The Goodies - Week 1

Meet Faith and Herbert Goodie, a couple who are very alike in so many ways: 

They are both 54 years old, are Knowledge Sims and wish to max out all seven skills. Also, according to their memories, neither of them has ever had eyes for anyone else in the past - they became best friends, shared their very first kiss, fell in love, got engaged and married. 

There are no Maxis-made pictures for them and no family tree, but it is obvious that (apart from wanting to skill) they really, really want to travel! 

"Faith loves to travel! She is so excited to get to go on at least a few more adventures with the love of her life!"

"Bert has always wanted to travel, but his job kept him quite rooted to the city where he was born. Now that he is no longer encumbered by employment, he gets to live out his dream!" That's what their bios say, but it is unknown were they lived before and what job Herbert had - in any case, it can't have been a very great job, since both Goodies have not a single skill point. 

Still, they have over 20,000 Simoleons left after having purchased this modest house at 244 Hill Side Pass Road in Desiderata Valley. Are they going to spend it all on travelling? According to their household bio, "Having lived full and wonderful lives, the Goodies have decided that it’s time to see the world! Will they find the adventure of their lives?" Again, Maxis seems to have a strange view of people over 50. These two are 54, a year younger than I am in real life, but their bios make it sound as if they had just a few good years left and were keen on making the most of them.

They will need to spend at least some money on the house; as you can see, there is hardly anything there apart from a settee, a double bed, a very basic shower room with toilet and cheap kitchen units.

On this Monday, shortly after Mr Humble has delivered his computer, three neighbours arrive to welcome the Goodies: John Mole, Dora Ottomas and Mary Gavigan (along with a stray dog who has to be shooed after he or she starts to attack the settee).

Faith quickly prepares a plate of sandwiches, and the couple have their first meal along with their first guests at their new place.

Later, the phone rings and a formerly unknown Townie asks Faith and Herbert to come downtown to meet a few more people. Go Here Sunshine Park seems like a good place for that, even though the sunshine is over for that day.

Over a game of chess, Herbert makes the acquaintance of Nawwaf Lewis, who will be befriended as a potential resident of Desiderata Valley because of his surname. 

The Goodies are happy together, and happy at their new house, however sparse it may be, as is obvious when on Tuesday morning they share a moment of tenderness over their cereals.

Faith is intent on increasing her fitness and has been working on her body skill. When neighbour Matthew Picaso walks by, she takes the chance and asks him to go running together, and is rewarded with another body point.

Meanwhile, Herbert has been focusing on art. The easel was already at the house, and not only does it offer him the chance to make a little bit of money, it is also good fun and gets him skill points at the same time.

He has been painting well into the night and is still fast asleep when Faith gets up on Wednesday morning. 

She takes advantage of the sunny morning and goes for a run, resulting in another body point. 

"Nice couple, the Picasos," says Herbert to his wife later, after he has met Jessica, whose husband had paid the Goodies a visit the day before. 

Befriending Nawwaf Lewis is still on Herbert's to do list, and when he invites him over, he arrives with Sharon Wirth in tow. (I need to check whether there was something going on with these two when I played the Bell family.) Before the day is over, Nawwaf is indeed friends with Herbert. 

Faith spends good part of Thursday morning doing yoga in the kitchen... 

...followed by a rest on the settee while she does the crossword. 

Nawwaf, the man with the unusual name, is invited over. "One day I wish to meet someone who will be as special to me as you two are to each other," their younger friend says.

Speaking of special, the happy couple have finally invested into a much more comfortable bed, bedside tables and lamps. So far, not one single wish has come up about travelling, and so they might as well spend a bit of money on improving the house.

On Friday morning, Herbert discovers that a stray dog has dug a hole near the pavement in front of their house. I briefly think about having him dig for treasure before filling in the hole, but it is more important that he spends time skilling.

 In the evening, Nawwaf is again invited over. While Faith is preparing Mac and Cheese (and finally making her first cooking skill point), Herbert expresses his wish for the two men to be best friends so that Nawwaf can be asked to become a proper resident of Desiderata Valley. 

Few things make a Knowledge Sim happier than sitting down with a book for some good old skilling. The acquisition of a bookcase was long overdue, but it took until Saturday morning before I finally placed one in the house.

Christian Love walks by and is of course greeted by Faith. (That sentence has a ring to it, doesn't it!)

Herbert invites Nawwaf over for leftovers Mac and Cheese, and now that the two men are indeed best friends, Faith also suggests he should consider packing his things and move to the neighbourhood for good. 

Sunday is a really good day for Herbert: First, he maxes out the first of seven skills. 

Second, he meets and greets another neighbour, young David Ottomas. "You know my Gran," the boy introduces himself.

That's true; the Goodies know Dora Ottomas. But Herbert wonders if that justifies the teenager's behaviour - he would have never dreamed of swinging on a fridge door, let alone at the house of someone he was visiting for the first time!

