#WHY ISN'T THAT THE SAME WAY WITH FURNITURE THAT WAS IN THE WAY IF RENOVATIONS | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

aanihtewrites · 2 years

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・🎨 ⸝⸝ ・Canvas

*sigh*

My eyes hover across the once empty canvas now filled with different colors giving it life. It isn't complete yet, I still have to go over the details and do some touch-ups here and there but, the painting looks so good already! I can't wait to see the reactions of everyone in the art department when they see this.

I felt an uncomfortable pressure build up in my lower back probably from the 3 hours I’ve been sitting on this wobbly wooden seat. The art room really needs some new furniture.

I decided to take a break, there’s still a week till the yearly art exhibition. I have enough time to work on the canvas.

A few droplets of murky paint water escaped the paint cup as I dropped my paintbrush in it, the acrylic paint palette sat right next to it. A happy hum left my mouth as I stood up and took off my apron while making my way to the common area in the middle of the art room.

I took a seat on the comfy love seat in one corner of the room and smack my lips. My eyes shifted to the table in the middle of the room for digital artists to sit at.

“Hey, Stacey! What are you working on?”, I called out, catching the attention of the blonde girl glued to her iPad screen.

“Working on an assignment. We have to study color and light theory and draw something based on what we learned.”, Stacey bubbly replied and held up her iPad for me to see. “I am drawing a tiger under the sunlight! How is it? Do you think it’s good enough?”

“Not bad, not bad. Can I see yours, George?”, I asked the brunette boy sitting right next to Stacy. He nodded as he held up his iPad. “I draw penguins.”

“Yep, penguins are always nice. Can’t wait to see the final work.”, I complimented him and watched as his face glowed up with happiness.

“You so kind. Thank you.”, George appreciated with the limited English vocabulary he knew. It isn’t easy for someone from French to catch on to a new language right after moving to the United States but, I always get surprised at his improvement with every conversation we have.

Both of them went back to work. I smile and relaxed in my seat, my eyes unmoving from the busy students.

“Stacy look so beautiful when she doing art. God, I like her so much.”

“George is so cute."

I heard in my head and chuckled under my breath before pulling my phone out from my jacket pocket. These two had the biggest crush on each other ever since they met. I don’t care if you call this “invading their privacy”, it’s fun hearing their thoughts.

Hearing people’s minds…what a blessing and a curse at the same time. I wonder what the gods were thinking when they gave me this mystical power. It’s pretty useful at times but sometimes I wish I never heard things I heard mistakenly for this power.

This power’s been with me for as long as I remember. I tried telling my parents about it of course but, they almost sent me to the mental asylum because apparently, I was going “crazy”. Those memories still haunt me, geez. I’ve been quiet about this ability ever since.

I wonder if anyone else can hear minds like me…

“The art room really needs some renovation.”, I heard an unfamiliar yet intoxicatingly addicting voice in my head followed by the sound of the creaky door swinging open. “Yeah, it can really use some better furniture and a new coat of paint.” My oh my, who is this fine man?

A perfectly sculpted face with big hazel eyes and beautiful brows, a nose so cute that I had to resist my urge to bop it, his hair looks so fluffy, that I wanna run my hands through them, and oh god, those lips…I wonder how they would look like on mine. Wait what am I thinking? Shit, Diana get yourself together you don’t even know him.

My head whipped up to the sound of a low giggle. It was the mysterious man. He put his poker face back on as we made eye contact. I frown, why couldn’t I read his mind anymore? I wanted to know what made him laugh…

“Are you Professor Diana?”, the boy asked, his husky deep voice making goosebumps rise all over my body. I nodded with a smile, trying to mask my nervousness.

“Yes! That’ll be me! Who are you may I ask?”, I asked as I stood up from the loveseat, my phone slipping back into my jacket pocket.

“Oh, I’m Aiden. I’ve been hired as an assistant art professor and the administration informed me that I’ll be working under you.”, he informed with a sweet smile on his face. I was screaming internally at this point. This is about to be added to my reasons for coming to the university. Who wouldn’t want to be here if you get to see this eye candy man every day?

“Nice to meet you, Aiden. It’s a pleasure to be working with you! I hope we’ll be close acquaintances in the near future!”, I extended my hand for a handshake. My heart is doing cartwheels in my ribcage. I wonder if all the sweat I am sweating right now is making me smelly. Is my makeup okay? I haven’t put much effort into it this morning. Ugh, I should have washed my hair yesterday.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when a veiny and humongous hand enveloped my embarrassingly small hands. Aiden firmly shook my hand before taking it back. He must be a master with his art. I can’t wait to see them.

“The feelings are mutual.”, Aiden replied. “So…who’s painting on that canvas.”

