Margaret Turner: Week 1

Margaret's Senior Year at uni and her graduation are here.

You may remember this block of flats from previous rounds, but the tenants are not the same ones as last time we visited.

Here is Margaret Turner signing the contract on this Monday morning to rent one of the four terraced houses.
She was a teenage townie when we first came across her; I then sent her to uni, and she has just graduated Cum Laude in Mathematics. Her lifetime want is to max out all skills - typical for a Knowledege Sim.
Her bank account shows a healthy balance of over 16,000 Simoleons - and she will need some of that money right away.

The ground floor of her place is completely unfurnished, just an empty garage and a staircase.

Upstairs only has the kitchen and bathroom ready, everywhere else is bare - no bed, no table or chairs. As usual, I wait with the furnishing until the newly moved-in Sim rolls wishes for items to buy. In Magaret's case, the first item she wants is a bookcase - again, typical Knowledge Sim.

The other three tenants here are Cataldo and Cameron Capp, and Ratna Walter. Margaret and Cameron became friends at uni, Cataldo is new to her, and Ratna no more than an acquaintance. She wants to get along well with her new neighbours and invites them all over for a spot of lunch.

Later, she calls her sweetheart from uni, Amin Fleig.

Margaret's first day as a proper New Max resident ends with a private little housewarming party ;-)

On Tuesday morning, Margaret smiles as she remembers the night spent with Amin.

She uses every opportunity to improve her skills, such as doing the crossword for logic. At the moment, she is not willing to spend precious money on a telescope or even a chess table.

Later, Amin rings.
Margaret spends the rest of the day skilling, only pausing for a brief chat with her neighbours.

It's not a smile but a coughing fit for Margaret on Wednesday morning. She better not invite Amin over until she gets rid of her cold. But maybe she should buy warmer clothes; after all, the skirt and polo shirt she has age-transitioned into are hardly an outfit for autumn.

Amelia's Closet is one of the community lots I particularly like - last but not least because the music in the shop is from the original The Sims game. It fills me with nostalgia for those long gone years every time I hear it.

Margaret makes her purchase...

...and then sits down for a game of chess with a townie. When I realise that playing here does not increase her logic skill, and no interesting new townies appear, I send her home.

By Thursday, Margaret feels much better. She takes care of the bills and then does some skilling.

Later, she invites Amin over again. From what he is wearing, you can imagine what was for starters before Margaret served dinner and opened a bottle of sparkling wine! "Here's to my health," she laughs.

When she wakes up on Friday morning, Margaret rolls a series of wishes to buy things for her flat. She gets an expensive new kitchen stove and a food processor, but I draw the line at a grill that costs at least 1,000 Simoleons. Margaret has no job and needs to be careful with her spending. Also, there is a perfectly good grill at the side of the block of flats, available to all tenants.

The day is chilly and rainy, and Margaret lights the fire in her still sparsely furnished open plan living-dining-kitchen area. She then settles down with her thinking cap and a cook book, and spends many hours skilling.

She is still at it when Friday turns to Saturday, but has switched to painting. Only when she is so tired that she can hardly hold the paintbrush anymore does she go to bed.

Saturdays mean the landlady throws a party for her tenants, and this Saturday is no exception.

Margaret has asked Amin over to join in the fun, and the two of them have freshly grilled hot dogs in the autumn afternoon sunshine.

As it is the last day of autumn (when skilling is easiest), she goes back to her book and her thinking cap after the meal. Her diligence is rewarded when cooking becomes the first skill she manages to max out.

Sunday - the last day of our week with Margaret - is here. Because she was up almost all night painting, it is nearly half eight before she gets up. Winter has set in, and it is time to find something more suitable for the season in her wardrobe.

Speaking of suitable - I have always wondered who designed some of the outfits in our game... a warm jumper and long pants, combined with sandals?! Who would wear such a combination in real life?
Anyway, I have Margaret interrupt her painting just long enough to greet Geoffrey Scott and later Chandler Cho (not pictured), out of sheer politeness. She does not even talk to either of her visitors but immediately goes back to hear easel. Nevertheless the boys have fun during their visit - the stereo is always on in the communal gym, and they dance the afternoon away.

Just in time before the week is over, Margaret maxes out her creativity skill. Well done! There's still plenty to do for her before she will make her lifetime want come true, but I have no doubt she will make it.
Whether and when she and Amin will move in together, I don't know yet - must check back on Amin first and remind myself of what his situation is.