Norfolk Escape to the Country


Norfolk

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This country house was once home to a pioneering 19th-century

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social reformer whose face now lines our 21st-century purses and wallets.

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Find out who she was and where I am in just a few moments.

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Today, our house-hunting couple is taking early retirement

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so they can live out their rural idyll.

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I can't believe this. It's huge.

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And our properties never fail to deliver.

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It's not like a bathroom that we've seen before, is it?

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-And a view out the window as well.

-It's a room with a bath, it's lovely.

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Today, I'm in Norfolk and behind me is Earlham Hall,

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childhood home to Elizabeth Fry

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whose face may look strangely familiar.

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Born to a Quaker family back in 1780,

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she was a social reformist and philanthropist

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and her face now appears on the back of our £5 notes.

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Fry dedicated her life to helping those in need, and though

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she's probably best remembered for improving the lives of women

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and children in prisons, she also campaigned for mental asylum reform,

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enhanced nursing standards as well as better housing for the poor.

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Her legacy continues to echo today

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and many of her reforms underpin 21st-century society.

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A truly influential woman and one of this wonderful county's most famous

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and determined daughters.

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Norfolk sits on England's east coast and is bordered by the North Sea

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and The Wash along its shoreline

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and Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk inland.

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The county's known for its arresting flat countryside

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with crop-rich fields overlooked by tall church towers

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and endless views often scattered with vibrant red poppies.

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And the winding waterways of the Norfolk broads

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flanked by lush green reeds and open plains,

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have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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The region is home to a variety of pretty seaside towns like Cromer

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and has a wealth of beautiful sandy beaches

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overlooked by rugged coastlines.

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Hunstanton on Norfolk's northwest coast

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not only proudly displays its red and white chalk cliffs

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and oystercatchers pecking at the sand,

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but it's also one of the few places on England's east coast

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where the sun can be seen setting over the sea as the town faces west.

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All of these charming characteristics

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see an estimated 30 million tourists flocking to Norfolk each year

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but it also holds an alluring appeal

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to those wanting to call this county home.

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With such beautiful landscapes and vistas, it may surprise some to hear

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that the value of property in Norfolk is equally appealing.

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The average price of a detached house here

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comes in at just over £222,000.

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That's around £47,000 below the national figure.

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Now, couple that with the fact that Norfolk is not only

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the fifth largest county in the UK

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but it also has the eighth lowest population density,

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making it an ideal choice for anybody looking

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for a slower, more rural pace of life.

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So let's find out from today's buyers what's inspiring them

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to make Norfolk the base for their future move.

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Aerospace engineer Mark and his wife Steve

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have lived in this detached house in Luton in Bedfordshire

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for 29 years. They met at a party when they were just 17.

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-I fell over you, I think, didn't I?

-You did and I fell over you.

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Apparently I fell over on the floor. I'd had slightly too much to drink.

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Then I don't know if you said or I said we should stick together

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in case we break something.

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And then it was love!

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-It's our 40th this year.

-It is.

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-Don't ask me the date!

-We've been married nearly 40 years.

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-So we got married in 1974.

-Four, yeah.

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And we'd known each other since 1970.

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And with Mark taking early retirement in just two months' time,

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they've decided to up sticks and move to Norfolk,

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somewhere very close to their hearts.

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We're moving away because I want to move off estate,

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I want somewhere in the country.

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We've done phases of our life and this is a new phase in retiring

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and it gives us a new challenge and something to look forward to.

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We like the area that we want to buy a house in

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and we've spent lots of holidays and lots of time there

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so it was a natural progression to move from here to there.

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And Mark isn't expecting to rest on his laurels

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during his retirement in Norfolk.

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And of course it's got the steam railway.

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I think that's the main attraction,

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is the steam railway for a certain person in my life to go and work

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as a volunteer, working in the engine shed tinkering with nuts and bolts.

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I don't want to be the train driver, I just want to work on it.

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I just like taking things apart and putting them back together again.

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Engineering is in Mark's blood and at home his garage is shelter

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to his pride and joy which will be joining them in their move

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and will also need a new home.

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The car that I've got is, I had one when I was a kid,

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it brings back my youth.

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It needs to go into a garage because it's in extremely good condition.

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It's probably better than when it came out the factory in 1979

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so I need a decent dry garage to keep it in.

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Steve and Mark are also passionate about their grandchildren

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whom they're extremely close to.

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We see them pretty regularly, which is going to be the difference

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between moving from here to moving away.

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-They ask to come over for sleepovers at the weekends...

-Yeah.

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..so that they can come and stay with us.

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So one reason why we need a four-bedroom house when we move

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is so that we can still accommodate them.

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Steve makes sure that all the precious moments with her family

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are documented each year, never to be forgotten.

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Photography's my love.

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I do photography a lot, and after, post taking the pictures,

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I do an annual photographic diary.

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So this year's one hopefully will show goodbye to the house

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where we lived in and hello to a new one.

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And with funds in the bank and Mark's retirement on the horizon,

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this busy couple are ready to celebrate

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their 40th wedding anniversary in Norfolk.

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Life up until now has always been involved with a work ethos and now

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that door's closing and another door is hopefully opening

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which will give us new adventures and possibilities and is quite exciting.

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It's going to slow me down, that's what I'm looking for,

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just slowing down and relaxing a bit more.

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Steve and Mark have lost their hearts to Norfolk

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and are happy to move anywhere in the eastern county,

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if the house is right.

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So far they've spent a year viewing around 60 properties.

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So before we begin our hunt for their new home,

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I'm meeting them in the county

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to get to the bottom of their property desires.

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Welcome, both of you, to a... What a simply beautiful Norfolk morning.

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So what's bringing you to this beautiful part of the world?

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Over 30 years ago, we started to come on holiday here

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when our children were small and we fell in love with it.

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Now of course you've got children and grandchildren,

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you must see them all the time.

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Is moving up here going to be a huge wrench for you?

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-Quite possibly.

-Yeah.

-But it's our time now...

-Yes.

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..and we want to do something to share our retirement together

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and if we're here and the attraction is sandcastles and bucket and spade,

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I'm sure that they will be boomeranging down here.

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Now, of course, we can't ignore the Norfolk coast.

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How far inland would you like to be

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or how far from the coast would you like to be?

