Dorset Escape to the Country


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Welcome to today's Escape To The Country.

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Now, this gorgeous pool behind me

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may look like the quintessential picture of peace and serenity,

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but around 200 years ago, it was a hive of industrial activity,

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with men furiously digging. But for what? And where?

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Well, join me in just a few moments, and I'll tell you.

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On today's show, I'll be helping an island-hopping spiritual healer

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find peace in the countryside, ably assisted by his daughter.

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We hit the spot...

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Oh, this is... This is it!

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This is...wow.

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-It's the perfect size for you, isn't it?

-Yeah.

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'..and leave them stunned.'

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You're a bit lost for words!

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I'm a bit speechless, yeah. I am.

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Well, today we're in Dorset,

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and this is the aptly named Blue Pool

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at Furzebrook just outside Wareham.

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Since the days of the Romans, this area has been a rich source

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for what is known as Purbeck Ball Clay.

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In the early 1600s, it was much in demand for producing clay pipes

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following the introduction of tobacco from the Americas.

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And as our love affair of tea increased in the 1700s,

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the likes of Wedgwood turned it into teapots and teacups

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to grace some of the finest homes in the country.

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And it's the clay in the water that still exists

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that gives it this amazing turquoise colour.

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It's a real gem,

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that just goes to show that this region is full of hidden surprises.

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Dorset, bordered by four counties,

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is sandwiched between Hampshire in the east and Somerset in the west,

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and its geographical location offers the best of countryside and coast

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Its shores encompass the 95-mile long Jurassic Coastline,

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and include the remote stretch of Chesil Beach

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and the secluded Lulworth Cove.

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Looking inland, farming has shaped Dorset's rural landscape,

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with lowland areas defined by lush pasture land,

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feeding the county's dairy industry.

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It's no wonder, then, that Dorset exerts

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such a powerful pull on property shoppers

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looking to find a permanent home

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in this wonderful mix of glorious scenery.

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So, time now to meet today's buyers,

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and find out why they think Dorset is the county for them.

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Since the year 2000, retired IT consultant, John,

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has lived in busy Bembridge on the Isle of Wight,

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close to his daughter, Sarah,

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but he feels the time is right to swap the high street

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for a quieter spot in the countryside.

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Bembridge is a lovely, lovely place,

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but over the years it's got more and more and more busy.

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The traffic is getting bigger and bigger,

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so, for me, it's not as quiet as I would have liked it.

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And John has signed up his daughter

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to assist in his search for a new home.

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Sarah's been my... I would say, my closest friend.

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It's two good mates, isn't it?

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-Yeah, we do get on very well.

-We're good mates. Yeah.

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And I don't preach any more. I don't tell her what to do.

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He's stopped all that!

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Having lost his wife just over six years ago,

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John has a new lady in his life, but she lives on the mainland,

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prompting his desire to leave the island.

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Ingrid lives in Weymouth,

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and I want to be near her,

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because she's very special to me - she filled a gap in my life.

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It's been difficult because of the expense of the ferry crossings.

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The logistics of it are just quite difficult to manage,

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-to get from here to Weymouth.

-Yes.

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So it makes sense for Dad to be over there.

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When it comes to the new home,

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John is very specific about what he's after.

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I think the priority is a nice quiet spot.

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My ideal property would be a nice low-slung cottage.

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I'm not keen on thatch, obviously for the price,

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and the insurance problems, and all that sort of thing.

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So its energies are quite important, and the feel, you know?

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It's not so much the bricks and mortar - that's not important -

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I'm not after chocolate box stuff and things like that.

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An important element in the new home is the kitchen.

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I am passionate about my cooking.

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Well, I've been cooking food since I was about three.

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We love cooking huge banquets together.

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We'll cook about 15 dishes, you know?

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And also playing a key role in the property search

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is spiritual healing - something close to John's heart.

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My biggest passion - it's my life now, vocation,

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whatever you want to call it - is healing.

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I just try and keep it very simple and very straightforward,

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and I work on the basis that there is a cosmic energy

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which drives everything.

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So, a healing room is very important.

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It doesn't have to be a bland empty box or anything,

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it just needs a room that feels right.

