0:00:02 > 0:00:08Welcome to Cash In the Attic, searching out your hidden treasures and selling them at auction.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Today I'm in Oxfordshire and before I get to our final destination,
0:00:12 > 0:00:18I've stopped off here to look at one of our finest and most glorious landmarks.
0:00:18 > 0:00:24Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of Winston Churchill and home to the 11th Duke of Marlborough.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Built between 1705 and 1724, during the reign of Queen Anne,
0:00:28 > 0:00:33it was given to John Churchill as a gift after the Battle of Blenheim.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38Set in 2,100 acres, it is surrounded by stunning, sweeping lawns,
0:00:38 > 0:00:45a magnificent lake and beautiful formal gardens, designed by Capability Brown.
0:00:45 > 0:00:52So let's hope we find plenty of royal antiques that fetch regal sums under the hammer at auction.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17'Coming up on today's show: we've got high hopes...'
0:01:17 > 0:01:23If this was in perfect condition, you could be looking at as much as £1,000.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25'Unearth some real finds...'
0:01:25 > 0:01:28That's not a bad result, is it?
0:01:28 > 0:01:30'And take a step back in time.'
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie...
0:01:33 > 0:01:38- 'But will our lots have us dancing for joy?'- Yes!
0:01:39 > 0:01:44'All will be revealed when the final hammer falls.'
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Today I'm in Oxfordshire
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and I've come to meet a couple
0:01:50 > 0:01:55who want help raising funds for some desperately needed renovations.
0:01:55 > 0:02:02This gorgeous house in the heart of Oxfordshire is home to retired electrical engineer John Goodgame
0:02:02 > 0:02:08and his wife Margaret. They met and married four years ago and have been renovating their new home together,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12but the property is overflowing with their combined possessions
0:02:12 > 0:02:17so with Margaret's sister Queenie to help, they've decided to declutter
0:02:17 > 0:02:22and put the money towards a rather green-fingered cause.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26- Morning, Paul.- Good morning. - I've just been to Blenheim Palace.
0:02:26 > 0:02:33- Really? They let you in? - They did, actually! And the rest of the day will be the royal "we".
0:02:33 > 0:02:39This looks fantastic, but I know that despite outward appearances, there's still work to be done.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44- Let's meet the family. - All right. Let's have a look.
0:02:44 > 0:02:50- Ah, here you all are!- Hello! - What a fantastic room.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54- Crikey. This is a beautiful house. You're very lucky.- Thank you.
0:02:54 > 0:03:00- So you've called in Cash In The Attic. Who's responsible for calling us in?- I did.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Right. OK, Margaret. Why?
0:03:03 > 0:03:09Because we want to raise money to build a Japanese garden.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13- Why a Japanese garden? - Well, they always intrigued me.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17They're so alien to our type of gardens,
0:03:17 > 0:03:23but I've seen pictures in books and, yeah, they intrigued me.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27OK, so what sort of money are we looking for, Margaret?
0:03:27 > 0:03:32- About £500.- Where has all the stuff come from that we'll be looking at?
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Because we just got married, as you know,
0:03:36 > 0:03:43it's from my house and then from John's house as well. We came to live in this house.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48Queenie, some of the money is going towards something about your job?
0:03:48 > 0:03:55Well, I'm a student union officer and they help a lot at the college with the student hardship fund.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00They said they would donate some money to the student union fund.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Right. So we need to raise £500 to get the money for a Japanese garden,
0:04:04 > 0:04:11- plus a donation for the student hardship fund. That sounds great. We'd better get on.- Of course.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Come on, then. Follow me this way.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18With eight rooms and three old stables at our disposal,
0:04:18 > 0:04:24we should be spoilt for choice today and who better to help us decide what to save and what to sell
0:04:24 > 0:04:27than our very own Paul Hayes?
0:04:27 > 0:04:31He's worked in the antiques trade all his life and is on the case.
0:04:31 > 0:04:37Ah, hello! How are you? I'm not checking my make-up before you say anything!
