* kitchen equipment will build up in dribsndrabs.
*** need to get better cleaning kitch and bathroom cleaning stuff ...
*** + first aid box ( never know when someone'll nick their finger shaving!!
** toilet seats
** wc etc squirty fresheners
* tables / chairs which lodgers will simply snatch and grab.
......................
JOBS TO DO *** ASAP / ** quite soon / * soonish
shit ~hadn't noticed pigeon shite... 1 min clean up job done :)
* locks ( bedrooms + bthrm )( still pondering / searching for simple solution to locks... it'll happen by end of july at latest.
* make some sort of flap for overflow vent
Daily cleaning still weak but getting better
Decluttering getting much better :)
:::::::::::::::::::::::...
ART GALLERY: More art up and better labelled. need to start inviting artists to sell / get public to see
MAIN ROOM : add more banana boxes to benches ( also always good for storage )
MUSIC ROOM: chill out space / couch from mattress + banana boxes? ( with books / book crossing ) + work 'n' computer space
(OWN BED: sleeping on paul's foldway bed at the. Have to get an extra mattress for Aug. so can use that from Sept. How about as couch in music rm / chill out space?? ( not happy with it in art studio))
LOBBY DISPLAY: big timetable up / doing takeaway flyers ( dump 'rummage box ' - no one's using it anyway )
::::::::::::::::::::..
CHOCA Activities
still pathetic - about 1 or 2 a week ... also looking for outside / outreach / out something! for art coordinating work
ART DISPLAYS: art work staying but needs to be cleaner. one of main functions is for guests + general public to see art and inspire them to contribute with own ... hasnt worked yet but determined to improve on that !! big wall posters ( eg 'slept here' etc suppose to change regualrly. residents should definitely put up their own art in their room. Pix should be constantly changing: giving away / decluttering older art
Aye, aye Captain!
2a
ORIG
Thanks for the invite, it can’t compete with my
love of dancing though! Thursday night dance is one of the nicer ones
too. I’m really glad you’re getting on with activities though as this
will give you some fun as well to hopefully make
your efforts feel worthwhile and encourage you to work harder!
I’m about to Airbnb review and get something off my
task list. I’m happy my words were honest and not misleading even by
omission, but the star rating is probably gonna look awkward
though.....i don’t know how their system blends my ratings,
I suspect 3, but hope 4 overall, will have to see.
I appreciate you’re busy, but a few more comments
to clear my head so I can focus on my own stuff better, (I have booked
my return flight “home” though).... you can read back on it in the
future......
- Seriously consider giving yourself improved, regular sleeping quarters and style of living. Unless you decide to go a bit more “upmarket” and thereby charge more to give yourself an entire room, I still think best solution amongst all your other needs and wishes, is a swing down bed in the art room. I know it will cost a little more than you have right now, but if you are to continue working hard, you need proper sleep. Hiding the mattress behind a panel during the day will not take much space away from the room. I think your personal cupboard is working reasonably for you.
- The balcony, really needs all the pigeon shit cleaning off. I would introduce some shrubs in pots as a divider between the middle room and the art room and adding a chair/table to the middle room, then seriously consider making it a double if possible. Even as a single, with the “private balcony” you could easily charge more, 20 euro a month or more even, depending on other improvements to the whole place.
- This new place is luxury compared to yours, just being honest, no emotion involved, the host is nice younger guy, but he doesn’t live here, it’s his grandparents old place, but fully modernised. So no benefit of daily good company, but Airbnbers don’t need that as they go sightseeing. I’m a loner normally too, I don’t like many people to be honest, as most people I don’t find/feel to be genuine. There are 4 bedrooms, 2 double and 2 single, so 4 of us here at moment, but next week will be 6, but he has 2 lovely shower/toilet rooms, so only 3 people max per “bathroom”. All the bedrooms have proper locking doors, like yours should have if handles/locks sorted properly (although I appreciate if you have like-minded permanent residents you’d like to think locks not needed....but then, there are times when people want to guarantee a bit more privacy and as a resident, I’d still expect to be able to lock my room at the times you have “open house”, or if I was going away for a few days. The kitchen/dining/lounge is all open plan and wonderfully fitted out. Proper kettle, proper oven, extract hood, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, dishwasher, washing machine, full of new utensils and gadgets and pans and clean cutting boards, cleaning equipment incl vacuum cleaner and all the cleaning sprays etc. Yes, my actual room is slightly smaller than yours was, but it has a similar clothes rack, a raised proper bed with storage drawers underneath, a storage trunk, a computer desk and comfy swivel chair. Yes, I had to sacrifice the balcony, but I traded that in favour of a location to walk to nice parks. Overall this is about the same price as yours, even when I add on my full food bill (because I did use your bread and tea/coffee and some fruit and shared a couple of meals with you) and you know I eat more expensive food on my own.
