Bean Group - Premium Rental Accommodation in the Heart of Liepāja, Latvia

16/08/2022

Bean Group has been busy! We've been growing. Not in the way that was originally planned, but sometimes when opportunities present themselves to you, you just can't turn them down!

Having spent the last 14 months recovering from a serious injury, and dealing with some stuff I never saw coming, I wasn't in much of a state to take on anything like major building work. I had looked at some possibilities, but none were quite right, and they needed a huge amount of work to be what I needed them to be. I considered a large residential house, that I liked a lot, but it was in an area of historical significance, and there's no way the council would sign off on me raising the roof to get extra floor space. I looked at an incredible building, in a great location, but the compromise was that it had no outdoor space, and every single room needed renovating. I got such a bad vibe off a building that used to be a bank, puppet theatre, and hotel at various points in history, that I decided not to even go in, although it had loads of outdoor space.

I wanted to grow my business, but in a way that was manageable for me. What to dooooooo?

Well, as I was complaining to my business coach, she suggested that I slow down to move forward. It sounded crazy, but I totally trust her, and I just stopped, and I breathed. I stopped looking at properties. I only focused on the business I already had, and on my own wellbeing. Then what do you know? A friend had a couple of apartments that were going to be empty, and I volunteered to set up and manage them as holiday rentals. A perfect job for me! I love what I do, and I threw myself into making them lovely spaces that people would want to spend time in. I worked long hours, creating spreadsheets, contacting suppliers, making repairs, doing research, buying new furniture and furnishings, reconfiguring one of the kitchens, determined that my friend would not be disappointed in my work, and that I could produce something I was proud of.

Of course, life being life, a spanner came hurtling my way, in the form of my friend saying that they had decided on another venture in another town, and they wanted to sell their apartments. What was I going to dooooooo? (My poor neighbours. I howl a lot.) The apartments were looking great, and I had invested so much of myself in them. Then . . . I don't know whose idea this was, but we agreed that my friend would sell the apartments to me. They'd get to do their thing, and I'd get to keep on doing what I was doing with the apartments. They were definitely growing on me!

So, here we are. Bean Group sprouted two new properties in a most serendipitous way. I'd like to introduce you to Pine Two Apartment and Pine Tree Apartment. They're right next door to each other, on the first (ground) floor of a small, newly-renovated residential building, with parking in the yard. They're about a 10-minute walk to the very centre of the city, and close to most amenities the city offers.

Pine Two and Pine Tree (I really couldn't think of anything else, and please don't ask me where the pine trees are!) both sleep a maximum of four, and come with pretty much everything you need for a comfortable stay. Both kitchens are equipped with a hob, oven, microwave, rangehood, fridge/freezer, and dishwasher, and each apartment also comes with a washing machine, drying rack, iron, ironing board, and hairdryer. Consumables such as dishwasher and laundry tablets, paper towels, dishwashing liquid, bathroom tissue, shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, wet wipes, and more, are all provided.

We accommodate a lot of families, and every Bean Group apartment has available a portacot with bed linens, baby bath, high chair, and step stool. Guests will find a large, smart TV in each living area, and can log into their own accounts. There's a new 5G router in each apartment, which I regularly test on my own devices, and each apartment has a desk as well as a dining table, in case anyone wants to work from their home away from home, or write postcards.

I am really proud of these apartments, and so grateful to all the people who have had a hand in helping Bean Group grow. I couldn't possibly name everyone, but I have the most reliable and trustworthy superstars working for me, and kind and well-connected friends who have pointed me in the right direction when I haven't known what to dooooooo! The tradespeople who have done work for me have been brilliant. They even popped me in their vehicle one day to pick out new kitchen appliances. My poor accountant - he makes things easy for me, and in return I complicate it all! The neighbours have been great - I got really lucky with them. The Bean Group Apprentice, the Bean Group Sister, and the Bean Group Parents have all played a big part in this, whether they know it or not, and I wish they could all be here to see what I'm achieving. They might have to book, though, because we're kinda busy!

I'm nowhere near finished. I have some really big plans. One day. For now, though, I am delighting in this phase of the Bean Group story, and loving every minute of what I'm doing. After months of hard work, and many late nights, I'm going to stay still for a bit.

Let me know if you want to come and stay in glorious Liepāja. You wouldn't know that summer is nearly over, because we're having 30 degree days (that's Celsius!), and more sunshine than the poor petunias can stand! I recommend Liepāja in the cooler months, too. The city takes on a serene air, and on snow days, it's like being inside a beautiful black and white photograph. It's perfect here at any time of year!

