As often happened in the age of wild capitalism

As often happened in the age of wild capitalism


As often happened in the age of wild capitalism, our house even survived a raider attack. A firm which used to sell “horilka” (vodka) and rent an apartment on the first floor for an office put its own lock on the door and decided not to let owners in.

If the residents of our house, including a parliamentary member, were not united in their actions, the bandits would not have given the apartments back to their legal owners.

In two decades, one young woman has died in our house, and two girls were born. Only one bride wearing a white wedding dress went out the building, leaving the staircase splashed with coins and candies. It was a daughter of the lawmaker who helped to kick out raiders.

Over the last 20 years, many neighbors undertook European-style renovations in their apartments and installed plastic windows. Many bought a car, and plenty of them occupy our yard now. Someone got a thoroughbred dog. Someone took advantage of high real estate prices before the 2008 financial crisis and sold an apartment.

Many in our house have broadband Internet and wi-fi service. Fewer people use landline phones, and the Ukrtelecom monopoly cut those from time to time for non-payment of the bills, no matter how small the overdue sum.

Not long ago containers to separate garbage collecting, for dry and organic wastes, appeared in our yard. That’s an environmental step that should have taken place years ago. One of the announcements near the entrance door informed recently that meters for hot and cold water would be installed in our apartments soon. That’s something that also should happen earlier.

Another announcement on the building says that each resident should come to Khreshchatyk, a housing and utilities enterprise, and sign new agreements to receive utility services despite the fact we had been receiving them for the last 20 years. It looks like a beginning of a housing war.

But let’s think about it tomorrow, after having a housewarming party and celebrating the 20th anniversary of our life in a new place.