South Cambridgeshire Escape to the Country


South Cambridgeshire

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LineFromTo

400 years ago, this entire landscape for miles

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and miles to the coastline was absolutely boggy swampland.

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But, this building is part of the story why

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now my toes are completely dry.

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Find out where I am in just a moment.

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On today's show, I have my work cut out

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fulfilling our house-hunters' dreams.

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Look at that.

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A friend commented the other day and said,

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"What you're basically looking for is your nan's house."

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But I still manage to serve up some properties that impress.

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That's huge living space.

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-That's incredible.

-That's extraordinary!

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Wow.

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Today, we're in Cambridgeshire, and this is Stretham Old Engine,

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a pump-house built in 1832.

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One of 100 examples scattered over the north-east of this county.

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They were originally constructed to take

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the strain off the 800 existing windmills that had been

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pumping water out of the Fenland

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since the 17th century in order to turn it into good arable farmland.

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This is the only existing example still standing

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and it's a wonderful piece of Fenland history

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but it's only the beginning of our tour of this historic county.

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The county of Cambridgeshire is located in East Anglia,

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with eight bordering counties including Lincolnshire to the north,

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Suffolk to the east, Essex to the south and Bedfordshire to the west.

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The county capital is the city of Cambridge,

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whose university founded in 1209 is amongst the very best in the world.

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Properties here are sought after

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and pricey at 150% over the national average.

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You don't have to travel far to experience

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a wealth of rural scenery.

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Wicken Fen is Britain's oldest nature reserve

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taken on by the National Trust in 1899.

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Rising up from the Fenland is Ely Cathedral which

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dates back to the 11th century. Also in the town of Ely,

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is the house of The Lord Protector of England,

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Oliver Cromwell, where he lived for ten years.

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Houses in this northern Fenland region are much more

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affordable at nearly £100,000 lower than the national average.

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With cultural centres and wide open countryside,

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there's no doubt that Cambridgeshire is an appealing county to escape to.

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There's a marked difference of price here with your money

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going much further in the north and you having to pay a hefty premium

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if you want to be close to Cambridge

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or down in the south of Cambridgeshire.

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That's not just because of good train links down to London

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but also because the villages there regularly top those surveys

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asking where is the best quality of life in the UK.

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So, let's meet our buyers and see whether they're willing to pay

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that premium and stay south or are looking for a bargain in the north.

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Today's house-hunters are London-based teachers

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Jacqueline and Alistair who met each other through work.

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We teach English as a foreign language

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and we also train teachers to do that.

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We were sent on a training trip.

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They needed two trainers to go to Peru and our boss,

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we think he was a bit of a matchmaker, he sent us both.

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And the rest is history, as they say.

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They got hitched two and a half years ago and have spent

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a large part of their married life on an incredible journey.

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We've just recently come back from a year overseas.

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We had a sabbatical from work and we went round the world without flying.

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We had 20 days on a container ship going down to Buenos Aires

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and then we went over land on assorted buses

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right the way through to California.

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We took another container ship across to Shanghai and then

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from Shanghai back to London on quite a number of different trains, mostly.

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It's been a great adventure.

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With their travels over, they're now living in Alistair's London flat,

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in a development on the Isle of Dogs.

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It's a property which is a little compact for their needs.

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The flat we live in is actually quite a small one-bedroom flat.

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In our kitchen, we can just about cook together but we do end up

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kind of choreographing around each other because it is a small kitchen.

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I would say this current flat has restricted us

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in quite a number of ways.

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Partly, we can't actually get all our own things in it

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so unfortunately quite a lot of our stuff is in storage at the moment.

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So, it'd be lovely to be reunited with that.

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An obvious need for living space is

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not the only thing driving this move.

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I dream of escaping to the country.

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Something that we've actually been wanting to do for quite a long time.

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Pretty much since we started being together

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we realised that we both loved being in the countryside

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and going walking and doing things like that.

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So, once we were together we started talking about

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how we could make that happen.

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And the need to continue teaching

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has played a huge part in where they plan to move.

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We were really looking for a county that would allow us

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to still work and have the variety of work that we enjoy at the moment.

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And Cambridgeshire is perfect because of Cambridge.

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The university as well as all of the schools will give us

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the same sort of variety we hope as we have at the moment in London.

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But it's not all work.

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Alistair is keen to develop his love of yoga

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and turn his hand to some new interests.

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I'd like to take up gardening and particularly growing vegetables.

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The idea of growing your own food is hugely appealing to me

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so I'd like to have a go at doing that.

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And I'd also like to try my hand at brewing beer, as well.

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If we've got enough space to do that, it'd be fantastic.

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I don't know if I'd be any good at it.

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I just want to have a go and see what I can come up with.

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With the flat already on the market,

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life in the country can't come soon enough.

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We've both lived in London a long time and I know that

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when I've been on a train heading off to the countryside

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for the weekend as soon as we hit the green fields

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it just lifts me and I want that in my life.

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I think the move will be a dramatic change for our lives.

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It will change where we work, where we live and very much

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the sorts of things we do on a daily basis will change as well.

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As Alistair and Jacqueline want a slice of the rural life,

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but will be working every day in central Cambridge,

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we'll be concentrating our search on the villages around

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half an hour from the city centre.

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I'm meeting our house-hunters at the largest house in Cambridgeshire,

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Wimpole Hall.

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-Morning, guys.

-Morning.

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Sadly, Wimpole Hall is a little bit out of your budget.

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-Afraid so, yeah.

-Slightly.

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But the right part of the countryside.

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So, this is Cambridgeshire.

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You're heading to the south. Why the south?

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North of Cambridge it suddenly becomes very flat

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and Fenlandy, which is beautiful in its own way,

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but in terms of somewhere for us to live we atually prefer

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the more gentle rolling countryside that you get south of Cambridge.

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-Quintessentially English.

-Yes.

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Have you primed yourself for actually living in the country?

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Because you're both town mice.

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We live in London. I wouldn't say we're exactly town mice.

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I think we've both had in our heart a long time that we want to

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live in the countryside and it's time to make the move.

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We spend a lot of our weekends going out of London,

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either visiting friends or going walking.

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And we decided quite a while ago that actually we'd like to

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change our lives so that that becomes the norm rather than the exception.

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Now, I don't need to tell you that you have chosen the most

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-popular part of Cambridgeshire in terms of property buying.

-Yes.

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And the most expensive. So what is your top budget?

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£325,000 for the right place.