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If we fall in love with the house,

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that will determine where we are and how long the drive is.

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What does this house look like in your mind's eye, then?

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We like light, open and airy.

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The house that we have at the moment is light, open and airy.

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Style-wise, do you want character?

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Yes, character, anything. I think when you look at it, you'll know.

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-How many bedrooms are we looking at?

-Four. En-suite if we can.

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-Outside space?

-For me, as much as I can get, I think.

-Yeah.

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If possible, I want to put a workshop on.

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Where do you want this property to be?

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Do you want to have amenities nearby or do you want to be out

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in the countryside, something completely different?

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The house dictates where we will be.

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-I'm quite prepared to be quite remote...

-Yes.

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..but I think somebody else is not quite so prepared...

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-Yeah.

-..to be remote.

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Detached, semidetached? What's your thoughts?

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A detached house, please.

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-Detached?

-Yeah, we've always been detached bar one.

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Remind me of how much you're looking to spend?

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-We're looking at somewhere between £400,000 and £450,000.

-Yeah.

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Well, that's a good budget up here in Norfolk but let's face it,

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you've been looking for a long time and not found anywhere yet.

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What parts of your wish list do you think you'd be prepared

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-to compromise on?

-I think most of it's open because...

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-Yeah.

-..we're willing to compromise anywhere.

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At the very, very, very, very least, you will know exactly what you want

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at the end of this process. But what we're going for is,

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hopefully, we'll find you somewhere where you want to live. Yeah?

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-Brilliant.

-Somewhere we're comfortable in.

-Yeah.

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Somewhere you're comfortable in

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-and your family would love to visit and you can be proud of.

-Yeah.

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All right, we've got three properties to show you.

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All I ask from you guys is that you voice your opinions

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so we can maybe learn along the way.

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-OK.

-All right?

-Fabulous.

-Right.

-Vocal is good.

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I don't think I'm going to get that problem from these two.

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I'm just getting that sense. Listen, let's get started.

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-Come this way.

-OK.

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Steve and Mark have a healthy budget for this part of the world

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so I'm confident I'm going to be able to find them what they want

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but only they will know if it's got the right feel.

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They'd like a detached house with four bedrooms

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to put up visiting family and friends and a large garden

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so their young grandchildren can enjoy the fresh country air.

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Mark would love a workshop and a large garage so he can tinker

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with his classic car and they'd like to be in a rural location

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but not too far from civilisation.

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Steve and Mark know Norfolk well but are yet to find their forever home.

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We'll be showing them three very different properties

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and after they've had a good look around

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we'll reveal each one's price.

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Their last visit will be to the mystery house.

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We'll be taking a bit of a risk, showing them something quite unusual

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and I just hope it pays off.

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We're starting our property search in the northeast corner of Norfolk

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in the village of East Ruston, three miles from the coast

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and a 30-minute car ride from Norwich.

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East Ruston is a small community with a traditional pub

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and a village hall in its centre.

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Shops can be found less than three miles away in the village of Stalham

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and it's just a six-minute drive to the coastal village of Happisburgh

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with its beautiful sandy beaches.

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Not only are they perfect for a seaside walk or run,

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the village also boasts the oldest evidence of human occupation

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anywhere in the UK after tools over 800,000 years old were found.

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A journey of just under three miles takes us back to East Ruston

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and our first house, a delightful period cottage.

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Oh, wow.

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-This is a pretty house, isn't it?

-It is.

-Yes.

-Roses over the door.

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-It's got the character.

-Yeah.

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-What do we think? I mean you said character.

-Character.

-Yes.

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Yeah. It's got the character, yeah.

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Parts of this house go back 300 years.

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-Good golly.

-This used to be thatched.

-Ah.

-Right.

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Now back in about 1901, they took the thatch off...

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-Oh, really?

-..and then about 25 years ago,

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-they went out the back as well with that extension.

-Sure.

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This used to be a tiny farmhouse cottage.

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It's got a feel.

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-The right feel?

-Yes.

-I like it.

-Let's go inside.

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Steve and Mark have said that they'll just know when they

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find their dream home and things are already looking hopeful.

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Fingers crossed the good feeling continues inside.

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The front door leads through the hallway to the dining room

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which is also brimming with character.

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It's great, it's got the beams. It's light, there's plenty of light.

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-It is light, yes.

-And it's roomy.

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That's the old external wall. It would be very shallow, this house.

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-Yes.

-But thankfully they've managed to push an extension out that way

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which gives us a kitchen.

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-Right.

-Let me show you.

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It's a cottage kitchen, as far as I can see.

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-Is it doable?

-It is, yes.

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You've got enough cupboard space down the back.

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-And it's light because we've got the...

-The skylights.

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..skylights up there.

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'The kitchen is nestled between the dining room and the sitting room

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'which is where we're headed now.

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'It stretches from the front to the back of the house.'

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It's surprising because you see the room the other side, which is

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quite snug, and this one's got the other dimension

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for adding that extra width on, it's brilliant.

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Well, this is triple aspect as well

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so you're getting that nice, light, airy feel, aren't you?

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-And that is beautiful.

-You're getting light from all directions.

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'And the period cottage character continues upstairs

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'where there's a family bathroom and three bedrooms.

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'A double to the back, another to the front

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'and the master which runs the width of the house.'

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It's big and it's light.

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It's got two nice windows with a beautiful view

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and a lighthouse over there.

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I mean, imagine waking up to that view.

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-That is just stunning, isn't it?

-Yeah, that's beautiful.

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There's a couple of things you said you would love to have.

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-First of all you said you wanted four bedrooms.

-Yeah.

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You get three bedrooms and a lovely family bathroom but...

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-Right.

-..three bedrooms, not four.

-Right.

-You can live with three?

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Now, you did say you wanted an en-suite, as well.

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-Tah-dah!

-Oh, well, I've got less cupboard space, then.

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-Great.

-Oh, and a shower.

-Yeah.

-That's brilliant.

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When I first met Steve and Mark,

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I wasn't sure if they knew what they wanted in their country home

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but this cottage is coming up trumps on all levels.

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Hopefully it'll keep up the good work outside

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in its rather lovely garden

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with stunning views as far as the eye can see.

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This is something else, isn't it?

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-It's beautiful.

-Gorgeous, isn't it?