Third, Nawwaf Lewis has made up his mind and moved to Desiderata Valley, briefly joining the Goodies. 

Nawwaf is a Knowledge Sim (no wonder he and Herbert made friends so easily) with the lifetime want of becoming Criminal Mastermind. He currently works as a nurse, but finds a job as a Pickpocket before he moves out to a place of his own. His inventory is empty upon moving in, but he brings 9,000 Simoleons, and so I put items worth that amount in it. His skill profile is not very impressive, but not totally blank like the Goodies' was at the start. He has a bronze badge in cosmetology and is indeed friends (nothing more so far) with Sharon Wirth.

With all the excitement surrounding Nawwaf's move in and out, Faith burnt the turkey - the first she's ever made. Never mind, it happens to the best of us!

Herbert is pleased to greet Nathan Gavigan; he already knows his wife from the welcome committee, and Nathan is a great guest, engaging in animated conversation with his host.

I like the Goodies and have enjoyed playing them, although they have not at all been focused on travelling like their bios said. Instead, their week has consisted of a lot of skilling (and I mean a LOT), plus Herbert has successfully added a new household name to Desiderata Valley. 

The Goldstein - Viejo - Martin Household: Week 1

In this Maxis-made pic we see younger versions of Betty Goldstein (the blonde lady left) and Catherine Viejo (wearing a hat) having coffee with their friend Linda Martin. 

The next picture shows a wedding. To the right are Betty and Catherine again, now obviously elderly ladies. To the left are Linda Martin and her husband. Their son, Andrew Martin, is the groom; Elena (whose birth name is unknown) is the bride.

Maxis seems to have gotten their chronology mixed up a bit; here we have turned back in time and see a young Catherine Viejo with her husband, and the lady in the back is Linda Martin again, holding Andrew as a toddler. 

In the not so distant past, Catherine and Betty bemoan the death of Elena Martin. Widower Andrew is holding his little son Jacob, now motherless. Linda, Andrew's mother and and Jacob's grandmother, can just about be seen behind him.

Linda died not long afterwards; cause unknown.

From now one, the pictures are mine. Here is the large and rambling home of Betty Goldstein, located at 204 Old Farm Road in Riverblossom Hills.

The house is equally impressive from the back, with a large garden and pavilion.

The ground floor has a generous front porch. Entering the house at the right side of the porch, visitors step into a large living room with access to the garden and a guest toilet. Through to a spacious kitchen with breakfast bar, we find another living room with a dining area facing the street. There is also a piano. At the back of the living room is a single bedroom with a desk and computer and shower room.

Upstairs are three double bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

The people living here are the ones we have already seen in the pictures, only older: Betty Goldstein, Catherine Viejo and their friend Linda's son Andrew Martin with his son Jacob. The household bio reads: "Can Catherine and Betty cope with the loss of their close friend [Linda Martin] and face their own imminent mortality or will they find a way to cheat death? Will Andrew and Jacob find a way to fulfill their dreams in the great game of life?"

According to Maxis, Betty Goldstein "refuses to let the death of her friend slow her down or cloud her judgement in pursuit of truth and justice. Throwing herself into work (and possibly at that lovely young farmer man [Leod McGreggor]) helps keep her mind off of the reality of her age." 

The reality of her age?! Excuse me - I'm 55, too, and I don't need to keep my mind off that for sure! She is Morty Roth's cousin, by the way - her mother and his father were siblings. Betty's lifetime want won't be achieved, I'm afraid; she is 55 and works as a legal secretary, which is the wrong career for someone who dreams of being a business tycoon. 

Catherine Viejo is Cleo Shikibu's aunt. Maxis says that she "gave her old home to her favorite niece in hopes to bring them closer together. Though she misses her friend, Linda, she's enjoying her retirement and found a love for gardening (and a cute farmer [Leod McGreggor again!] that moved in down the way)." 

Like Betty, Catherine won't reach her lifetime want of becoming Celebrity Chef. She currently works as a Teacher's Aide.

Andrew Martin is a Gold Farmer (a position in the gaming career) but really wants to make his fortune as Criminal Mastermind. I am really considering changing his LTW - it does not suit him. 

According to Maxis, he "loves living with his surrogate aunts and his son. He has a passion for video games and is happy to have a son that also loves games. Will he be able to cope with his mother's [and wife's!] death and finally get out on his own?" 

Jacob is a Popularity Sim who sees himself as future Captain Hero. His bio says: "Jacob loves gaming with his dad - what a cool dude. Will his love for games hinder his relationship with Sandra [Roth]?"

On this Monday in mid-winter, two neighbours come visiting on their own accord: Alexandra O'Mackey (front) and Patricia Wan (back). 

Tiffany Zarubin, head of Riverblossom Hills' Gardening Club, walks by and admires Betty's garden. Spontaneously, I have Betty request membership, and Tiffany calls two other members for inspection. 

The overall verdict is good, but not good enough for Betty to receive the Wishing Well. 