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Obviously, you'd like a bargain

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but that's how far you could stretch if you needed to.

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It might be that there's quite a pressure on that

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because if you want the ideal location and the period property...

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We realise that we're asking quite a lot

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and we might have to make some kind of compromise.

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In terms of the property itself,

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what are you looking for in this house?

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We'd love a period property.

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We'd love a lovely old fireplace with a wood-burning stove or...

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-I think it's very important to have a fireplace.

-Yeah, that's essential.

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And other period features, I think, maybe creaky floorboards

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or a little secret staircase in a cupboard off the dining room or

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little windows. Yeah, I need to feel in touch with the past, I think.

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And then two or three bedrooms

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and a slightly bigger kitchen than we have at the moment.

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At the moment, we're having to squeeze round each other.

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And some kind of dining space.

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In terms of your readiness to move,

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what's the situation with the flat in the Isle of Dogs?

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Well, we've got it under offer, it's in the solicitor's hands

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at the moment so fingers crossed the sale will go through.

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-Wow, you are ready.

-Yeah, we are.

-Definitely.

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-We've got three lovely properties lined up.

-Fantastic.

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There's some things that match,

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-some things that might have to be compromised on.

-Sure.

-Tantalising.

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-But I'm looking forward to showing them to you.

-Lovely.

-We can't wait.

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So, let's head off. Follow me.

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For a maximum budget of £325,000,

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Alistair and Jacqueline are looking for a period property

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with lots of character, two to three bedrooms,

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a garden to start cultivating a vegetable patch,

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located in a village,

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with a reasonable commute to Cambridge city centre.

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And we have three promising properties to tempt them with.

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And after each house tour, I'll be asking them

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to price the house before I reveal it.

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One, of course, will be our mystery house which gives our house-hunters

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something new to think about.

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You've been all the way round the world,

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-and you're coming to little old Cambridgeshire.

-Yes.

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Are you going to be getting cabin fever here?

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I think probably quite the reverse, actually.

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We're looking forward to not moving on the whole time.

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Being in one place and being able to explore it and get to know

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our neighbours and get to know the area much more in depth.

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And in terms of the community,

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as I know that you're quite big real ale fans.

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-Yes.

-Is the pub going to be an important part of all this?

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Absolutely.

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Hopefully, the village we end up in will have a pub

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that we can go and visit quite regularly

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and get to know local people through that, as well.

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Our first house is in the village of Weston Colville.

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Located in the southeastern part of the county,

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it's 14 miles from Cambridge city centre and a half-hour commute.

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It's a small village with a population of less than 500

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and typically English in feel, with a parish church, post office

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and cricket club.

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There's also a Victorian reading room,

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now used for meetings at exercise classes.

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And whilst not in the village itself, there is

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a pub a mile up the road.

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And our first offering is centrally located.

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Come in through your own white picket fence.

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-Thank you.

-Wonderful.

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Here's property number one.

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Lovely.

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I love it. It's double-fronted, lovely little garden at the front.

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-The door with the knocker.

-Yeah, it's fantastic.

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It looks lovely.

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It's a terraced building. These were farmers' cottages back in the 1860s.

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-Yes.

-Lovely period property.

-Yes.

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I love the detail above the windows on the ground floor.

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Let's look inside.

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The period features on the exterior of this three-bedroom

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Victorian cottage have struck a chord with both Jacqueline

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and Alistair and I think inside won't disappoint either.

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-Come on into the warm.

-Wow.

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-It's a lot to take in straight off the road.

-It's wonderfully cottagey.

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-It's lovely, isn't it? I love the beams.

-Yeah.

-And the fireplace.

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-Is that open?

-Yes, it works.

-OK.

-An open, working fireplace.

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It's a new floor.

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They had some very nice Cambridge white bricks on the floor

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which have been recycled elsewhere.

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-Right.

-It's good quality, isn't it?

-It looks very authentic.

-Yeah.

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I love this little door. I love these... Yeah, OK. Tick.

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-I was wondering if that's what you like, the nooks and crannies.

-Yeah.

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Very much so. Yeah.

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And even the little archways and the little windows.

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And the slightly bowed ceiling is rather nice

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as it shows real character.

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And this would be a lovely living space, I think.

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Yes, it certainly would.

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If indeed this is the only living space.

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-Oh.

-Oh.

-Come on, then.

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You can just say that and do nothing.

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-Should we explore a bit further?

-Yes, please.

-Yes. Absolutely.

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This house is deceptive, as the current owners have remodelled

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and extended the property to create an unexpected rear space.

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-Ta-da!

-Oh, my goodness!

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Oh, my word.

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That's huge living space!

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-That's incredible.

-This is extraordinary. Wow.

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-And there's a range.

-Oh, yeah.

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-And another living room.

-A second living room.

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-Isn't it great?

-Is this somebody else's place?

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This is way bigger than I expected.

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The brickwork there looks really nice

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but is that the brickwork has been taken from the living space?

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So, the white brick is characteristic of Cambridge

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and those were originally on the floor

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and they were recycled here and on the inside of the hearth.

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-Where the log bin is.

-That's a lovely idea.

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-I can't believe we would have this much living space.

-No.

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I know, I kind of didn't expect it to be quite as big as this.

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It's got a lovely feel to it, hasn't it?

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-Let's have a peek upstairs because you wanted bedrooms.

-Yes.

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-Got bedrooms.

-There's more?

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It seems the spacious downstairs has taken our house-buyers by surprise.

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The upstairs is smaller but still has room for three bedrooms.

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There are two to the front of the property, a family bathroom,

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and then a master suite.

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You have three lovely bedrooms.

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Gosh. Three.

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-Three.

-Wow. OK.

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And they're all sort of the same size. None of them are massive.

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This one is being used as the master, because it has an en-suite.

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-Ah, right.

-We're not big en suite fans

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because we'll be living on our own.

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I'm just looking at that thinking

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-whether you could have a bigger bedroom here.

-Yes.

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If you sacrificed the en-suite.

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You could have this as the guest room

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and use one of the other rooms as your bedroom.

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What's interesting for me is I'm really thinking about this place

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and would I live here, so it's really making an impression.

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That's what we like.

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-Good. Well, there's one more thing to see and that's the garden.

-Right.

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-OK.

-Let's go and see that.

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The house itself has got the character,

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space and cottagey feel they're after and outside the good news

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continues with a garden that caters for all their needs.

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Oh, it's gorgeous.