-It is, it's lovely.

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Now, garage-wise, good size garage with power.

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-Yeah.

-Boarded for storage at the top as well.

-OK.

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So the classic car will go in there, that's fine.

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Could you live here?

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-Could we live here?

-Yeah.

-Yes, I think we could.

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Do you want to live here?

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Probably.

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How much do you think this house is on the market for?

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Golly, I like it so...

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£425,000.

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OK. Mark?

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I was going to say £417,000.

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This place is on the market for offers around £380,000.

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Good golly.

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Have you felt like this before in other houses that you've looked at?

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-I was going to have that conversation with Mark and say no.

-No.

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So go back around the house

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and then I'll meet you out the front whenever you've finished.

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There's a nice chair in a sunny place out there.

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It's got my name written all over it.

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-It's a tough job but I'll struggle through.

-OK, thank you. Bye.

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Fill your boots. Enjoy yourselves.

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This modernised Victorian cottage comes in at a substantial

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£70,000 under Steve and Mark's budget.

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It may not have the four bedrooms they were after

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but they've fallen in love with its character

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and are happy to compromise.

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It's got a garage for Mark's beloved classic car

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and a pretty garden with stunning views towards the coast.

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I think it works really well.

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It's sort of old but quite modern in its appearance.

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I can't believe how light and airy this house looks.

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This house, I really like it, the way it's laid out and the fact

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it's still retained its cottage feel because I want to go into a house

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that I feel comfortable with and I feel really comfortable with this.

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The foliage up the house and its situation,

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how quiet it is here, was beautiful.

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Going inside, it was full of surprises as well, basically,

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because I expected it to be dark and it wasn't.

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It's beautiful, I love it.

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My feelings are we could quite comfortably come and live here.

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Well, I'd be very happy to come and wait for you for as long

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as you ever needed in that chair, it's absolutely gorgeous out here.

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It's beautiful out here.

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-How did you get on inside, all right?

-Lovely.

-Yeah, great.

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-Still great?

-Yeah.

-So, good start, then?

-Very good start.

-Yes, it is.

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-Excellent. On to the next one.

-OK.

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In the 30-plus years that Steve and Mark have been visiting Norfolk,

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they've enjoyed trips on the north Norfolk steam railway

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and are hoping to become volunteers here when they move.

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The railway was built in 1887 to attract tourists to the region

0:16:420:16:46

and ran until 1967 when it closed because of national cuts.

0:16:460:16:50

In the 1970s, a group of enthusiasts got together to resurrect it

0:16:510:16:55

and it now provides a ten-and-a-half-mile round trip

0:16:550:16:58

taking in the beautiful surrounding countryside with sea views.

0:16:580:17:02

Steve and Mark have come to meet general manager Trevor Eady

0:17:020:17:05

at the scenic Heritage Railway, which runs from Sheringham to Holt,

0:17:050:17:08

via Weybourne.

0:17:080:17:10

How was the railway funded?

0:17:120:17:14

Last year, we had 158,000 passengers

0:17:140:17:18

and that's where our revenue is coming through

0:17:180:17:21

for running the railway.

0:17:210:17:22

The reason we survive is really because of volunteers.

0:17:220:17:25

We have around 38 staff and just under 400 volunteers at the moment.

0:17:250:17:30

My interest is in the engineering side.

0:17:300:17:32

Although I'm an aerospace engineer, I just love Victorian engineering

0:17:320:17:35

because it's over-engineered. It just lasts.

0:17:350:17:38

If you've got skills on the engineering side,

0:17:380:17:40

then they would certainly be made use of if you came here.

0:17:400:17:44

-Here we are now here arriving at Holt.

-At Holt station.

0:17:440:17:47

There are five steam locomotives in operation at the railway,

0:17:480:17:52

and Steve and Mark are joining Brian Toovey at the maintenance and

0:17:520:17:56

restoration centre where the trains come to be serviced.

0:17:560:17:59

Brian volunteers here about 12 days a month.

0:17:590:18:03

This is one of our little engines, Ring Haw.

0:18:030:18:05

it's just come back into service again. It's been running.

0:18:050:18:08

We're going to do some oiling up on it, clean the rods,

0:18:080:18:12

keep it all nice and clean, nice and shiny for the customers

0:18:120:18:15

so they can see that they're nice, presentable engines.

0:18:150:18:18

When you become a volunteer, you start off cleaning the engines

0:18:180:18:22

and this way, you get to learn your way round the engines,

0:18:220:18:26

what all the bits do, how they work within each other.

0:18:260:18:30

If I give you a rag and give you a rag and if I carry on wiping bits

0:18:300:18:34

-and if you just follow behind wiping that part off.

-OK.

0:18:340:18:39

So when did you start volunteering?

0:18:390:18:41

I started down here as a volunteer in 1982.

0:18:410:18:44

I started doing exactly this job as a cleaner

0:18:440:18:48

and then I slowly went through the different grades that we've got

0:18:480:18:52

and finished up as a driver.

0:18:520:18:54

The more you come down here,

0:18:540:18:56

the faster you can progress through the ranks.

0:18:560:18:59

Yeah.

0:18:590:19:00

Next stop for Steve and Mark is a visit to the heart of

0:19:000:19:02

the whole operation - the Weybourne signal box.

0:19:020:19:05

Most of the railway is single track but here in the middle of the route,

0:19:050:19:09

there's a passing place for two trains.

0:19:090:19:11

The signal box allows trains to safely leave the station,

0:19:110:19:14

ensuring another train isn't coming in the opposite direction.

0:19:140:19:18

Ed is one of our signalmen here

0:19:210:19:22

and will show you how we operate the levers here

0:19:220:19:26

and turn the points over and also the signalling aspect of it as well.

0:19:260:19:31

The levers operate the signals and the points which direct the train

0:19:310:19:36

to the right platform as it approaches the station.

0:19:360:19:40

BELL RINGS

0:19:400:19:42

OK, we've just had the bells through now

0:19:420:19:45

that indicate the train is about to leave Sheringham.

0:19:450:19:48

The train driver carries a token in a holder which confirms

0:19:480:19:52

he has the right of way on that stretch of track.

