Northumberland Escape to the Country


Northumberland

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Welcome to Escape To The Country.

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This magnificent castle behind me has, over the centuries,

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played host to both medieval and Stuart kings,

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but when its current owner bought it less than 40 years ago,

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it was, in his words, a total wreck.

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So, who might be persuaded to take on such an ambitious project

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of restoration - and where?

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

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On today's show, two friends partner up

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to help one of them fulfil a long-held country dream -

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but bonding with the locals could prove tricky.

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Somewhere to sit out and enjoy looking at those cows.

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We've laid them on especially, Chris,

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to help you try and overcome your cow phobia.

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'And if the figures stack up,

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'our properties are right on the money.'

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I love it.

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Can I have it?

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Course you can! SHE LAUGHS

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-If you can afford it!

-How much?

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How much is the question, isn't it?

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Well, today we are in Northumberland,

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and this is the very splendid backdrop of Chillingham Castle,

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home to the Grey family since the 13th century -

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a family, who, amongst other things,

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gave us a very popular blend of tea.

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Now, over the last 800 years or so, it's been lived in, fought over

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and then finally left to rack and ruin

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until its current owner, the very colourful Sir Humphry Wakefield,

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bought it back in the early 1980s.

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Now, later on in the show,

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I'll be getting my own, very special guided tour

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in the company of Sir Humphry himself,

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finding out just what it takes to restore a building like this,

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but also getting a little insight into what life is really like

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in a very Englishman's castle.

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Right at the head of England,

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Northumberland is the country's crowning glory,

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sharing County Durham and Cumbria's county borders,

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with Scotland just the other side of its northern boundary.

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And Northumberland's prime position,

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sitting shoulder to shoulder with Scotland,

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has greatly influenced the county's heritage and architecture.

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At the mouth of the River Tweed,

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the definitive border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed has changed hands

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between the English and Scottish at least 13 times.

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And the border wars which raged through the Middle Ages

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have left the landscape with a rich assortment

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of medieval fortifications, both ruinous and preserved.

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Among the many castles

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that litter Northumberland's beautiful coastline,

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Bamburgh was a key stronghold in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria,

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and the epic 1,900-year-old Hadrian's Wall

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charges over 70 miles from the North to the Irish Sea,

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cutting through the region's wild, dramatic and remote countryside.

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With swathes of secluded beaches

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and the UK's least-populated National Park,

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it's small wonder that Northumberland

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has been voted the most tranquil county in the country.

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Well, for a county with some beautiful

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rural and coastal locations,

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Northumberland also represents pretty good value for money.

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Currently, the average price of a detached property

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is £223,000 here.

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That's some 60,000 below the national figure.

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But, for all of its celebrated coastline,

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coastal properties are hard to find.

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However, step inland and you are blessed with

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not only beautiful countryside,

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but also exceptional value for money.

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But before we continue exploring this wonderful county,

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we're heading a little further south in the country,

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to the town of Conisbrough near Doncaster in South Yorkshire,

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home to today's buyer, Chris, a retired lecturer,

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and her best friend and neighbour, Linda, who works as a nurse.

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I used to have the pub at the bottom of the road, The Castle Inn -

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I was the landlady there -

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and Linda used to come in.

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I didn't really know her then,

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but I heard that when I thought about moving here,

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she was a bit worried, because she thought I was a bit stuck-up.

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But, anyway, I moved in and we became good friends

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-almost immediately, didn't we?

-Yeah.

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I realised she wasn't stuck-up after all.

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And their friendship has seen them

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through the good times as well as the bad.

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My husband was alive when she first moved in,

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and then my husband sadly passed away five years ago,

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and Chris has been a real help to me,

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she's really got me through it, been a really good friend. Haven't you?

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Yeah, we've taken her out!

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Living next-door to one another for 12 years,

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Chris and Linda have developed a close bond,

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and have even put a gate up between their gardens

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so they can wander freely in and out of one another's properties.

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Boundary-hopping may soon cease,

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as Chris has recently put her three-bedroom detached home

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on the market.