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-It's quite a long garden.

-It is. Great.

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-Vegetable patch.

-Yes. I can see it all.

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They put in some raised beds in the corner but you could easily do more.

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What's nice about this, I think,

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is that you do have the variety of a nice sitting area

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and also space to do things, but it's not overwhelming

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so we won't be having to spend our entire free time doing the garden.

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-No.

-Exactly, yes.

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It would be quite low-maintenance.

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But let's turn back to the house and talk about the price.

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-The all-important price.

-Yes.

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Crunch time.

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So, how much do you think this is on for?

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OK, so, I'm going to be an optimist

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and say £310,000.

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I think it might be slightly more than that

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so I'm going to go for £315,000.

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-Right.

-315?

-Mm.

-Fingers crossed.

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Well, this is good news for you because this is on the market for...

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-£300,000.

-Excellent.

-Oh, fantastic.

-Great.

-OK. That's really good.

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So, you haven't seen the bedrooms upstairs.

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You haven't really had a chance to root around.

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Have a little run around and see what you think

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and I'll meet you at the front door.

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-OK.

-Wonderful.

-Thank you.

-In you go.

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A pretty good result for the first house.

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Lovely garden, lovely space indoors.

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Pretty good location, and in budget.

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Pat on our backs.

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Well under their top figure of £325,000,

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this characterful Victorian worker's cottage

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has period features throughout for Jacqueline,

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an unexpectedly large amount of living space, and a garden

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which means Alistair can start on his veg-producing plans.

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And all this located a half hour's commute from central Cambridge.

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OK. I think this would work as a double room for us.

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Yeah, its a nice sized room, isn't it?

0:16:100:16:12

It's more square and you could get round both sides of the bed

0:16:120:16:14

-whether you put it there or there.

-Yeah.

0:16:140:16:17

When we arrived at the outside of the property, I thought it was lovely.

0:16:170:16:20

It was just the kind of thing I'd hoped that we might find.

0:16:200:16:22

It's a bit further out than we'd originally been hoping for

0:16:220:16:25

and I think that's going to take a bit of thought to decide whether it's

0:16:250:16:29

just a bit too far for us or whether we could actually live with that.

0:16:290:16:32

I think the highlight is just the amount of living space.

0:16:330:16:36

There's an embarrassment of living space in this cottage.

0:16:360:16:39

We couldn't believe it when we came though from the

0:16:390:16:42

living room at the front to the living space behind,

0:16:420:16:45

at how much there is.

0:16:450:16:46

I'm picking up that one fly in the ointment might be

0:16:480:16:50

the distance from Cambridge. A bit too far?

0:16:500:16:52

Well actually, for the budget,

0:16:520:16:55

this is pretty good distance.

0:16:550:16:57

-OK, guys. You all done?

-Yep.

0:16:570:17:00

So, pull the door behind because we have got another house to visit.

0:17:000:17:05

-Great.

-Wonderful.

0:17:050:17:06

When Alistair and Jacqueline move to Cambridgeshire they plan to

0:17:150:17:18

indulge their passion for ale and start brewing their own beers.

0:17:180:17:21

To pick up some pointers from the professionals,

0:17:210:17:24

we've sent them to the town of Wisbech where the

0:17:240:17:26

brewery of Elgood and Sons has been producing beer for over 130 years.

0:17:260:17:31

They're meeting head brewer Alan Pateman.

0:17:310:17:34

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-Welcome to Wisbech. It's nice to meet you.

0:17:340:17:37

-Thank you.

-And welcome to North Brink Brewery.

0:17:370:17:40

The brewery was built in 1795

0:17:400:17:42

and has been brewing beer ever since then.

0:17:420:17:44

And we're in the fifth generation of the family running the business.

0:17:440:17:47

-Continuously in one family?

-Absolutely.

-Wow. Great.

0:17:470:17:50

-Let's go and have a look.

-Thank you, that's brilliant.

0:17:500:17:52

The craft beer industry is booming with

0:17:520:17:54

over 1,000 breweries in the UK producing over 5,000 unique beers.

0:17:540:18:00

Jacqueline and Alistair are getting a peek at the brewery's latest brew.

0:18:000:18:04

It's a traditional Belgian-style sour beer, known as lambic,

0:18:040:18:07

which has a unique process and one few breweries are able to attempt.

0:18:070:18:12

OK, so we're now in the main part of the brewhouse where

0:18:120:18:15

all of our brews start life.

0:18:150:18:17

It's good that you're here today

0:18:170:18:19

because we're brewing our lambic today.

0:18:190:18:22

It's something new to us, this is only the third brew that we've done.

0:18:220:18:26

It uses two raw materials at this stage. Malted barley.

0:18:260:18:31

And unmalted - or raw - wheat.

0:18:310:18:33

So, to start our brew off we begin by grinding all this lot up

0:18:330:18:38

in a mill to produce grist.

0:18:380:18:40

It's that which starts the brew off which

0:18:400:18:42

happens in the vessel behind us, the mash tun.

0:18:420:18:44

So, if I wanted to brew some beer at home

0:18:440:18:46

would I need a mash tun like this?

0:18:460:18:47

Not this big. You'd probably need something much smaller scale,

0:18:470:18:51

and it's all about the scale with any brewing.

0:18:510:18:55

The grist is soaked in hot water

0:18:550:18:57

until a sugary solution called wort is created.

0:18:570:19:00

It's drained out leaving the spent grain to be dug out by hand.

0:19:000:19:05

The solution is pumped to a large copper vessel where

0:19:050:19:08

hops are added and the brew is boiled for two to three hours.

0:19:080:19:12

So far, so similar to the production of most beers.

0:19:120:19:15

It's the next part of the process which sets the lambic brew apart.

0:19:150:19:19

OK, so here we are at the cooling trays

0:19:210:19:23

where the magic of the lambic brewing really takes off

0:19:230:19:26

because this is the crucial element where in a moment we'll cast

0:19:260:19:31

the brew, it will be sprayed on to the trays and left to fill the room

0:19:310:19:36

with steam and in the process of doing that it will then waft

0:19:360:19:40

up into the rafters,

0:19:400:19:42

on to the wooden boards that you see up there, which helps to keep the

0:19:420:19:45

spontaneous wild yeast alive which will then drop

0:19:450:19:49

back down as the wort cools overnight.

0:19:490:19:52

This spontaneous ambient fermentation relies on the

0:19:520:19:55

steam absorbing natural microbes in the immediate environment.