0:19:520:19:55

Right now, the locomotive's coming

0:19:550:19:56

so what you've now got to do is

0:19:560:19:58

collect the token from the locomotive, so hold your arm out

0:19:580:20:02

and just make a bit more of a fist

0:20:020:20:04

so that it comes on and stays there and let him do the work, all right?

0:20:040:20:08

-Oh, my God!

-Just make sure you go through the centre.

0:20:100:20:13

I thought that was fabulous, I really enjoyed it.

0:20:190:20:21

Thank you so much for letting us come

0:20:210:20:23

and enjoy such a beautiful day here.

0:20:230:20:26

-Thank you, Trevor. It was lovely.

-Thank you.

0:20:260:20:28

For our second house, we're journeying just over 30 miles west

0:20:350:20:39

to the rural village of Whissonsett, five miles south

0:20:390:20:42

of the market town of Fakenham and 23 miles northwest of Norwich.

0:20:420:20:46

In the village, there's little more than a handsome 14th-century church

0:20:480:20:51

but in nearby Fakenham, there are plenty of

0:20:510:20:53

shops and eateries to choose from.

0:20:530:20:56

A 13-minute drive takes us back to Whissonsett and our second property

0:20:560:21:00

situated in the heart of the village at the end of a stone driveway.

0:21:000:21:04

-So, another old house.

-Yeah.

0:21:060:21:08

Not quite as old as the first one but what are your thoughts?

0:21:080:21:11

Nice brickwork, flint stone on the side.

0:21:110:21:15

Yeah. Mark, what do you think? What are your impressions of,

0:21:150:21:18

first of all where we are, right in the middle of this village?

0:21:180:21:21

You're in the middle of the village but it's quiet.

0:21:210:21:23

-You come down the lane, it's quiet.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:21:230:21:25

The only things we've heard is two tractors going up and down.

0:21:250:21:28

-Well, that's not bad, is it?

-No.

-No.

0:21:280:21:31

This brick and flint house dates back to around 1800

0:21:310:21:34

with some later additions.

0:21:340:21:36

It's had extensive renovations and we're starting off our tour

0:21:360:21:39

-in the first of two reception rooms.

-Oh, wow.

0:21:390:21:42

Quite snug, parquet flooring in here and a wood floor in there.

0:21:420:21:46

Yeah, this was added later on. The current owners put this in.

0:21:460:21:49

There was an inglenook fireplace in there, which...well, it was almost too big for the room,

0:21:490:21:53

the owners thought, so they put that fireplace in there

0:21:530:21:56

and I think it works perfectly.

0:21:560:21:57

It's light because you've got two windows there

0:21:570:22:00

and the window at the front here.

0:22:000:22:02

Behind the two reception rooms at the back of the house is

0:22:030:22:06

a shower room and, across the hallway, a large kitchen-diner.

0:22:060:22:11

-It's a cracking ,kitchen isn't it?

-It's fantastic, isn't it?

0:22:110:22:14

And there's plenty of cupboard space for you.

0:22:140:22:16

Plenty of work surface.

0:22:160:22:17

-A lot bigger than the last house, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:22:170:22:20

And it's got enough room to socialise in here with

0:22:200:22:23

the table that's in here.

0:22:230:22:25

It's big, it's square, it's light, it's got lots

0:22:250:22:30

and lots of cupboard space.

0:22:300:22:32

Let's go upstairs and look at the bedrooms.

0:22:320:22:34

We are heading straight for the largest of four bedrooms

0:22:370:22:40

across a galleried landing.

0:22:400:22:41

-So the master bedroom...

-Oh, wow.

-..is a very elegant affair.

0:22:430:22:46

It is and really light, unlike the decor. French provincial.

0:22:460:22:52

-Yes.

-And it's bigger than the average room as well.

0:22:520:22:54

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-It's a large room.

-Yes.

0:22:540:22:57

This spacious bedroom has views to the back and side of the property.

0:22:570:23:01

There's also two decent-sized doubles to the front of the house

0:23:010:23:04

with a smaller room between them and the eye-catching family bathroom

0:23:040:23:08

has a feature bath as its centrepiece.

0:23:080:23:11

So what do you think?

0:23:110:23:13

In comparison with the other house, this is a lot bigger.

0:23:130:23:16

-Yes.

-And squarer, lighter rooms. Yeah.

0:23:160:23:20

What do you think you prefer at the moment, Mark?

0:23:200:23:23

-I'm tossing up between the two.

-Yeah.

0:23:240:23:25

-Yeah, it's difficult.

-Because they're totally different.

0:23:250:23:29

The other one is a bit smaller

0:23:290:23:31

but it's got a different character to this one.

0:23:310:23:33

And I'm thinking, hmm...

0:23:330:23:36

-Causing us a problem.

-Yeah.

0:23:370:23:40

Well, it's a good problem to have.

0:23:400:23:42

'Well, I must say I'm rather surprised and rather pleased.

0:23:430:23:47

'So far it looks like it's two out of two on our tour of Norfolk houses.'

0:23:470:23:51

-Mind the step.

-OK.

0:23:510:23:52

'Steve and Mark seem to have that feeling here too and I think

0:23:540:23:57

'they'll be even more confused when

0:23:570:23:59

'I throw something else into the mix - a beautifully renovated barn.'

0:23:590:24:03

I can't believe this. It's huge.

0:24:050:24:08

You can see through there, you've got another studio room as well.

0:24:080:24:12

We'll have to take in lodgers.

0:24:120:24:14

-Wow, this is...

-We could put the grandchildren in here. Be a quiet night.

0:24:140:24:17

-We could, we could.

-Lock the door.

0:24:170:24:19

-There's another log burner in here.

-Yeah.

0:24:190:24:22

-Now, one of the owners...

-Yeah.

-..is a very keen photographer and framer.

0:24:220:24:26

Now, I was thinking you said you wanted to get into photography -

0:24:260:24:29

-what a great studio this is.

-It would be...

0:24:290:24:32

-Yeah.

-It's beautiful. You're right.

0:24:320:24:35

-You've got room to drive a car into that top end.

-OK.

0:24:350:24:40

But I don't think you'd need to because you've also got a car port.

0:24:400:24:43

Oh, wow.

0:24:430:24:44

This is a house that just keeps on giving.

0:24:450:24:48

Attached to the car port is a workshop

0:24:480:24:50

and the manicured gardens extend to around a third of an acre.