25/07/2022

04/07/2022

Deadheading yellow petunias on a sunny terrace is not something I ever expected to be part of my job description, but it's a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

As with all the flowers I buy, the petunias came from Pētertirgus, Liepāja's largest market, a 400m (1/4 mile) walk around the corner from Apartment Eva. The market is open extended hours over summer, including Sundays, and has a vast array of fresh local produce, processed food, bread, clothing, footwear, jewellery, and, of course, flowers.

This picture is of the lovely south-facing terrace at Apartment Eva, where guests can relax, and enjoy Liepāja's long summer nights, watching the sky slowly change to a deep, velvety blue.

11/02/2022

How lovely to receive a Traveler Review Award from Booking.com for Apartment Eva! I'm really proud of the consistent 10/10 reviews, and so grateful to the people who have helped me make that happen.

We're also on Airbnb, and often take direct bookings, but Booking.com has been a real pleasure to partner with as I've been growing my business. Here's to that continuing!

https://www.booking.com/hotel/lv/eva-liepaja.en-gb.html?aid=356980&label=gog235jc-1FCAsoigFCC2V2YS1saWVwYWphSDNYA2iKAYgBAZgBGrgBGMgBDNgBAegBAfgBA4gCAagCBLgCoMqakAbAAgHSAiRiNzFhOWFmNC03NWQ1LTQ0NWYtYjJkNC01YWQ3OTVlM2Q4M2HYAgXgAgE&sid=c7bb7f3b4d99ed1b160027c39485e16d&lang=en-gb&room1=A%2CA&sb_price_type=total&soz=1&type=total&lang_click=other;cdl=lv;lang_changed=1

03/01/2022

The Bean Group is looking forward to hosting your next stay in the historical seaside town of Liepāja. Contact me directly, or find Apartment Eva on Booking.com or Airbnb.

2021 was a great year for us, and 2022 has been off to a great start. We're already taking bookings for summer 2022, and can offer guests some great deals for winter stays.

Apartment Eva is conveniently located five minutes' walk from Rožu laukums (Rose Square), Pētertirgus (Peter Market), and it's just a 20 minute stroll from the fabulous Liepājas pludmale (Liepāja Beach).

We can accommodate up to five adults, and an infant aged up to two years, in warm, bright, and airy surroundings that offer all you need for a comfortable stay.

Regards, Anita.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/lv/eva-liepaja.lv.html?aid=356980;label=gog235jc-1DCAsoigFCC2V2YS1saWVwYWphSDNYA2iKAYgBAZgBGrgBGMgBDNgBA-gBAfgBA4gCAagCBLgC_dPKjgbAAgHSAiRiYTZmOGRhYS1hODI2LTRmNWQtYWE5MC0wZWRlYzI1ZGU0YjjYAgTgAgE;sid=e9aaea250bc8b9f9c6f6acf18127f699;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&

Dzīvoklis Eva atrodas Liepājā, tikai 300 metru attālumā no Latvijas mūziķu Slavas alejas un Sv. Annas baznīcas. Naktsmītnei ir terase.

25/12/2021

From the Bean Group to you, our friends and guests, a huge thank you for your support in 2021. We've loved providing a comfortable, relaxed environment for you to create special memories of your time in Liepāja.

May you and your dear ones have a happy and safe festive season! ❄

25/10/2021

After I moved to Liepāja my walking pace slowed right down as I took my time to marvel at every building, tree, cat, waterway, art installation, etc, that we have here. I would even come to a complete stop in the middle of the footpath to appreciate an intricately carved door, or old-style double glazing.

For around three months my expeditions were halted altogether, during which time I was pretty much in bed all day, every day, with my very busted, very metal, ankle elevated on pillows. It was six weeks before I even left my bedroom, and by the time my physiotherapist taught me how to get down the stairs and onto the street a few weeks ago, I was desperate to see more than just the views from my windows.

I'm still not allowed on the stairs alone, but I can get down them, very slowly, putting both feet on each step, my right hand on the rail, and my left hand pressing the wall to steady myself. Going up is easier, and I can do it with one hand, but I don't feel the same delicious anticipation as I do when I'm about to head out of the building. Half a dozen ventures outside in four months is not a lot, so it's a real treat when someone makes time to take me out for a walk. More of a limpy hobble, really, but I like to call it walking.