0:19:550:19:59

The rough surface of the oak beams helps cultivate wild yeast.

0:19:590:20:04

So as you can see the wort now spraying on to the trays which

0:20:040:20:07

gradually will fill up,

0:20:070:20:08

-and the whole brew will fill both of those trays.

-Wow.

0:20:080:20:12

-And you believe me now about the steam in the room.

-It's very steamy.

0:20:120:20:15

So the whole lot will just fill with steam as it comes through then

0:20:150:20:18

gradually subside and die down, let it naturally cool down overnight.

0:20:180:20:24

-It smells wonderful.

-It's a great smell, isn't it?

-Fantastic.

0:20:240:20:27

Because this brewery kept hold of their traditional open

0:20:290:20:32

cooling trays when many others got rid of theirs,

0:20:320:20:34

they are one of the only breweries able to make lambic beer.

0:20:340:20:39

The brew is then barrelled and left to ferment for several months.

0:20:390:20:42

Fortunately, the first ever batch created is now ready to be

0:20:420:20:46

drunk so it's a chance for Alistair

0:20:460:20:47

and Jacqueline to sample this rare tipple.

0:20:470:20:50

We're going to try the lambic beer now.

0:20:500:20:51

Ladies first.

0:20:540:20:55

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

-Good health.

0:20:550:20:58

Quite cidery, in its flavour.

0:21:060:21:07

Absolutely gorgeous, I think.

0:21:090:21:11

So, Alistair, how do you feel about home-brewing

0:21:110:21:14

a true artisanal lambic?

0:21:140:21:16

I think it might take quite a while,

0:21:160:21:18

I haven't got the 25 years of experience that you have

0:21:180:21:20

so if I can get anywhere close to this I'll be absolutely delighted.

0:21:200:21:23

Good.

0:21:230:21:24

So, with the bar set high for Alistair's brewing ambitions,

0:21:240:21:27

it's back to the house search.

0:21:270:21:29

To help realise that rural dream.

0:21:290:21:31

For our next property, we're heading to Waresley,

0:21:340:21:36

on the western edge of Cambridgeshire.

0:21:360:21:38

With a commute to the city centre of half an hour.

0:21:380:21:42

It's a charming place, not least because of all the

0:21:420:21:44

thatched properties throughout the village,

0:21:440:21:46

each with their own individual thatched animals.

0:21:460:21:49

The church has a chequered history having been partially

0:21:490:21:51

destroyed twice by storms, first in the 18th century

0:21:510:21:55

and then by the great storm of 1987.

0:21:550:21:59

Here's a little preview of the village where you could be living.

0:21:590:22:03

OK.

0:22:030:22:04

We like the pub.

0:22:040:22:05

-The pub is very fine and I know that pubs are important to you.

-Yeah.

0:22:050:22:09

So, there's also the village hall where they do yoga.

0:22:090:22:11

Oh, fantastic.

0:22:110:22:13

-And would you like to live near the pub?

-It would be handy.

0:22:130:22:16

I'd be more than happy with that.

0:22:160:22:18

That's handy because the house that we're going to show you

0:22:180:22:21

is next door to a pub. Follow me.

0:22:210:22:23

Look at that.

0:22:230:22:25

So, what do you think about the location next to the pub?

0:22:250:22:28

-It really is a stagger away, isn't it?

-Five-star.

-It is fantastic.

0:22:280:22:31

It's better than we could've hoped for, I think.

0:22:310:22:34

Well, this is a thatched property, it's a big thatched property.

0:22:340:22:38

-And actually it's not all up for sale.

-Right.

0:22:390:22:42

-It is actually a

-semidetached. Right.

0:22:420:22:45

These 200-year-old farm workers' cottages have a decorative porch

0:22:480:22:51

to the front but the entrance is actually round the side.

0:22:510:22:55

Come in here first. This is the kitchen and dining room.

0:23:020:23:04

And actually this feels quite modern,

0:23:040:23:07

-it doesn't really have the period features of the other parts.

-No.

0:23:070:23:10

What do you think about the size of the kitchen,

0:23:100:23:13

because obviously, it's a different layout.

0:23:130:23:15

It's smallish, I would say,

0:23:150:23:17

-but it's not horrendously small.

-If we go into the other part

0:23:170:23:21

you'll get to see a bit more of the history of the house.

0:23:210:23:23

That would be good, more of a connection.

0:23:230:23:26

The kitchen may not have the character they're after,

0:23:260:23:29

but I don't think that'll be a problem elsewhere in this cottage.

0:23:290:23:32

So, step back 200 years.

0:23:330:23:36

Gosh. This is very different from the kitchen, isn't it?

0:23:370:23:40

Yeah. Totally different feel.

0:23:400:23:43

Lovely proportions in this room, aren't there?

0:23:430:23:45

So, is this a bit more in terms of the scale that you're looking for?

0:23:450:23:48

-Yeah.

-What I felt about the other place was that the space downstairs

0:23:480:23:53

was overwhelming in a way.

0:23:530:23:55

It was more than we could possibly have hoped for, which is great,

0:23:550:23:59

but we would also be happy with less, I think.

0:23:590:24:01

-Is that fair to say?

-I think so.

0:24:010:24:04

It is cottagey, it ticks that box. Yeah.

0:24:040:24:06

And then round the corner,

0:24:060:24:08

you've got a big study area and the staircase.

0:24:080:24:10

Next to the living room is the other main living space,

0:24:110:24:14

currently used as an office area.

0:24:140:24:16

-It's a fantastic study area, isn't it?

-It is.

0:24:160:24:19

I could just sit there all day.

0:24:190:24:21

I wouldn't want to commute to Cambridge.

0:24:210:24:23

I'll just get some work from home and not move!

0:24:230:24:26

So even though it's a much smaller property,

0:24:260:24:28

-you seem to be more taken by the periodness of it.

-Yeah.

0:24:280:24:30

A friend commented the other day and said,

0:24:300:24:32

"What you're basically looking for is your nan's house."

0:24:320:24:35

And there are lots of things about this property that

0:24:350:24:37

although it's a different age,

0:24:370:24:39

there are lots of things like curved wood

0:24:390:24:42

and not rendered walls and things that remind me

0:24:420:24:45

of my nan's house in here.

0:24:450:24:47

Just the general feel of it.

0:24:470:24:48

-Let's take a peek upstairs.

-Do you want to lead the way?