- Did I mention door locks? Not having a bathroom door lock is actually extremely pathetic and the taped up toilet lid, what impression is that? I’d think no lid was better, provided toilet is kept clean. I’d recommend a soft close lid if you bother replacing it after you throw this one out! They’re not very expensive these days (in UK anyway) and definitely worth it, people can’t slam them and therefore they don’t accidentally break.
- The toilets all have those rim block detergent/freshener things here, that might help that little room of yours especially. You know I think more cleaning is required and on a regular basis. When you said about plug in small room sink to block smells, this was incorrect, won’t make a difference, as I said because of the overflow vent. The overflow vent should have a squirt of nice smelling disinfectant regular too, that’s what I did when I unblocked and cleaned your bathroom sink properly. I was wondering if your small bedroom toilet could be turned into a “wet room”, where you shower as well, too much money I know, but if a move to more upmarket, that could be an ensuite room and relieve the pressure on number of people using main bathroom, a great seller! Really is a “future” and only if you change tact on your business plan to achieve even more by renting.
- I know you’ve gotten busier more on setting up your admin and business matters better (which is a correct priority) and also now running activities (hopefully only a few regular things to start with and mostly run by you to avoid other complications at this stage), but I was disappointed at your lack of effort on cleaning and decluttering, or in truth, extra cluttering! I know you can’t see it, or care for it much yourself, but if you can improve your habits of a lifetime it will make time and energy for all the other challenges you have and eventually more “personal time” and satisfaction. Yes, it is hard work! But a few hours hard graft everyday is not a huge sacrifice for all the pleasurable time you want from CHOCA is it? AN example was the gallery – we set it up as a good temporary space, yet it got worse again for about a week before it at least got tidier again. Your only improvement since was putting up a price list? Most people would have blitzed that job in a day, creating a permanent shelf at least over the banana boxes and making a nice working display, only needed the shelf, the art bit should be a doddle, if not a doodle, for you. As for constantly moving some of the rubbish around, throw it! That should have been a single day total clear-out, is nothing personal, or sentimental in any of it! Bloody microwave. scraps of wood old paint pots and shelf bracket, jeez man!
- I’m guessing you might like to argue about the “art” in the rooms. When I said de-personalise, it was for now, not when you have permanent residents, but then, wouldn’t they put up their own art? And then, as they’re permanent, won’t “who slept here be pointless? Sorry to say, but those rooms would be improved by taking off nearly all the art under current renting conditions, creating cleaner looking spaces, curling paper and scraps of tape look messy. The little room would look more spacious without them, although you might need a lick of paint to make walls look clean again, probably that little room needs cleaning and painting properly anyways. By all means put up a nice one or two pics you want to sell that also look decorative. Your personal/CHOCA art we created specific spaces for in the lobby and in the gallery, get those looking more professional should be enough, (remember the less can be more if well done) as well as possibly in the art room itself (away from children and paint) and a few nice pieces in the “lounge”.
- The proper shelf in the art gallery would still be over the banana boxes, I have no issue with that concept, probably could make more of the “reduce, reuse, recycle” concept, even as a selling point, but it still needs a “standard approach” otherwise just looks like jumble, scrap and a mess. Proper boards and panels over the top like you did in the bathroom are a reasonable combination, so continue that throughout. Think about the colours of the boxes in each piece of “furniture” as well so it looks designed. Think about keeping the boards a standard colour, at least in each individual room.
- The benches in the lounge always looked shabby and dubious load bearing. How about fixing the boxes in position under the bench so they stay in shape/in the right position? Add another box underneath so it looks stronger.