I looked in the direction he was pointing, realizing that he had his eyes on my unfinished painting from earlier. I knew I should have finished the painting at one seating. He must be thinking that I’m a work hoarder. What else are you going to mess up today, Diana?

“Uhh…yeah! I am the one working on it.”, I nervously replied as I took small steps towards the painting. “It’s for the annual art festival coming up next week. Sorry if it looks a little weird now, it’s unfinished. In case you’re wondering, I'm trying to depict child exploitation on social media.”

Aiden said nothing. He simply observed the painting closely, his hazelnut eyes carefully going over all the tiny details. Oh boy, I’m sure he isn’t impressed. He is probably judging the imperfections I haven’t covered up yet. Is that a blank spot? Why didn’t I notice that before?!

I wonder what he’s thinking…I thought and tried a little harder to get into his mind.

“Stay out of my head, I don’t like people invading my mind.”

“And stop thinking so low about yourself, I think you’re perfect just the way you are.”

I did not just hear that in my head. Did Aiden just communicate with me through his thoughts?!

“It’s called telepathy.”

No way! There’s someone else on this earth with the same ability as me?

“No shit Sherlock.”

“And that is how my dear children, I met your father.”

#_:'- i totally suck at writing cute stuff even though I love reading them t-t. hopefully one day I will get better? a friend told me that I would never be able to write a proper cute short story and she was kind of right. anyways, I am kind of proud of this one, it could get better if I actually put some effort behind it but I guess it's fine for now.

#writerscorner #writersociety #writers and poets #writerscommunity #writers on tumblr #tumblr writers #my writing #writers #telepathy #cute #short story #fiction #i suck at this help

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thesilkentheater · 2 years

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a skittering from upstairs

The librarian hums a small tune, idly reading a book that must weigh at least a pound. A small sign in front of him reads "Happy Halloween!", though the library isn't decorated in the slightest. The haunted atmosphere is enough to keep anyone away most of the year, but when the fall season comes around it's like people suddenly start believing in ghosts for a quarter of their lives and come in to test the place.

Although he feels at home, it's admittedly rather creepy. Spiderwebs hang from corners and above shelves, books sometimes find their ways onto strange places, and both the furniture and building are older than time, it seems. All of them have their reasons- the spiders keep out the flies and mosquitoes, and he's rather sensitive to mosquito bites, he's rather harebrained at times and leaves books he meant to re-shelf on a desk, sometimes open- but together out of context they tell a story.

Said story seems to be the interest of three young children today. They're no older than fourteen a piece, the youngest being ten; all three proudly boast they want to go on a tour of the place. So the librarian smiles and agrees, and leads them through the aisles.

It's a rather expansive place. First is the romance section, split first into the gender of the main couple and then the author; the kids predictably make fun of this, laughing to themselves about immature jokes. Thankfully, none of them notice his favorite- Bitten On A Full Moon- sitting out at a table.

Actually, why is that one sitting out on a table? It wasn't yesterday, and he knows he hasn't read it recently, because he's been meaning to.

Regardless, they move on, quickly getting through without too much fuss. The first floor is remarkably less spooky than the second, as the ceiling is simply wood and the old chandeliers, which are cleaned regularly. The stone walls, too, hold up better here, and because of the old servant's quarters that he still hasn't renovated, some of the walls are thick, warm oak. The carpet is thick and recent, too.

Across from the romance section is high fantasy, in which the twelve year old girl picks up a book she wants to check out. He'd protest about a child taking such material, but he recognizes the book, and it's honestly such disappointing garbage he'd be fine with her stealing it permanently.

The kids talk amongst themselves for a while, making fun of the book she picked while she vehemently defends her decision, arguing that high fantasy is actually a very adult thing because it's not all about childish things like candy and superheroes. Her friend argues with a smirk that a war hero and a superhero are the same concept- "they're literally both heroes. Duh," and the two of them snap back and forth on who's more or less mature.

A skittering passes by on the floor above. He hears it clear as day, the way what sounds like talons swish across the floor; the children hear it and huddle together. "What was that?"

"Might be the roomba," he says. "It sounds weird on the floor sometimes."

"You have a roomba in here?"

"Do I look like I want to vacuum the entire place myself?"

The kids collectively shrug, so he takes this opportunity to move the tour along. Since fantasy and romance are so popular, and so easy to scout for new books, the rest of the sections are all on the second floor.

The main banister, rich and warm as it is, marks the change between modernized but classic and decrepit but perfectly functional. The wood has aged, warped ever so slightly here and there; a stair is creaky and catches one of the boys off guard. It has no carpet on the first floor, but gains one on the second, transitioning from the earlier dark red to a pitch black up here. It's much fluffier, but sparingly used; in the rooms only, not the halls, which are made of rather sleek wood.