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All that's left to discover are the finances for the move.

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My budget for the move - £350,000.

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John has asked us to concentrate our search around the south coast,

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to be within reasonable distance from his partner Ingrid in Weymouth.

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I met up with him and his daughter, Sarah,

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to find out more about his property hunt.

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This is an interesting tale, really.

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You're escaping the Isle of Wight!

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I'm actually moving here to break out with the healing side,

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and take that a bit more seriously now. And, erm...

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I found a partner three years ago

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and we've really hit it off together. She lives in Weymouth,

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so it was an opportunity to bring the two together.

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Sarah, are you the voice of reason - dare I say - in all of this?

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He's the one who's going to feel the energy, but, yeah.

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I'm giving him the advice.

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But in terms of practicalities, bedrooms-wise, what...?

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Three bedrooms.

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I don't need any more than that.

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I know that you've been quite anxious about the idea

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-of a thatched property.

-Yeah.

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I mean, my reservations

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-are obviously how long the thatch has been there.

-Yeah.

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Right, then, so you've got £350,000 to spend,

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we've got three - I think - really interesting properties to show you.

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I think we should make a move.

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For a budget of £350,000, John is looking for three bedrooms,

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a separate room to use for his spiritual healing,

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a good-sized kitchen diner,

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a quiet village location,

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and all within half an hour from his partner, Ingrid, in Weymouth.

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We have three gorgeous properties for John,

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and after each tour, we'll see if he can guess the price.

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Our final offering is our Mystery House which,

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although it might not be on his radar,

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could totally change his outlook.

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So, we began our search with our first property.

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We're heading west to the village of Netherbury,

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close to the town of Beaminster,

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about 40 minutes from his partner in Weymouth.

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Netherbury is a peaceful village aside the river Brit,

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in a designated conservation area,

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and in a region known for its stone houses and cottages.

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Property number one - a detached period stone house -

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sits in a quiet hedge-lined lane in the heart of Netherbury village.

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-Hey!

-What do you make of that, then?

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-Well, that's a wow.

-Yes?

-That is beautiful.

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-You got a "wow" out of me!

-How about that?

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-Already!

-We haven't been in yet!

-My goodness.

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-Pretty, isn't it?

-It is pretty.

-It is really pretty, yeah.

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'We're off to a great start, with a "wow" for the exterior

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'and so far, it's hitting all the right spots.

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'As we head inside, I've got a good feeling about this house.

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'Let's hope John does, too.'

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Well, John, I thought we'd start in here.

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Now, obviously, this is set up as their dining room,

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but I thought we'd tackle the business of having somewhere

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for you to work with the healing first.

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Yeah. This would be perfect. Yeah.

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There's a sense of quietness in this room as soon as you walk into it.

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Is the road an issue?

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-I mean, you can't really hear it, can you?

-No.

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-There is some secondary double-glazing there, too.

-Yeah.

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-Let's keep going. Follow me across the hallway.

-Okey dokey.

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So this is your main living room, John.

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Ah, yes.

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This is just the right size.

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The finishes are really nice -

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another lovely working fireplace down there.

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-No, the room is neutral.

-Yeah.

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You know, so there's nothing here that would disturb me.

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-Well, Sarah's smiling, so I think it's all good news.

-I like it.

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-Oh, yeah, it is lovely.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

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-And then this is the kitchen/diner, John.

-Oh, this is it.

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This is... Wow.

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-It's a perfect size for you, isn't it?

-Yeah.

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Very simple space, this. Nothing's very cluttered.

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Lines are very clean, it's all done, as you can see.

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It's really nice, actually. Really good for you.

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It's been done really well.

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-We do need to see upstairs.

-Mm. Yes.

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To draw this picture together, don't we?

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-We do.

-Indeed.

-OK.

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'The house has delivered the perfect kitchen,

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'and so far, no negative vibes at all from the downstairs,

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'so let's hope that continues.

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'Up on the first floor

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'there is one good-sized and another slightly smaller double bedroom,

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'and a small single.

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'Then, up another few steps is the master bedroom.'

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Ah, yes. This has got to be the master, hasn't it?

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-Yes, indeed!

-Yeah.