Today, I put on my ugly-but-comfortable Teva hi-tops, four layers of clothes, and stepped out with my lovely friend for what was probably a one and a half kilometre walk that would take an hour and a half. The mission: Cash out at the Swedbank foyer ATM, and margarine from Top! It was my first time doing either for months. I got declined at the money machine for entering an old PIN from a New Zealand bank card, then declined again for not reading the sign, and attempting to take out €5 notes when the smallest denomination available today was €10. Six or seven people used the other machine in the time it took me to conclude my business. People will forgive you anything when you're leaning on a crutch, though.

Onwards to Top! It's actually called "Top!"; I don't usually get so excited about supermarkets. I think that today, though, I would have awarded it an exclamation mark had it not already had one. I was just so thrilled to be in a supermarket again after months of online grocery orders. I'm sure other shoppers thought I was visiting from elsewhere in the solar system as I lingered in every aisle exclaiming "They have fruit!", "Look, flour!", and "Ooh, that's new!"

I managed to pull myself away from the dried goods, and grabbed two tubs of my favourite margarine that neither Nuko nor Rimi deliver. The Delma shortage in my fridge had been verging on a crisis, and I had been wondering what I'd do when I ran out.

It's not possible to get to the checkout at Top! without passing aisles of chocolate and potato chips. My friend picked out a new chip flavour I hadn't seen before and, had I been able-bodied, I would have happy danced around the shop. Salt and vinegar! It's been nearly two years since I've had salt and vinegar chips, and the only ones I'd ever seen here are not vegan. The picture on the front of the packet looked a bit funny, but I just saw "salt and vinegar" and "vegan", and grabbed a second bag for good measure.

Near Top! is a quite lovely modern municipal building. It stands out amongst all the old wood and stone buildings around it, and is a nice contrast to them. It's only around 400m from my place, and I've walked past it more times than I could guess at. As we walked past it today, my friend made a comment about the hameleons (chameleon) building. I said "What?" She said "Hameleons. It changes colour." I think I said "What?" again, and she told me to keep my eyes on it as we walked past.

Well, how could I not have noticed a building in my own neighbourhood that changes from green to orange, and every colour in between? I don't know the answer to that, and I'm wondering what else I've missed. I think I need to walk slower.

24/10/2021

OK, so here's the post in which I tell you about what I was doing last week.

Some of you may know that I work with a business coach, the fantastic Ilze Be. I wrote about this for another Facebook group I admin, and I attempted to demystify the coach/client relationship and what actually goes on in a coaching session.

I have had my own business before, but it was simpler, and in simpler times, and a nine to five operation I could easily close the door on. What I'm doing now is on a much bigger scale, and I'm in so deep that I don't have a Plan B - not that I want one, because I really love what I'm doing. There are challenges and frustrations, which drive me nuts, some from the oddest places (I could write a book about the national psyche and why, and how, people roadblock things that are good for them), but I guess it would be boring if it was too easy!

Anyway, a few weeks ago, my business coach invited me to participate in the online Storytelling Bootcamp she was running. Over the course of last week, five of us, from all over the world, shared our stories of the challenges we had to deal with to get to where we are now.

My story was mostly about the difficulties I'd had in the decade or so leading up to moving to Latvia, and how keeping my eyes on that goal helped get me through some very tough days. It was an easy and enjoyable speech to write, although a little less easy to read for a live online audience, but I'm so glad I did it!

If you are running a business, whether offering a product or a service, join us in the Tell Your Story, Grow Your Business page here on Facebook. We share strategies for growing our businesses, and discuss how we can incorporate more of our unique selves into what we do. It's OK to share our personal stories, and to put our faces to our businesses.

I have written up my homework for the Storytelling Bootcamp and sent it in. If you join the group soon, the stories will still be available to view, and you can download the workbook. There are still a couple of days in which to get your homework in, too!

I'll be doing a couple more online business courses over the next few days - something to keep me busy during the off-season. I also have a little project to do outside next week - something new to me and that I've never done before. I'll take photos and tell you about it once it's completed.

Anyway, here's the funny face of my business, as I read my story last Thursday night . . .

23/10/2021

Good morning from beautiful Liepāja, where we not only have four seasons in one day, but we sometimes have them all at the same time. Looking south, today brings blue skies, wind, rain, sunshine, clouds, and rather a lot of hail.

Summer and winter can be fairly predictable, but I love how changeable the weather can be in spring and autumn. I've been lighting my fire again, as I wait for the radiators to come on. At bedtime I let the fire die out, but my apartment is still warm the next day, without any heating. 12 hours after the fire went out, it's around 20°C in here.