The ceiling is also wood here, but much more run down. Water damage stains are only hidden by the scratches and divots, sometimes with an attempt to cover that up with a white lacy thing none of the children can identify. The skittering is generally omnipresent in the halls, though much quieter; in the rooms, he knows from experience, you can't hear it.

"Maybe it's a bunch of giant centipedes," one of the children says to the other. They are then promptly told to shut up, he can hear you, as they all turn to him for more of the tour. He suppresses a laugh, because they look so serious about something that isn't, and leads them into the next section.

Considering the location, it makes sense that the juvenile section is the smallest. There's three or four shelves of children's books, and usually they're in disarray, because he hates dealing with them. At least they're sorted by thickness first, author second- if he had to deal with those thin, hard-to-manage easy reader books (are they even?) in between two larger ones he might kill someone.

The YA section he's at least proud of, even if it's not his forte. Only books of actual merit and value are stored here, and though YA isn't a genre known for its artistic mastery there's certainly still good gems hidden throughout. Because of his decisions, admittedly, most of the three romance shelves are queer, but it's his private library, so he gets to pick and choose. Honestly, he didn't even want the children's section.

One of the boys has decides to look through some of the YA before they leave, and so everyone's milling about while he waits by the door. Then a girl yelps.

"There was something looking at me!"

When he comes over to investigate, she's lightly shaking and pointing at the ceiling. Sure enough, there's a tiny hole, just enough that you might see someone's pupils staring at you through it if you were looking for it. But there's nothing at the moment.

"Are you sure? It's pretty dark up there..."

"But...I saw...."

"Someone's eye?"

"I don't think it was someone," she whispers. "Something."

Predictably, none of her friends believe her, but the librarian frowns as they all make fun of her for being wrong. "I've heard that once or twice," he says, "but I've never seen it myself. I'll have to look up there."

This shocks the rest of the children, enough that they ask to please just get on with the tour and continue through. He decides that he'll skip the room next down the hall, because it's specifically reserved for content unsafe for kids (he thought it was funny, putting those two rooms on the same hallway, because of the people who might pass each other), so he leads them away and to the pure fiction room.

A shadow appears under the door just as he opens it. One of the kids points, then they all watch as that shadow appears through the open door.

A creature stares back at them. Something like a centaur of a spider, it's got a humanoid upper body with six eyes and a wicked grin; three arms, and three more on its spider-like bottom body. It rumbles a laugh.

All the children run screaming down the steps. The librarian, however, does not.

The spider-man-thing's laugh goes from a rumbling to a giggle, much more high pitched. "Aw, they ran!"

"Of course they did, you're terrifying to a child."

"What about to you?"

"What kind of question is that?"

The spider laughs, moving closer. The skittering is much louder and obvious when he's on the same floor, legs quick and nimble as two of his hands come to the librarian's hips. "Maybe you're into danger."

"What do you think?"

"I think spiders have poisonous fangs."

"Do they now?"

"Yes," he says, baring his fangs. "Would you like to find out?"

"I think I'd like to taste poison," he says, "for it would make love evermore sweet."

"You're such a sap," the spider replies, but kisses him anyway.

#writing #short story #creative writing #halloween #spooky #spooky season #lgbtq

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our-eternal-love-affair · 4 years

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Lies

[TW: Angst, Alastor and Angel are more so my hedcanon versions of them. Angel has a brain, Alastor has a heart. From my wattpad. https://my.w.tt/3pogZy2ma3]

Alastor and Angel had been in a relationship for a long while, it had been more than three years. All was well at first, but recently, it seemed strained. Distant. It seemed as if they had spent too much time together, thinking they had such a grandiose love affair, but really, what were they doing?

These were Angel Dust's thoughts, not Alastor's. Alastor was happy as a dog with a bone. His heart fluttered and his smile widened every time he thought of his beloved Angel Dust. He ached to see him every time they were apart, he yearned for the touch of that lovely white fur.

The two were currently sitting with Charlie, Vaggie and Husk, who were all in the hotel kitchen, looking over plans for future renovations. Angel seemed bored as he looked outside of the window, sighing mournfully. Alastor inwardly frowned. Why was his dearest so down? He wanted to see that pretty smile of his.

"Say, shall we take a break?"

Alastor proposed, to which everyone nodded. Angel left, letting Alastor follow. The deer demon took Angel's hand and walked close to him.

"Sha? Is somethin' the matter?"

He asked.

Angel sighed and looked to Alastor.

"Nah, it's nothin'. Just... Tired."

