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?

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! :)

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!

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.

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.