0:24:500:24:54

So you can see, look, you've got a kitchen garden here.

0:24:540:24:58

Mark, you said you wanted as much garden as possible.

0:24:580:25:01

It's a good-size garden.

0:25:010:25:03

How do you price this?

0:25:030:25:04

Ask Mark first.

0:25:060:25:08

It's me first.

0:25:080:25:10

Well, you're looking at the size of the house and the property

0:25:100:25:13

and the outbuildings and the amount of land you've got with it -

0:25:130:25:18

I reckon it's got to be up the top end of the budget. £450,000.

0:25:180:25:22

OK, 450. What do you say, Steve?

0:25:220:25:24

I would agree with that, it is at the top end of our budget

0:25:240:25:28

so I will say 445.

0:25:280:25:31

Well, this place is on the market with a guide price of £439,000.

0:25:320:25:37

-Wow.

-There's a lot...

0:25:370:25:39

-For your money.

-..of what both you said you wanted.

0:25:390:25:42

-Yeah.

-You guys, go and have a look around the rest of the house

0:25:420:25:44

and I'll see you whenever you're finished. Fill your boots.

0:25:440:25:47

Coming in at around £11,000 under their top budget,

0:25:500:25:53

this detached house will give Steve and Mark a decent amount of change

0:25:530:25:57

and it has just the number of bedrooms they're after.

0:25:570:26:00

The converted barn will be an ideal space for Steve to indulge in

0:26:000:26:03

her love of photography and the workshop and car port will provide

0:26:030:26:07

Mark with the space and shelter he's after for his classic car.

0:26:070:26:11

The house sits in around a third of an acre, which not only comes

0:26:110:26:14

with a ready-made vegetable garden, but is also a great space for

0:26:140:26:18

the grandchildren to play.

0:26:180:26:19

-Ooh, lovely, claw feet bath.

-Roll top bath.

0:26:200:26:23

-And roll top.

-Yeah, it's a nice size as well.

0:26:230:26:26

And two windows again so it's light and bright.

0:26:260:26:28

It's not like a bathroom that we've seen before, is it?

0:26:280:26:33

-And the view out the window as well.

-It's a room with a bath. It's lovely.

-Yeah.

0:26:330:26:37

We've been a lot quieter with this house, because there's been

0:26:370:26:40

so much more to take in and it fulfils a lot of things that we wished for.

0:26:400:26:45

When you first see the house, it's got the look

0:26:460:26:49

and you come in and it's got that light airiness but it's warm

0:26:490:26:54

and for me, I've got to feel comfortable in a house

0:26:540:26:57

and you are in this place.

0:26:570:26:59

It's a nice cosy house,

0:26:590:27:01

but at the same time it's light and it's bright.

0:27:010:27:04

I have warm feelings about this house.

0:27:040:27:06

I think that we would feel comfortable in here.

0:27:060:27:10

There is enough space for us to entertain

0:27:100:27:13

and for our family to come and visit and I can see

0:27:130:27:17

that my grandchildren will take over the annexe quite happily.

0:27:170:27:20

So how did you enjoy looking around that?

0:27:220:27:25

We loved it and there's so much to see.

0:27:250:27:27

Yeah.

0:27:270:27:28

And there's a lot to think about.

0:27:280:27:30

Well, that's hopefully the case because I know you enjoyed this morning but now hopefully

0:27:300:27:34

you've got two houses in the bag to think about tonight.

0:27:340:27:37

We have and there'll be a lot of conversation.

0:27:370:27:41

Well, as long as you let Mark get a word in edgeways.

0:27:410:27:44

-OK, away you go.

-Well done.

0:27:440:27:46

It's day two of our journey through Norfolk,

0:27:520:27:55

searching out the perfect home for Steve and Mark from Luton to retire to.

0:27:550:27:59

They've got a good budget of £450,000 to spend on their country home

0:28:000:28:04

and they both said they'll instinctively know

0:28:040:28:06

when they find the house that's right for them.

0:28:060:28:09

Coming up, I'll be revealing our mystery house.

0:28:100:28:13

There's enough for about five of us in the bed they've got there.

0:28:130:28:17

And I'll be sampling a local Norfolk delicacy.

0:28:170:28:20

It's a really nice, thick, tasty meat.

0:28:200:28:22

Well, after a cracking day yesterday, I'll be pretty disappointed

0:28:260:28:29

if Steve and Mark don't go back to at least one of the houses

0:28:290:28:32

we showed them for a second viewing.

0:28:320:28:34

Now today, as you can see, it's another glorious start

0:28:340:28:37

here in Norfolk and we're off to see the mystery house.

0:28:370:28:40

Now, as you know, the mystery house sometimes represents

0:28:400:28:42

a riskier prospect and this one is no exception.

0:28:420:28:45

So far, the one thing I've learnt from Steve and Mark is

0:28:450:28:48

they want a detached property, that is for sure, so guess what?

0:28:480:28:52

We're off to see a semidetached house

0:28:520:28:54

and on top of that, this one has a slightly more unconventional layout

0:28:540:28:58

but if they're prepared to overlook these foibles,

0:28:580:29:01

they could get their hands on the style of property that most people

0:29:010:29:04

dream of buying when they look to make their escape to the country.

0:29:040:29:08

Let's see how we go.

0:29:080:29:10

Travelling just over 16 miles east

0:29:120:29:14

takes us to our third and final house

0:29:140:29:16

in the small village of Brandiston,

0:29:160:29:18

ten miles northwest of Norwich

0:29:180:29:20

and around a 40-minute drive from the coast.

0:29:200:29:23

The village is pretty rural,

0:29:230:29:24

but around a five-minute drive away

0:29:240:29:26

is the attractive Georgian market town of Reepham,

0:29:260:29:28

which has all the facilities nearby residents might need

0:29:280:29:31

as well as pretty walking paths,

0:29:310:29:33

perfect for a country stroll

0:29:330:29:34

or a run, if Mark's feeling a bit more energetic.

0:29:340:29:37

Just over two miles away

0:29:380:29:39

and we're back in Brandiston at our mystery house.

0:29:390:29:42

It's something a little out of the ordinary - converted cattle barns.

0:29:420:29:46

-Beautiful, isn't it?

-It is.

0:29:510:29:54

-Completely different.

-We'll get the cars in that space.

