The Broke-Aspirs - Week 9

For week 8 with this couple, click here. 

In my game, the only member of the Aspir family left is Pauline - the same Pauline who was a toddler at the start of the game. Her parents and her grandfather have long gone to that Great Lot in the Sky.
Last round, Pauline married Benvenuto Broke, the younger brother of Beau Broke whom we just spent a week with.
Both Pauline and Benvenuto are on Permanent Platinum and will largely be left to their own devices.

On this Monday morning, being left to her own devices for Pauline means collecting yesterday's newspaper from the front porch, followed by a spot of gardening - all done in her nightie. No wonder is she suffering bouts of coughing and sneezing!

After she has finally had a bath and got dressed, her sister-in-law Desdemona Broke (wife of her brother-in-law Beau) comes visiting.

sJust as Pauline prepares a dish of salmon for her guest and herself, she turns into an Elder.

The two ladies share a chat and the salmon. You do know what will come next, don't you?

Yes, you guessed right (it didn't take much guesswork, did it!): The Broke-Aspirs have given up the old Aspir house and moved to the Senior Residence.
It is early Wednesday morning when they arrive.

Björn Summerdream is not only the oldest current resident here at 80, he is also the first the newcomers see, as he's doing some gardening on his own initiative.

At the poker table, they meet Guy and Zoe Zimmerman (in the blue and orange PJs) and Lance Landgraab, a guest. Guy is 60 and Zoe 67.

Still fast asleep at the time of their arrival is Francis Worthington. He is 65 and the only resident who is not yet on Permanent Platinum, but he will be soon, I suppose - it should not take long until he becomes Space Pirate.

Sunrise shows the Senior Residence covered in snow.

Sirius Swain walks by and is greeted by Zoe.

Francis has steadily been working on his body skill, and all those Yoga exercises have kept him very fit.

When Björn returns from work all happy...

...he is met by Mr. Reaper and his Hula Girls.
Björn does not mind - he has had a long and happy life and is looking forward to be reunited with his beloved wife, Bottom Summerdream, who preceeded him last round.

On Thursday, their second day at the Senior Residence, Benvenuto meets Zoe in the kitchen. I like it that usually, all new residents quickly become friends with the others, mostly helped along by spending hours at the poker table together. That is not yet the case for Ben and Pauline, but I am sure it is only a question of time.

The repair service is called nearly every day, and today is no exception. It's a shame the repair men and women do not carry surnames that would make them eligible as permanent residents here.

Zoe greets Demi Love, who has moved to New Max only a few days ago.

When Francis returns from work that evening, it is not only with colleague Stephen Riley, but also with his last promotion - he is now Space Pirate and has reached his lifetime want at the age of 67, rather late for my Sims. Well done, Francis - now you shall be left in peace most of the time!

On Friday morning, Kim is found at her usual favourite spot - observing everything that is going on outside from inside the warm house.

Benvenuto has been showing the wish to invite someone over - of course it has to be his brother with all the family. Therefore, although it is not Sunday, it turns into a proper Family Day with only a few hours' absence from Pauline due to work.

For the residents here, it makes a nice change to have some young folks about until it is time for the Broke-Capps to go home.

On Saturday, the seniors take a taxi to the Sky Arc Spire. When they arrive, there is still a light dusting of snow on the ground.

Indoors, the Sky Arc Spire has a spring-like atmosphere with tulips and other flowers in bloom, and the peaceful sound of tinkling water from a well.

Outdoors, the atmosphere begins to match the indoors when all of a sudden, golden sunrays appear over the place - thanks to the good witch who has just arrived.
When the first of our senior group get too tired to enjoy the outing any longer, I send the group home.

On Sunday morning, I find Benvenuto looking at the painting that shows the McGreggor farm where he and his brothers grew up after their widowed Mum - Brandi Broke - fell in love with Leod McGreggor and he welcomed the entire family with open arms and an open heart.

Pauline has steadily been working on her friendship with NPC tourist Kennedy Smith, and today he has come to stay as a house guest for three days.

Cameron Capp walks by and is greeted by Zoe.

Francis returns from work with Stephen Riley. He rolls the wish to influence someone to garden...

...but ends up doing some gardening himself, until other needs call him inside.

Kennedy enjoys the stuffed rainbow trout Pauline has prepared to honour their guest from far away.

It is Monday again - the Broke-Aspirs skipped Tuesday when they moved to the Senior Residence, therefore I am playing another day with them.
Guy Wrightley-Zimmerman missed last night's dinner as he was already asleep. By the time he gets up, the food has gone bad, but that does not stop him from eating it.

Meanwhile, his wife greets passers-by Callum Capp.

Kennedy has made coffee for himself, since nobody seems to bother making breakfast for their guest - or for themselves.

But at night, there is another festive dinner for him in the shape of turkey prepared by Francis on his own accord.
The week ends with Kennedy ALMOST ready to move in - just not yet!

Will there be any new residents from New Maximiliania's stock soon?

The Broke-Capp Family: Week 8

You can (re-)read the previous week at this family here.

This generous house is currently home to a family of six, the Broke-Capps.

We are here because Beau Broke is first on the alphabetical list of Broke family members. He was, if you remember, Brandi Broke's second son; a toddler when the game started. He is now 64 and is married with four children. When he became World Class Ballet Dancer 15 days from Elderhood, he reached his lifetime want and has been on Permanent Platinum ever since.