-This is good. This is good.

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Next door is a really lovely bathroom.

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Just been all done.

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So, again, nothing really to have to do.

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No. You could just move in here.

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But what about the practical side, Sarah?

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The rooms are manageable.

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I don't think they're claustrophobic, not too small,

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-because in cottages they can be, can't they?

-Yeah.

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I think you'd manage quite well. You wouldn't feel overwhelmed.

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-Yeah.

-And this is a lovely room.

-Yeah. Definitely.

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-Lovely and bright.

-Well, talking about lovely and bright,

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-let's get out there to the garden.

-Yeah, go into the sun.

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-See what you make of that.

-Absolutely.

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'John seems really taken with the house - top to bottom.

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'And as we head for the garden to guess the price, the sun is shining.

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'It really can't get any better.'

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This is a sun trap, that's for sure.

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You've got that sort of patio area down there,

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and then it's terraced up to this lawned area.

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And then you've got farmland and an orchard beyond.

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Yeah, it's fantastic.

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Well, let's have a think about the price, then.

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I would probably say...

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Mmm...

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-335.

-£335,000.

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Sarah? Voice of reason?

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I think it's going to be a bit more.

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-I would say 345.

-345.

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I would say it's close to the budget.

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Actually, you've both straddled it.

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-Oh, right.

-This is on the market at £339,500.

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I wasn't far off. That's nice.

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-That's a nice price.

-I'd say so.

-Yeah.

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'This double-fronted period stone cottage

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'will give John the peace he's looking for,

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'along with four bedrooms,

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'a quiet, private space to use as a healing room,

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'a good-sized kitchen/breakfast room for when the family come round,

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'a generous sitting room, and it's all set in a pretty village

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'in the peaceful Dorset countryside.'

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-Well, I think that went rather well, John.

-Brilliant. Absolutely superb.

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-Yeah?

-Yeah.

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-A good start, Sarah?

-Yep, very good start.

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It couldn't get better, really, could it?

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-It might! it's still shining. Come on!

-It is, isn't it? Wow!

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'At the beginning of the 19th century,

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'heathland covered most of South East Dorset,

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'but today some 86% has been lost.

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'It's important to conserve these areas, as it's this environment

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'which is home to specialist plants and animals,

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'including all six of our native reptiles.

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'Today I've come to Arne,

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'a heathland nature reserve near Wareham on the south coast,

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'to meet Michael Wilson from the RSPB.'

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Now, the headline that there are six reptiles in the British Isles

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was news to me, I have to confess, and I'm surprised, in a way,

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that there are so many.

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It's amazing, there's actually three lizards, three snakes.

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So we've got slow worms, common lizards, sand lizards,

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grass snake, adder, and smooth snake.

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And here at Arne is a hotspot for them, really.

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Well, what is it about this particular reserve

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that makes it work as a home for this rare collection?

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Lowland heath is an extremely rare habitat. It's dry here.

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We're obviously at the southern edge of the country.

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'Up on the heath, the RSPB monitor and record reptiles,

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'and we're hoping to see at least one of our six native species.

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'Because of their rarity, a special licence is required to survey

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'and disturb smooth snakes and sand lizards,

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'so if we do find anything, I'll leave the handling to the experts.'

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So, yeah, if you come over here, Jules,

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I'll show you our reptile surveying area we've got set up.

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All I can see is some old tin sheets.

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It does look a little bit odd, but there is a serious point to this.

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Reptiles are cold-blooded,

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and these tins warm up first thing in the morning,

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and reptiles find them as a refuge,

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so they can actually reach a decent body temperature,

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so they can be active.

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Fingers crossed, see what we can see.

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Just carefully.

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-Well, there's no-one in!

-There are several more to look under,

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so we'll see what we can find, really.

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No.

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Nope.

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No.

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Not a soul.

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-No.

-No.

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-Is it?

-No.

-No.

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I mean, Michael, we have looked under...

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-What, 40?

-About 40 tins, yes.

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They are out here somewhere. I like to think they're watching us.

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-Probably laughing at us.

-Probably laughing at us, yeah.

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'Thankfully, however, Michael caught a couple of reptiles

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'earlier in the day, so let's see what he's got for us.'