He said, looking around. Since entering a relationship with Alastor, Angel had quit prostitution and wasn't in the porn industry anymore. He missed his freedom, his... Liveliness. He cared about Alastor, but being in a relationship was difficult. You had to put in so much effort and it may not even go anywhere.

Plus, Alastor wasn't that interested in sex, so Angel mostly had to have fun on his own, and he was so busy lately, plus he hadn't been coming to bed, and every time they were in bed talking, it was always about the hotel and nothing else. Angel was sick of it.

Alastor frowned and sighed, giving Angel a hug.

"Alright, well... I'll be in bed later. Don't wait up, ya hear?"

He said, cupping Angel's cheek. The spider nodded.

"Yeah. Can you tell Cha-cha that I'm goin' ta bed?"

Alastor gave a nod and kissed Angel's cheek before going back into the kitchen. Angel trudged upstairs, to their room. It was so... Coupley. Angel let a few tears fill his eyes as he grabbed a box from storage and started taking his things out and moving them back to his old room, which still had his bed and most of his furniture in there.

"I'm the fucking worst."

He said to himself as he finished moving the rest of his things into his room. He closed the door and then went to bed, hating the disgusting feeling he got in his stomach.

Much later in the night, Alastor returned to their room and turned on the lights, making sure they were dim.

"Sha, I'm back..."

He saw there was no one in the bed. He looked around and saw all of Angel's things were gone, and the framed couple pictures they had were all faced down.

Alastor tilted his head. Perhaps Angel just needed some space.

The next day, Alastor found he was mistaken. Angel came to visit him in his office while he was working, causing the Radio Demon to smile even more.

"Hello, my darling! Is everything alright?"

He asked, concerned for his boyfriend.

"Hey, Al. I uh... I think you should sit down for this one."

Angel said, guiding Alastor to his armchair and setting him down.

Alastor tilted his head.

"Oh! Are you with child? I've heard cases of male demons having children! What shall we name our son?"

He asked.

Angel furrowed his eyebrows.

"No, Alastor. That isn't it."

He took a deep breath.

"I think we need some time apart."

Angel looked to Alastor, feeling his heart rip into pieces as he audibly heard Alastor's shatter and witnessed his smile fall.

"Angel, I... I don't understand. Is this some sort of practical joke?"

Alastor asked, standing up and going over to Angel, who gently pushed him away.

"I'm sorry, Al. I really am, but... I can't be tied down. I need my freedom, and I need my job. I can't sit here all day and pretend to be better. We all know it. I'm never getting out of Hell because I'm the fucking worst."

Alastor hadn't cried since he was a child. His eyes filled with tears as he looked away.

"Is it me?"

He asked softly.

Angel shook his head.

"No, I just... Nevermind. Let's just continue as we've been going."

He said, sitting down in another armchair. Alastor grew angry at this.

"Angel, be a man for one second and tell me the truth."

"Alastor, I just... God, it's hard to explain. I don't wanna hurt your feelings."

Angel sighed.

"God, shut yer face, Angel. It's too late for that, but it's fine, because I'm an adult. I can deal with difficult things and not avoid them."

Angel looked away. He didn't want to admit that this relationship was a mistake. He didn't regret a second of it, he cared about Alastor and he'd helped Angel feel something wonderful for a while, but that was over. It was dry, uninspired. He was too proud to tell Alastor that this was a mistake.

"I'm sorry, Al."

Alastor sighed shakily.

"Don't apologise! Just tell me what it is so I can fix it. Are we not physical enough? Is it the way I talk? Do I need to reduce my hotel hours?"

Angel furrowed his eyebrows.

"Well... You can't really fix it."

Alastor's eyes widened.

"You don't want a break, you want to end it!"

He gasped.

"You didn't even have the guts to tell me. You were gonna let it die out like it was some highschool puppy love! Goddammit, Angel! You're a coward, you've always been one."

Angel winced.

"Well, I didn't wanna admit it, but... We're not gonna fit, Alastor. Look at us! You're content with everything as it is, because your life is here at the hotel, mine is out there!" He gestured out of the window, to the bustling city. "I can't spend the rest of my existence waiting up for someone who cares more about his own entertainment than me or - whatever, honestly. This ain't gonna end if ya don't want it to, but on my end, I'm done."

Angel got up to leave.

"So it's over just like that? I thought you loved me."

Alastor said, sounding utterly defeated.

"I love ya like a friend, Al."

Alastor buried his face in his hands.

"What's the point in saying that? What's the point in saying it ain't gonna end?"

He asked desperately.

"Everything had no meaning to you, is that it? I just wanted it to keep being perfect. Don't you know how much I fought for you? Husk said it was a bad idea, he said you'd break my heart and run off with someone else, but I don't even get the dignity of reason. You just leave me because I'm not good enough. I can't just let you go, Angel. I can't. I've never felt this way about anyone. You're the one I'd do anything for, and yet you..."

