My Hobbit Hole Needs an Upgrade

Of all the rooms in my house, I spend most of my working day in what is basically a closet.

It was never meant to be an office. When I moved into the former rectory where I live, this tiny room beside the front door was simply where people hung their coats. It measures 2.5 meters (about 8.2 feet) in length and 2 meters (about 6.6 feet) in width. Last year, I turned it into my Hobbit hole.There was just enough space for a small IKEA desk, a chair, and a few bookshelves. One wall holds a cupboard with all the house’s electronics, and there’s a single square window.

I’ve always loved the image of Bilbo Baggins sitting safely inside Bag End, surrounded by books and familiar things, writing down his adventures while the outside world disappears. That’s more or less what I wanted for myself: a small, warm place where I could shut out distractions and step into a story.

There was also a very practical reason for choosing the smallest room in the house: it was the only room I could afford to keep warm.

Writing with gloves on

The rectory was built in the 1950s, when apparently nobody expected heating a house to become a luxury.

The roof has never been properly insulated. The insulation inside the walls has largely deteriorated. Downstairs there are enormous old windows through which both heat and money disappear at alarming speed.

Last January, I spent around €1,200 on heating alone.

So during the winter I mostly retreat to my Hobbit hole. I keep the rest of the house at a fairly low temperature and heat only the room where I work. Last year there were days when even that wasn’t enough and I sat behind my computer wearing thin gloves.

It turns out that typing fantasy novels with cold fingers is considerably less romantic than it sounds.

This week I finally decided that something has to change.

I had two people from a local energy service inspect the house and explain where the biggest problems are. A company is coming to look at the walls and give me a quote for new insulation. I’m also investigating how to insulate the attic without spending a fortune.