Patricia Wan: Week 3

For the previous week at this household, click here.

We're taking a break from Strangetown and spend some time in Riverblossoms Hills, starting at the house on Welsh Lane were Patricia Wan, next on the alphabetical list, lives with her best friend Cleo Shikibu and Cleo's partner Matthew Smith. 

What's the taxi for, you may ask - is anyone going to a community lot on this Monday morning? 

No - the taxi is there to take Patricia to her partner Gabe O'Mackey. Matthew says good-bye to her, and Cleo would have done, too - only she's in the shower at that very moment. 

Anyway, the ladies will remain best friends; it's just that Patricia really feels she should leave Cleo and Matthew to live as a couple without her as a "fifth wheel", and of course she loves Gabe and wants to be with him, too.

Here she is a short while later, having breakfast for the first time as a family. Both Gabe and Patricia very much hope that Gabe's daughter Jules will come to terms with her Dad and the (relatively) new woman in his life living together; so far, she has only become friends with Cleo but has zero relationship points with Patricia.

This is Patricia's new address, No. 211 Huckleberry Lane. I have added windows to the dormers and (stupidly only after I took this picture) a window to Jule's bedroom on the ground floor, which has so far been windowless. 

With Patricia moving in, the household account swells to a very healthy 26.000 Simoleons, and with both her and Gabe working full time, there are no financial worries. 

Gabe, who sees himself as Riverblossom's next Education Minister, has been promoted today from High School Teacher to University Lecturer and brought his colleague Rose Greenman along to help celebrate. Patricia has been promoted from Horoscope Writer to Sports Columnist and went straight back to work, returning with yet another promotion and colleague Stella Roth in tow. She is now an Investigative Journalist, and the career rewards object is hers. 

It was an eventful and very happy day for Gabe and Patricia, and they make it even happier as soon as the camera is turned off ;-)

Before school on Tuesday morning, Jules can be seen taking care of the tomato plants in the greenhouse.

Patricia has the day off and uses it wisely to acquire the skills she needs for her next promotion. 

Gabe also has the day off and makes sure the leaves are raked and the flowerbeds watered.

Over a late-ish breakfast, he suggests they all go to buy new outfits after Jules has returned from school and done her homework.

Amelia's Closet is the best (actually the only) clothes shop in Riverblossom Hills so far, and so that's where they are headed. 

With enough money on their joint account and promotion boni dropping in left, right and centre, Patricia doesn't need to choose carefully - she just buys what she likes, and so do Jules and Gabe.

Wednesday is a busy day for everyone. Gabe works out in front of the telly before leaving for work. 

Patricia does the crossword first... 

...and then proceeds to spray the apple tree, which earns her a Bronze Gardening badge.

Jules is first to return home. Look at her smile - either school was really good today, or she is really glad to be home!

Gabe is next, once again bringing his colleague Rose Greenman home from work, as well as a promotion to High School Principal.

Last but not least, Patricia has been made Magazine Editor today.

The evening at the Wan-O'Mackey house is spent cosily in the front room lit and warmed by a fire.

On Thursday morning, with his new regime to get rid of his paunch, Gabe doesn't join the ladies for breakfast. Suprisingly, Jules brings up some "girl to girl" topics. So far, she and Patricia have barely talked, but maybe this is the chance they needed, to have a meal without Gabe.

Patricia has the day off and once she has gained the skills she needs for work, she does a spot of fishing from the pond in their front garden. "Not what I had in mind..." she frowns when she pulls up an old boot at first. But next is an impressive salmon, and after I have her stock the fridge with it, she goes and prepares a delicious meal with her catch all on her own accord. 

Both Patricia and Jules wake up on Friday morning wishing to talk about a hobby, and their ensuing conversation about games goes very well. 

As usual, Jules is home from school at 1:00 pm, and when Morty Roth walks by, she rushes to greet him, knowing he's a friend of her Dad's. "Hello Mr. Roth! My Dad will be home soon, please do come in - he would hate hearing that he missed you!"

Mr Roth follows Jules' invitation, and therefore Gabe can tell his friend immediately of his latest promotion when he and Patricia return from work together: He is now a College Senior Professor. I expected Patricia to be promoted as well, but realised that she needs two more friends for that. 

It is Saturday morning, and Gabe is looking forward to a weekend not spent teaching, much as he likes his job.

Jules is talking to her best friend since childhood, Jacob Martin. "Yes, I'll be there later today! Can't wait!!" Be where later today? You'll soon find out. 

Patricia has made it: She is now Media Magnate and has reached her lifetime want, seven days before reaching Elderhood. Well done, Pat!

She is home just in time to see Jules making the all-important phone call... 

...and then board the taxi that takes her to college, where Jacob Martin has already started his further education. Gabe watches her leave, thinking, "There she goes... my little girl is almost grown up... *sigh*..." 

The couple spend the evening playing chess. Gabe is glad that Patricia lives here now; Jules leaving for college would be so much harder had he been on his own then. 

On Sunday, Patricia asks Jules to visit her "old Dad", and of course she can bring Jacob, too. 

Patricia has been wishing for a while to give someone a gift, and when she realised that Jules forgot to take the painting of her mother when she moved to college, she carefully wrapped it and presented it to her sort-of step daughter together with a heartfelt letter. The two ladies are good friends now, and Jules is really touched by this kind gesture.

"It's great to see you, Jacob! You've always been a decent kid and good friend to Jules, and you've grown to be a decent man." 