0:29:540:29:57

Yeah, you've got enough space for your cars,

0:29:570:29:59

-You've got enough space for everything.

-Yeah.

0:29:590:30:01

I'll explain to you what we have here.

0:30:010:30:03

You've got a big L-shape so obviously from the garage there...

0:30:030:30:07

-Yeah.

-..right the way around there to, see that upright black pipe...

0:30:070:30:11

-Yeah.

-That is the corner of your property.

0:30:110:30:14

-That is the next door neighbour.

-OK.

-Yeah.

0:30:140:30:16

I would normally take you inside the house, but because this property

0:30:160:30:19

has something that I think you will love, let's start with that first.

0:30:190:30:22

-A shed?

-More than a shed.

0:30:220:30:24

Somewhere to put it, follow me.

0:30:240:30:26

-Now look at this.

-Wow.

0:30:290:30:31

The best viewing point is just from this corner.

0:30:310:30:34

You can see all the way down there.

0:30:340:30:35

-Oh, wow.

-All the way down there and this is all yours, exclusively.

0:30:350:30:39

Wow. Wow.

0:30:390:30:41

There's a lot of ground there.

0:30:410:30:44

-Yeah.

-And you've got a really good view as well.

0:30:440:30:46

-So far you've absolutely loved the outside, haven't you?

-Yeah.

0:30:460:30:49

-Let me show you the inside at long last.

-Great.

0:30:490:30:51

This stunning property sits in almost an acre of land, which

0:30:530:30:56

has clearly impressed Steve and Mark and they don't seem to mind

0:30:560:30:59

the fact that it's semidetached at all.

0:30:590:31:01

We're starting off our tour in the striking kitchen.

0:31:010:31:05

I love the ceiling and I love the kitchen.

0:31:050:31:09

Not wanting to pre-empt anything,

0:31:090:31:11

is there another dining room or is that going to be a kitchen-diner?

0:31:110:31:14

I think this is your dining room.

0:31:140:31:15

I think we do spend a lot of time here, that's social

0:31:150:31:18

because you can get out into the garden and you've got lovely views.

0:31:180:31:21

It's lovely.

0:31:210:31:23

-I can't be happier, it's a great size and I like it a lot.

-Good.

0:31:230:31:27

This beautifully converted barn is laid out in an inverted L-shape.

0:31:290:31:33

We're moving from the top of the property,

0:31:330:31:35

where the kitchen is located with an adjoining utility room,

0:31:350:31:37

to the side where the sitting room is found,

0:31:370:31:40

sandwiched between the bedrooms and overlooking the courtyard garden.

0:31:400:31:43

It's absolutely beautiful.

0:31:470:31:49

It's more than impressive, it's a wow, isn't it? Vaulted ceiling.

0:31:490:31:52

Vaulted ceiling, inglenook fireplace.

0:31:520:31:55

-Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

-Yeah. I can go through the list.

0:31:550:31:58

You've come up trumps here, haven't you?

0:31:580:32:01

And there's plenty of light - all those windows there.

0:32:010:32:03

Yeah, you couldn't wish for anything more.

0:32:030:32:05

I wasn't sure I could top Steve and Mark's reactions to our first

0:32:050:32:09

two houses, but the mystery house is certainly working hard for

0:32:090:32:12

its place as a serious contender.

0:32:120:32:15

This wing of the barn has a family bathroom, a bedroom-cum-study,

0:32:150:32:19

a double bedroom and past a single bedroom is the master,

0:32:190:32:22

the largest of the four bedrooms.

0:32:220:32:25

We're en-suite here, which has got to be good news.

0:32:250:32:27

-So what do you think?

-Another vaulted ceiling.

0:32:270:32:30

It's got character.

0:32:300:32:31

There's enough for about five of us in the bed they've got there.

0:32:310:32:34

Now for guests, I mean, let's talk about the grandchildren.

0:32:340:32:37

You've got all the bedrooms you need.

0:32:370:32:39

This is quite a grand offering here now, isn't it?

0:32:390:32:42

-There's a lot there.

-Yeah.

0:32:420:32:44

Heading back outside, where there's plenty on offer too,

0:32:450:32:49

with a double car port perfect for Mark's classic car

0:32:490:32:52

sitting in almost an acre of land.

0:32:520:32:54

How are you feeling?

0:32:560:32:58

-Over the moon.

-Excited.

0:32:580:33:00

Over the moon? Wow.

0:33:000:33:03

Well, let's see if we can add to that in guessing the price.

0:33:030:33:06

OK, then, Mark, go ahead.

0:33:060:33:08

It's over our budget so I'd probably say £460,000, £470,000.

0:33:080:33:11

-Which one?

-460.

0:33:110:33:14

OK. Steve, what say you?

0:33:140:33:17

I think it's over budget and if he says £460,000, I'll say £470,000.

0:33:170:33:22

When it first came on the market it was over budget.

0:33:220:33:25

It's now on for offers around £450,000.

0:33:250:33:27

-Spot on budget, then.

-What do you think, Mark?

0:33:290:33:32

They've just gradually got better.

0:33:320:33:34

The first one was good, really good, good aspects.

0:33:340:33:37

The second one was in a village, had everything we wanted and this one...

0:33:370:33:41

-Has surpassed that.

-Yeah, yeah. You've just got better.

0:33:410:33:44

I think you should have a bit of time here on your own.

0:33:440:33:47

-To have a look around.

-Look around the place, get to know the lie of the land...

0:33:470:33:50

-Yeah.

-Quite literally.

-Yeah.

-Take us long as you need.

0:33:500:33:52

-Honestly, all right?

-We will.

-And I'll see you at the end.

0:33:520:33:55

This superbly designed brick and tile barn conversion is bang

0:33:570:34:01

on Steve and Mark's upper budget

0:34:010:34:03

but they would have to do virtually nothing to it.

0:34:030:34:05

It has just the amount of rooms they're looking for

0:34:050:34:08

to accommodate visiting family and friends and although it's

0:34:080:34:11

semidetached, the next-door neighbour is only attached

0:34:110:34:13

at the far end of the property adjoining the guest bedroom.

0:34:130:34:17

Outside is a blank canvas of a garden which Mark

0:34:170:34:19

could make his own and although the location feels rural,

0:34:190:34:22

it's only a couple of miles from local amenities.