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The first thing I'm going to show you

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is probably the commonest reptile in Britain,

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and this is a slow worm.

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Despite appearances, she's actually a lizard.

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Just put your hand out like that.

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Incredible, it seems quite happy, actually.

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Yeah, they'll start being quite active

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-because they like the warmth of your hand.

-There you go.

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-Shall I put the lid back on there?

-Yes.

-Safely.

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-What have we got in here?

-That was a lizard.

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This is a snake.

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Again, quite common,

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you might even find these living in your compost heaps at home.

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The biggest snake that you get in Britain,

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and it's a grass snake.

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It's incredible the way it's lying there, with its mouth wide open.

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That is a classic grass snake playing dead.

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Yeah, properly playing dead.

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I'm not sure she's enjoying this experience, you better put her back.

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I think I'll put her back.

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Michael, thank you very much.

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We had a frustrating search but it's lovely to see the real thing here.

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'Of the six species, the adder is the only venomous reptile in the UK,

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'so when it comes to our cold-blooded neighbours,

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'remember the golden rule.'

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-Look, but don't touch.

-Yeah.

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'For our second property, we're travelling east

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'to the centre of the county to the village of Hilton, near to

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'the town of Blandford Forum, around half an hour from Weymouth.

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'The pretty village of Hilton, with its 15th century Gothic church,

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'is in the heart of the Dorset countryside.

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'Bearing in mind John's aversion to thatched roofs,

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'we're taking a chance here in order to give him extra space.

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'House number two is a Grade II listed semidetached cottage

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'that has undergone extensive modernisation.'

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-Now, John.

-Yes?

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That is property number two.

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-That's nice, isn't it?

-Yeah?

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What do you think, Sarah?

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I love it, I think it's really sweet, really pretty.

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One thing I can assure you of is what we find on the inside

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is not what you're expecting.

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OK.

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'A good reaction to the outside, and John hasn't run away

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'at the sight of a thatched roof, so here's hoping the configuration

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'of this extended cob cottage will give him the space he needs.'

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-Feast your eyes, John.

-Good gosh.

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Oh, gosh!

0:16:550:16:58

-Wow.

-Wow!

-Yeah, definitely a "wow".

0:16:580:17:00

I was not expecting that at all.

0:17:000:17:02

-I told you.

-Yeah, you were right.

-It's something else.

0:17:020:17:04

It's absolutely fantastic, isn't it?

0:17:040:17:07

-You're a bit lost for words.

-I'm a bit speechless, yeah! I am.

0:17:080:17:12

It's not like me.

0:17:120:17:13

Let's see if you can find words in here. This is amazing, look at this.

0:17:130:17:17

-Wow!

-What do you say about this?

0:17:230:17:25

It's not a "wow", it's more than a "wow", I think. Yeah.

0:17:250:17:29

-They've done a fantastic job.

-It's really clever, isn't it?

0:17:290:17:33

Come and soak up the atmosphere, it's quite a lot, to be honest,

0:17:330:17:37

to take on, because

0:17:370:17:39

it is so different to probably what any of us were expecting.

0:17:390:17:43

It's this mix of contemporary and old and thatched,

0:17:430:17:49

and it would take me a time, I think, to get adjusted to it.

0:17:490:17:53

'Onwards to the rest of the extension

0:17:550:17:57

'that offers an option for John's healing area.'

0:17:570:18:00

-Now, here on the other side of the pod, you've got a wet room.

-Gosh.

0:18:030:18:07

And then this, which is currently

0:18:070:18:11

the master bedroom.

0:18:110:18:13

-Nice, isn't it?

-Very nice.

0:18:140:18:17

If you were prepared to compromise on your bedroom and go upstairs,

0:18:170:18:21

this might lend itself to being your treatment room.

0:18:210:18:25

That's true. That makes sense. Yeah.

0:18:250:18:28

'The upstairs is within the original part of the cottage

0:18:300:18:33

'with its more period configuration.'

0:18:330:18:36

Now, it's up here, guys, that we really start to go back in time.

0:18:370:18:41

-Much more of that cottagey feel.

-Yeah.