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I've been very happy in this house, here,

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but it's getting a bit big for me now,

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so I'd like to move somewhere that's not so high-maintenance,

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and is warmer, and so I wouldn't have to spend so much time

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and so much money looking after it...

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and also the traffic.

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Although it's an unadopted road that I live on,

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they use it as a short cut.

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It does get very busy on that road at the top,

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and we both...you do some part-time work, don't you?

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And I walk up to work.

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You know, the traffic, sometimes, the fumes and the dust,

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you know, and you think, oh...

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It does get you down a little bit.

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A creative at heart,

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Chris now wants to downsize and escape her urban surroundings

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to find inspiration from the sea and countryside of the North East.

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The area that I'd like to move to is the Northumberland coast,

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because I had a friend who sadly died this year,

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and I used to spend time with her.

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She lived in a caravan on the beach

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and we used to walk on these empty beaches.

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It's so unspoilt and wild up there.

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She found her artistic side up there -

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and she's sort of inspiring me to want to go up there

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and find my creative side, as well.

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I WILL write that novel.

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But at the moment, Chris's creativity isn't entirely passive,

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as she turned her hand to an ambitious garden seat

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dedicated to the memory of Linda's late husband.

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I made a bench outside,

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and I wanted it to be one like Gaudi did in Barcelona.

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And I taught myself how to render, did all the tiling,

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and we got it finished...

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Well, that must have taken at least a year to do it.

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Yeah, but I think it sort of...

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It's the strongest bench in creativity,

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that it has got foundations, we dug foundations,

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it will never go anywhere.

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-Everybody comments on it when they see it.

-Yeah.

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So, it's really unusual.

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Another thing that I'd like to do,

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if I got a place that had got a bit of a workshop, or a shed, even,

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is to make things out of found objects,

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like the driftwood and things that you find in abundance up there.

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So, making things as well as writing.

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And aside from artistic aspirations,

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proximity to her family is also fuelling the decision to relocate.

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I've got two sons.

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The elder one lives in Austria and he's married an Austrian woman.

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My younger son has married a Scottish girl,

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and they've just moved up to Edinburgh,

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so that's one of the reasons I'd like to move,

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because I'd like to move somewhere closer to them.

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So, with family to visit, things to make and books to write,

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this Northumbrian move heralds not only a change of location,

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but a complete change of lifestyle for both ladies.

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I think this is an important move for me,

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because it will probably be the last move that I make -

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and yet I feel now, at the age of 64,

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I'm still young enough and still active enough

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to make that move and make new friends and find new interests.

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You know, I'm going to miss her when she goes,

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and we've got such a good friendship,

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it's a shame, really, not to still be near her,

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so, possibly, when I'm... I mean, I'm almost ready

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for retiring myself, I might actually go and join her.

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For the best chance of what Chris - or, indeed, Linda - is after,

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our Northumberland property search will be focused

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in attractive villages within the northern portion of the county,

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pushing right up to the Scottish border

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and out towards the eastern coast.

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So, I'm meeting up with them in the county

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to glean a better understanding of this impending move.

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Well, Chris, Linda, welcome to Escape To The Country,

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and welcome to Northumberland.

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-Thank you.

-So, you now think the time is right to make this move,

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and you've brought Linda along

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-as some sensible counsel in this move.

-Yeah!

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I think I just need to keep a check on her, really,

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and make sure she makes the right choices.

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This is a very jolly, very warm set up, isn't it?

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Two old friends and neighbours escaping to the country,

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-or helping you to escape, Chris.

-Yeah, I'm going first!

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I may follow very soon.

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Linda, you are also keen on moving,

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and this might also be a part of the world

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that could appeal to you in the future?

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Yeah, I'd love to live near the coast.

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It's a bit quieter up here and the beaches are nice and quiet,

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and it's just so lovely, so I might be tempted.

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So, there may be some competition for these houses, Chris,

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you may get gazumped by your neighbour!

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And that will be the end of that friendship, won't it?

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THEY LAUGH

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So, give us a sense, Chris, of the kind of property that you are after.