Not much else happens that day; I have Betty, Catherine and Andrew quit their jobs since they do not fit their lifetime wants, and there is enough money to keep the household going for a while (and Andrew is planning to "earn" money in illegal ways very soon, anyway).

Something unusual I found when starting to play on this lot: All four household members had one want locked. 

Not an awful lot happens on Tuesday. 

First thing in the morning, I change Betty's and Catherine's looks by getting rid of their wrinkles and age spots - there is no need for them to look 30 to 40 years older than they are, is there! (Of course, me being the same age in real life as the two ladies, I have wrinkles, but certainly not like that "age mask" Maxis has put on their faces!) 

They both seem to like their fresher looks.

Since Andrew does not yet have a job, and Jacob finishes his homework soon enough, I send the four to one of the only three community lots in Riverblossom Hills, The Hills Community Centre.

While Betty has a mug of hot chocolate and Jacob pokes about in the fire... 

...Andrew does some ice skating. 

In the back to the right of the picture, you can see Catherin making her way towards the top of the hill where a few townies have gathered around the Mishuno game. She really wants to meet an interesting man, and I really don't want Andrew to be that man for her or Betty - the three adults need careful watching, since they seem to be attracted to each other, but I prefer not to enter that constellation.

Betty does a spot of cleaning on her own accord on Wednesday morning. 

It is a fine, if still rather chilly, spring morning, and the sunshine makes Andrew have his breakfast out on the front porch. 

Later, father and son spend some time in the large living room; Jacob does his homework while his Dad brushes up on his - admittedly very low - skills in view of his future career which hopefully starts soon.

The two old friends have a game of chess in the evening. They still miss their friend Linda. 

Catherine is up early on Thursday. She remains in her room for a while, wondering whether she should engage the Matchmaker's help - her romantic urges are really strong now that spring has begun. But as long as Andrew has not found a job and neither she nor Betty feel like returning to work, luxuries such as the Matchmaker's fee have to wait. 

The same is true for getting a household help or gardener. Betty reasons that with three adults not working, they can certainly stay on top of all the cleaning and looking after the garden. 

Jacob brings home his first A+, and his Dad tells him how proud he is.

Speaking of gardening, the two old friends work well into the night until the hedge and every shrub are trimmed, every flower bed is watered and both fruit trees tended and sprayed.

On Friday, Catherine meets and greets townie Leo Wilkie, and he seems to be a rather affectionate gentleman - but unfortunately, she does not really feel that special spark she is looking for.

Instead, she invites her niece Cleo Shikibu over. So far this week, they have only talked on the phone.

Although the situation looks somewhat awkward here, what with Betty and Catherine sitting so far apart from Cleo, they really get along very well.

Saturday is here, and Jacob does not need to catch the school bus or do homework. Instead, he invites his girlfriend Sandra Roth over, and also his best friend Jules O'Mackey. Jason Greenman comes over on his own accord.

The girls dislike each other - there is some poking and other unpleasantness going on, and Sandra tells her mother (who has also come over on her own accord) that she really does not want "that girl" to be here. A helpless Jacob shows an embarrassed smile, and eventually asks Jules to leave. They hug for good-bye and their friendship has not suffered, it seems. 

By the way, Jacob does not roll any wants about Sandra apart from being best friends for life with her - nothing romantic, in spite of it being spring. Also, interestingly he has only one bolt for Sandra, but two for Jules.

Andrew enjoys Jason's company. He definitely needs more friends, especially once he finally gets his career going. 

When Andrew gets up on Sunday morning, he hopes that he'll finally find a job in the criminal career today. (Sorry, Andrew - still no luck.)

A little to my dismay, after Betty has invited Leod McGreggor over, it is not her but Catherine who autonomously flirts and falls in love with the much younger man. Not that I have a problem with their age difference per se; I just would have liked them to find three bolt partners. 

Although Betty does not show signs of jealousy (she is not in love with Leod, otherwise it would probably be a different story!), I can not help feeling a bit sorry for her, especially when I find her sitting all by herself out in the rain, shortly after she watched Catherine and Leod. 

Jacob wants to make sure Jules is not mad at him for yesterday's unpleasant encounter with Sandra, and invites her and her Dad over. Jules' smile is all the answer he needs - she is definitely NOT mad at him.

The evening ends with Jules watching her Dad having a great game of SSX with his hosts.

Hmm... what shall I say? 

This household is not one of my favourites, and I was relieved when the week with them was over. Somehow, nothing and nobody really "fits" in this set-up: 

Andrew didn't find a job, and I had constantly keep a close watch on the two ladies, since they were forever attempting to hug Andrew romantically and similar. With him being something like a nephew to them, a romantic involvement with either of them simply does not feel right to me. 

The only one I did not need to worry about here was Jacob. His interest in Sandra seems purely "as friends", same as with Jules. It will be interesting to see how things develop once they grow up and go to college. And I sincerely hope Andrew finds that "criminal" job of his! (Or maybe I will change his LTW at some stage.)