After what feels like a long time spent elsewhere in the SimWorld, we are back where it all began, in Pleasantview. The house you see here is at 95 Woodland Drive, and just across the road from Woodland Park.
Herb and Coral Oldie live here, and Maxis says that they "... are simply one of the nicest families around. Their years together through good and bad have made them into the wonderful parents, and grandparents, they are today."
While they do not have any biological children, they made wonderful parents for Mary-Sue, whom they adopted when she was a toddler. Mary-Sue went on to marry Daniel Pleasant, and their twin daughters Lilith and Angela are Herb and Coral's granddaughters.
Apart from the most basic kitchen (without a fridge) and bathroom, the house is completely empty and actually a little too large for the Oldies on their own. Also, they only have 6,453 Simoleons to play with, which won't allow for good quality furniture.
For now, the most basic things will have to do, but Coral and Herb do not seem to mind - as long as they have each other, they can face anything!
Coral is a Family Sim who dreams of having six grandchildren. Right now she has two; I doubt she will ever have six. Her bio says: "As the picture of maternal perfection, Coral has raised a successful, beautiful daughter; but at what price?" - Now, what's that supposed to mean, I wonder?!
Herb is a Romance Sim who has never strayed. He and Coral were best friends as children, had their first kiss as teenagers and fell in love, got engaged and married as soon as they were adults. He wishes to become General, something that is not possible at his age. Instead of being retired, though, he is unemployed, which means no pension checks will be coming in; therefore, he may have to take up a job after all. His bio says: "If being a crafty businessman, loving father, and reasonably reliable husband takes a lot of energy, then Herb Oldie has led an exhausting life."
Mr Humble's computer has arrived, and is set up in the study. Herb immediately checks the Simternet for a position in the military, but there aren't any. (Also, his and Coral's skill profiles are surprisingly poor, considering that according to their biographies, these two are model citizens who have been working hard; Herb as a businessman and Coral as a homemaker.)
Meanwhile, Coral prepares a batch of vegetable soup.
With no regular income in sight, Herb needs to think of some other way to make money. He remembers stories of old inhabitants of Pleasantview who claimed to have found chests full of gold coins, precious stones and jewellery on their land, and starts digging behind the house.
He does not find a treasure (this time, anyway), but he unearths an ornament that makes the kitchen look a little nicer.
Just in time when Coral's vegetable soup is ready and Herb's ornament on display, three neighbours appear: Wanda and Stephen Tinker and Jodie Larson.
A pleasant afternoon ensues, with everyone enjoying the soup, the conversation and the company.
Carol quite likes the ornament Herb has dug up in the garden. Of course a treasure chest would have been very welcome, but for now, they have what they need.
Denise Jacquet has been friends with the Oldies since I played her household earlier this round. On this sunny Tuesday morning in early autumn, she comes visiting on her own accord, just as the postie has delivered the first set of bills.
Carol takes care of them, totally oblivious to a passing townie's attraction to her.
After Denise has left and the couple sit down for their tea, Herb asks Coral what she thinks of his latest idea to get at least some money in: Sell paintings! Coral is cautious; she knows Herb's creativity is not high enough for him to create anything that would sell well, but in the end they agree that they can afford to buy an easel and paints, and let Herb give it a try.
It is another beautiful day on Wednesday, and the Oldies decide to take advantage of the autumn sun and visit Hunter's Park. Of course, Woodland Park is just across the road from their house, but they want a little variety, and senior citizens have taxi rides for free in Pleasantview.
At first, I let them choose what they want to do, and it is nice to see that Coral follows Herb to the bench by the pond, where they sit and talk for a while.
Then Herb spots Jodie Larson walking by, and since she was one of the three neighbours visiting on Monday, he rushes to greet her.
Dina Caliente walks by as well, obviously smitten by Herb, but he is completely unaware of her.
Meanwhile, Coral tries her hand at fishing. The first thing she pulls out of the pond is an old boot. "I was hoping for something a little more... edible," she remarks.
"That's more like it!" she exclaims a bit later. "That's our Sunday meal sorted!"
Denise Jacquet, Malcolm Landgraab and Brandi Broke arrive at the park just as Herb has called a taxi to take them home; they don't even get to greet them, which is a bit of a shame because I always like my Sims to meet their neighbours on community lots and watch them interact.
On Thursday, Coral discovers Yoga. For her exercises, she chooses a spot behind the house where nobody can see her from the street. With a bit of rope skipping at the start of the week, she has developed into something of a fitness enthusiast, constantly wishing about body skills, going jogging and becoming fit.