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Well, I like somewhere with character,

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that's probably been something else,

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you know, like an old schoolhouse or something.

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How many bedrooms? Because obviously you're going to want

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-friends and family to come and stay.

-Two or three.

-Mm-hm.

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Because I've got two sons - and one lives in Edinburgh,

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that's one of the reasons I want to move up, to be closer to him.

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So, I need at least a spare room.

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I'd like to have a view.

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It doesn't have to be sea, but not far from the sea,

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and I'd like somewhere with a kitchen I can sit in,

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because I've not had that before.

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A garden that I can sit in and hang the washing out,

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that's important, as well.

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Now, Linda, you know Chris better than I do.

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How easy is it going to be to satisfy her needs, do you think?

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I think it has to be something quirky for Chris.

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She won't make do with just boring or mundane.

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It has to have something unusual about it,

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because she's a very quirky person, aren't you?

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And in terms of the budget, then, Chris,

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how much do think you're going to have to spend?

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Well, I've only got 200,000, so that really is the maximum.

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Well, this is a beautiful part of the world.

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Why more people don't escape to the North East, I simply don't know.

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-Don't tell them, though.

-No!

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It's a really hidden gem that offers you brilliant value for money

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-and beautiful landscape.

-Yeah.

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We've got a really interesting range of properties to show you.

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-We've got some beautiful weather.

-Yeah!

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-Shall we go?

-Yep.

-Come on, then. Follow me this way.

-OK.

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For a top budget of £200,000,

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Chris is after a characterful property

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with a kitchen/breakfast room and at least two bedrooms.

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Ideally, she'd like a garden with a workshop

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in which to get creative

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and somewhere with an inspiring outlook...

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and we've got a wonderful mix of homes to serve up -

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but I won't be revealing the attached price tags

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until they've had a good look around each one first.

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Then, last on the property agenda is our Mystery House,

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which could bring the coast, and my companions,

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closer than they ever imagined.

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Now, I gather you have a rather unique phobia, Chris,

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of all things, about cows, is that right?

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It's not a unique phobia.

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They're actually very dangerous animals,

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-and they trample people to death.

-LINDA CHUCKLES

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How many people do you think are killed a year by cows?

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About 7,000.

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THEY LAUGH

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Did you just make that up?!

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You did make it up, because I can tell you, it's five.

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Five a year.

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I was close, then(!)

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Actually, double the number killed by horses -

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-so, maybe there is something in your phobia.

-Yeah.

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I hope we see some cows today. I want to see what happens!

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I've seen loads up here, actually.

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It's a bit of a hazard when you're a rambler.

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It is indeed. I mean, you certainly have to be careful,

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particularly with dogs and young children, if you're walking through.

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But again, it's one of those little elements of the Country Code,

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I think, you just... Yeah, be sensible.

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But, um, you do admire them, don't you?

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They are lovely creatures.

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From afar.

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Our first destination is the village of Mindrum,

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just 15 miles from the coast,

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lying in the shadow of the Cheviot Hills,

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at the northern fringes of the Northumberland National Park.

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The village is just a 15-minute drive from Wooler,

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which is a small town made of striking stone architecture,

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that sits seamlessly against a scenic country backdrop.

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Here, a variety of specialist shops and cafes can be found,

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including a delicatessen, post office and even an art gallery,

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which could be an outlet for creative Chris to explore.

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So, although a pint of milk is some eight miles away

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from the property back in Mindrum,

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the remoteness might just be the ticket, as it couldn't be further

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from the fumes and traffic our buyer wants to escape.

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With just ten neighbouring houses,

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this location is more cosy hamlet than busy village.

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This is what I want you to look at, Chris.

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-This one? Is it the whole row?

-It's not the whole row,

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-it is effectively half of it, though.

-Wow!

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What we've got for you is half a range

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of former farm workers' cottages.

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There were probably numerous cottages here,

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but, effectively, they've combined several to give you...

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well, as I say, half of that range,

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so you've got one, two, three, four, five of those windows

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and two chimney stacks.

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-When were they built?

-1830.

