Leaving number 88, where my stories began

TV presenter turned-novelist Suzanne Higgins had four babies and wrote three novels in her recently renovated period home in Blackrock. She looks back over a decade of good times

When you decide to sell your home as we all know, it's a stressful time. But when you renovate an old house - one that's been your home for most of your married life and then you start to look back and reminisce - watch out. It's very emotional.

Number 88 Carysfort Avenue never looked as good when we lived there as it does now. For starters, at almost 353sq m (3,800sq ft), it's like the Tardis! I didn't have the treble garage or the utility room.

God, what a luxury to have the washing machine out of the kitchen! Likewise the fifth bedroom is a terrific addition, as we have always had au pairs and with a growing family, the more rooms the better.

All four of my children were born when we lived at number 88. They slept in the main bedroom when they were tiny and when I was feeding them myself, but as they grew they moved onto the nursery which was the room next to ours.

It was terrific because they were very close to me (which I needed more than they did!) but it was also well away from the noise and action of downstairs.

In number 88 I bid goodbye to The Great Giveaway Show and RTÉ. I also started writing there. One day soon after we moved into the house I was walking down to Blackrock and I noticed that there was a plaque up on one of our neighbour's houses claiming that it once had James Joyce as a resident.

I'd been thinking about writing for a while and this was the final catalyst. It spurred me into action. If I was ever going to make it as a novelist, surely it was going to be in that kind of esteemed company . . . More recently I enjoyed my first international bidding war in number 88 (for the German rights to The Will To Win).

Other than the birth of my children, I think I will best remember Number 88 for the parties. We had some terrific barbecues and a few pretty big bashes there. The house lends itself really well to larger gatherings because of its layout. For one christening, we insisted on no gifts - just cash! We left a shoebox at the front door and everybody put in what they wanted.

All the money raised went to starting a Sight Savers eye camp in India. The party resulted in 600 people who were blind regaining their sight. Not bad for a day's fun but not all the parties were so virtuous. Suffice to say that all the stiletto marks on the diningroom table are not mine!

That said, the house is more than 150 years old, with walls so thick the kids slept through the whole thing!

Christmas has been wonderful too because with four little ladies, Santa was always very busy in number 88. I particularly like period houses at Christmas because they decorate so well. One year when I was in RTÉ, a magazine had number 88 decorated by a particularly flamboyant character. (He once "dressed Ivana Trump's house for Christmas!") It was hilarious - there were bells and balls everywhere but it looked amazing.

We really have had the best of times in Blackrock. Some may laugh but I believe old buildings carry their own spirit or karma. When we moved into Carysfort Avenue, we were as poor as church mice and couldn't afford to do it up.

Ten years on - no expense has been spared and we've given it the full treatment. My husband has personally overseen the entire project and he's really done me proud. Even with my vivid imagination I didn't foresee it turning out so well.

The period rooms have been lovingly restored to their full glory. The study looks more like a library now, which obviously I love. On the other hand, the kitchen, den and utility room are ultra modern. Number 88 has been very good to us and we in turn have repaid it by giving it a complete makeover. If the new owners have as much happiness and good times as we did in it - they're in for a good life.

Suzanne Higgins is the author of three international bestsellers. Her fourth will be published next year and she has a short story out this month in the Poolbeg collection, Thirty and Fabulous. All royalties are being donated to Women's Aid.

88 Carysfort House will be sold at auction through Douglas Newman Good on November 9th and has an AMV of €2.95 million.