Alastor couldn't stop crying. He sobbed and sniffed as he ranted, looking over at Angel Dust, who had the decency to look guilty.

"I'm sorry, I really am, Al."

He said gently.

"I don't want to hear it, just... Leave me be. I need time to process this."

And so, Angel left. Three months later, they hadn't spoken aside from hotel related matters, and Angel was back at his job. He thought he missed it, but he was just as miserable as when he was at the hotel. All of it was just bringing him down. He couldn't enjoy anything anymore, and now that he and Alastor weren't on speaking terms anymore, he had no one to tell all of his deep, complex emotions anymore. It was all too much. Everything was too much.

Drowning himself in booze and drugs, Angel dragged himself to work and back, his only solace the stars he looked up at, twinkling without fail every night. He looked off of his balcony to the city, then down at the hotel's front, then across the balconies. Alastor's room light was on. He'd seemed to stop sleeping after the breakup.

The deer demon stepped out onto his balcony, puffing on a cigar as he loosened his bowtie, looking up at the sky as well. He felt eyes on him, so he looked around, only to lock eyes with Angel Dust. He couldn't bear to look away as he looked at the tired, run down spider. Matte heterochromia and red eyes locked. The last of the light in Angel's eyes had fizzled out, same as Alastor's had. They stared into each other's dull eyes for what felt like hours, days, months, although they were only mere moments. They both looked like they wanted to say so much to each other, to let the other know what they were feeling; but they didn't.

They tore their eyes away from each other and then turned to go back into their rooms, shutting the balcony doors and turning the lights off.

#radiodust #angst #my writing

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sohaveyoubeento-blog · 5 years

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V is for Vietnamese & Vintage

Us three ladies had always played it pretty safe by way of our lunch dates. Not to say the local deli isn't absolutely kick ass - it's very tasty and very enjoyable every time we go, but in much the same way as I struggle to go to the same country more than once on my holidays (excluding India, you can never have enough India) I couldn't help but think that life's a bit too short to sit in the same eatery every time we meet for lunch, given that the whole day is ours, and within reason, travel is no issue.

The three of us decided that we would try different cuisines every week, and with the girls (Laura and Dani) living in the quieter, leafier suburbs of Otley and Burley in Wharfedale, with me (Alex) living in what I frequently describe as the bronx, 5 minutes from central Leeds but gloriously populated by some of the best food joints in the country (confirmed) they usually end up meeting at mine and then we go into town to try somewhere a bit off the beaten track. Invariably, being three mums of young children, we eat at the speed of rabid dogs and end up having a bit of time to go explore some local weird shop or two, never anything mainstream like a department store. Oh no. We like vintage shops. You know the type, they smell like damp and the inside of your nan's wardrobe, and we prance around pretending to overlook the fact that we are just in a well laid out, slightly more selective charity shop without the undertone of giving. Usually there's some blue haired student with a headscarf and a faint stench of Bobby Orange pawing through piles of shirts and jumpers that are deemed as retro, when they've actually some of them originated in C&A - we remember that place the first time round,depressingly. The whole vintage scene is a bit ironic and try hard and a bit sad at times, but the one thing that it does offer is the piece you are often looking at, generally is one of one only in the store. The same goes for charity shops, generally. We like stuff that can't be bought in bulk.

Dani owns Deluxe Blooms, and is a luxury faux florist, and very good at it too. Laura is a nail technician and spray tanning afficionado, and the owner of Maibella Nails and Tanning. I own a salon called Lexa Hair, and the three of us work together frequently. The ridiculous thing is though, that work is going really well for us, and while in the past we may have dug around in charity shops for a bargain simply to be economical, now it has begun more of a habit. And you know what they say, old habits die hard. We don't have to eat streetfood on picnic tables anymore, and we can shop anywhere we want, but at least just for me, I don't like extravagance and I'm not impressed by labels or price tags. I like pieces that are unique,with a story behind them. My two accomplices sort of get dragged in to it I think, but they seem on board with most of it. I hope.

And street food is the best food on earth, everyone knows that.

We kicked things off with a visit to a fairly new (maybe a year old I think) Vietnamese place on North Lane in Headingley named VietBaker. Inside it's very wooden looking, quite industrial and urban, stained wood everywhere and dark red leather chairs. It smells like the rice cooker that's chugging away in the corner, mixed with plenty of garlic and of course, the fresh baguettes that are stacked up in a glass cabinet above the front desk.

We opted for a sharing platter for £9, and from the menu us Yorkshire ruffians requested spring rolls (the deep fried ones, not the fresh, healthy ones obviously), prawn toast, and 'rustic chips'.