0:18:410:18:44

Come into this one.

0:18:440:18:46

-Oh, it's nice.

-Squeeze in.

-Cosy.

-Now, really here,

0:18:460:18:49

we have two bedrooms that are pretty much the same size.

0:18:490:18:52

-Right.

-This one and one next door.

0:18:520:18:54

-And quite a nice family bathroom up here.

-Mm-hm.

0:18:540:18:57

-So, in all, it's a three-bedroomed house.

-Yeah.

-OK.

0:18:570:19:01

But this is where the compromise might be,

0:19:010:19:05

if you decide to use that amazing master suite as your treatment room.

0:19:050:19:10

Yeah.

0:19:100:19:12

Yeah. It would be an option, though.

0:19:120:19:14

Come on, let's go and get some fresh air.

0:19:150:19:18

'As we head outside, I get the feeling John is finding this

0:19:200:19:23

'combination of the old and new slightly confusing.

0:19:230:19:26

'It remains to be seen if he's willing to concede on bedroom size

0:19:260:19:29

'in order to get his healing room.'

0:19:290:19:32

You see, this, John, I think this is where

0:19:320:19:35

it really starts to make sense.

0:19:350:19:37

It seems to blend, it's a nice contrast with the thatch.

0:19:370:19:41

You know what's coming now, don't you?

0:19:410:19:43

-I do.

-I'm going to say 360.

-360.

0:19:430:19:45

I think, potentially, it could be spot on budget, about 350.

0:19:450:19:48

-Mm-hm.

-But I'm being optimistic there, I think.

0:19:480:19:51

-It's 325.

-Good grief!

0:19:510:19:54

-No way, really?

-Yeah.

0:19:540:19:56

'This Grade II listed thatch cottage

0:19:580:20:00

'comes in under budget

0:20:000:20:02

'with a mix of contemporary and traditional features,

0:20:020:20:04

'and gives John three bedrooms, with a master en suite,

0:20:040:20:08

'a large kitchen/breakfast room, a bright and airy sitting room,

0:20:080:20:12

'a manageable garden, and all within an attractive village location.'

0:20:120:20:16

-We've had quite an exciting day, I think.

-We have.

0:20:170:20:21

Ready for a celebratory drink to finish our first day?

0:20:210:20:24

-Phwoar, yeah!

-Absolutely.

0:20:240:20:26

-Come on.

-Lead me to it.

0:20:260:20:28

For the Mystery House we're staying in the area,

0:20:410:20:43

travelling a few miles down the road to the village of Milton Abbas.

0:20:430:20:46

Milton Abbas is a picture-perfect 18th-century model village.

0:20:490:20:52

Thatched cottages equally spaced apart run either side

0:20:520:20:56

of one main street.

0:20:560:20:59

A short walk away at the bottom end of the village lies

0:20:590:21:01

the Mystery House - a Grade II listed semidetached cottage

0:21:010:21:05

that may test John's ability to compromise.

0:21:050:21:07

Oh, that is...

0:21:090:21:11

Yeah, gobsmacked, as they say in Liverpool.

0:21:110:21:13

-Lovely?

-Yeah. Yeah. It's gorgeous.

0:21:130:21:16

-Now, you don't get the whole thing.

-Oh, right.

-It is a semi.

0:21:160:21:20

It's lovely.

0:21:200:21:21

-Does it have the right sort of feeling?

-It does.

0:21:210:21:23

'An amazing reaction,

0:21:240:21:26

'especially considering John's reluctance for a thatched roof.

0:21:260:21:30

'He seems to have come full circle.

0:21:300:21:31

'However, the acid test is to come, as we head for the kitchen,

0:21:310:21:35

'a room high on his agenda.'

0:21:350:21:37

Come in, John.

0:21:390:21:41

Now, not a massive kitchen/diner.

0:21:410:21:45

-No.

-Not a diner.

0:21:450:21:48

You know, we can't have everything, can we? It's about compromise.

0:21:480:21:51

-What are you thinking?

-I thought you would say "no" immediately,

0:21:510:21:55

so I'm really surprised.

0:21:550:21:56

-It has three bedrooms.

-Mm-hm.