I have plenty of solid fuel for when I light the fire. Last winter I rather overestimated how much I would need, and ordered in excess of 400kg of briquettes, not thinking of what that volume would actually look like once it was in my apartment. It's always cheaper to buy in bulk from Depo, and if you order 30 packs of briquettes, with 12 in each, you can save something like six cents a pack. I was seduced by the savings, and spent the warmer months cursing my thriftiness as I tried to make my way around all the briquette stacks.

I have a cupboard that was made just for my briquettes, and it holds 26 packs. It's full, and I am still trying to burn my way through the piles on the floor. My physiotherapist gets me to practice stepping up and down, and flexing my ankle, on them. She also sets up mini obstacle courses where I try to step over the packs of briquettes. That last exercise is still too hard for me!

Today, I'll be doing my homework for an online course I took last week, and that I also participated in as a guest presenter. That was a great experience, which I'll tell you about in another post. In the meantime, enjoy the weather wherever in the world you are!

07/09/2021

I've written much about where I am, but little about where I came from. There's a lot more to New Zealand than earthquakes!

I was born in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington. My family lived in the sprawling suburb of Karori, a place that just keeps growing and growing, and is large enough that you don't need to leave unless you have to. I think that the number of people there now is around 15,000, a decent chunk of Wellington's 400,000+ population.

We left Wellington for Christchurch when I was fairly young, and stayed away for several years, then returned in the early 1980s to the suburb of Wadestown. After a bit, we returned to Christchurch and stayed there - well, most of us did.

Wellington city is fairly compact and curves around the harbour. Over the years, the waterfront has been developed with parks, restaurants, and the famous Te Papa museum, where there used to be very little. Once you're in the city, you can walk to almost anywhere. I think Wellington is where I got my love of walkable cities. The lack of parking means you're often forced to travel on foot, and this is when you notice all the little alleyways and cool wee shops.

Lack of space in the city meant that Wellington Girls' College went up, not out, and some of my lessons were in a six-story building. I loved my time there. At 8.30 every morning, buses would converge outside the school from all over Wellington. You could get the early bus, and meet boys from Wellington College outside Rutherford House - so I heard. After school, though, we'd often walk past the Beehive (one of the parliament buildings), down Lambton Quay, our teal school uniforms standing out in the sea of black suits, and stop at the McDonalds in Manners Mall, before heading up Cuba Street to people watch. The colourful bucket fountain, that had been there since forever, would be splashing away as it had always done.

There was one girl in the entire school who did not bus, and she had her very own bicycle stand outside the administration block. I still remember her name. Aside from the city centre, and the suburb of Thorndon where my old school and parliament are, Wellington is all hills. I think the lone cyclist had a fairly flat commute to and from school, unlike the rest of us. Some of my friends even had cable cars up to their houses, to carry groceries and themselves vertically from their garages to their homes. There are many concrete staircases for pedestrians to use to get from one street to another. The Wellington Cable Car is one of the city's most recognisable features. When I was young, you would sit, unsecured, on the outside while it took you from Lambton Quay, up past the University, to Kelburn. It's a bit safer now!

1983 was the centenary year for Wellington Girls', and we had some excellent events to attend. One that stands out was a very funny musical that brought together elements of The Mikado and 1960s pop music. ''Cinderella Rockerfella'' was one of the highlights, along with the male teachers dressed as three little maids from school. I don't know if it was videoed, but if it was I'd love a copy!

That was also a great year because it was when a group of us teenaged girls saw David Bowie play at Athletic Park. I found my tribe at that massive concert, and my love of seeing live bands endures to this day. If I'm pining for anything in these times, it's seeing bands play!

Wellington was a remarkable place in which to spend some of my formative years. We were developing awareness of what powered the ships arriving in our waters, and we were growing social consciences. Our often-parodied Prime Minister, who gave local musicians short shrift and was forever enshrined in song by a band called The K***z, was on his way out, and would soon be replaced by someone who had his eyes on the future.

I saw some incredible things in my time living in Wellington, and met some remarkable people - I guess you would call them movers and shakers - many with strong political opinions and, in some cases, sway. There was never a dull moment in conversation, and socialising meant you had to keep your wits about you. The adults didn't treat us like children, and included us in conversation, but also gave us a lot of freedom. I was, however, thrown totally off guard when I attended a garden party one weekend afternoon. The family throwing the party had arranged for winged fairies to run and dance through the forest at the bottom of their garden. I think I just stood there with my mouth open.