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1830, so it's sort of long and thin, it's single-storey living, this.

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Yeah, I think it's lovely so far.

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Is this the sort of thing that you would go for?

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Yeah, yeah, it's fantastic.

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-Let's see what you think of the inside.

-OK.

-Can't wait.

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With roots in the early 19th century,

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this semidetached former estate cottage is built of sandstone

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and painted white at the front, but left natural at the back,

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which is where we find the entrance.

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-A nice little area to sit outside.

-Yes!

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Come on in.

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As a former farm worker's cottage,

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this modest property is just one room deep,

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but that does mean some rooms

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benefit from aspects to the front and rear.

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Running from left to right, there are four rooms in total,

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plus a bathroom and our first stop inside is the kitchen.

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Well, let's start in here, then, Chris.

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That's lovely.

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I said I wanted a kitchen that I could sit and eat in and here it is!

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-Here it is!

-With a lovely view.

-Oh, the view is fabulous from there!

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-Yeah, I like it.

-Yeah, it's lovely.

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The nature of a long, thin building

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means the geography isn't traditional.

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The family bathroom is right next to the kitchen,

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but next we're taking a peek at the master bedroom to the far left.

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It's a nice size -

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just get out of bed, make a cup of tea, come back!

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THEY LAUGH

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This is a light, bright, dual-aspect room,

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but bedroom two isn't bad either.

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This is the other bedroom. It's quite a sweet little twin/double.

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And then it leads on into here.

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I think this has to be my favourite room here, actually.

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-Oh, yeah, it's lovely.

-It's gorgeous!

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It's got such a nice, quirky feel to it as well.

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Good, I'm glad you like it.

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Well, that wraps up all the internal accommodation.

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Outside at the back there's a gravel courtyard with a large timber store

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but the rest of the lawned gardens

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lie entirely to the front of the property,

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which is where we're heading

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to have a stab at how much it all might cost.

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Look at that!

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You know, we do get to see some fabulous landscapes

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on Escape To The Country,

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but these do take some beating. Look, the Cheviots up there,

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-the most amazing light today.

-It's wonderful.

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And, of course, all of it surrounding

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-a quite interesting first proposition.

-Mm.

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So, Linda, can you help Chris out

0:16:100:16:13

on estimating the value of this one?

0:16:130:16:17

Em...about 185?

0:16:170:16:20

185, yeah? Chris?

0:16:200:16:22

Well, I think because it's on the edge of the National Park,

0:16:220:16:26

that might put the price up a bit,

0:16:260:16:27

but it is only two bedrooms, so I'll say 180.

0:16:270:16:30

Well done. Absolutely spot-on.

0:16:300:16:33

180, offers in the region of.

0:16:330:16:36

So your £200,000 affords it comfortably,

0:16:360:16:39

with plenty left over to make any little adjustments inside,

0:16:390:16:42

but also in particular, I think,

0:16:420:16:44

for the addition of some sort of workshop space out the back.

0:16:440:16:47

Go and have a wander round. This is our first one.

0:16:470:16:49

See what you get for 180

0:16:490:16:51

-and I will find you a little bit later.

-OK.

-Off you go.

0:16:510:16:55

£20,000 below budget, property number one...

0:17:000:17:04

The property is set in a tranquil, rural location

0:17:120:17:15

with views over the National Park.

0:17:150:17:18

When I walked into the house, the house had a lovely feeling to it,

0:17:180:17:21

I felt that I could live here,

0:17:210:17:23

it had a nice warm feeling to it in every room.

0:17:230:17:26

I think it's a good start. It is a lovely little house.

0:17:260:17:30

I just worry it's a little bit small and she has a lot of books

0:17:300:17:33

and I don't think she'd want to part with those,

0:17:330:17:36

so I think she might struggle to get the storage space here

0:17:360:17:39

that she needs for things like that.

0:17:390:17:41

I've got to think about the remoteness of the location.

0:17:410:17:44

Is it exactly what I want?

0:17:440:17:47

So it's given me a lot of food for thought.