- There must be a comment on your working/computer space, but I’ve nearly finished my bottle of wine tonight...........I don’t think realistically, with communications/advertisings and general life these days, you’ll be escaping the use of the laptop, but the way you’ll be using the house you won’t have a permanent space to work at and you’ll be having more activities going on hopefully, so it’ll have to be a “fold-up” table. Maybe you can fix on one or two spots where one will always be available and have a connection point ready at each, but you’ll have to be aware of all your timetabling and when you need laptop time as well! So better still, fix that connection issue, a new laptop should be tax deductible for CHOCA! This leads onto....
- When the house is proper busy, I’m concerned about your “own space”, even though you probably think you want constant company. If you can prove to yourself how much you can achieve on your own, I would seriously consider rethinking exactly how much is “community” and a need to surround yourself with others at the moment and focus on having sufficient company most of the time under your control and the different ways you can have company and when you don’t......for example, you want your own drawing and teaching time in the house, how much of that is possible with the other resident artists? All working in the art room together? One in each room (art/lounge/music?)? But there might be 4 of you? Other activities coming in on the art/lounge/music all at the same time?.....A possible solution of several....your business plan options...upmarket Airbnb by 3 rooms, no competing artists, guests disappear most of the time, busy housekeeping in the morning, run an activity in the afternoon and/or evening some days of your choice, you didn’t need many income wise? Those activities are the company you choose, both in the house and outreach. Get other friends/artists to help on certain activities in and out, as and when it all builds and they join in properly on the activities (not necessary to be resident as well, although that could build a relationship for them to want to become resident). Keep your “community meals” as a regular Saturday event. Go out to friends and pleasure events some times for different company and treats. Why no-one invite you to meals? Invite Airbnbers to share dinner as and when. All your activities are what CHOCA stands for, the resident bit is a red herring “business plan” wise, unless you get the very right people eventually. I think if you make the CHOCA activities become a “brand”, then the resident bit might develop, but I doubt you can make it happen successfully the other way round, otherwise, why aren’t they helping you now? I know you expect some art students in September, but won’t they be busy with their own studies? You just want company around and especially students don’t you? You don’t like eating alone do you? (And who doesn’t! But what I’m saying is, don’t confuse it with which parts of your dream really work for you, when and why) and you won’t ever achieve all you want, all of the time, as you know from CHOCA1 and unreliable people, even if they aren’t reliable by choice, things change, people change, their circumstances change, that’s life, stay flexible around the others, not totally reliant. (yes you’ve proved that by leaving the first one, stay in control, gently, quietly of course.
- Another option (in your business plan, of course) is to get permanent resident artists, but not expect the community part, after all, would they really be running/participating in many activities each week anyway? I’d still go upmarket on the rooms for that, you said about the benefit to them for use of art room, but as said above, how many at the same time? But as resident you’d be sharing meals often. Remember you don’t need so many activities income wise, but you do want good rental income and time for your own ways of working/lifestyle and income.
- I would go more upmarket on everything, even with basic banana box furniture, you can appear more professional. Your punters, even with donations approach, will expect more professionalism if you are to sustain customers, we live in a world where you have to meet their credibility expectations, not your own. That is the single most important message you should always remember and reflect on regularly, again, your admin, accounts and business plan are helpful to that reflection. There’s several stories there on the subject that generally speaking “respect breeds respect” you know the documentaries about people performing and behaving to the level of their environment.
- I remember your radio tale, the other participants not knowing how much you the organiser was getting and handing out the money.....think of that approach for getting people together on in and especially out activities. If that doesn’t sound too much like a Freudian pimp!
- Nearly forgot, the fridge. I remember telling you that that producer guy who might have future customers for you, wanting a shelf in the fridge and what his probable expectations where. As we do here now, and as I’ve done everywhere else, it means a whole shelf each (no need to label then) and with many people, a shelf each is a very big fridge if you need extra space for community use as well! (And then you do still need big labels, the 2 concepts don’t mix easily, unless plenty of space). So yeah, we know you need to go all community and resident asap.
- Damn, this is too much like the work I used to do and I’m retired.
Aye, aye Captain!
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
1
b, WKed ON
i'm trying to draft an Airbnb review for you, being as kind as possible, but still truthful......
David
is a lovely person and host who is trying to build his dream of a
community arts house offering access for all on a donations only basis
and as a place where he can also concentrate on
his own drawings and teachings. This philanthropic like concept is
commendable and testimony to David's personality, however, he is
struggling to get it up and running (and he tells you that it is not
fully operational before you come), as he is doing it all
on his own and no funds. The house is spacious enough for this dream,
but standards are quite basic at the moment, but he is improving it.
The
rooms are accurately advertised, the bedrooms being clean, simple and
spacious by many standards I've stayed in (ok, the single room is
obviously small like most, and is an internal window
as is also normal, but it has it owns toilet and hand basin) The
bathroom has a powerful, hot shower which with my middle bedroom being
large and benefit of balcony was ideal for me. The kitchen does need
much improvement, the cooker only having 2 working
rings, but I still cooked my simple meals. David does want community
minded residents and sharing group meals is also available, although my
personal social life meant I only joined in when timings suited. I did
also do my bit joining in with overall share
of household duties, although others weren't, a reminder to me of why I
don't like many “community” things, which is why David is obviously
seeking like-minded people to share long-term. If CHOCA described as
“chilled-out” and “arty” makes you think it might
be a bit dirty and lax, it is basically clean, but not hygienic yet so I
wouldn't recommend it to you; if you think it means basic, but very
friendly this would be true and David himself is the saving grace and I
sincerely hope he keeps improving and achieves
his dream for the house.
..............................
Notes
- I looked up chocahouse on web, then went to your details from there – why is your profile picture of some Rastafarian looking guy at dinner with his fingers in salute? Not good that it isn’t you. (the place will fall or stand by you, your reputation, your standards, you need to be you in all media presentations. You do need improve your personal look, we do live in a world where it makes a difference, not changing your casual informal dress sense, or cutting your hair or anything, I’m only talking about appearing cleaner and tidier.)
- The art in the rooms, is very “tacky” by most peoples standards, the stuff in my room I would think many people would also find offensive. I know that subject is touchy for you, but I would recommend de-personalise the bedrooms and make them more “Airbnb”” until you have people there resident to actually help.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
a, ORIG
i'm trying to draft an Airbnb review for you, being as kind as possible, but still truthful......
David
is a lovely person and host who is trying to build his dream of a
community arts house offering access for all on a donations only basis
and as a place where he can also concentrate on
his own drawings and teachings. This philanthropic like concept is
commendable and testimony to David's personality, however, he is
struggling to get it up and running (and he tells you that it is not
fully operational before you come), as he is doing it all
on his own and no funds. The house is spacious enough for this dream,
but standards are quite basic at the moment, but he is improving it.
The
rooms are accurately advertised, the bedrooms being clean, simple and
spacious by many standards I've stayed in (ok, the single room is
obviously small like most, and is an internal window
as is also normal, but it has it owns toilet and hand basin) The
bathroom has a powerful, hot shower which with my middle bedroom being
large and benefit of balcony was ideal for me. The kitchen does need
much improvement, the cooker only having 2 working
rings, but I still cooked my simple meals. David does want community
minded residents and sharing group meals is also available, although my
personal social life meant I only joined in when timings suited. I did
also do my bit joining in with overall share
of household duties, although others weren't, a reminder to me of why I
don't like many “community” things, which is why David is obviously
seeking like-minded people to share long-term. If CHOCA described as
“chilled-out” and “arty” makes you think it might
be a bit dirty and lax, it is basically clean, but not hygienic yet so I
wouldn't recommend it to you; if you think it means basic, but very
friendly this would be true and David himself is the saving grace and I
sincerely hope he keeps improving and achieves
his dream for the house.
..............................
Notes
- I looked up chocahouse on web, then went to your details from there – why is your profile picture of some Rastafarian looking guy at dinner with his fingers in salute? Not good that it isn’t you. (the place will fall or stand by you, your reputation, your standards, you need to be you in all media presentations. You do need improve your personal look, we do live in a world where it makes a difference, not changing your casual informal dress sense, or cutting your hair or anything, I’m only talking about appearing cleaner and tidier.)
- The art in the rooms, is very “tacky” by most peoples standards, the stuff in my room I would think many people would also find offensive. I know that subject is touchy for you, but I would recommend de-personalise the bedrooms and make them more “Airbnb”” until you have people there resident to actually help.
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