I continued to visit Wellington on and off in the decades after I left, and each time I felt a little sadder at the gentrification of places I had loved to visit. It wasn't sudden, but when you decrease your trips from a few a year to one every few years, it becomes more noticeable. The grand department stores that had doormen shrunk, and now only carry a small, exclusive range of goods. The markets where you could buy tailormade clothing from fashion students have closed down. I liked the grit of my hometown, the imperfection which is where the beauty was.

My last visit was in 2019. The sole purpose of the trip was to get a rubber stamp for the Bean Group Apprentice's application to renew her Latvian passport. It seemed like a good opportunity to show her around, and she really noticed the differences between Wellington, and the city of her birth, Christchurch. She was a little star struck when the Deputy Prime Minister walked past us to use a cash machine, but if you stand around at the start of Lambton Quay for more than five minutes you are sure to see someone you recognise from the television.

I have so many great memories of my hometown, and could write forever about my years there. What about you? Do you have happy memories of the place you were born? Do you still live there? I'd love to know!

04/09/2021

Wouldn't you know it? Today is another anniversary. Not a happy one, but one that really marked the beginning of the sequence of events that led to the decision to leave New Zealand for Latvia.

When I fell asleep last night, one of my last thoughts was that I would have the luxury of waking gently as the sun crept through my window on the morning of Saturday, September 4th - and that's exactly how I did wake up this morning. It was completely different, though, from how my family woke on Saturday, September 4th, 2010.

It had been a cool, early spring night, with Saturday's temperature only expected to reach a high of around 15 at midday or so. No reason to get up early and, indeed, why do it if you didn't have to?

Unfortunately, our sleep-in was not to be. At 4.35am, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck, turning our floor into a rollercoaster. We ran into our then 21-month-old's bedroom. She stood up in her cot, looked at us with wide eyes, and said ''What was that?''

With the power cut, no lighting, and dead heat pumps, we snuggled together under a duvet to wait for the sun to rise, and to find out more about what had just happened. I don't know if we were shaking from cold, or fear, as we felt the aftershock after aftershock.

News trickled in as the power went on and off. Buildings and roads had been damaged, and properties to the west of the city had sustained some cracking due to being closer to the earthquake's epicentre. A jar of expired baby food had fallen off a shelf in our garage, and I remember feeling so grateful that we were on the east side of town, but also very sorry for family and friends elsewhere who had all those cracks around their window and door frames.

Life went pretty much back to normal after that day, although we hadn't expected there to be so many aftershocks. Like most people, we had thought that an earthquake was a single event, not a sequence that could last for many years. We became used to the aftershocks, but never comfortable with them.

At 12.51pm on Tuesday 22nd February 2011, while I contemplated pulling my lunch out of my desk drawer at my office in the CBD, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck. While smaller in magnitude than the September earthquake, it was very shallow at only 4km deep, and did a good job of attempting to level the city of Christchurch. 185 people died, most within a 1km radius of my workplace.

As a result of that earthquake, our home was basically split into three. Our insurance claim for the loss of nearly everything breakable was paid out quickly, but the claim for the damage to our home itself remained open for eight and a half years. Over that time, there were tens of thousands more quakes, and further damage. The ceiling collapsed two or three times, and it rained inside. Windows and doors did as they pleased, and in winter we froze.

We were not singled out for special treatment by the Earthquake Commission or our insurance company - they tried it on with everyone, much like telephone scammers who rely on a percentage of their victims to fall for what they're offering. We had to prove over and over that the damage to our home was not pre-existing, and that it was indeed earthquake damage. We put in claim after claim for each of the bigger aftershocks as without a claim the EQC or IC could well say that the damage happened during an event we hadn't claimed for. We were also told that the reason our walls were bowed and our floors undulated was because our house had been built on a wet day. That was what we were up against.

I fell very much out of love with our home. It had once been a lovely, serene sanctuary to come home to, with magnificent views across the city to the Southern Alps, and a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean from the front, but I just wanted to leave the keys in the door for the first taker, and run away. A battle with the EQC is almost a full-time job, and it became mine. Throughout that time, we discussed where we would go once it was over.

Knowing that New Zealand lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, and that the Alpine Fault, not far away, was overdue to rupture, it didn't seem like a great idea to stay there, especially with the thought of going through another earthquake claim - I just didn't have it in me. Australia was high on the list, a big New Zealand really, a place we always enjoyed holidaying. I looked at schools and housing, and it all appeared quite good until I realised that no matter what, we would always be second class citizens there, and not eligible for any of the benefits that New Zealand offers Australians. Our daughter would always be a ''foreign student'' and, in fact, we would be living a very similar life to the one we had in New Zealand, just with longer commutes, and with much bigger spiders.