0:34:220:34:25

They're using it as a study but we could have this as a bedroom

0:34:250:34:28

so that the kids can stay in here.

0:34:280:34:29

Can put the grandkids in here quite easily.

0:34:290:34:31

When I said at the beginning that we'd know the house

0:34:310:34:35

when we walked into it, this house has done exactly that, that we

0:34:350:34:38

walked inside and I knew this was the house we wanted to live in.

0:34:380:34:42

You can walk in and you feel comfortable.

0:34:420:34:44

There's nothing there that you can see that's out of place

0:34:440:34:46

or you don't like.

0:34:460:34:48

It's, that bit where you think you've got everything

0:34:500:34:53

and there's a bit more, well, this place has got everything

0:34:530:34:55

and it's got that bit more.

0:34:550:34:57

-So - pretty successful morning, I think.

-It has been.

-Very good.

-Hmm.

0:35:000:35:04

Well, hopefully we've given you lots to discuss

0:35:040:35:07

-so let's find you somewhere to do just that, shall we?

-Yeah.

0:35:070:35:11

Half of Norfolk's border runs along beautiful coastline,

0:35:170:35:21

and the seaside town of Cromer on its northeast coast

0:35:210:35:24

is world-famous for its crab.

0:35:240:35:27

I've come to meet Kevin Jonas,

0:35:270:35:28

who has followed in his father's footsteps working in the local crab business.

0:35:280:35:33

So, Kevin, how long have people been potting for crabs here in Cromer?

0:35:330:35:37

I think the first records go back to around about 300 years ago.

0:35:370:35:40

-Wow. 300 years?

-Yes, yeah.

0:35:400:35:43

What makes Cromer crabs so special, then?

0:35:430:35:45

We generally think that the crabs are smaller around here and

0:35:450:35:49

-they grow more slowly and therefore they are more fully meated...

-OK.

0:35:490:35:53

..and they have a much more tender flavour.

0:35:530:35:55

Two years ago, the town's largest crab factory shut down,

0:35:570:36:00

leaving a gap in the market for supplying Cromer crab to large supermarkets.

0:36:000:36:04

Kevin stepped in and opened his own site nine months ago.

0:36:040:36:09

He's hoping to process 200 tonnes of crab in his first year,

0:36:090:36:13

keeping his prize catch on shelves countrywide.

0:36:130:36:16

Sounds like things are going well. Now I understand,

0:36:170:36:20

is it your nephew that works within the company as well?

0:36:200:36:24

-Yeah, John fishes our own boat, yes.

-So he's out at the moment?

0:36:240:36:26

-That's correct, yes.

-What sort of time does he go out?

0:36:260:36:29

About first light, about 3:30 this morning.

0:36:290:36:31

I'm going to go over there and meet him. I'll catch up with you later.

0:36:310:36:34

-OK. Cheers. Bye.

-Thanks very much, Kevin.

0:36:340:36:37

John became a fisherman straight from school and he's been

0:36:370:36:40

potting for crabs for Kevin's factory for the last seven years.

0:36:400:36:44

He takes the family boat out six days a week,

0:36:440:36:46

travelling two to three miles from shore,

0:36:460:36:48

where he has a string of around 12 pots lying on the seabed 20 metres down.

0:36:480:36:53

-Good morning, John. How are you?

-I'm fine, thank you, and yourself?

0:36:540:36:57

Yeah, pretty good, thanks. How did you get on?

0:36:570:37:00

Nearly three boxes of crab and about six lobsters.

0:37:000:37:03

-Can we have a look?

-Yeah, sure, yeah.

0:37:030:37:05

The crabs need to be four and a half inches long

0:37:060:37:08

to be legally taken out of the water.

0:37:080:37:10

Any smaller, and they're put straight back in.

0:37:100:37:13

So point out what makes this fella a good crab.

0:37:130:37:16

-When the crab is full of meat...

-Yeah.

0:37:160:37:19

..they actually bulge out more.

0:37:190:37:20

-Bursting out of its shell...

-Yeah.

0:37:200:37:22

-There's loads of meat in there.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:37:220:37:24

-How old will this fella be, do you think?

-I should say nine, ten years.

0:37:240:37:27

And they take seven years to get to legal length.

0:37:270:37:30

I'm going to meet your uncle back on the beach

0:37:300:37:33

so I'll leave him to you, John.

0:37:330:37:34

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

-Good luck.

-Cheers.

0:37:340:37:37

'The proof of the pudding is in the tasting

0:37:370:37:39

'and I can't wait to sample this local delicacy.

0:37:390:37:43

'I'm heading back over to Kevin

0:37:430:37:44

'to try some of this little crustacean that has put Cromer

0:37:440:37:47

'firmly on Norfolk's culinary map.'

0:37:470:37:50

How long have they been landed?

0:37:500:37:52

They would have been cooked at our factory yesterday.

0:37:520:37:55

-That's fresh, isn't it?

-That's fresh, yeah.

0:37:550:37:57

How long do they cook for?

0:37:570:37:58

About 20 minutes for these sort of size crabs.

0:37:580:38:00

This is a fully meated female crab

0:38:000:38:02

but as it's cooked, the meat has expanded

0:38:020:38:04

so it's broken its membrane.

0:38:040:38:06

So this here, this bit has just expanded

0:38:060:38:08

-because of all the meat inside.

-That's correct, all the meat inside.

0:38:080:38:11

If I hold up the male crab,

0:38:110:38:13

-you can see it's a much narrower apron.

-Yeah.

0:38:130:38:15

'The apron is a triangle of shell on the underside of the crab.'

0:38:150:38:18

And also the male has bigger claws and therefore...

0:38:180:38:21

These are much bigger than those, aren't they?

0:38:210:38:23

-Yeah, and much more white meat.

-Is there is a preference?

0:38:230:38:25

Do people say, "Right, can I have a male crab or a female crab?"

0:38:250:38:28

Absolutely, yes, they do.

0:38:280:38:30

Some people like, if you like more brown meat,

0:38:300:38:32

-sweeter brown meat, that's the female.

-Yeah.

0:38:320:38:34

If you like the white meat, they go for the males.

0:38:340:38:37

-It's easy to open.

-Oh, wow.

0:38:370:38:39

Just comes away like that.