0:24:480:24:52

The only remaining room on the ground floor is a shower room

0:24:520:24:55

which could be used by guests.

0:24:550:24:57

Upstairs, there's a landing connecting a bathroom to

0:24:570:25:00

two double bedrooms. One at the back and one at the front.

0:25:000:25:04

-So this is the master bedroom.

-Right.

0:25:040:25:06

-It's small but I guess it's just about big enough.

-I think so.

0:25:060:25:10

You can get round both sides of the bed.

0:25:100:25:12

You know, would you even consider taking the door off

0:25:120:25:15

-so that you didn't have that awkward thing?

-Yeah, possibly.

0:25:150:25:17

-Because it's only us living here.

-Yeah.

0:25:170:25:19

-You could re-hang it so it opens out the other way.

-Yes.

0:25:190:25:22

-You're very wise.

-Yes.

0:25:220:25:23

Let's go and look outside because that's also slightly quirky.

0:25:250:25:28

I'd say Jacqueline's nostalgia has made her fall in love

0:25:290:25:32

with this property much more than Alistair.

0:25:320:25:34

Let's see if the garden can swing things for him.

0:25:340:25:38

-So, the outside layout is quite unusual in this property.

-Yes.

0:25:380:25:41

You've got the tail-end of this outside building

0:25:410:25:44

and then you have this, which is one of your gardens.

0:25:440:25:46

-One.

-Gardens.

-OK.

0:25:460:25:48

-Gardens.

-We like a house with gardens.

-We do.

0:25:480:25:50

So, this is the bit that's obviously attached to the house.

0:25:500:25:53

You've got the patio area,

0:25:530:25:55

you've got a little shed there and some terracing at the bottom.

0:25:550:25:58

If you take a long walk through these woodlands,

0:25:580:26:01

you get to your own little quarter acre of

0:26:010:26:03

-what's actually allotment space.

-Yeah, a veggie plot.

-Fantastic, yes.

0:26:030:26:07

What do you think the price of this puzzling property is?

0:26:070:26:11

I reckon this is probably on the market for 285,000.

0:26:110:26:17

I hope it's under budget, as well - £280,000.

0:26:170:26:21

Well, you're in the right ballpark, but perhaps a little optimistic.

0:26:210:26:24

It's actually on the market for five English pounds short of 290,000.

0:26:240:26:30

-OK.

-Oh, OK.

0:26:300:26:31

-Interesting.

-Interesting. A lot of food for thought.

0:26:310:26:34

Yeah, absolutely. Yes.

0:26:340:26:36

For £35,000 under their top budget,

0:26:370:26:39

this thatched farm worker's cottage offers two quirky living spaces,

0:26:390:26:43

tonnes of period features -

0:26:430:26:46

which Jacqueline has completely fallen for -

0:26:460:26:49

two compact double bedrooms and a variety of garden spaces

0:26:490:26:52

both near the house and across the village.

0:26:520:26:54

The biggest positive is not something particularly tangible,

0:26:540:26:58

but there's just a general feeling that it's a warm, quirky old house

0:26:580:27:04

that somehow reminds me of my nan's house,

0:27:040:27:06

and that is the big plus for me.

0:27:060:27:09

There's actually a lot of land here,

0:27:090:27:11

but the fact that it's not all in one space

0:27:110:27:14

and the fact that it actually is so much land

0:27:140:27:17

is making me realise that perhaps having a big garden

0:27:170:27:20

isn't so important.

0:27:200:27:21

So, that's this house all done.

0:27:220:27:23

In fact, all our house tours for the day done.

0:27:230:27:26

Now it's time to mull it over.

0:27:260:27:28

-Yes, I think we need lots of time for that!

-Come with me.

0:27:280:27:30

It's the second day of our house hunt with Alistair and Jacqueline,

0:27:390:27:43

who are trading city life in London for the rural life of Cambridgeshire

0:27:430:27:47

with a budget of £325,000.

0:27:470:27:48

Still to come, I've got some impressive features

0:27:480:27:51

for our period property junkie.

0:27:510:27:53

-It's incredible.

-It's a fantastic fireplace there, isn't it?

0:27:530:27:57

One of the best I've ever seen. It's gorgeous.

0:27:570:28:00

And I go to meet a farmer who's diversifying

0:28:000:28:02

into the most unusual of livestock.

0:28:020:28:04

Are they in here? Oh, gosh, yes, they are.

0:28:040:28:07

Day two of our property search here in Cambridgeshire

0:28:080:28:11

and we have hit a slightly unusual dilemma.

0:28:110:28:14

Yesterday, it became clear that Jacqueline and Alistair really

0:28:140:28:18

are not that interested in space, which is very unusual on our show.

0:28:180:28:22

Jacqueline, particularly, I think would really like

0:28:220:28:25

a small, cosy property, preferably close to Cambridge.

0:28:250:28:28

We had rather been banking on going further away from Cambridge

0:28:280:28:31

and giving them more space, more land, more privacy.

0:28:310:28:35

So, the mystery house might be quite a problem.

0:28:350:28:38

But we love jeopardy on this show!

0:28:380:28:41

In terms of the mystery house,

0:28:440:28:46

as you know, it's always a little bit of a curveball.

0:28:460:28:48

-What do you think we might show you?

-We've been speculating about this.

0:28:480:28:52

There are a number of different options we think might be possible.

0:28:520:28:55

One is that it might be quite a lot further away.

0:28:550:28:59

Another is that it might be north of Cambridge,

0:28:590:29:01

rather than south of Cambridge.

0:29:010:29:03

You could possibly show us something that is modern but looks old,

0:29:030:29:07

as a real curveball,

0:29:070:29:08

knowing how much of a connection with the past I want.

0:29:080:29:11

But I think my favourite, I'm backing,

0:29:110:29:13

we're going out of the county.

0:29:130:29:15

For our mystery house we are indeed taking

0:29:170:29:19

the house hunt in a completely different direction,

0:29:190:29:22

heading 25 miles north of Cambridge

0:29:220:29:25

to the hamlet of Alconbury Western,

0:29:250:29:27

where the budget will stretch a bit further.

0:29:270:29:30

At the centre of the hamlet is a brook

0:29:300:29:32

and its ford crossing, which is home to a number of water birds.

0:29:320:29:36

With no church or school, the only public amenity is a pub

0:29:360:29:40

which shouldn't be a problem for Alistair and Jacqueline.

