Life Unlimited - Part 3 is up!

Third episode of my TS4 machinima series, Life Unlimited, was released today! The episode is called «Forever alone?», and yes, Barbara and Fredric are still looking for their parents in the huge forest of Granite Falls. Being just kids gives a number of restrictions to what you can do, so maybe it's time to adjust plans?

Hope you enjoy! Remember to leave a "like" and to subscribe to my youtube channel if you want more. I love the movie making aspects of this game, and will produce many more cinematic vids in the furture! :)

San Myshuno Undercover - Episode 2

Did you watch the first episode of my new The Sims 4 series yet? San Myshuno Undercover is a story driven video series, with Lets Play elements as the main character explores many of the City Living EP's features. In this 2nd part she enjoys the Spice Festival and sings karaoke for the very first time. But there is also disguises, a worrying message and perhaps a new suspect...

Click image below, or see it on my youtube channel. Remember to follow blog or subscribe to the channel to get a wink when next part is up in a week or two...

San Myshuno Undercover - NEW SERIES - Episode 1

[TS4] Looks like I will release several series on my Youtube channel over this Winter! Today the brand new series "San Myshuno Undercover" opened with first episode! This is a kind of new way to learn about the "City Living" EP, as the main character Jill Narvane explores San Myshuno while looking for a certain person. It's quest/mystery mixed with a little drama and romance.

Here's the first episode of San Myshuno Undercover!

A total of 6 episodes are planned, each of them will be announced here on the blog :) Or subscribe to the channel.

Rose Gallery

[The Sims 4, Get to Work] Today I want to share a brand new community lot with you, it's a gallery classified a Retail (Get To Work required). In my original Gloomville there is a wealthy family named von Kaching, the Adult couple is named Rose & Bud (ya, you got it?). These days Rose opened a new business in Crestville (in the Newcrest region of Gloomville). The business idea is quite intriguing, and I'm yet not 100% sure it will work the way I hope for.

So, this is the wonderful Mrs. Rose von Kaching. She married to the filthy rich business man, Bud von Kaching long ago, in fact their two children are about to become young adults. Rose always dreamed about running her own business, she already had a small gallery in central Gloomville since a few years, but the business was too limited.

Life Unlimited - Episode 2 is out!

Sorry for the long wait! Episode 2 of my relatively new TS4 series LIFE Unlimited is now available on my Youtube channel.

So, why did it take this long? I had to come up with a better technical solution because when I started recording, the quality was much worse than when episode 1 was produced. I think I found a good routine, meaning the wait will be way shorter for episode 3 :)

Newcrest: Arena Shopping Mall - part 2

(TS4 Get To Work) Welcome back to my mini series where my sim Corinne Dougham will establish a shopping mall located in Newcrest. The build is actually named Arena Shopping Mall and contains 4 sections, or different stores if you like. Bakery, Clothing store, Retail and Photo Studio. It's small for a mall, but still quite a handful to run, especially for Corinne who started straight from CAS and with zero skills or business traits. This update will focus on the bakery, but first a few more words about Corinne Dougham...

I told you that she has no home but spends the nights on park benches. Well, that is no longer true, Corinne resides a spacious 2 stories townhouse located at Crestville. Crestville is one of 3 hoods at Newcrest, so it's not that far away from the mall at main Newcrest. Yes, I told you that she would only be used for building up the business, but then I started to like playing a sim with lots of money owning a whole shopping mall, so I figured she can stay. She will still not be a central part in my ongoing video series, Life Unlimited, at least not that I know of at this point.

Schwaini and Day of the Dead (TS4)

In my TS4 town Gloomville, there reside a large number of families that you probably never heard of. Some of them were background characters in my story Gloomville Diaries, while others never made it to the story line. The Schwaini family belongs to the latter category, I think. They are the quite poor and eccentric family, and they live their rather shady lives in the subhood named Muggerdale Hood.