This was skin on chips with salt and pepper (well cooked and so tasty) and the prawn toast was understandably made of baguette slices. It made for a much heavier slab of prawn toast and therefore an even more unhealthy treat but man alive, was it good. The spring rolls were pork, prawn and the usual crispy vegetables inside. Not floppy or soggy, totally crispy and served with a really light and watery sweet chilli dip that's more sweet than chilli. It was all very lovely.

I've personally eaten from here a number of times and I think the Vietnamese have got it absolutely nailed when they make sandwich. Or a Ban Mih. Laura and I opted for one each, chicken for her and pork for me. Dani went for something off the new part of the menu, the fusion section, which even featured a take on beef bourgignon, Vietnamese style. She tried the Shanghai pork belly, served with rice. Her whole bowl was piled high, and we're not talking a polite, peanuts size bowl. More like a ‘free ceramic crunchy nut cereal box’ bowl, with the with tokens on the back of the pack, that you’d send off as a kid. It was huge. The second bowl was just plain rice, which worked really well as the pork alone was…. alot. It was sticky and tangy and rich and all those other wanky words that just mean amazing. I'm trying so hard to limit the wankiness. I like writing and eating, combining the two is hard work though. Bear with me. The slow cooked pork made me feel a bit gutted I went for a sandwich until I got stuck in.

Vietnam was a former French colony, and much like their neighbour Cambodia, found their local best offerings being bastardised to accomodate the 'local palate'. The nice version is that the baguette was the French's gift to the Vietnamese, although I imagine it was more a case of 'put your lovely meal in my baguette for me or you're in deep shit.'

I've never been to Vietnam but having visited Cambodge a few summers back, I remember being astounded at the gorgeous, light, dairy free Asian cuisine that had been shoved in a crusty, warm baguette. Whoever's story was true, it's the absolute bollocks.

They cut this freshly baked baguette open and spread it with patè on one side and on the other mayonnaise (already weird but hang in there) - add a ton of crispy green leaves, cucumber, pickles, coriander and fresh chilies, and add some meat into what little room is left. Enough meat to give you meat sweats. It. Is. Superb.

The pork was very finely sliced, dark and sticky again (here she goes) and you can bang on a fried egg, too, if you're an absolute wrong un. No thanks.

Laura had the chicken which was a milder flavour but none the less tasty and flavoursome. I noticed Laura pulling bits off her sandwich and delicately chewing away at them, while I picked it up and ate it like I'd been sleeping in the dark arches for the last month. I even had to be asked to wipe my face. Sorry, not sorry. No messing with a Ban Mih. Especially not this one.

The bill was a very respectable £11 a head, and they threw in a free set of spring rolls for us, which was a nice unexpected surprise. The place had a steady flow of traffic, and although wasn't packed, I've been on an evening and I think it's safe to assume that's the bulk of their trade. It was fantastic food, very reasonable and highly recommended. Great staff and great location. We'll be back!

Afterwards we drove for about 3 days to find a parking spot anywhere near Hyde Park, so we could check out the newly (ish) renovated (OK sign replaced and possibly ownership changed) Vintage something or other in Hyde Park.

I forget the name, and if I'm brutally honest I can see why. It's alright, but it used to be alot better. The last time I went in there was alot of very old apothecary style wooden drawer units, some weird taxidermy, and unusual pictures in frames that would look incredible in the lounge. This time there was quite a bit of formica, and some hideously orange stained TV units that I guess in some context would be deemed as cool again.

The music collection seemed to be where the most effort had been made. The clothing was actually quite 'quirky' in the sense that you wouldn't actually wear alot of it, there was a whole department that seemed to have been handed over by the owner of the late knob head Jimmy Saville, shell suit after shell suit in every colour of the rainbow, in that non breathable fabric you'd get a two man tent in. Hideous. Still, there are some absolute finds in there. I would encourage people to bear in mind that these shops have a high stock turnaround and in their uniqueness, and ability to replace items based on sales, any vintage shop can be a complete bag of shite one week and a total gold mine the next. Its the luck of the drawer, I love that about them. That and the fact that we call them vintage shops. The three of us refer to them as shit shops, but potato patato.

I find it depressing that as I mentioned before, alot of the 'retro' stuff is just normal stuff we, in our 30s, encountered in our youth. There was a 'vintage phone' that was £15 and I'm pretty sure my gran has it now. It's literally a BT £10 phone still in argos, but clearly it had lived with a heavy smoker, adding to the aged facade.