0:29:400:29:43

The much sought-after rural walks are literally on the doorstep

0:29:430:29:47

of our mystery house, which is located by the brook.

0:29:470:29:49

Come into the mystery house!

0:29:510:29:55

So, you were right in one sense - we are further away from Cambridge.

0:29:550:29:59

But wrong in the sense we haven't left Cambridgeshire.

0:29:590:30:01

-We're still here.

-OK, right.

-We're up by Huntingdon.

0:30:010:30:05

-It's about a 36-minute drive into Cambridge city centre.

-Right, OK.

0:30:050:30:10

But, look what you get. This is a detached property.

0:30:100:30:15

-Looks extensive.

-It's big, it's old, it's quirky.

0:30:150:30:17

-How old is it, in fact?

-Goes back to the 1600s.

-OK.

0:30:170:30:20

Though this extension's only 15 years old.

0:30:200:30:22

I like all the other cottages around and about.

0:30:220:30:24

-And the ford's quite charming, isn't it?

-It is.

0:30:240:30:26

It was interesting yesterday that it became apparent that,

0:30:260:30:29

actually, space, usually everyone wants space, space, space,

0:30:290:30:32

but actually, you're not so interested in space - more cosy.

0:30:320:30:35

For me, cosy rooms are lovely,

0:30:350:30:36

but there needs to be just enough space because I'm quite tall,

0:30:360:30:39

so having to stoop for a low ceilings and that sort of thing,

0:30:390:30:42

it's a sort of issue for me, actually,

0:30:420:30:44

I don't want too much of that.

0:30:440:30:46

-Right.

-So, it'll be interesting to see what this property offers.

0:30:460:30:48

It will.

0:30:480:30:50

This three-bedroom 17th century house,

0:30:500:30:52

which is currently unfurnished,

0:30:520:30:54

is full of the sort of character Jacqueline is after.

0:30:540:30:57

But there's no getting away from the one period feature

0:30:570:31:00

that could be an issue...

0:31:000:31:02

Er...I'm having to say, "Mind your head."

0:31:020:31:05

I really didn't want to say that, but everything's quite low beams.

0:31:050:31:09

-Gosh, it is.

-Wow, that's charming. Look at that.

0:31:090:31:12

I mean, they're lovely beams, but on the low side, definitely.

0:31:120:31:15

-It's incredible.

-It's a fantastic fireplace, though, isn't it?

0:31:150:31:18

One of the best I've ever seen. Gorgeous.

0:31:180:31:20

There's some really extraordinary period features.

0:31:200:31:23

This period fireplace is one of them.

0:31:230:31:24

And is that a little kind of bread often?

0:31:240:31:26

-Indeed, little bread oven, too.

-Right.

-I love these.

0:31:260:31:29

I can see the underside of the floorboards!

0:31:290:31:31

-I've never seen that before. It's incredible.

-Amazing, isn't it?

0:31:310:31:34

-Yes, well, it is VERY period.

-Indeed.

-Thank you!

0:31:340:31:37

Well, there's not period everywhere, so let's continue.

0:31:370:31:40

The 17th-century part of this property houses

0:31:400:31:43

the two large and low ceilinged living rooms,

0:31:430:31:45

but a spacious L-shaped extension

0:31:450:31:49

gives modern day room heights to the rest of the downstairs.

0:31:490:31:52

-Finally you can stand up straight.

-Yay!

-This is a good size, isn't it?

0:31:520:31:56

-It's a lovely sized kitchen, yeah.

-Love the wooden worktops.

0:31:560:32:00

And in terms of the kitchen, this is great, I think,

0:32:000:32:04

because it is a big space. We can move around it quite easily.

0:32:040:32:07

We can quite easily put a table in here or an island or something...

0:32:070:32:10

..without feeling you're inching around. Loads of space, yeah.

0:32:100:32:13

I'd love a kitchen like this.

0:32:130:32:15

As you came in through that hallway, that would be an ideal dining space.

0:32:150:32:18

-Yes, yes.

-And actually, you're spoilt for choice,

0:32:180:32:20

because you've actually got another three rooms along here.

0:32:200:32:23

Oh, right, OK.

0:32:230:32:24

Well, let's go and have a quick peek at these rooms,

0:32:240:32:26

-just so you get the layout.

-Yeah.

0:32:260:32:28

Beyond the large kitchen in the modern extension

0:32:280:32:31

are three further living rooms.

0:32:310:32:33

One is currently used as a bedroom. Another is a potential dining room.

0:32:330:32:37

And finally, there's a bright sitting-room.

0:32:370:32:40

-And then there's this lovely room.

-Ah, like a little garden room.

0:32:400:32:44

-Yeah.

-Gosh, this is nice and bright, isn't it?

-Double aspect.

0:32:440:32:48

-Nice, big windows.

-French doors.

-Yeah.

0:32:480:32:52

So, the unusual thing about this property is that,

0:32:520:32:54

while a bit like the first property, is that upstairs,

0:32:540:32:56

there's really just two bedrooms.

0:32:560:32:58

Three rooms in this wing, and then three big rooms in the other.

0:32:580:33:01

We've got wings now!

0:33:010:33:03

Let's look at the ones upstairs, because they're very charming.

0:33:030:33:06

With no bathrooms upstairs, the final rooms on the ground floor

0:33:100:33:14

are a shower room and the property's main bathroom.

0:33:140:33:17

Back in the old part of the house are the stairs

0:33:170:33:20

to the two first-floor bedrooms.

0:33:200:33:22

So it's a little bit wiggly.

0:33:220:33:25

-Oh, wow.

-But it's worth the climb, I think.

-Wow. What a room.

0:33:250:33:29

-Oh, that little window!

-Yeah. It's adorable, isn't it?

0:33:290:33:32

-It is.

-It's charming.

-And what does it overlook?

0:33:320:33:35

-It overlooks the river - fantastic.

-The ford as well!

-The ford, yeah.

0:33:350:33:39

I'd be tempted to put the bed this side

0:33:390:33:41

so you could just lie in bed and watch the ford.

0:33:410:33:43

I love the brickwork of the fireplace, the chimney breast.

0:33:430:33:46

What's great, of course, is then the chimney breast would heat up...

0:33:460:33:49

-Yes.

-..so this would then act as a giant radiator.

-Yeah, absolutely.

0:33:490:33:52

That's really good.

0:33:520:33:54

And you have another room over the other side which you could

0:33:540:33:56

have as your dressing room.