Their old introduction reveals that they made a living from collecting stuff to sell at Muggerdale Fair, next door, but truth is that today this households are criminals. Well, elderly Miri and Corinne (pictured) both retired, but their kids Rambo and Sculla grew up to become nice, criminal young adults.

Get Creative with the Photo Studio Object

One of the features that I really looked forward to when buying Get To Work, was the cameras. Your sim can own a camera that makes it possible to create decent photos for the walls. But there is also the Photo Studio object that makes the photographed sims pose a bit more in a professional and fun setting.

But you know how it is, after using a feature a number of times, and intending using it for all my existing homes in Gloomville an the other regions, it became a bit worn out when families had to choose from a limited number of backdrops and poses. I had to develop this a bit further to secure enough variety for my sims...

So I did, and now you can see some of the result in a brand new video that was posted on my Youtube channel. Duration 4:39. I plan to post more short videos with tips & tricks.

Hopefully you are inspired to make more photos with your sims. Let me know how you like your sim family portraits :)

New video series released: LIFE Unlimited

So, I finally made it! I'm proud to show you the first episode of my new series LIFE Unlimited! Not proud because it is perfect or anywhere close, but that I completed the task and managed to convince myself that this is okay, no need to edit and tweak for weeks :)

Story is about the siblings Fredric and Barbara, and in the first episode they are heading into the deep forest with their parents. This first part [duration 07:06] is a tad loose, avoided to add too many advanced settings and complicated plots. I never before made film with TS4, and the editing program was new as well. Lots to learn, many ideas to test out. When I get more used to all the tech the story will probably get more advanced too :)

I hope you enjoy LIFE Unlimited - Into the Woods!

Newcrest: Arena Shopping Mall - part 1

(TS4 Get To Work)  So, I recently added a few packs to my The Sims 4 game, and have so far just about started to check them all out. One of those additions is the Get To Work expansion pack. Being a 2015 release, this pack is already well documented on the web, so I won't get very detailed on the features on this blog, but rather share a few thoughts while I check out parts of it.

I'm planning a new video series, Life Unlimited, that will start rolling in October. Setting everything up includes building a new hood in Newcrest. I've picked a 5 lots hood, and thought that one lot should be commercial, so I've built a small shopping mall on a 30x40 lot. The mall needs some active play to get established, and this gives me the excuse to write a few posts on the progress :)

Today you'll get to see the build and thoughts around the set up. In a couple future posts I'll go more in depth concerning the 4 specific stores that exists in the Newcrest Mall and how the mall is managed. I will try to keep everything simple, and there is no CC involved. My current packs are Get To Work, Outdoor Retreat and Dine Out.

So, this is Newcrest Mall. There's just one floor, which I think fits the quiet residential hood the better. It's got a typical, rather boring exterior, plain and gray. It might get improved later on as the mentioned series rolls out, although the mall will not get much focus besides being a location.

I created a test-sim to actively build up the business, it's a lot harder than I expected. But first, let's take a tour.

The Sims 4 - City Living EP announced!

Yesterday EA announced the upcoming TS4 expansion pack, City Living! Here are a few screenshots from the trailer:

The skyscrapers finally reached TS4! Welcome to San Myshuno!

Rewind The Sims 2: The Soap Box Show

Back in my TS2 days, I created many films and TV shows. Some clips even made it to commercials on my local TV station.

Today I found this 2007 clip in my old back-up files, the Soap Box Show! It was meant to be a series of short episodes where locals were given a chance to climb that stage (soap box) and speak freely about something that annoyed or bothered them.

In this first episode Mrs Tess Appleton is the main guest. Show also featured Nelly Wolmipot (not actually a Simmerville hood resident, as she lived in SimCity) and was hosted by April Briggon (daughter of the Home Sweet Home show hostess, Germine Briggon). Unfortunately I think this was the only episode ever recorded - enjoy! :)

Duration 1:33.

Back to The Sims 4 - Dine Out

So, I'm currently planning to create a new series as a movie instead of lots of pictures and text on this blog. Movies will be much easier to follow, and I think it will also be easier for you to pick up clues to understand the plot. Even quicker to catch up for those coming late to the party.