His wife is Desdemona Broke, nee Capp. She is 55 and, although for us about 1 1/2 years have passed since we last played this household, for her time has stood still and the grief about the recent death of her mother Goneril is still raw.
Desdemona is also on PP, because she has already been able to celebrate her Golden Anniversary with Beau.

Here are her four children: Catherine, the eldest and only girl; Charles and Carmelo, both school boys who look so alike they seem like twins (but really Charles is five years older), and little Calvin, who was born after Desdemona and Beau got married and is the only one of the four with the Broke surname.
Catherine and Charles are not Beau's biological children; their father was Pierre Picaso, who was involved with Desdemona before she met Beau.

On this Monday afternoon, Carmelo proudly presents his first A+ just as his Dad serves a batch of Hamburgers.

In the evening, Desdemona sits with her youngest, fondly watching over his sleep.

Tuesday morning is busy at the Broke-Capp house: the gardener, the exterminator and the repair man all arrive at the same time. A little later, the household help joins them - she is lucky to find a parking space between the exterminator's and the repair man's car!
Usually, I let my Sims do as much of the work as they can do themselves, but with this busy family, I make an exception.

Desdemona has invited Demi Love, recent acquaintance and prospective New Maximilianian resident, over. She asks to bring along a friend, and that friend is Ryker Love - one of her distant relatives who was first seen on campus as an NPC student and has moved to the neighbourhood for good not long ago.

Charles and Carmelo bring two class mates home from school: Gavin Gavigan...

...and Mary Riley. Now the house is full of guests, just the way Desdemona and Beau like it! Both grew up with several siblings and don't feel at ease when the house is too quiet.

Because of so much going on at the same time, I miss Charles growing up into a teenager at 6:00 pm. He rolls the Knowledge aspiration, and his lifetime want is to become Space Pirate.

I also miss little Calvin growing up from toddler to child! Now there are no more toddlers left in the house, but two teenagers and two younger children. Desdemona and Beau can now take a deep breath and largely be left to their own devices, as befits Sims on Permanent Platinum.

Both Beau and Desdemona are very affectionate parents. Beau makes sure he is there when his younger sons wake up in the morning to give them a good start to their day.

After school, Desdemona helps Charles with his homework. Like many teenage girls, Catherine is determined to lose weight; jumping rope is fun but it will take her a long time before she'll see any effects on her figure.

Demi Love joins the family for dinner, invited by Desdemona. "When you and my Mum are best friends, you'll be able to move to New Maximiliania for good," Catherine explains.

With so many Sims constantly using the toilets and showers in the house, something breaks nearly every day, and the Repair Man's car is a familiar sight this Thursday morning.

Of course, Demi has once more been invited over. The two ladies enjoy a liquid breakfast and chat, now that the kids are all at school and the maid has not yet arrived.

At 3:00, Alan Riley (front) and Param Patel (still on the bus) come home with Carmelo and Calvin.

The Broke-Capps are happiest when their house is full of people. Matthew Cho is also asked in when he happens to walk by.

For Charles, Friday does not start well; he suffers from coughing fits and other symptoms of a bad cold. A bowl of his mother's comfort soup soon sets him up for school, though.

Carmelo returns from school again with Alan Riley in tow. Both of the younger boys roll the wish to be friends with Alan.

Calvin runs after his Dad, who is being picked up for work just as the school bus has dropped the kids off. He is brandishing his first A+!

Over dinner (Mac and Cheese, kindly prepared by Charles) with their daily guest Demi Love, Carmelo expresses the wish to throw a family party. This could soon happen to welcome Demi - today, Desdemona has become best friends with her.

Carmelo and Calvin begin Saturday morning together in their play- and bedroom.

As soon as it is feasible, Desdemona invites Demi over again. The two ladies have become best friends yesterday, but Demi does not yet accept the invitation to move in. Hopefully, she will do so tomorrow, as it will be the last day at this household for a while.

The dining room is large, but cosy with logs burning in the fireplace and hamburgers on the plates of those who are hungry. In this family, the older children love reading to their younger siblings and do it autonomously every day. Hardy surprising then that the two younger boys roll wishes to read novels - a batch of bookworms, it seems :-)

Beau returns from work with colleague Lilo Landgraab in tow.

On Sunday, what has been long awaited finally comes true: Demi Love moves to New Maximiliania for good! She does not stay with the Broke-Capp family, but instantly looks for a place of her own. Her private bank account of 12,000 Simoleons is certainly going to help. A Knowledge Sim, she quits the Police Force and will start working towards her dream of becoming Education Minister. We wish her all the best!

Catherine achieves a personal goal of hers she has been working on almost all week: She gets really fit after yet another yoga session.

And one of her little brothers is not so little anymore! Carmelo grows up into a teenager at 6:00 pm that afternoon. He rolls the Popularity aspiration.

Seeing as he has age-transitioned into a "rocky" kind of outfit, I give him a make-over - also to set him apart from his older brother Charles; otherwise, the two would look very much alike.

This was a fun week with a lot going on; I simply love playing families with children and teenagers!

How much longer are their ageing parents going to be around? Will we see Catherine and Charles at college soon? And how is Demi Love going to fit in with her new neighbours, now that she lives in New Max for good?