We will of course see Jules and Jacob at college, but it'll be a while - and if I remember correctly, Jacob has been in a relationship with Sandra Roth last time I played him. But that doesn't mean he and Jules can't be best friends for life. 

It was good to have Patricia move in with Gabe. The two of them are a nice couple, and while she has reached her lifetime want this round, he is not far off. I wonder if either of them will roll the wish to get married when spring sets in.

It's all peace, love and harmony at this household now; Alexandra O'Mackey has neither visited nor called. Strangely, although the three household members have been taking turns in looking after their fruit tree and vegetable beds, they don't seem to be successful at gardening; what produce they were able to harvest was "bland". Maybe that is because this neighbourhood doesn't have summer? (Maxis has set the seaons to winter - spring - autumn - winter.)

Matthew Smith: Week 1

As I said, there are many Smiths in my game, and we're at 202 Welsh Lane in Riverblossom Hills for the next one on the list:

Matthew Smith, former NPC Garden Club Member, who was moved in here by Cleo Shikibu. 

The two of them fell in love with each other autonomously, which facilitated the move. While Cleo is making good progress on her lifetime want to become Criminal Mastermind, Matthew's goal is to max out all seven skills - which is quite the challnge, since he had to start at zero. Here they are on this Monday morning, just getting up.

Patricia Wan is still here, too. Her lifetime want is also career-oriented; she dreams of being a Media Magnate. Her love interest is Gabe O'Mackey, but he lives at his own place with his teenage daughter Jules. 

After the ladies have gone to work, Matthew takes care of the fruit trees. He's in his element there; after all, the Garden Club is where he started out, and the Gold Badge for Gardening was his big achievement. 

Patricia has yet again taken the wrong decision with a chance card and is demoted to Blog Writer. 

Cleo has been lucky - her chance card resulted in a promotion to Getaway Driver. I believe she would have been promoted today anyway, as she had the necessary skills, was in a good mood and arrived at work on time. 

For Matthew, the rest of the day goes by acquiring mechanical skill points. I like this picture of him; he looks so content and at home with himself and in this new chapter of his life, doesn't he! 

On Tuesday, Cleo is demoted to Con Artist (of course a chance card was to blame) but is reinstated as a Getaway Driver later the same day. 

For most Sims, unclogging a toilet or repairing a broken shower is a chore best left to the professionals, but for Matthew, it is a means to gain more mechanical skill. 

The original armchairs which I disliked (besides, they took up two squares but only one Sim could sit on them) have been replaced, same as the rug that went up in flames during the first week at this house. 

Patricia does not only come back from work with a promotion (she is now an Internet Movie Critic) but also with colleague Stella Roth.

On Thursday, it is Cleo's bedroom that is made a bit nicer. The basic colour code here seems to have been meant to be red and cream, and so the non-matching original dark green wall paint is gone; the cream walls look calmer and make the room brighter. 

Also, there were no bedside tables and just one ceiling lamp here - in real life, I don't like ceiling lights but much prefer table and floor lamps, and in a bedroom there should be bedside tables with lamps on them, shouldn' there. 

In other news, Cleo is promoted to Bank Robber and Patricia to Fact Checker. Now Cleo needs three body points - good job it's autumn! 

Cleo sets to work on her body skill on Thursday morning. 

Matthew's cooking has now improved so much that he can produce delicious omelettes for breakfast.

It's once again Promotion Day for the ladies: Patricia (who is accompanied by Stella Roth) is a Fact Checker... 

...while, according to the chance card outcome, Cleo has promoted herself to Cat Burglar. 

On Friday, Matthew and Cleo engage in a session of studying - Cleo's next promotion requires more skills, and Matthew practically lives for skilling anyway. It being autumn helps, and not long after this picture was taken, Cooking is the first skill he maxes out.

With the first snowflakes softly falling outside, he enjoys sitting near the fire. 

Patricia is promoted to Horoscope Writer. 

Late evening, Matthew and Patricia (Cleo has to work) visit Amelia's Closet for some winter outfits.

Patricia has been wanting to throw a party for a couple of days now, and since she has the weekend off, she invites five of her closest friends over, including Gabe O'Mackey. 

She has not rolled any wishes about him all week, but now that he's here, it seems the two of them are as much an item as ever.

Matthew's sizzling hot grilled ribs...

...and his equally hot jazz performance on the piano contribute to the party so that it ends a roof raiser, fullfilling a big wish for Patricia. Unfortunately, Cleo was once again out for work all night.

Sunday is here, and it is time for Matthew to tackle the body skill - yesterday's ribs have made him feel decidedly unfit, and he wants to change that. Working out with the exercise program on TV is an option, although he finds it hard going at first, and his push-ups don't look very professional yet.

Cleo returns from work with a promotion to Counterfeiter. 

When she's had a few hours of sleep, she suggest they go jogging. Matthew is all for it, in spite of the cold, and carefully follows Cleo's tips for stretching before they set off.

The week ends well for everybody: 

Both ladies have been diligently working on their careers and were rewarded with several promotions, and there has also been time to talk to friends on the phone (for Cleo) or at her party (for Patricia). 

Matthew was super focused on skilling and dedicated nearly every waking moment to studying or doing other tasks to improve on skill or other. ut of the 70 points for maxing out all seven skills, he has managed 39 - not bad, and if he keeps up this high level of dedication, he'll see his lifetime want come true. 

Again, this is not yet the end of my list of Smiths - but who's next?