A more instant experience.

I've not yet decided whether this will be filmed in TS3 or TS4, there might be several series because I want to try both. I'm hoping to introduce the first episodes during September. Because both «Seagull Cottage B&B» and «Hope Terra» takes place in TS3, the first movie is likely to take place in the TS4 universe.

Recently I got the rather new game pack, Dine Out, and along with testing a new install, I also had fun testing the art of running a restaurant. This was one of my favorite things to do back in TS2.

In my old TS4 hood, Gloomville (used in story Gloomville Diaries as well as Sims by Numbers) the old trad Muggerdale Fair got a slight makeover, and I created a new elderly woman to manage the place.

This is originally an old farmers' market. Now also with a thriving backyard restaurant :)

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 23 (season 1 closing)

Welcome back to the world of the Ugly Wickerwood! This chapter will end the first season, so a little drama was in place!

Albert Wickerwood, the guy who was raised to believe that ugly is better than nice, resides in his house with wife Myrhna and their two ugly kids Hui and Edna. No wait, Myrhna's elderly mom Anna Eastwood also lives there together with her fresh husband, Jonas. In fact, Jonas is convinced that the house belongs to Anna and not to Albert.

The elderly couple took over the master bedroom downstairs, and Albert and Myrhna were forced to move upstairs. Jonas thinks of them as renters, but they don't really mind a lot. It shouldn't make much of a difference, should it?

TS2 Rewind: Rebecka's Kissing School

Hello! I found a funny clip in my old files, Rebecka's Kissing School! It's a very short clip (1:25), it's just a silly glitch presented in a funny way :)

Rebecka (Goth) Mervil married Egoon Mervil, one of the two criminal sons of Simmerville Hood's wealthy Mervil family. This was actually my hood's evil couple. I still like to add a few evil characters to all my hoods and worlds.

What this autumn brings

Hello! I just wanted to share a few thoughts about what to expect from this blog and my new Youtube channel during this autumn. It's pretty typical that I get into my games and sims projects again, now that my real life actually looks too busy for this all. Been there before, I know that it will be trigging my creative juices.

Well, like I promised earlier, two of my long going stories will be back this autumn, it seems to be «Hope Terra» and «Seagull Cottage B&B». They will both have regular updates on this blog every 3-4 weeks. Not sure how many chapters each will have yet, but I expect 6 to 8.

The Ugly Wickerwood will take a break. This story started as a immediate substitute back when my computer crashed and all old stories were paused. Wickerwood was played on my laptop with only 2 EPs installed, also missing all my CC. I think the story will resume at some time, although it might not have the greatest plot of time :)

Lately, I've been dragged towards creating sims movies. That's why I opened the Simmerville channel on Youtube. This far only old TS2 clips were posted, and I found a few more that will be shared on the channel over the next month or so. My old Movie Maker no longer works, and because I'm on a budget right now, I will need to try some software that is free or inexpensive. Need some time to sort all of it out, before I can publish movies from TS3 or TS4.

My problem right now is that I can not decide - I was thinking of making «Hope Terra» or «Seagull Cottage» as movie series instead of just blog updates, but then I realized that any movie story should rather be recorded in a new world that is not filled with inactive households and generations of game memory. Both the two stories might be in worlds that are too choppy and slow. I even thought of remaking «Gloomville Diaries» (TS4) because I think it will be easier to tell a complicated story on film than on numerous blog updates where smaller hints might get lost.

Or - I might rather make up a brand new story. No matter what movie I choose, there will probably be a few test films. I will need to test out stuff before getting on with the bigger job. No matter what, this blog will be updated more frequently than before, so please hang around! :)

TS2 Rewind: Simmerville in Concert

Back in my old TS2 game, there was a popular hangout called Lake Ellie's Cultural Retreat. When instruments and jamming was introduced, this location had the only stage in town. So, I brought many of the best known families to stage, for jam sessions that was recorded. It's now available on Simmerville's Youtube channel.