0:21:560:21:58

-Two of them are on the ground floor.

-Yeah.

0:21:580:22:01

I think we should try and have a look at one of those next.

0:22:010:22:05

'John's U-turn by compromising on the kitchen dining space

0:22:050:22:08

'has taken us by surprise,

0:22:080:22:10

'as I thought it would be a substantial sticking point,

0:22:100:22:13

'so let's hope the good vibes continue with the

0:22:130:22:15

'possible space for the healing room.'

0:22:150:22:17

-This is nice and light, isn't it?

-Isn't it? Gosh, yeah.

0:22:170:22:21

-And you get a nice view out to the trees.

-Yeah.

0:22:220:22:25

-Next door also has a light well like that.

-Yeah.

0:22:250:22:29

This is bigger, it's set up as a twin, and next door is the bathroom.

0:22:290:22:33

-You just get that lovely feeling, it's very grounded.

-Mmm.

0:22:330:22:37

That's probably because of the age of the property.

0:22:370:22:40

The living room is a real seller. Come and have a look at this.

0:22:400:22:43

Ooh, that sounds intriguing.

0:22:430:22:45

Now on the way is the dining room.

0:22:470:22:50

-Oh, yeah.

-That's nice.

-Sweet.

0:22:500:22:51

So it's not a kitchen/diner, but it is a kitchen with a diner.

0:22:510:22:55

-Oh, wow!

-Yeah.

0:22:550:22:57

-Oh, gosh.

-You like that?

-Yeah. Definitely.

0:22:570:23:01

-Cosy, isn't it?

-Oh, it is.

0:23:010:23:02

-That's rather nice, the little window seat there.

-That's lovely.

0:23:020:23:06

This one, for me, does send zinging things around, you know.

0:23:060:23:11

But the head is still saying, "You don't want a semi,

0:23:110:23:14

"and you don't want this and you don't want..."

0:23:140:23:17

The heart is saying, "Hang on, let's just..."

0:23:170:23:19

Is he given to following his head, or his heart?

0:23:190:23:22

-He's a heart man.

-I thought so, yeah.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:23:220:23:25

We have got you, I think, quite a nice master bedroom upstairs,

0:23:250:23:29

-so you've got your own little domain there.

-That's good.

0:23:290:23:32

-Let's have a look at that.

-That's important.

0:23:320:23:35

'The Mystery seems to be coming up trumps,

0:23:350:23:37

'not just on a practical level but spiritually too.

0:23:370:23:40

'So, onwards upstairs to see if the bedrooms

0:23:400:23:43

'have the zing factor as well.'

0:23:430:23:45

-Sweet.

-Do you like this?

-Yeah.

0:23:460:23:48

-Oh, yeah.

-That's really sweet.

-It's nice.

0:23:480:23:50

-You're beaming, aren't you?

-I am!

0:23:500:23:52

I've never seen you so happy!

0:23:520:23:55

And across the landing, effectively an en suite dressing room, really.

0:23:550:23:59

-Shower in there and so on.

-Yeah.

0:23:590:24:00

I think it's a happy coincidence that, actually,

0:24:000:24:02

our final property really seems to fit more.

0:24:020:24:04

-It is all kind of here, spatially, for you.

-Yeah.

0:24:040:24:08

And it has the character and similar...

0:24:080:24:10

Better energy than number one did.

0:24:100:24:12

'With the energy flowing, we head outside to the garden,

0:24:140:24:17

'as it's time to guess the price.'

0:24:170:24:19

-What do you think, John?

-There it is, the pond.

-Your water feature.

0:24:190:24:22

-The water, yeah.

-You love water.

0:24:220:24:25

That's... Listen...

0:24:250:24:27

WATER TRICKLES

0:24:270:24:29

Now, the garden itself also continues up beyond

0:24:290:24:32

this other terrace here, and way up towards the wood line.

0:24:320:24:36

-Oh!

-Oh, wow.

0:24:360:24:38

-That's... I think this one's going to blow my budget.

-Yeah.

0:24:380:24:42

I think it's going to be about... 365.

0:24:420:24:45

365. Sarah?

0:24:450:24:48

I'm being more optimistic, and I'm going to say it's on budget at 350.