0:04:37 > 0:04:44- I found this lovely little set. It's fantastic.- It's quite nice. - It's from the golden age of travel.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48It took a long time to get anywhere.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Even going from Scotland to London might take several days.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56You needed travelling items with you. This is remarkable, actually.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01What you have to check is the mirror. It's the most usable part.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05If the mirrors are cracked and gone, it's quite expensive to repair.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10- What's it actually made of? - It's ivorine, an imitation ivory.
0:05:10 > 0:05:16Because it's a form of plastic, you can make wonderful shapes, unlike the real material.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21This one's very Art Deco. Think of Hercule Poirot and Agatha Christie.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23That wonderful golden era.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28- What sort of value for this?- Quite a bit. You have two scent bottles,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32toothpaste holder, your pastes and powders here,
0:05:32 > 0:05:38a comb... Value-wise, £80-£150. How does that sound?
0:05:38 > 0:05:43- That would be brilliant.- OK. Let's see what else we can find, then.
0:05:43 > 0:05:49'We're off to a promising start. With £500 to raise, there's still a long way to go,
0:05:49 > 0:05:56'so we need to spread out and dig deep. Paul's magpie instincts home in on a real rarity.'
0:05:56 > 0:06:02- Margaret, who's the huntsman? - I think it's a lighter. - A lighter?!
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- How does it work?- Em...
0:06:05 > 0:06:10Oh, right. I see. This is clever. It uses the power of gravity.
0:06:10 > 0:06:16As you flick it upside down, the top opens and makes the spark, hitting against the flint.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21- Yeah.- And that burns and causes the light. That's amazing, isn't it?
0:06:21 > 0:06:26You'd keep this on your coffee table or near your paraffin or oil lamps.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31It's a very useful thing to have. Nowadays smoking is more taboo
0:06:31 > 0:06:37so there's a massive market for historical items. I've never seen that before.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42Two people might buy this - anybody interested in the history of smoking
0:06:42 > 0:06:45- and anybody into hunting and horse racing.- Right.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50- If I said £40-£60, how does that sound?- Yes.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Some bright spark will buy it!
0:06:53 > 0:06:58'Hopefully that will burn a hole in our bidders' pockets at auction.
0:06:58 > 0:07:04'John's hard at work next door and spots this pair of Art Deco scent bottles,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08'which Paul packs off to auction with a very colourful price tag.
0:07:08 > 0:07:14'We're making good progress so far. And I've spotted a rather colourful looking figurine.'
0:07:14 > 0:07:19I think I've found something here. Very unusual figure.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24- A bit of Doulton, is it? Quite nice. - Where's this from, John?
0:07:24 > 0:07:28My late wife bought it from a charity shop. She did have a good eye.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32She paid £50 for it,
0:07:32 > 0:07:34but she knew that it was rare
0:07:34 > 0:07:39and it would be worth a lot more.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44I've seen a lot of Doulton figures, but never one with all these...
0:07:44 > 0:07:50- Is she selling toys? - I think they are actually other Doulton figures.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Pan, the devil, a ballerina, a horse and jockey,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57and that looks like maybe Cupid.
0:07:57 > 0:08:03I've never seen this figure before. Normally they have a maker's name or a character's name.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06There's no name on this one.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11- Do you know what she's called? - Yeah, she's called the Sketch Girl.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- OK. Any connection with Sketch magazine?- Yes.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17I do know my late wife was...
0:08:18 > 0:08:26- ..offered an obscene amount of money for her.- When you say an obscene amount, what sort of offer?
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- In the late hundreds.- Crikey.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32This was made for Sketch magazine.
0:08:32 > 0:08:38That's almost like an endorsement. They'd have this figurine commissioned.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43That would have meant only a few are in existence.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47You are talking 1920s, 1930s. If this was in perfect condition,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50you could get as much as £1,000,
0:08:50 > 0:08:57- but this one is damaged. See?- Yes. - Her head's been off and the head of the ballerina is off as well.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01A damaged piece has to go to auction with a realistic estimate.
0:09:01 > 0:09:08- If I say £100, maybe £200? - At the end of the day, money is not everything.- Of course.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13- I would have to think seriously. - I'll put it back, safe and sound.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17I've got the easy job. You can now find something else.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21'We'll have to wait and see if John decides to part with her,
0:09:21 > 0:09:26'but £100 would be a much-needed addition to the gardening fund.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30'In the meantime, the search continues.