You might recognize VIP reporter Lisa Snakespear, webmistress Bimbo NL and baby expert Ursull Swims, just to name a few. Duration 4:26.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 22

Myrhna's mother, Anna Eastwall, surprised them all by marrying her friend, Jonas. The newly wed elderly couple resides the master bedroom, and over the past years Anna acted as if she owned Albert's house.

- It certainly feels like ugly business, Albert said. He and Myrhna was sitting in the livingroom to talk. Kids were in bed, and Anna and Jonas were in their room.
- She doesn't mean to be ugly, Myrhna said.
- Argh, of course not, I am the ugly one, Albert shrugged. - And you know, our kids are perfectly ugly, too!

TS2 Rewind: Bubo by Bu Buh

Hello! I'm back from vacation, and had time to look through a few old TS2 films I made back in 2004-2006. Hey, that's pretty old stuff, more than 10 years!

Anyway, want to share one of my findings, the mysterious story about how my clairvoyant sim Molly MacAstral got her blue skinned alien son, Bubo. Molly existed even in my TS1 game, and she was one of a kind!

This movie (duration 4:18) is a bit, uhm, primitive, I didn't even bother to hide the plumbob. It still has something going :) I'll post more old findings to my Youtube channel shortly!

How I build a Sim's personallity

While waiting for this season's last Wickerwood chapter (it's in the works, but needs a few days more), I want to tell you how I deal with my sims' personality. Not saying this is a needed way, or even a good way, but at least it helps me keeping a focus for sims that figures in my stories.

Their personality is mainly set by the game, but I like to add to that. This helps me knowing how they will live, what their preferences are, how they react and some times how they communicate etc. Life want and traits make the foundation, but I often add my string of "additional DNA" as well as preferred styles. To keep all these details easily accessable, even if game is not running while I write my stories, I often make a personality card for the main characters. In the past I kept notes in a spread sheet, but I figured that creating a card gives me much more inspiration and ideas, it feels like I geet closer to the sim's true personality :)

This card shows Cathrina H. Wooblershield, you might recognize her from "Seagull Cottage Bed & Breakfast" - a story that takes place in my town of Galucca, and that had a long break but will return to this blog this Fall. Her card gives all essentials regarding her person, including pictures of her as well as the house she resides - Seagull Cottage.

Name is given, not much to add there, except that I always add the maiden name initial when a sim marries and takes anorther sim's lastname. Cathrina's maaiden name is Horgan. She is married to Alexander Wooblershield.

On top you see that her lifetime want is Heartbreaker. This I think of as a long term goal, not something that necessarily affects her everyday choices. She has 5 traits, and I choose to focus on 3 of them as main traits and the last 2 as additional flairs. Her main traits are Friendly, Slob and Ambitious. The weaker traits are Computer Whiz and Flirty, which might affect how those first 3 come into play. So what can we get out of that combo? She obviously is a social sim, network builder and often in a flirting way without necessarily wanting to cheat on her spouse. Being a slob might not only mean that she hates cleaning, but maybe her social relations becomes a mess, to? A few misunderstandings, a few conflicts - all caused by her not keeping her relsations clean and spotless? The Computer Whiz addiitional flair might mean that she tend to think technically abut others, forgetting that they have feelings and questions. She sure is an interesting character for running her late Great Aunt Gloria Moonster's old bed & breakfast, and we know she already did quite a few attempts to bringing the weird neighbors back to the open hood nights at the cottage.

There is also a number top right, number 4. It gives Cathrina's "success status" on a scale from 1 to 6. A 4 is pretty decent, she will probably just about succeed with her business, but not without working real hard. In all my games this factor is present, in some towns there is even regions where the most successful resides (5-6), and poor quarters where less fortunate families live (1-2). A child from a 6 family would never marry someone from a family with success factor 1 or 2. If a 4-sim marries a 5-sim, the household will count as a 4.5 household (the average). The couple's kids will normally inhherit 4.5 but a DNA factor might either rase it to 5.5 or lower iit to 3.5. This way kids will succeed differently, and some parents find it easier to pick the main heir. I often play my towns through generations, so this affects the long term developments of a community.