Almost as a joke, I Googled natural hazards in Latvia, to see what our chances were of being caught in earthquake claim hell or of being chased by eight-legged monsters. About 17 years ago, a quake in Kaliningrad was felt here, and there is the odd imperceptible shake, but we're pretty stable. There are bears, but they amble in and out of the forests all around the Baltics, and seem to have better things to do than eat people. I once saw a grass snake up near Carnikava, though. Does that count?

Anyway, getting away was a priority, but we had no idea how long it would take to settle our claim. Latvia was looking like the most likely contender, and it became more and more appealing as time went by. We planned to move here in 2014, and even had a family friend look at at property for us, but we were caught in limbo until our claim was eventually settled in 2019. Within weeks, we had bought our one-way tickets and booked a shipping container.

Twenty months in to this new life, I am still enjoying the tranquillity of a life without earthquakes. I sometimes wonder what I'd be doing if we didn't have that big one in February 2011, and I genuinely don't know the answer to that. Would I be as content, and full of lust for life as I am now? I don't think I would be. Actually, I know I wouldn't.

31/08/2021

The good days are getting better. Today during physiotherapy I pushed myself further than my physiotherapist, my caregiver, or I thought possible. After an intensive warm up, I made it down to the kitchen on my crutches. Daiga then took away the crutch on my right side to see how I could manage, then gave it back and took away the one on the left side. This answered a question I've been Googling for weeks now - do you use a single crutch, quad stick, or cane on the side of the injury, or the other side?

It turns out there is no right or wrong answer; it depends on your injury. With the elbow crutch on the side of my injury, where I had assumed I'd need it most, I really struggled to move, but with a single crutch on my good side, I moved much better. I walked the length of the Big Room on a single crutch, then Daiga returned the other one to me. She asked me to try walking with as little weight as possible on the crutches.

I tell you, it was like taking off in an aeroplane. I was unstoppable, and managed to hold the crutches above the floor while I limped along. I was walking! Real, proper, unsupported walking. Ugly, wobbly, ungainly, but I was definitely walking!

Guests had checked out earlier in the day, so I put my weight back on my crutches, and the three of us went out my front door, down a step, across the landing, and into Apartment Eva. It was more lovely than I'd remembered, because in the two and a half months since I've been in there, a bit has happened. The kitchen was extended, and the beautiful bespoke recycled wood wall next to it was also extended. A custom made coat rack was also made from the wood down in the yard, and I hadn't seen it until today. It looks tiny in the picture, but it's way taller than me, at 210cm, or seven feet. The wood looks even more stunning in reality than in photos.

I walked through the apartment, enjoying being back there, and seeing the things that had changed in my absence. I loved the new duvet covers I'd picked out for the twin room, and how well they went with the carpet runner and the wooden light shade. I opened the bathroom door, and thought how much I'd love a soak in the large, deep bathtub - one day!

Daiga opened one of the doors to the terrace, and instead of standing in front of me, she let me work out how I needed to step up, and down again. Slowly, crutches first, then up with my good side, and down with the injured side. Once again, I was so happy to be outside, enjoying the activity down in the yard, and the view of the sky and trees.

I realised I'd been a bit stuck with my inspiration for the outbuildings. I have the original floor plans, with measurements, but there's nothing like eyeballing something yourself, and thinking about what could go where. I'm fairly certain I want to create four apartments there, and I have a good idea of how to break up the space. Seeing it again with my own eyes confirmed what I've been planning, and all evening I've been thinking about how to design them with their own unique character.

I might have to get a wiggle on with my own ''architectural'' drawings because I have been told that we will be going to city hot water sometime in the next week or two. That means no more Old Man Who Makes Fire. No longer will there be smoke coming from the chimney at the end of the outbuildings - a shame, because I find it a reassuring sign that we have hot water in the building. It also means that there's not much stopping the renovation starting.

I did some more exercises on the terrace next door, then came inside, and again raised my crutches and walked towards the landing. I lowered them again, and hobbled back to my bed, exhausted, with heart pounding from the exertion, and from the excitement of what I got to see today. Tonight, I can only shuffle, and my legs, ankle, and feet ache, but sleep is a great healer, and tomorrow's a new day. Let's see what it brings . . .