0:38:390:38:40

-So you can see all that lovely fresh meat in there.

-Yeah.

0:38:400:38:43

And then you put your finger under there

0:38:430:38:45

and take out all the digestive part there.

0:38:450:38:49

-OK.

-So all that is left in there is then edible, brown meat.

0:38:490:38:52

But what we would then do is we'd take the legs off.

0:38:520:38:55

And take the claws off.

0:38:590:39:01

There's a bit of brown meat in the middle there,

0:39:010:39:03

Goes into the bottom there with the rest of it.

0:39:030:39:06

Yeah, and that's how you see it, isn't it?

0:39:060:39:08

That's correct, yes.

0:39:080:39:10

So we pick those parts of white meat out there.

0:39:100:39:12

That is what the Cromer crab is all about. They're smaller

0:39:120:39:15

but they're fully meated and they taste absolutely out of this world.

0:39:150:39:18

So I think I need to try it for myself. Can I?

0:39:180:39:20

-Yeah, absolutely, help yourself.

-Right.

0:39:200:39:22

Oh, wow, you can tell it's fresh.

0:39:240:39:27

It tastes, it's a really nice thick, tasty meat.

0:39:270:39:30

I'm going to try some of that brown meat as well

0:39:300:39:33

because this is the sweeter stuff, isn't it, the brown meat?

0:39:330:39:35

Absolutely, yeah, that's the female crab

0:39:350:39:37

so that'll be slightly more delicate flavour than the male crab.

0:39:370:39:40

-That tastes absolutely gorgeous.

-Yeah.

0:39:400:39:43

'It doesn't get much better than this for al fresco dining.

0:39:430:39:46

'Sumptuous locally caught seafood with views of the beautiful

0:39:460:39:49

'Norfolk coastline to boot.

0:39:490:39:51

'Well, my tummy's been satisfied and I'm eager to find out if

0:39:510:39:54

'Steve and Mark are ready to call this wonderful county home.'

0:39:540:39:58

I wish you all the very best of luck.

0:39:580:40:00

-Thank you so much.

-You're welcome.

0:40:000:40:02

So after looking around three cracking properties,

0:40:080:40:11

I'm pretty confident that from Mark

0:40:110:40:13

and Steve's point of view, the mystery house is coming out on top.

0:40:130:40:16

Time to catch up with them to find out their thoughts.

0:40:160:40:19

-Hi.

-Hi.

0:40:220:40:25

Well, after the reactions I saw this morning,

0:40:250:40:27

I've got a fair idea of what the favourite property may be.

0:40:270:40:31

-Put me out of my misery.

-Mystery house.

0:40:310:40:32

-The mystery house.

-Mystery house.

0:40:320:40:34

Course it is. What do you what to do about it?

0:40:340:40:36

-Get my cheque book out.

-Do you? It's that good?

0:40:360:40:39

-Yes.

-Yeah, it's that good.

-Yes.

0:40:390:40:41

For me, it was always a dream to try and own a converted barn.

0:40:410:40:45

Common sense says forget it because you're never going to be able

0:40:450:40:47

to afford it but you've come up trumps with that

0:40:470:40:50

and you've come up trumps with all the other bits we wanted -

0:40:500:40:53

the double garage,

0:40:530:40:55

the en-suite and the land that goes with it is phenomenal.

0:40:550:40:58

I think it's the home for us to retire to, basically

0:40:580:41:02

because it fulfils everything on our wish list.

0:41:020:41:06

-Everything?

-Hmm.

0:41:060:41:07

What does it feel like to know that you've found somewhere to retire to?

0:41:070:41:11

-What does it mean to you both?

-You're living the dream.

0:41:110:41:14

-Excited.

-Are you?

0:41:140:41:15

-Hmm.

-What is your next step?

0:41:150:41:17

-Get in touch with the agent...

-Yeah.

-..and put a bid in.

-Yes.

0:41:170:41:20

-As simple as that.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

0:41:200:41:22

I must say that's music to my ears.

0:41:220:41:23

I was worried at the start of the week,

0:41:230:41:26

you said you'd been looking for such a long period of time.

0:41:260:41:28

Whoever's designed and built that house,

0:41:280:41:30

I think they almost built it with you in mind, didn't they?

0:41:300:41:33

-They did, they certainly did.

-I think they did.

0:41:330:41:35

-Where are you going? Are you going to go to the estate agents from here?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

0:41:350:41:39

Well, I wish you both the very best of luck.

0:41:390:41:41

I mean, it does seem completely suited to you

0:41:410:41:44

so whatever happens or hopefully when you secure the deal...

0:41:440:41:48

-let us know, won't you?

-Yeah, we'll do that.

0:41:480:41:50

-We will do that.

-Let's toast to that.

0:41:500:41:52

-Go on, then.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

-Thanks, Jonnie.

-Good luck.

0:41:520:41:55

For most of us, when we look to buy a property,

0:42:010:42:04

our primary focus is understandably on its location,

0:42:040:42:07

but as Mark and Steve have been here to Norfolk

0:42:070:42:10

so many times over the past 30-odd years, they instinctively knew

0:42:100:42:13

if an area worked for them

0:42:130:42:15

and then they were able to focus on a house itself.

0:42:150:42:18

But I must admit I was getting a bit concerned

0:42:180:42:20

when they seemed to be falling in love with everything we showed them.

0:42:200:42:23

That was until they saw the mystery property.

0:42:230:42:27

Sure, it had everything they said they were after

0:42:270:42:29

on their shopping list but it also had that one thing that

0:42:290:42:33

you can't quite put your finger on and that's the feeling

0:42:330:42:36

it gives you when you first see it and you walk over the threshold.

0:42:360:42:39

So, hopefully we'll hear some good news later this afternoon

0:42:390:42:42

once they've had a visit to the estate agents.

0:42:420:42:45

I'm looking forward to finding out.

0:42:450:42:47

Steve and Mark had their offer on the mystery house accepted

0:42:480:42:52

the very next day but unfortunately, the sale has since fallen through.

0:42:520:42:55

We wish them the very best of luck as their house search continues.

0:42:550:42:59

If you would like to escape to the country in Northern Ireland,

0:42:590:43:02

Scotland, Wales or England and need our help, please apply online:

0:43:020:43:06

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