Herb can't believe that yet another set of bills has made its way into their letter box!
Coral doesn't care - all she wants now is to run, and run she does.
"You know, darling, I love you just the way you are... you don't need to become Superwoman or something," Herb smiles at his wife of so many years. Coral smiles back and explains that she's not doing this for him, but simply for herself, and that it feels really good to be fit and healthy. "You should try it..."
But Herb has tried something else, and not told his wife about it because he wasn't sure how it was going to turn out: He wrote a book about Pleasantview! As he has lived here all his life, he offers his take on the town and its people. That night, just when Coral has gone to bed, he receives a phonecall from his publisher. The book wasn't great, but he still receives 1,768 Simoleons for it.
And in spite of the less than enthusiastic reception in the world of literature, it DOES fell good to have your own book in print to put on your shelf! With the little money they have spent on furniture, and the twice-weekly bills going out, but the cheque for Herb's book coming in, the Oldies now have almost 5,900 Simoleons.
The next morning, Herb tells Coral all about his book, and how he intends to write another one that will sell better than his first clumsy venture into the world of writing.
Coral gets the glasses out and opens a bottle of bubbly she has been keeping in the fridge: "Here's to Pleasantview's newest author - my beloved husband!"
"Pleasantview's newest author, unclogging the toilet..." Herb mumbles to himself a bit later when he takes care of this most unpleasant of household jobs. Even with the money for the book, he believes it is wise not to pay for a job that they can do themselves.
But the day is not over yet, and Herb invites Coral to Desirable Discourse, a place where authors, filmmakers and enthusiasts can meet and mingle. He only got the invitation himself that morning.
Coral is not much of a book or film person, but she knows a thing or two about food, and so she prefers making hot dogs outside to the discussions indoors.
And discuss they do! Herb doesn't get to talk much about his book, as the others are more interested in viewing an artsy film, but who's he to complain - he gets to know them, and hopes to make new (influential) friends to get a better deal on his next book.
On Saturday morning, I find that Herb has a computer in his inventory. As I did not have him buy one, I guess one of his new friends at the literary circle must have given it to him. Anyway; the Oldies already have Mr. Humble's computer and don't need another one, and so it is sold. That boosts their bank account to over 8,600 Simoleons, and finally, some better furniture and appliances can be bought without having to worry about next week's bills. A new fridge and stove, new toilet and bath/shower as well as more comfortable dining chairs are purchased.
Having a shower is just so much nicer now in their improved bathroom, Herb finds!
Later, the couple share a romantic moment in the kitchen with a little celebratory dance.
Herb's second book, a cook book based on Coral's best recipes (with her permission, of course), sells much better than his first one: He receives over 2,700 Simoleons for it, and Coral can't help but swoon over "my husband, the famous author!"
It is Sunday, and now that their house is so much nicer and more presentable, the Oldies invite their daughter Mary-Sue and her family over.
Unfortunately, Lilith is in a particularly bad mood and slaps her twin sister Angela round the face, with their father helplessly looking on.
Their Granddad separates the girls and tries to talk sense into Lilith. "You two should be best friends for life, you are sisters - and twins at that - there is no closer relationship than that!" he reasons.
But over a breakfast of Coral's burnt pancakes (she was quite upset when she saw the girls fighting), the family does not exactly seem to be getting any closer. Lilith does not even look at her sister across the table, and Daniel wonders what to do, while Mary-Sue and Angela pretend all is well and concentrate on their food.
The Oldies have plenty of life experience combined with tons of love for their family, and set about a strategy to improve relationships by Herb starting a game of kick bag with his one granddaughter, and Coral sitting down for a good grandmotherly conversation with the other granddaughter. Meanwhile, Daniel and Mary-Sue also play kicky bag.
And guess what - when Coral asks Lilith to join the conversation, she doesn't refuse, and when Coral goes to the bathroom, she stays on, talking to her sister about when they were little... A new beginning for the twins?
Before the family leave, they enjoy Coral's dinner - not burnt this time! She servs bass with squash, having caught the fish herself earlier in the week.
The week ends well for the family: Coral and Herb are as much in love as ever, and have managed to ward off the repo man by Herb's diligent writing (the easel was never bought). Coral is physically fitter than many much younger ladies, and loved having her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters around.
There wasn't any progress towards their lifetime wants, but they had many wishes fulfilled nonetheless.
