Get your Strata Salvation Here ! The Apartment Bible Book Review

I’ve always made sure there’s a Gidgeon’s Bible in every hotel room I stay at as you can never know when you need a bible.

But now I need to make sure I also have this other bible handy at all times too to ensure my strata salvation.

The Mini Apartment Bible (created by Phillippe De Baeck) is a small glossy coffee table type book that features very beautiful apartment interiors from around the world.  They’re an inspiration about how to live a more beautiful life in your apartment (and if you can’t manage that ... to at least dream about it).

Either way the book has some great ideas for apartment living and shows you how apartments can (because of the height and views they have) be more beautiful than simple houses.

And, there’s not too many words to read either. 

So, why not read from the good book of strata apartments ?

You can buy the Mini Apartment Bible at Amazon.com here.

Francesco ….

Strata Book, Film & Media Reviews

Often we treat strata title too dryly as land surveying, legal title, corporate governance, statutory compliance, insurance and risk management, alternate dispute resolution, accounting and audit, etc, etc, etc …

And, we forget that they are buildings filled with people and life –

• that people own and pay bills on
• where young and old people live and sleep
• where we house our family, pets and possessions
• which we entertain and socialise
• from which we view the world, and
• places where we live, love, hate and cry

In other words places where the pathos of life exists.  And, places that people write about, make movies about and create art about.

So, in my blog, I’m going to identify books, magazines, movies, tv shows, plays, poetry, music videos and other entertaining things that are about or feature strata title buildings, people and issues.  And, give you my thoughts about them too.

That will include more serious and useful things like text books and guides, exhibitions on buildings and architecture, shows like The Block and Underbelly that feature apartments and more.

 So, keep an eye out for these posts.

And, let me know about anything you find that my interest me and my blog followers.  You can post it to the blog or email me here.

Francesco

Flat Chat speaks Strata Lingo on Saturdays

I know you’re computer savvy and do everything on the internet but sometimes it’s worth picking up the paper and reading it too.

Saturday mornings are one of those times because of the Flat Chat column in Saturday’s Sydney Morning Herald.

Jimmy Thomson has been writing it every weekend for the last 6 years and it’s developed a loyal following from Sydney’s real estate and strata obsessed public.  And, it contains useful information, interesting stories and Jimmy’s opinion on strata matters and a unique kind of fire and brimstone.  I like to read it every week to see what is troubling Jimmy and others.

Jimmy says that the column contains ‘the raw, unedited articles before the SMH sub-editors got into them, correcting my mistakes and saving me from litigation’ and that you should read them ‘in the spirit in which they were written – light-hearted guides to apartment life’.

It’s also re-published on the web and you can even get it as an RSS feed.

But, why not go old school next Saturday and pick up a copy of the SMH, order a latte, flip the Domain to over to the apartments section, go to page 5 and spend 15 minutes enjoying Flatchat ? 

See you at the coffee shop on Saturday.

Francesco ….

Strata ... and a Good Book.

With all this rain in Sydney what could be better than curling up in your warm and dry apartment in a Snuggie with a good book. 

Well, my friends, Jimmy Thompson and Sue Williams, (who also happen to live in an apartment) have written the perfect book for those wet, cold and lonely nights (and days).

It called ‘Apartment Living’ and it’s  all about buying, owning and living in apartments.  Based on their own experiences and the trials and tribulations of many others it’s worth reading by anyone interested in strata schemes.

But copies are running low (I think there are only 20 or so left) so don’t wait too long to get yours.  You can do that online here.

Jimmy is behind the Flat Chat column that has been appearing in Domain section of the Sydney Morning Herald for the past six years, answering questions, offering advice and occasionally stirring up controversy about strata living in Australia.  

Sue is an award-winning journalist and author who has written books like ‘Love Is In The Air’ (the story of the fabulous Merry Makers, a dance troupe made up of dancers with disabilities that's unique to Australia), ‘Women of the Outback: True stories of tragedy and triumph’, and ‘And Then The Darkness: The Disappearance of Peter Falconio".

Enjoy the Strata read (and your Snuggie).

Francesco ….