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We are *ever so slowly* getting to the point that we will *one day soon* be able to use *most* of our house to live in. This evening, we had some guys here doing some finishing tasks, like skirting boards  along the wall and the like and next week we will have couches, cabinets and coat cupboards for the entrance delivered - *courtesy of IKEA* of course - since that is about all we can afford. 

As much as it pains me at times to buy from there, if making decent choices, the furniture holds up pretty damn well against the competition. We installed an IKEA kitchen in our last apartment and 6 years later when we sold, people assumed it was newly done. When we do the kitchen here, we will likely use them again for at least the cupboards. I understand many businesses not being able to compete on price, but quality shouldn't also be an issue. 

When we were looking for couches, we went almost everywhere else first and still ended up at IKEA, because the only things that were comparable were literally *starting at* 3x the price, and I am not going to spend that kind of money on what is likely going to have 5 year olds jumping on it from now until they are 10. Plus, even if couches last, I would also have to convince my wife that the style is still passable. 

They moved the piano.

![IMG_20210811_201814.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/tarazkp/23x1KrUKBZXQSieACT3kVeHgzx1AReLTVhmd4CRRgAbrwpU7zovf1k4drwhrPiZMJnUBA.jpg)

*No one in the household can play the piano.*

We got it as a hold from my sister-in-law, as she has had it for 40-odd years and while it isn't worth much (you can literally buy them for 100€), it holds sentimental value for her, but moving from a house to an apartment meant they had no suitable room for it. It is good to have it though, as we are pretty keen to get our daughter into music soon and piano is a great starting point. The only problem is that the lessons are *insanely* expensive here. We will see if we can do some cash-in-hand or have her aunty teach her for a while, before arranging anything formal. 

What has been weird for me in the last weeks is how little I have done on the house in these "final" stages of these phases. In many ways, I feel somewhat disconnected from the house at the moment as I haven't been doing these things myself. While I am glad that it is getting done still, it does sadden me a little to have the sense that it isn't "my house" and something I built. Yes, I have done a lot of the work before this, but it is like baking a cake, and then having someone decorate it nicely - It becomes theirs. I am sure that my feelings of being useless will fade once we live in the space for a while, until I forget that I didn't build it, I just paid to have it built. 

I don't consider decorating as building, but I am looking forward to acquiring some highlight pieces to accent the room. I have been looking at secondhand sites for lamps, tables, chairs and whatever else I can find and have my eye on a few things, but will wait until the big furniture is in place before buying. I am a great window shopper.

I don't know if people window shop anymore, but when I was a kid we would often look into various window displays as we walked at night, talking about what we might buy, with no intent to actually buy anything at all. It was a lot of fun, like planning a holiday that one never goes on or imaging what to do if winning the lottery. 

I don't know if it is a cultural thing, but Finns don't seem to have this habit at all and don't really browse unless they are also willing to buy it. I attribute part of this to a lack of imagination, but I think they are missing out. Maybe it has changed globally too though, where people are such good consumers that they can no longer control themselves to just looking, without buying. For me, a good part of the enjoyment of purchasing is going through the decision-making process itself and while I can be quite an impulsive buyer at times, generally I take me time, especially for things that don't have much real value. Which is perhaps a reversal of what many might do. 

Next week though, there is going to be a great deal of "building" activity, as everything is due to be delivered on Monday flat-packed. OF course, it isn't real building, but I am actually quite interested at how I go with following the directions, as I think it might challenge my brain due to its current state of idiocy. I have built *many* of these things in the past, but I have the feeling that this time it is going to be different. 

My brain at the moment is much like the piano sitting alone in the living room - *underutilized.* It has been far too passive in various areas for too long now and I feel it struggling in areas even more. Next Monday, I also go back to work  in a far more dynamic environment with a lot of complexity to negotiate and, I do feel a little anxiety about it, which I have never had before. I am *pretty sure* that once I start tapping away at the keys again, I will remember how to play and in time, rhythm and flow will return. I am also positive I am going to miss many notes along the way. 

*I will say it's jazz.*

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]



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