You know, if there be one thing that I've come to believe over the years, it is that first impressions tend to have the most valued takeaways when you don't come with anything, when you come expecting nothing.
Because that's when you really see the thing (space, or place) for itself.
That's when you really see the place for what it is, for what it has to offer, and for what it can offer.
Sometimes you like what you see.
Sometimes you don't.
It's all very subjective, and it very much depends on what you want, and wish to have.
We had been looking around quite a bit by the time we came to this place in between Eunos and Bedok, and to be honest, by that time, we weren't quite sure what to expect.
I mean, everyone tells you that the properties are in convenient locations, that there are great amenities nearby, that the apartment has great allocation of space, so on and so forth.
But nothing prepares you for the sight of a thick sewage pipe running horizontally across the ceiling right in front of your bed that's up on the mezzanine loft floor.
Nothing prepares you for the presence of the rubbish chute right outside your bathroom window and kitchen door on the ground floor apartment of a ten-storey condo.
And nothing prepares you for an apartment in a two-storey sort of shop house that, whilst in a great neighborhood and is nostalgic and neat, has a limited view view, and no lift.
The lack of lift might have been suitable if it were just us and a couple pieces of luggage, but there were some pieces of furniture that needed to be brought in, there were boxes of belongings that needed to be brought over, and no lift meant there would be a lot of heavy work from the movers who would no doubt toss us an extra charge for extra labor.
We were not ready for that.
So, yes, what with all the different places that we'd already seen there was just that little bit of wide eye and tilt head when we first dropped into this space somewhere between Bedok and Eunos.
I can't say that I fell in love at first sight, but something about the space, the windows, the sunny interior and the views appealed to me.
It didn't matter to me that there was a much taller condominium right opposite the road.
It didn't matter to me that we might have to keep our windows closed most of the time.
Because this was a place that had winds coming in from almost all directions.
This was a place where our windows looked out towards the north and the west, the balcony looked out towards the northeast, east and south, and the patio- high walls or not- had winds coming in from the east, the south, and the west.
That was more than enough for me.
And much of the view- when I leaned out the sliding windows- was unobstructed and I could borrow the kampong sight of all those palm trees.
That being said, I knew she wasn't a very big space, but there was a sense of fluidity, I fell right away in love with the winds and after a bit of thought, felt a wee bit of appreciation even for the patio.
Of course there was the kitchenette (by the door, no less) to think about.
But I'm not the kind to whip up huge meals or cook or even bake, and anyway we have Little Black Grill and Little Blue Pot, plus an induction cooker, so...