0:33:560:33:58

So, this could be your floor, and guests could stay downstairs.

0:33:580:34:00

-Yeah, yeah.

-Fantastic.

-Makes sense.

0:34:000:34:02

-Let's go into the garden and talk about the price.

-Great.

-OK, lovely.

0:34:020:34:05

The land for the property is mostly at the front.

0:34:050:34:08

To the side of a large driveway is a picket fence and wooden gate

0:34:080:34:12

to an enclosed garden area just big enough for a vegetable patch.

0:34:120:34:15

It's not a huge garden, but pretty and private.

0:34:150:34:18

Yes, lovely tree screening there.

0:34:180:34:20

I love the little kind of gardens over here,

0:34:220:34:24

-behind the sleepers as well.

-Yeah.

0:34:240:34:26

-And there's this raised pergola area which actually has a hot tub.

-Wow!

0:34:260:34:32

I wouldn't say no to a hot tub!

0:34:320:34:34

You could have a lot of fun in there, couldn't you?

0:34:340:34:36

What is it on the market for, do you think?

0:34:360:34:39

I'm going to go quite low. I'm going to say £275,000.

0:34:390:34:43

I think probably a bit more than that, maybe - it is quite big -

0:34:430:34:46

so maybe 285.

0:34:460:34:47

This is actually on the market for 325.

0:34:470:34:51

-Oh, really?

-Way off.

-Way off the mark.

0:34:510:34:53

-Clearly we don't know this market at all.

-We clearly don't, no.

0:34:530:34:56

So, Huntingdonshire, hmm, OK.

0:34:560:34:59

Have a little wander around, see what takes your fancy,

0:34:590:35:02

and then we'll head off to make some decisions.

0:35:020:35:04

OK, lovely. Thank you.

0:35:040:35:06

It so interesting, isn't it,

0:35:080:35:09

when they guess the prices so off the mark?

0:35:090:35:11

It says a lot about what the people think about the house.

0:35:110:35:14

For the top end of their budget,

0:35:140:35:16

this 17th-century house has all the old beams and fireplaces

0:35:160:35:20

to satisfy Jacqueline's connection to the past,

0:35:200:35:23

but comes with challenging ceiling heights for Alistair.

0:35:230:35:27

There's ample space with three bedrooms and four living rooms,

0:35:270:35:31

and outside, there's enough room for a veggie patch.

0:35:310:35:34

But located in the more affordable north,

0:35:340:35:36

it is a little further out from Cambridge.

0:35:360:35:39

No question, this inglenook fireplace is absolutely stunning.

0:35:390:35:42

With the seat next to it and the little bread oven,

0:35:420:35:45

this is five-star for me.

0:35:450:35:46

In terms of the downsides,

0:35:460:35:48

I suppose the first one that comes straight to my head is location.

0:35:480:35:51

It's way out of our area of search.

0:35:510:35:54

I don't really know where I am.

0:35:540:35:57

The biggest positive for the mystery property for me

0:35:570:35:59

was probably the lovely old period character part of it.

0:35:590:36:03

The two main and lovely old rooms were, for me,

0:36:030:36:06

almost unusable, I'm afraid to say.

0:36:060:36:08

Moving around the main bedroom upstairs

0:36:080:36:10

was quite a challenge for me.

0:36:100:36:13

So, time, I think, to regroup and discuss all the houses.

0:36:130:36:16

-Yes.

-Fantastic.

0:36:160:36:17

Let's head away from here and get somewhere out of the wind.

0:36:170:36:20

The Cambridge countryside is peppered with

0:36:250:36:28

traditional family-run farms - farms like Johnson's,

0:36:280:36:31

which for the last 100 years has been producing meat

0:36:310:36:34

from cattle, pigs and sheep.

0:36:340:36:36

But this farm, unlike most of the region,

0:36:360:36:38

is diversifying into a highly unusual type of livestock...

0:36:380:36:43

Crocodiles.

0:36:430:36:44

I'm meeting fourth-generation farmer Andrew Johnson to find out more.

0:36:440:36:47

-Morning, Andrew.

-Morning.

-You've got some beautiful livestock here.

0:36:470:36:51

I did notice some rather exotic buffalo -

0:36:510:36:53

are they buffalo on the way in?

0:36:530:36:55

-That's right, yeah.

-But that's not the most exotic thing you've got.

0:36:550:36:58

-You've got crocs?

-Yeah, it seems to be one everyone picks up on.

0:36:580:37:01

Unsurprisingly! How long ago did the first crocodiles arrive?

0:37:010:37:04

I think ten years today is actually when the first ones turned up.

0:37:040:37:08

Presumably, long-term, you want to breed them to sell them as meat?

0:37:080:37:11

Yes, that's what we're hoping.

0:37:110:37:12

Crocodile meat is white, it flakes, it's very high-protein,

0:37:120:37:16

and it's got all the value of a fish.

0:37:160:37:17

From an economy point of view, it could turn into a large industry.

0:37:170:37:21

-Can we go and see?

-Yeah.

0:37:210:37:23

Crocodile meat is high in protein

0:37:230:37:25

and lower in cholesterol and fat than chicken

0:37:250:37:27

and it's believed there are anti-carcinogenic

0:37:270:37:31

and anti-arthritic properties, too.

0:37:310:37:33

Keeping crocodiles requires a dangerous wild animal licence

0:37:330:37:36

obtained from the district council, who inspect for animal welfare

0:37:360:37:40

and safety of enclosures,

0:37:400:37:41

As crocodiles can grow up to ten feet long

0:37:410:37:44

and have a bite 100 times more powerful than a large dog,

0:37:440:37:48

it's a long way from farming cattle.

0:37:480:37:50

Are they in here? Oh, gosh, yes, they are. How many are in here?

0:37:500:37:55

There's four adults in here - three females and a male.

0:37:550:37:58

-And then the two babies, separate in the corner.

-So, how old do they grow?

0:37:580:38:01

They should live in captivity well in excess of 100 years

0:38:010:38:05

because in the wild, when they eventually die is when they run out of teeth.

0:38:050:38:08

They grow about 2,500 teeth in a lifetime.

0:38:080:38:11

In captivity, we're feeding them smaller bits of meat

0:38:110:38:14

so their teeth last much longer.

0:38:140:38:16

Are they quite placid?

0:38:160:38:18

Yeah, nine times out of ten they are quite happy to

0:38:180:38:20

-get on with their life.

-And that 10th time, what do they do?