0:09:30 > 0:09:36'A beautiful silver mirror catches Paul's attention and is valued at £40-£60.
0:09:37 > 0:09:43'Downstairs, Margaret spots a wooden table which will hopefully add a further £50-£80 to the kitty.
0:09:43 > 0:09:49'After a successful morning, I whisk John and Margaret off to the garden
0:09:49 > 0:09:53'to learn more about their plans.' How long have you lived here?
0:09:53 > 0:09:58- We've been...two and a half years? - Yes.- Yeah.
0:09:58 > 0:10:04- But you're from here, John? - Yeah, that's right. I was born three houses down.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09- So...- And we built the house next door.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13I lived there for about 30 years.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18- And we moved here. - So how did you two meet?
0:10:18 > 0:10:25I was cleaning the windows at his shop. He said, "Somebody's cleaning the windows!"
0:10:25 > 0:10:30Just trying to impress the landlord. He said, "Sorry, we haven't met."
0:10:30 > 0:10:33And that's how we started going out.
0:10:33 > 0:10:39- So you had a beauty therapy shop and he was your landlord?- Yeah. - She asked me out on a date.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42And I haven't had any rent since!
0:10:46 > 0:10:51It's a lovely garden. Why decide on a Japanese garden?
0:10:51 > 0:10:56We didn't want a typical English garden. We wanted something different.
0:10:56 > 0:11:03I'd gathered some literature on Japanese gardens and I was drawn towards that.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08'Let's hope our bidders are as drawn to John and Margaret's collectables.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10'We've got a £500 target to reach.
0:11:10 > 0:11:16'The others have been busy inside and Queenie discovers this colourful embroidered piano stool,
0:11:16 > 0:11:21'which should hit all the right notes with this price tag.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25'In the hall, something shiny has caught John's eye.'
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- There you go, Paul.- Let's look.
0:11:27 > 0:11:32- Do you know what these are? - Eh, apart from salts, no.
0:11:32 > 0:11:39Yeah, that's exactly what they are. Salt cellars. These would go on a dining table of a wealthy family.
0:11:39 > 0:11:45These look like solid silver. They're a very good style. Look at that.
0:11:45 > 0:11:51See the silver hallmarks? That lion tells me it's solid silver. The other ones are quite indistinct.
0:11:51 > 0:11:57We're looking at some time around the turn of the century, 1900. These are really stylish.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02- They're from the Arts and Crafts movement. Heard of that?- Yes.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07Round about 1880, 1900, there was a group of artists got together
0:12:07 > 0:12:11to rebel against mass production. They made items like this,
0:12:11 > 0:12:17that looked hand-beaten. They would over-emphasise that these were hand-made.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22Those really are fantastic. A matching pair, quite collectable.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26- I think you're looking at £100, maybe £150.- Brilliant.
0:12:26 > 0:12:32- Is that all right?- Yeah. - But take that with a pinch of salt!
0:12:32 > 0:12:37'With time running out, we need some top-notch finds to get a garden to be proud of.
0:12:37 > 0:12:43'Not time to fetch your hat yet, John, as Margaret's sister, Queenie, who is helping out today,
0:12:43 > 0:12:49'stumbles upon this attractive wooden corner cabinet.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53'Not even the stables go unsearched today.'
0:12:53 > 0:12:58- Paul, look at this.- Oh, a nice table. Can that go?- Not the table.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04- The lamp.- That's lovely as well. Beautiful. Did you have a Victorian look at one point?- Yes.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Let's have a close look at this.
0:13:07 > 0:13:12Ah, now then, Lorne, John, step this way. Here we are. I'm going to light up your life.
0:13:12 > 0:13:20I found a great oil lamp. These are wonderful items from an age before we had electricity.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25This would have been your main source of light in your house,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27in your parlour or sitting room.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31It adds a lovely mood lighting or a very romantic light.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Is that the original shade?
0:13:34 > 0:13:37You find that people marry these up.
