, well it is good that it is now in his shed and you have your new office.
He is a beautiful brat!
Every writer needs a space of their own. I don’t have one and it drives me nuts!
Can you get one somehow?
I want to get a loft room built onto our townhouse – if this ever happens, I will lock the door and hide the key 🙂
This made me feel SO happy for you.
Every girl needs her space and I am so glad that you finally getting yours.
Enjoy 🙂
Nearly there!
This is so exciting, Julie! (and about time!!!) xo
A few delays but getting there!
I remember how excited I was to get my desk in a corner of the spare room. Enjoy!
Yes I am ridiculously excited – buying new desk today!
Good for you. And glad it was Ming and not a burglar.
Me too!
Mice, Pompholyx……… I’m thinking air purifier and making your home secure against wildlife invasion. As I said in another comment, my church organist recovered, but she did have to change lifestyles to virtually an indoor (windows and doors closed, and this was Central Texas) lifestyle with an air purifier.