0:38:200:38:23

-That's when you go a little bit faster.

-I am very impressed.

0:38:230:38:27

I'm particularly impressed

0:38:270:38:29

that you're going to go in there and feed them.

0:38:290:38:31

The crocs are used to Andy being in their enclosure,

0:38:310:38:35

but he still takes a safety board to protect his legs.

0:38:350:38:39

Come on.

0:38:430:38:45

These cold-blooded predators can digest pretty much anything,

0:38:450:38:49

making them very cost-effective to feed.

0:38:490:38:52

They can also go for many months without eating.

0:38:520:38:55

Known as brumation,

0:38:550:38:56

they lower their metabolic rate and don't require food -

0:38:560:38:59

perhaps one of the reasons they've survived

0:38:590:39:02

from their prehistoric ancestors over 65 million years ago.

0:39:020:39:06

This is the first time these crocs have been fed in six months.

0:39:060:39:10

Not so hungry. Six months and still no appetite.

0:39:100:39:14

I bet you're quite close to lying, ain't you? Yes, come on.

0:39:140:39:19

Learning how to breed these animals has been Andy's focus,

0:39:190:39:22

and in 2011, he became the first British farmer to successfully

0:39:220:39:26

breed crocodiles in captivity, when two hatchlings were born.

0:39:260:39:30

And now's my opportunity to meet one of these unique critters.

0:39:300:39:34

He's making a funny noise. He doesn't like being out.

0:39:340:39:37

-He's calling out for his mum.

-He's a bit whippy, isn't he?

-Yeah.

0:39:370:39:42

I don't think I'll be holding on to him.

0:39:420:39:44

So, what's the future with these chaps?

0:39:440:39:46

This is going to be the next generation, presumably?

0:39:460:39:48

Yes. This is our proof that we can get them to copulate

0:39:480:39:52

and hatch eggs in our environment.

0:39:520:39:54

And is the idea that we're all going to be eating croc steaks for dinner?

0:39:540:39:59

Yeah. Cod's getting more expensive. Crocodile is very versatile.

0:39:590:40:03

It works very well battered for chip shops.

0:40:030:40:05

So, you've tasted it. What does it actually taste like?

0:40:050:40:08

The nearest thing to say is going to be monkfish.

0:40:080:40:11

So do you think the British public will ever

0:40:110:40:13

overcome their squeamishness about eating crocodile?

0:40:130:40:17

I don't see it being a problem. People aren't afraid of trying anything,

0:40:170:40:20

especially when they find out about the health properties and everything else.

0:40:200:40:23

You're the future, do you know that?

0:40:230:40:25

You're the future... with very sharp teeth.

0:40:250:40:27

Yeah.

0:40:270:40:28

With his proven breeding record, Andy now hopes to import

0:40:280:40:31

50 crocodile babies from Kenya

0:40:310:40:33

to start farming for public consumption.

0:40:330:40:36

His modern farming venture could make Cambridgeshire

0:40:360:40:39

the future croc capital of the UK.

0:40:390:40:42

Well, we may have put Alistair and Jacqueline through the mill this week,

0:40:420:40:46

but I think it was very useful, particularly the last property.

0:40:460:40:50

Even though it wasn't in the location they wanted

0:40:500:40:52

it has crystallised their thoughts.

0:40:520:40:55

So, let's find them and see where they are right now.

0:40:550:40:58

-Hello, guys. We've found a bit of shelter from the wind.

-Yes.

0:40:590:41:03

Now, it's been a great week. Lovely looking around the county with you.

0:41:030:41:06

We've thoroughly enjoyed it, yes.

0:41:060:41:08

I think what's been so interesting was actually the very first one we saw,

0:41:080:41:11

I think we're both quite inspired by that.

0:41:110:41:13

I think one of the things for me

0:41:130:41:15

is there's a winning combination in a property

0:41:150:41:18

that has daytime space with lovely light,

0:41:180:41:20

like the dining room and the extra room at the back,

0:41:200:41:23

and then for the evening, it has some kind of cosy room

0:41:230:41:26

that you can go in and put the lamps on and sit by the fire.

0:41:260:41:29

And that has that combination, and that's perfect for me.

0:41:290:41:32

Your flat will hopefully be sold in a couple of months,

0:41:320:41:35

so what's going to happen next? Will you revisit house number one?

0:41:350:41:37

I think we probably will.

0:41:370:41:39

We talked about this and the property itself is really suitable for us.

0:41:390:41:44

Our question mark was always about whether it's just a bit too far out

0:41:440:41:47

or what the journey into Cambridge would be like,

0:41:470:41:50

and see how exactly long it would take and what it would feel like.

0:41:500:41:53

That's it - how long it would take.

0:41:530:41:55

So I think maybe even before visiting the property,

0:41:550:41:58

we might just go there, cycle to the nearest train station,

0:41:580:42:02

get the train into Cambridge and cycle to work.

0:42:020:42:05

It seems like you are very enthusiastic about this move.

0:42:050:42:07

And wherever you move up, do let us know,

0:42:070:42:10

because it would be great to see you settled.

0:42:100:42:12

-Thank you.

-Absolutely, yeah. We'll keep you posted.

0:42:120:42:15

-Well, best of luck.

-Thank you.

0:42:150:42:16

It's been lovely looking around Cambridgeshire.

0:42:210:42:24

It's not a county that I've been to very often on the show,

0:42:240:42:26

so thank you to Alistair and Jacqueline for bringing us here.

0:42:260:42:29

Also, it's been quite interesting showing them around

0:42:290:42:32

because unlike most contributors on this show,

0:42:320:42:34

they've decided they probably want less space for their money

0:42:340:42:37

instead of more.

0:42:370:42:39

But the UK is very varied,

0:42:390:42:41

as are the property buyers in it, as are you,

0:42:410:42:43

so, I hope you join us next time

0:42:430:42:45

for more adventures on Escape To The Country.

0:42:450:42:48

And there's been good news!

0:42:480:42:50

Jacqueline and Alistair decided the commute from the first property

0:42:500:42:53

wasn't going to be a problem and put in an offer which has been accepted.

0:42:530:42:57

All things being well, they should be out of London

0:42:570:42:59

and living in Cambridgeshire in a matter of weeks.

0:42:590:43:02

If you'd like to escape to the country in Wales, Scotland,

0:43:020:43:05

Northern Ireland or England,

0:43:050:43:07

and would like our help, you can apply online at...

0:43:070:43:11

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