0:13:37 > 0:13:43These glass shades get broken very easily. Every time you cleaned this or every time you lit it,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47you had to take the glass shade off and it gets broken or damaged.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51I know one gentleman who spends his life buying bits of oil lamps -
0:13:51 > 0:13:56the shade from one lamp, the well from another - to make new lamps.
0:13:56 > 0:14:01Lots of people threw these out. They end up in stables and sheds.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06- So what sort of value? - This one is a very visual one.
0:14:06 > 0:14:12You get very cheap ones for use in the kitchen. This is quite a grand one, used in a nice room.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17That adds to its favour. I think £100-£200. It's a nice one.
0:14:17 > 0:14:24- If we can get that, I'll laugh all the way to the bank. - Not bad for something in the shed!
0:14:24 > 0:14:30You probably want to know how much money you may be making at auction. The total comes to £600.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Very good. I'm very surprised, actually.
0:14:33 > 0:14:40I know you're in two minds about the Royal Doulton figure, but that could add another £100.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- So that's not bad, is it?- Very good.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48The next time we see you will be at the auction house. 'What a fantastic result.
0:14:48 > 0:14:54'Fingers crossed, the garden kitty and the student union fund could soon be in the money
0:14:54 > 0:14:56'as we've got a great haul of items.
0:14:56 > 0:15:03'There's the immaculate Art Deco ladies' grooming set valued at a respectable £80-£150.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08'And the pair of solid silver Arts and Crafts salt cellars,
0:15:08 > 0:15:13'complete with matching spoons, estimated at £100-£150.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17'But doubt remains about the rare, but damaged Royal Doulton figurine.
0:15:17 > 0:15:24'Will Paul's £100-£200 valuation persuade John to let her go to auction? Only time will tell.
0:15:24 > 0:15:30'Still to come: our expert's at a loss to explain some of the sales.'
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- What's going on?- I've no idea!
0:15:32 > 0:15:40- 'And resorts to cracking jokes.' - There were 10 of them, but they fell off one by one.
0:15:41 > 0:15:47- 'John may be laughing...' - I can take that home.. with the other things!
0:15:47 > 0:15:52'but will they have reached their target when the final hammer falls?'
0:15:56 > 0:16:02It's been a few weeks since we had a good look round John and Margaret Goodgame's property.
0:16:02 > 0:16:09With the help of Queenie, we found lots of lovely items to bring here to auction in Sudbury.
0:16:09 > 0:16:17They're looking to raise £500 to turn that expanse of back garden into a beautiful Japanese garden.
0:16:17 > 0:16:23Let's hope when our items go under the hammer today, the bidders are ready to pay up.
0:16:23 > 0:16:30The auction house is filling up and I spot Paul Hayes checking out how our items look in the sale room.
0:16:30 > 0:16:36- I can see sparks flying and it's you!- Oh!- I love this. It's a great novelty item.
0:16:36 > 0:16:42Yes. These can be very collectable, especially the Art Deco ones with watches in.
0:16:42 > 0:16:49- I've had a quick scan, but I can't see that Royal Doulton figure. - It was a particularly rare one.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53Hopefully they've brought it. We'll have to wait and see.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58- We'll have to delve around. It's very small, as I recall.- Yes!
0:16:58 > 0:17:03'That's going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack in here.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06'We spot our family saying goodbye to one collectable.'
0:17:06 > 0:17:13- Hello!- Hello!- You got here, then? I'm really pleased to see this is in. It's a lovely piece.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Quite unusual to be so complete.
0:17:16 > 0:17:23More often than not, there's bits missing or, worse still, broken. But, no, that's a nice example.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28Talking about bits that were broken, the Royal Doulton had some damage,
0:17:28 > 0:17:34- but it was very rare. Is it something you've decided to bring or not?- I didn't bring it.
0:17:34 > 0:17:41- I'm very undecided.- That's fine. The worst thing is to sell an item and then regret it later.
0:17:41 > 0:17:47- It's good to be sure. - Are you looking forward to today? - Yes.- Really looking forward to it.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Well, it's filling up.
0:17:49 > 0:17:55We'd better find a spot from where to see the proceedings. Follow me.
