Homes: reading
Luke Matthews has an amazing home, but he doesn’t live in a
house – he lives in a lighthouse. The lighthouse is, of course, near
the sea and today you can hear the waves crashing onto the
rocks below.
“In fact you can hear the sea everyday,” says Luke. “It’s not
really a quiet place, it’s often windy and there are many noisy
birds calling. There are no cars or people near but there’s always a lot of sound.”
Inside the lighthouse it’s much quieter. The walls and windows are very thick to
protect the building from storms. Luke says he isn’t afraid of the storms. He knows
that he’s safe in the lighthouse which is over a hundred years old.
The building is no longer a working lighthouse although there’s still a light at the top
for the ships. “Many lighthouses are empty now, and some don’t have a light,” says
Luke. “It’s quite easy to buy one to live in.” Luke is a writer and for him it’s an ideal
home to work and live in.
So why is a lighthouse a good place for Luke?
“Well, the first reason is that it’s easier for me to work when there are no people
around. I can turn off the telephone and write in peace. Writing is easier for me
when I am alone. Secondly, the views from the lighthouse are just wonderful. The
morning sunrises and evening sunsets are incredible, and the countryside all around
is beautiful. I can see 360 degrees all the time and I love that. The views help me
with my writing. When there’s a big storm it’s wonderful. Finally, I love sea life.
From the lighthouse you can see dolphins and whales and many different kinds of sea
birds. My favourite are the seals which play in the water. I fish a lot too, and often
eat lobster and crab – they’re delicious!”
All the rooms in the lighthouse are on top of each other. On the ground floor there’s
the kitchen which also has a table and chairs for dining, above that there’s the living
room. Above the living room is a bedroom and small bathroom, and right at the top is
the room where Luke does his writing. A spiral staircase is right in the middle, and all
the rooms are round, of course!
So, does Luke have any problems with his unusual home?
“Not really. It’s difficult to grow vegetables in the garden because it’s too windy,
and there are too many rabbits! The nearest village isn’t too far away, it takes me
about half an hour to walk there. There are a couple of shops and also a pub if I want
to meet some other people but I prefer being by myself. For me it’s the
perfect place!”