0:24:480:24:52

-At 350.

-Mmm.

0:24:520:24:54

It could be yours for offers in excess

0:24:540:24:57

of £300,000.

0:24:570:24:59

Good grief!

0:24:590:25:01

'The charm of this 18th century Grade II listed mystery cottage

0:25:010:25:05

'seems to have completely won John over, and is well within budget.

0:25:050:25:09

'It gives him three bedrooms, including a decent sized master,

0:25:090:25:13

'with the option to convert one into a healing room.

0:25:130:25:16

'A characterful living room with inglenook fireplace,

0:25:160:25:19

'a peaceful garden, including ornamental pond and secluded patio,

0:25:190:25:24

'views over the glorious Dorset countryside, and all

0:25:240:25:27

'within reasonable distance to his partner, Ingrid, in Weymouth.'

0:25:270:25:30

-I think it's been a really good week, this, John.

-Yeah.

0:25:300:25:33

You've got plenty to consider now. We've given you all the options.

0:25:330:25:36

-Yeah.

-Let's go and consider.

-You've thrown it at me, haven't you?

0:25:360:25:40

-We have! Bit by bit.

-Big time!

0:25:400:25:42

So, where are we now, Sarah, with this search?

0:25:550:26:00

Have we managed to do it for your dad, do you think?

0:26:000:26:02

-I think you have, yeah.

-OK.

0:26:020:26:04

I'm not going to say too much, because it's his decision.

0:26:040:26:07

I'm getting the right vibe, let's say.

0:26:070:26:09

OK, well, it's been all about feelings, hasn't it, this one?!

0:26:090:26:12

-Absolutely!

-Erm... OK, John.

0:26:120:26:14

-Property number one had the edge, didn't it?

-It did.

0:26:140:26:16

It did, because it had a lot of... All of the parameters

0:26:160:26:20

that I was looking for.

0:26:200:26:22

Dead on there, it was spot on.

0:26:220:26:25

It was perfect until today.

0:26:250:26:27

The Mystery House seems to have changed everything.

0:26:270:26:29

And that sort of challenged, maybe, what I was thinking.

0:26:290:26:33

Am I coming here because I want to do my healing?

0:26:330:26:36

Well, that's not the ultimate thing.

0:26:360:26:39

The purpose is to spend the rest of my life

0:26:390:26:42

in peace and tranquillity, and in a place I'd love to live.

0:26:420:26:46

So, where are we?

0:26:460:26:48

Providing things go ahead back at home,

0:26:480:26:51

I'm going to see if I can make an offer on the last one.

0:26:510:26:55

-The Mystery House?

-The Mystery House.

0:26:550:26:56

So, it's all dependent on you selling your current property

0:26:560:26:59

-on the Isle of Wight.

-Which could be soon.

-Brilliant.

0:26:590:27:01

-Best of luck.

-Thank you, as well. It's been really great.

0:27:010:27:05

That is our pleasure.

0:27:050:27:06

Now, Milton Abbey ceased to be a monastic centre

0:27:120:27:15

during the Reformation of the 1540s,

0:27:150:27:18

but it still has a spiritual air about it.

0:27:180:27:21

I think that's a theme that's really run through this entire week.

0:27:210:27:25

I've always believed that buying a house

0:27:250:27:27

should be an emotional process

0:27:270:27:28

but, thanks to John, I'm beginning to think

0:27:280:27:31

that it should also have a spiritual dimension as well.

0:27:310:27:34

I've learnt a lot from him

0:27:340:27:36

and now, with any luck, he'll be living just up the road from here

0:27:360:27:39

in possibly just a few months' time.

0:27:390:27:41

John has since returned to Milton Abbas for a second viewing

0:27:430:27:46

of the Mystery House and is eager to put in an offer.

0:27:460:27:49

All that remains is for John to sell his property,

0:27:490:27:52

and Dorset may soon welcome a new resident.

0:27:520:27:55

If you'd like to escape to the country in England,

0:27:550:27:58

Northern Ireland, Wales, or Scotland,

0:27:580:28:00

and need our help, you can apply online at...

0:28:000:28:05

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