0:17:55 > 0:18:01If you plan on heading to your local auction, be aware that commission and other charges will be added,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04so always check the details first.
0:18:04 > 0:18:10We take our places just in time as our first lot comes under the hammer.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14It's a pair of silver salt dishes with matching spoons.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Will they be to our bidders' taste?
0:18:17 > 0:18:19I'm starting this at 30.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22£30 I'm bid. At 30. 5.
0:18:22 > 0:18:2540. 5. 50. 5.
0:18:25 > 0:18:2960. 5. 65 at the back.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- He might let them go for that. - At £65.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36I'm selling at £65.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- That's good. - Is that all right?- Yes.
0:18:39 > 0:18:47So the silver salt cellars fall some way short of estimate, but the family seem happy enough.
0:18:47 > 0:18:52We've got a long way to go to make £500, so let's hope the bidders dig deep.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57Now two green opaque bottles. They're not sitting on a wall.
0:18:57 > 0:19:03- What do we want, Paul?- About £40. There were 10 of them, but they fell off one by one.
0:19:03 > 0:19:09Two opaque green glass square bottles and stoppers. 20? 20 I'm bid.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12At 20. At £20. At £20.
0:19:12 > 0:19:19At £20. Are we all finished and done? It's a maiden bid of £20.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21That's withdrawn.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25- They were worth more than £20. - You're glad they didn't sell? OK.
0:19:25 > 0:19:32'The bottles fail to find a new home, but our gardeners-to-be didn't seem to mind.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37'Next up is our first piece of furniture.' Behind me is our next lot. You won't miss this?
0:19:37 > 0:19:42- Not at all.- OK! In that case, let's sell it!
0:19:42 > 0:19:47- What do you want, Paul?- About £80. - And I'm starting this at 40.
0:19:47 > 0:19:5040 I'm bid. At 40. At £40.
0:19:50 > 0:19:5345. 50.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- 55. At 55.- 55. - On my right at 55.
0:19:56 > 0:20:02All finished and done with that at 55? I'm selling at £55.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- There you go. - Well done, Paul.- Sold it.
0:20:06 > 0:20:12That's some way under estimate, but they seem relieved to see it sold
0:20:12 > 0:20:16and it's a welcome addition. Next up, three Staffordshire figurines
0:20:16 > 0:20:21which John and Margaret brought to replace the Royal Doulton lady.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Paul valued them at £40-£60.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28I'm starting this at 20. £20 I'm bid. At 20.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32- At £20.- Somebody! - It must go up.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Selling at £20.
0:20:35 > 0:20:42£20 may not be megabucks, but with a somewhat sleepy sale room, every penny counts.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Will they be more generous for this?
0:20:44 > 0:20:47The octagonal table has one fan!
0:20:47 > 0:20:51This is a quality table.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55For a conservatory or a Victorian home, this is what you look for.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00Pretty little table. I'm starting this at 25.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03- 25 I'm bid. At £25.- No...
0:21:03 > 0:21:08- 30.- Here we go.- £30. On my right at 30.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11At £30. Gong to let it go at £30.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14All finished and done at £30?
0:21:15 > 0:21:20- There you go.- That's sacrilege. - It is.- Crikey.- Needn't take it home.
0:21:20 > 0:21:26Paul's trying to look on the bright side, but £30 is disappointing
0:21:26 > 0:21:31and the bidders are driving a hard bargain. Not the easiest morning,
0:21:31 > 0:21:37but maybe the silver mirror will catch their attention. Remember, we're looking for £40-£60.
0:21:37 > 0:21:44Lot 46 is the Art Nouveau-style hand mirror, decorated with trailing flowers.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Birmingham, 1908. And 20.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50£30? At £20.
0:21:50 > 0:21:56- I can't understand that at all. - At £20. All finished and done?
0:21:57 > 0:22:03- We'll leave that. - That's a mystery to me. I don't know why there was no interest in that.
0:22:03 > 0:22:08Unsold is a disappointing result and we're all a bit puzzled.