Cathrina being a Virgo means she will be interested in details, she might like science and she is not afraid to work hard to reach her goals.

The DNA string "Gg-hH-ff-bB-MF-Ii-Ss" is not existing in the game, but I invented it in order to deside a sim's looks and behavior. It might look complicated, but is easy to use once you get to it. I've also used this in my TS4 game.

Each set contain one from dad and one from mom. I use a dice to pass on the DNA, normally once a child is born.
"Gg" = average, no effect. "GG" would mean need of glasses. "gg" would mean no need of glasses.
"hH" = average, no effect. "HH" would mean lots of hair. "hh" would mean little hair. "HH"-men will have body hair, while "hh"-men will never have body hair. Cathrina will not have a very long or volumous hairstyle, neither will she have a very flat/short style.
"ff" = no freckles. "FF" would mean lots of freckles. The average "Ff" or "fF" would normally give no freckles, or just a few.
"bB" = average, no effect. "BB" would mean beautyspot. "bb" would mean no beautyspot.
"MF" = masculine/feminine. This gets more complex, but basicaly one f each will be neutral, while any form of "Ff", "fF", "ff" or "FF" will tend to more feminine. Bigger letters gives a bolder effect. In my games "MM"-women and "FF"-men are gay, but some might still live a normal family life. Masculine women will rarely were skirts/dresses, and feminine men might more often wear red/orange/pink/pastels.
"Ii" = neutral, no effect. "II would mean bright intellect (smart), while "ii" would mean dumb - but not necessarily unhappy. Cathrina is neutral, knowledge might not come easy, but she won't make many mistakes either.
"Ss" = neutral, no effect. "SS" would mean successful regarding social status, and 1 is added to the sim's success factor. "ss" would mean less successful and success factor is reduced by 1.

From the DNA I will know that Cathrina has no need for glasses before she turns elderly, she has average hair growth, no talent for freckles, no beautyspot (but can still pass on the "B" to her children). She is masculine/feminine balanced, but with both big letters, she might be very masculine and very feminine as required - like not being afraid of doing heavy body work, and enjoying to dress up very feminine with no need of doing so every single day. I also know that Cathrina's intellect is average, and her social success is average, too.

With a little experience, I can quickly see my sims' qualities from looking at their personality card. A tad complicated, but do feel free to adapt any ideas if you like.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 21

Life looks better at the ugly Wickerwood residence. At least it does for the elderly couple, Mrs Anna Eastwall and her boyfriend Jonas Pascal. They spend an amazing amount of time in the master bedroom...

While the real house owners, Albert and Myrhna Wickerwood sleeps upstairs in the less impressive section that was built for Myrhna's mom, Anna.

Hope Terra - will be back on after Summer!

When my computer crashed half a year ago, the story that lost most progress was Hope Terra. Three of Hope Merez' four children had married, and two of them had moved out to live in new builds on small rocks in the ocean. All that was lost, and because of a busy RL, I had no chance to redo everything until recently.

Now the builds and moving outs are safe again, and this time with a back-up, even :)  Expect season 2 to catch up in September! There are now three households, all being pregnant:

Aquid Merez, Hope's oldest son, inherited the main property at Hope Terra. His wife, Clammensa, pictured playing with a squirrel on the beach, already gave birth to their son, Almus. What colors will his Mer scales be? And, Clammensa is pregnant again!

Hope is still worried for the Mudder group. What is going on down there in the waters?

Davitor married to Ocira Tushell and built a small home on the southern rock. They are expecting their first child any day now! Davitor loves painting, and with this view to the never ending ocean, he try again and again to capture the perfect motive. Ocira thinks all his paintings look the same, will he ever succeed? And what is the point in painting, when there is no community to buy your work?

Finally, Animere, the daughter with human legs, married Abrovin Scalor and built a tiny shed on the western rock. They are expecting a baby too, and - well, it's exciting to see if the child will get Mer People's scales, or human legs. Abrovin is into fishing, and there is plenty fish right outside their shed. Maybe they can trade fish for vegetables with the other two households?

Please check back in September! And if you are new to Hope Terra, get ready by reading season 1! :)

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 20

It's getting quite annoying how elderly Anna Eastwood and her lover, Jonas, claim the better part of the house, while Albert and Myrhna brings in all the money. They both work, and when they get back home they find that the elderly couple didn't do any house chores, and totally neglected the kids, too!

Myrhna was often exhausted. Still she had this dream to become a famous musician, and the only way achieving her goal was to work hard in the local theater.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 19

It's been a few days since the old man moved in with granny Anna Eastwall. She still claims the house to be hers, and she didn't need to ask old Jonas twice. He had been around for some time already, but Hui could still not get used to granny behaving like a teenager.

- Argh, granny, stop kissing!
- Shut up and do your homework, Hui! I promised your parents to babysit you.
- I'm no baby! Ush!

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 18

Albert and Myrhna lived a few happy days now that they had access to their two kids, Hui and Edna. Albert had time to concentrate on his Law Enforcement career, and Myrhna found more time to practice on her guitar.

Neighbors never got a grip on Myrhna, why would anyone prefer to practice their guitar in the snow, wearing nothing but their underwear? Well, Myrhna Wickerwood obviously preferred it that way...

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 17

So, Albert and Myrhna slept upstairs, while Myrhna's mother, Anna Eastwood, got their room downstairs. It felt a bit unfair as their master bedroom was much nicer equipped.

- You need to talk to her, Albert said. - She is your mother!
- It won't change anything, trust me!

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 16

The drama at the Wickerwood residence must come to an end! Myrhna's mom has locked herself in the nursery with her two grandchildren for several days, and everybody are worried for the kids, toddler Hui and baby Edna.

Albert Wickerwood saw no other way to end his mother-in-law's strike, but expanding the house as the old woman demanded! Unfortunately they can't change much about the nursery plan, but a second story was added. Upstairs there is now a nice living room/bedroom with its own bathroom - all meant for Myrhna's mom, Anna Eastwood.

Downstairs they switched the kitchen and living room sections, and built a new wall to separate them.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 15

It's been several days since Myrhna's mother Anna Eastwall locked herself inside the nursery. Myrhna is getting desperate - how are the kids doing in dere? Toddler Hui and baby Edna - dirty diapers, empty small stomaches?

- They are all starving! They must be starving, maybe they are already dead!
- Relax, wife!
- But we need to do something, Albert!

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 14

The ugly little family is back! The Wickerwoods! Albert's mother in law, Mrs Anna Eastwall, hasstill barricaded herself inside the nursery - with her two grandchildren.

This morning Myrhna found herself torn between being cut off from her children, and her elderly mom refusing to open the door until the house has been expanded. There was no way to solve the conflict shortly - it would take weeks to rebuild the house - besides Albert has said no to any such adjustments.

- Albert, we need to do something! YOU need to do something!
- Not listening!, Albert said.

More ugliness is coming soon!

Right, they are *not* the Wickerwoods, so who are they?

Just to let you all know that the Ugly Wickerwoods will be back shortly! Thanks to busy days, there was a break, but starting this Easter there will be new weekly chapters posted. This season counts 7 more episodes - both conflicts and surprises ahead! :)

See you sooon!

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 13

We left this ugly family while Myrhna was about to give birth to their second child, and yay - the delivery has been done!

- It's a girl!, Myrhna happily stated. - I so wanted a baby girl!
- You mean girls are better?
- Not that, but we already have a son. It's great to have both!

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 12

So, ever since Albert's mother in law, Mrs Anna Eastwall, moved in, everyday did change a bit. Not only did she overview all daily duties, forcing Albert to waste time on fixing stuff instead of practicing his Martial Art, but the old woman also kept Myrhna busy with small talk all day, prohibiting her from training on her cooking skills.

- I really need something to eat! Could you two take a break from the talking, and prepare some food?, he complained quite loudly.
- Sandwiches will do, Myrhna replied.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 11

Today Albert is up for a shocking surprise! And - unfortunately, a few changes to his everyday life.

- I forgot to tell you; Mom is visiting us today!, Myrhna said.
- What? You got a mom?
- Of course I've got a mom, most people do!
- But she wasn't at our wedding! I've got no parents, I didn't think you had either...
- Well I have, and she will visit us later today.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 10

Our lovely Albert Wickerwood, the founder of this ugly legacy, was just about getting a grip on his wants when he had a son Hui and married Myrhna. He woke up every morning with 4 wants, knowing he should fulfill at least one of them each day, but raising a family took so much of his valuable time!

It's been ages since he returned from China, and this morning he got up early to practice the Martial Art, even if it's not one of his four locked wants...

- Muha! Hai!

Computer crash - old story projects on hold

I recently experienced a serious computer crash and will need to reinstall everything just to get my stories going again. Due to other projects this can't be given priority right now, but will be dealt with shortly.

Thankfully I have some backup of most sims projects. Unfortunately those saves are about 6 months old, but then again - thankfully most stories were not played much lately. I know I lost a few builds on Hope Terra, but that might pretty much be all. Not more than I can redo.

The old hard drive might be intact, too, but if those buildings are the only major loss, I won't bother with the cost to access that disk.

While I get my new system up and running, reinstall all my sims discs and test if the backup works, my simple "The Ugly Wickerwood" story, that is run on my laptop and is the only project not affected, will still be told here on the blog. More news on Hope Terra, Gloomville Diaries, Seagull Cottage, Detesters and Greench Farm will follow.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 9

Albert planned to get married yesterday, but the day didn't go according to his plans. Instead Myrhna went to work and he was left home to clean the house!

This morning he decided to jump right to it. They had not even dressed when he proposed!

- Dear, ugly Myrhna! Will you take this ring...
- Oh, Albert!
- Will you marry me? Will you become my ugly wife?
- Oh, wife? Of course I will, stupid!

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 8

The wedding is coming up! Or, what not?

Albert didn't propose yet, but his plan is to get married in a hurry, to avoid that the ugly Myrhna moves out and takes little Hui with her. If the little boy turns out to be extremely ugly, he will be even more valuable in Albert's eyes! Sad, but true.

Not quite sure you actually want to get married, Albert?

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 7

Oh yes! A baby in the house made a difference. Albert and Myrhna took their equal turns on changing dirty diapers, feeding and singing. Albert was rather excited.

Myrhna wasn't very happy though.

- What's up, my ugly love?, Albert asked. Tried to sing a little song to cheer her up.
- Well, I need a hobby.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 6

Things are gonna change, and they will hit you so hard, Albert Wickerwood! Today, actually!

Nothing is like getting ready for work, then opening the door and your ugly girlfriend is just standing there waiting for you. Now, why not ringing that doorbell, Myrhna? How long have you been spying?

- Myrhna? What's up, why are you dressed in those ugly clothes? They compliment your figure, by the way.

The Ugly Wickerwood - Chapter 5

Albert could hardly sleep, all he could think of was her - Myrhna! She was not as ugly as he expected, but at least she was worse looking than any of those girls he saw in China! The next day he had to call her, maybe he could invite Myhrna over for some - ehem - snacks?

Currently Alberts 4 locked wishes are: Learn Painting Skill, Bathe. Get Pumped, Call Chen Hong, Learn Photography Skill. Well, none of these seems interesting now that he finally fell in love on the last day of Summer!

Albert got Myrhna's number, and the next day he invited her over. First she refused, but then he said she was special already, even if that sounded rushed even to him!