Some of it was very authentic, some of it was broken crap, but the general feel of the place is a good one. There is more 70s stuff than anything else which is quite cool, but like I say, stock changes very frequently. Dani bought an oversized T shirt with a University football team logo emblazoned across it, and to be honest I would have too. There was a vast array of university related large varsity based sweaters, some unnecessarily cut in half width ways (why?!!!! Serves no purpose now, you fools) and that's the kind of thing I would have liked to look at. But as I was in charge of a one year old who was bombing around the floor, doubling as a human sweeping brush and coming back with more dust on him than the inside of the V6 after the attic stairs have been tackled, I gave it up as a bad job and put my bank card back away. No spending for mum today. Gutted.

The shop is pretty fabulous, on the whole. They do know how to charge when it comes to furniture, but the clothing is far more reasonable. It's not all one off pieces, a couple of items make an appearance a few times and that kind of ruins it for me, I start picturing some huge factory in China making hideously outdated clothing and leaving them in a damp garage for a few years, chucking a bit of tea down them and wearing the cuffs and collars down, before exporting the newly knackered pieces to us dumbasses in our 'quirky vintage shops'. Who knows. It's well laid out, and pretty cool, and although not my favourite, I imagine the next time I go it'll be a whole different experience. Swings and roundabouts with these places. It was an interesting look, and if Parker hadn't been doing his best ferret impression I would have definitely bought a jumper. Well worth a look.

Until next week!

Laura, Dani and Alex X

VietBaker, Headingley

https://www.thevietbaker.co.uk

Vintage Boutique, Hyde Park

https://vintageboutique.com

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28northgroup · 3 years

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9 Tips for Buying and Selling Your Home at the Same Time

Selling your home when you still need to shop for a new one can feel daunting to even the most seasoned homeowner––especially when the demand for new homes keeps rising, but the supply feels like it's dwindling.¹ You're not alone either if you're already feeling drained by the complex logistics of trying to sell and buy a new home all at once.

Searching for a new home can be exciting, but many home buyers admit that it can also be stressful, especially if you live in an unpredictable market with plenty of competitors. Unfortunately, waiting out a competitive housing market isn’t always the best idea either since listings are expected to remain limited in the most coveted neighborhoods for some time.²

That doesn't mean, though, that you should just throw up your hands and give up on moving altogether. In fact, as a current homeowner, you could be in a better position than most to capitalize on a seller’s market and make a smooth transition from your old home to a new one.

We can help you prepare for the road ahead and answer any questions you have about the real estate market. For example, here are some of the most frequent concerns we hear from clients who are trying to buy and sell at the same time.

“WHAT WILL I DO IF I SELL MY HOUSE BEFORE I CAN BUY A NEW ONE?”

This is an understandable concern for many sellers since the competitive real estate market makes it tough to plan ahead and predict when you'll be able to move into your next home. But chances are, you will still have plenty of options if you do sell your home quickly. It may just take some creativity and compromise.

Here are some ideas to make sure you're in the best possible position when you decide to list your home:

Tip #1: Flex your muscles as a seller.

In a competitive market, buyers may be willing to make significant concessions in order to get the home they want. In some cases, a buyer may agree to a rent-back clause that allows the seller to continue living in the home after closing for a set period of time and negotiated fee.

This can be a great option for sellers who need to tap into their home equity for a down payment or who aren’t logistically ready to move into their next home. However, many lenders limit the duration of a rent-back to 60 days, and there are liability issues to consider before entering into an agreement. A contract and security deposit should be in place in case of any property damage or unexpected repairs that may be needed during the rent-back period.³

Tip #2: Open your mind to short-term housing options.

While it can be a hassle to move out of your old home before you’re ready to move into your new one, it’s a common scenario. If you’re lucky enough to have family or generous friends who offer to take you in, that may be ideal. If not, you’ll need to find temporary housing. Check out furnished apartments, vacation rentals and month-to-month leases. If space is an issue, consider putting some of your furniture and possessions in storage.

You may even find that a short-term rental arrangement can offer you an opportunity to get to know your new neighborhood better—and lead to a more informed decision about your upcoming purchase.

Tip #3: Embrace the idea of selling now and buying later.

Instead of stressing about timing your home sale and purchase perfectly, consider making a plan to focus on one at a time. Selling before you’re ready to buy your next home can offer a lot of advantages.

For one, you’ll have cash on hand from the sale of your current home. This will put you in a much better position when it comes to buying your next home. From budgeting to mortgage approval to submitting a competitive offer, cash is king. And by focusing on one step at a time, you can alleviate some of the pressure and uncertainty.

“WHAT IF I GET STUCK WITH TWO MORTGAGES AT THE SAME TIME?”

This is one of the most common concerns that we hear from buyers who are selling a home while shopping for a new one, and it’s realistic to expect at least some overlap in mortgages. To make sure you don't get into a situation where you are carrying dual mortgages for longer than you can afford, examine your budget and calculate the maximum number of months you can afford to pay both.⁴

If you simply can’t afford to carry both mortgages at once, then selling before you buy may be your best option. (See Tip #3 above.) But if you have some flexibility in your budget, it is possible to manage both a home sale and purchase simultaneously. Here are some steps you can take to help streamline the process:

Tip #4: As you get ready to sell, simplify.

You can condense your sales timeline if you only focus on the home renovations and tasks that matter most for selling your home quickly. For example, clean and declutter all of your common areas, refresh your outdoor paint and curb appeal, and fix any outstanding maintenance issues as quickly as possible.

But don't drain unnecessary time and money into pricey renovations and major home projects that could quickly bog you down for an unpredictable amount of time. We can advise you on the repairs and upgrades that are worth your time and investment.

Tip #5: Prep your paperwork.

You'll also save valuable time by filing as much paperwork as possible early in the process. For example, if you know you'll need a mortgage to buy your next home, get pre-approved right away so that you can shorten the amount of time it takes to process your loan.

Similarly, set your home sale up for a fast and smooth transition by pulling together any relevant documentation about your current home, including appliance warranties, renovation permits, and repair records. That way, you're ready to provide quick answers to buyers' questions should they arise.

Tip #6: Ask us about other contingencies that can be included in your contracts.

Part of our job as agents is to negotiate on your behalf and help you win favorable terms. For example, it’s possible to add a contingency to your purchase offer that lets you cancel the contract if you haven't sold your previous home.

This tactic could backfire, though, if you're competing with other buyers. We can discuss the pros and cons of these types of tactics and what’s realistic given the current market dynamics.

“WHAT IF I MESS UP MY TIMING OR BURN OUT FROM ALL THE STRESS?”

When you're in the pressure cooker of a home sale or have been shopping for a home for a while in a competitive market, it's easy to get carried away by stress and emotions. To make sure you're in the right headspace for your home buying and selling journey, take the time to slow down, breathe and delegate as much as possible. In addition:

Tip #7: Relax and accept that compromise is inevitable

Rather than worry about getting every detail right with your housing search and home sale, trust that things will work out eventually––even if it doesn't look like your Plan A or even your Plan B or Plan C. Perfecting every detail with your home decor or timing your home sale perfectly isn't necessary for a successful home sale and compromise will almost always be necessary. Luckily, if you've got a good team of professionals, you can relax knowing that others have your back and are monitoring the details behind the scenes.

Tip #8: Don't worry too much if your path is straying from convention

Remember that rules-of-thumb and home-buying trends are just that: they are estimates, not facts. So if your home search or sale isn't going exactly like your neighbor’s, it doesn't mean that you are doomed to fail.

It's possible, for example, that seasonality trends may affect sales in your neighborhood. So a delayed sale in the summer or fall could affect your journey––but not necessarily. According to the National Association of Realtors, the housing market tends to be more competitive during the summer and less competitive during the winter.⁵ But it's not a hard and fast rule, and every real estate transaction is different. That's why it's important to talk to a local agent about your specific situation.

Tip #9: Enlist help early.

Which leads us to our final tip: If possible, call us early in the process. We'll not only provide you with key guidance on what you should do ahead of time to prepare your current home for sale, we'll also help you narrow down your list of must-haves and wants for your next one. That way, you'll be prepared to act quickly and confidently when it’s time to list your house or make an offer on a new one.

It's our job to guide you and advocate on your behalf. So don't be afraid to lean on us throughout the process. We’re here to ease your burden and make your move as seamless and stress-free as possible.

BOTTOM LINE: COLLABORATE WITH A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL TO GET TAILORED ADVICE THAT WORKS FOR YOU

Buying and selling a home at the same time is challenging. But it doesn't have to be a nightmare, and it can even be fun. The key is to educate yourself about the market and prepare yourself for multiple scenarios. One of the best and easiest ways to do so is to partner with a knowledgeable and trustworthy agent.

A good agent will not only help you evaluate your situation, we will also provide you with honest and individually tailored advice that addresses your unique needs and challenges. Depending on your circumstances, now may be a great time to sell your home and buy a new one. But a thorough assessment may instead show you that you're better off pausing your search for a while longer.

Sources:

1. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, FEDS Notes - https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/housing-market-tightness-during-covid-19-increased-demand-or-reduced-supply-20210708.htm

2. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, FRED Economic Data - https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MSPUS

3. Realtor.com - https://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/what-is-a-rent-back-agreement/

4. Bankrate.com - https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/sell-your-house-while-buying-another/

National Association of REALTORS - https://www.nar.realtor/blogs/economists-outlook/seasonality-in-the-housing-market

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