0:22:08 > 0:22:14We're over halfway through the sale, but still have a long way to go to reach the £500 for their garden,
0:22:14 > 0:22:17so I hope things pick up.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21The next lot is that lovely dressing table set.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- What price do we want?- We hope £80.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26We'll see how it gets on.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29And 30. £30. At 30.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32At £30. At £30. At £30.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36- At £30.- Has everyone gone for lunch?
0:22:36 > 0:22:41At £30. Are you all finished and done with that at £30?
0:22:41 > 0:22:48- Pass that over.- What's going on? - I've no idea, really. Auctions are very strange places.
0:22:48 > 0:22:55There are loads of people here, but it's like the lights are on, but nobody's home. You know?
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Unsold again! We're really struggling and it's a mystery.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03Things get curiouser and they won't splash the cash on our next lot.
0:23:03 > 0:23:09The pretty piano stool fails to reach anywhere near its price tag.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14£40. All finished at 40? Right, we'll leave that.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18That is an absolute shocker.
0:23:18 > 0:23:23And we're really in the dark when the oil lamp suffers a similar fate.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27At £70, then. All finished and done with?
0:23:27 > 0:23:31- It's not going to sell, is it? - No, ladies and gentlemen.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36I can take that home... with the other things!
0:23:36 > 0:23:43Either laugh or cry, I guess. John's putting a brave face on it, but the Japanese garden is far off.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46The sale is almost over and we've got one final item.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Will this finally spark the bidders' attention?
0:23:50 > 0:23:54The next lot, I love this. The Dunhill novelty lighter.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Looks like a hunting horn.
0:23:57 > 0:24:03- You wouldn't know it was a lighter. - These do very well indeed. One gentleman looked very closely.
0:24:03 > 0:24:09- What do you want for this, Paul? - Well, £40 upwards. I hope it fetches a little bit more, but we'll see.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13- I'm starting this at 40. 5. 50. - Yes!- 5. 60.
0:24:13 > 0:24:175. 70. 5. 80.
0:24:17 > 0:24:195. 90. 5. 100.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22And 10. 20. 30.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24I'm out. 130.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26At £130.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31Are you all finished and done with at 130?
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- Yes!- That's a great result.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Phew! It took a while, but at last a result to get excited about.
0:24:38 > 0:24:44Over three times Paul's original estimate. Talk about a light at the end of the tunnel!
0:24:44 > 0:24:48After a rollercoaster sale, how have we done?
0:24:48 > 0:24:53The good news is some things did sell, but a lot of things didn't.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58What are the options, then, with items that don't sell first time?
0:24:58 > 0:25:04You have two options, really. Take them back with you or try to sell them on another day.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07It could be just a total fluke.
0:25:07 > 0:25:14- Now you wanted £500 to start work on this Japanese garden. We've made £300.- Oh, wow.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- That's not too bad.- Brilliant.
0:25:17 > 0:25:23- Is that still going to be a help? - With £300, we could get a lot of things for the garden,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26for a Japanese garden. It's good.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31What we've decided to do is up the money to the student union to 50%.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35- Oh, wow. Thank you! - That's nice, isn't it?
0:25:40 > 0:25:46It's been a couple of weeks since John and Margaret raised £300 at auction
0:25:46 > 0:25:52and they've wasted no time, but hold on - I thought the idea was for a Japanese garden.
0:25:52 > 0:25:59- We made enough money to buy a fountain for the front garden. - We both chose it.
0:25:59 > 0:26:05I really like it. John liked another one, but I liked this one, so he bought it for me.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12What a gentleman! So with Margaret's fountain in the front garden,
0:26:12 > 0:26:18what's happened to John's dream of turning their back garden into a Japanese oasis?
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Our rear garden will be ongoing, probably for another 12 months!
0:26:23 > 0:26:29So, yeah, when it's all finished, it will look good.
0:26:29 > 0:26:35I do hope John and Margaret, over time, achieve their visions of an Oriental landscape.
0:26:39 > 0:26:45If you've got something to raise money for, a special project or a trip away,
0:26:45 > 0:26:50fill in a form to come on Cash In The Attic.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52We'll see you again next time.
0:26:59 > 0:27:04Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2008
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk