Most of us rate privacy as

important. We want our own space or spaces. Yes, we might share them with "family" or "significant others" or whatever the term is these days but not with strangers.

Now there is apparently a move to build "apartments" with not only no kitchens (already apparently common) but with "shared bathrooms". There is even a claim that this is what people "want". These places will apparently have to have spaces like "roof top barbecue areas" and they will need to get "direct sunlight for at least two hours a day". 

I can really see these moves working - not. The news comes as we are about to have the Annual General Meeting for this group of units. This is something that must be held by law. It will be held next week in the middle of the afternoon. This is what suits the company which is supposed to oversee the management of the external areas of the block. That is understandable as they work office hours but it is awkward for owners.

I have not been here a year yet. I have not even met everyone who owns a unit (renters are not eligible to attend) and I am not aware of all the issues which might come up. It was therefore good to talk with the man opposite when he actually stopped and asked if I was aware of the meeting. I told him I was and that I intended to attend it - via the phone option. He has offered to take me instead as it will give me the opportunity to meet some of the other owners. I have,. reluctantly, accepted. I do not want to get involved in what are obviously ongoing arguments about exterior painting, gutters and fences. His own remarks suggest he has more than a modicum of commonsense about these things but will he be outvoted on who gets the job to replace the fence or whose exterior gets painted first. (His argument is that the latter gets done in strict rotation and according to a schedule - not because someone wants theirs done now.) 

I will also go because the contract to mow the "lawns" has failed. On my return from "holiday" I found the areas we are paying to have mowed had not been touched. They are now almost knee high in weeds and it is no longer safe. Even with the rain we have had the ground is not soft enough for me to remove the weeds and the rest of it looks dreadful. My view on this is that the management company we pay a hefty fee to should have dealt with this weeks ago. They apparently knew what was happening and did nothing. One of the owners is making demands of any contractor which simply cannot be met. The contractor is not her personal gardener but she treats them as such and complains if her demands are not met. She is the one who needs to be pulled into line. Will it happen?

I hope something is done soon. I may need to get my long suffering BIL to do my bit - and too bad if the owner who demands so much does not like my bit looking a little tidier than hers. The whole area really needs to have a proper grassed area put in but the expense is something not likely to be acceptable to owners who just want to put out their hands for rent money.

Yes, we have this and other problems here. I thought of this when I read the proposal for "shared" bathrooms and kitchens and other spaces. This is not co-housing Danish style. It is much more likely to be a slum style disaster in waiting.