0:17:470:17:50

You know, I've explored Northumberland

0:17:500:17:52

on many occasions throughout my life

0:17:520:17:54

and I have to confess the weather isn't always like this,

0:17:540:17:57

but when it is, where else would you want to be?

0:17:570:18:00

-It's glorious, isn't it?

-Fantastic.

0:18:000:18:02

And I think it's showed off our first offering in a brilliant light,

0:18:020:18:05

in more ways than one, but we have got plenty more to show you.

0:18:050:18:08

-All set?

-Yep.

0:18:080:18:10

-Might go over the border. How about that?

-OK.

-Wow.

0:18:100:18:12

The incentive for Christine's move to Northumberland

0:18:220:18:25

is the desire to get more artistic, drawing inspiration

0:18:250:18:28

from her new-found coast and country environment.

0:18:280:18:31

So we've arranged for Chris and Linda to meet Gerard van der Veen,

0:18:310:18:34

an artist originally from Holland

0:18:340:18:36

who takes reclaimed and salvaged natural materials from the county

0:18:360:18:39

and transforms them into home and garden features

0:18:390:18:42

to attract local wildlife.

0:18:420:18:44

-Hello! I'm Linda.

-Hi, I'm Gerard.

0:18:450:18:48

-Hello, I'm Chris.

-Hi.

0:18:480:18:49

Gerard, what do you do here?

0:18:490:18:51

I make all kinds of things for the environment.

0:18:510:18:54

I try to use old reclaimed slate

0:18:540:18:56

and make all kinds of products to enhance life in nature.

0:18:560:18:59

So, why slate?

0:18:590:19:00

It's a beautiful construction material to work with.

0:19:000:19:03

A lot of people think, you know, slate is slate.

0:19:030:19:06

No, it's not. You have from rock hard to butter soft.

0:19:060:19:09

So you really have to pick and choose the right piece of slate,

0:19:090:19:11

because from, say, ten pieces, I only use about two.

0:19:110:19:14

Oh, wow - what sort of things do you make?

0:19:140:19:16

I make a whole variety.

0:19:160:19:17

I make bird feeders, to bird tables, to birdhouses, nesting boxes.

0:19:170:19:22

I really want to enhance nature.

0:19:220:19:23

After a career in product design,

0:19:260:19:28

Gerard left the corporate world to set up his own enterprise,

0:19:280:19:31

creating products that are environmentally friendly.

0:19:310:19:34

Taking advantage of his proximity to the River Rede,

0:19:350:19:38

which meanders through the village of West Woodburn, where he lives,

0:19:380:19:41

he uses the water to clean, soak and cut the slate.

0:19:410:19:45

-Like this, yeah?

-Yes, yes.

0:19:450:19:47

-Just top and bottom. That's it.

-OK.

0:19:470:19:51

Just another hundred to go.

0:19:510:19:52

THEY LAUGH

0:19:520:19:53

Would you go back to city life, Gerard?

0:19:540:19:56

Um, not really, to be honest.

0:19:560:19:58

I fell in love with nature here, especially in Northumberland.

0:19:580:20:02

Its ruralness.

0:20:020:20:03

The main reason why I live very rural

0:20:030:20:06

is because you can shape your own life.

0:20:060:20:08

When you go back to the city, the city will shape your life,

0:20:080:20:11

and that's the reason why I'm here in Northumberland.

0:20:110:20:14

I'm into making things from found objects,

0:20:140:20:17

particularly driftwood I'm interested in,

0:20:170:20:18

and there's lots of it, isn't there, around here

0:20:180:20:20

-on the beaches of Northumberland?

-Yes, yes.

0:20:200:20:23

Now that you mention wood, I use slate, but I also use wood.

0:20:230:20:28

I'm using that also in the studio.

0:20:280:20:30

If Linda is ready, we could go to the studio

0:20:300:20:33

and have a look at what I make from wood and slate.

0:20:330:20:37

OK, lovely.

0:20:370:20:38

All of Gerard's products are handmade in his workshop,

0:20:380:20:41

and he's showing Chris and Linda how to make one of his bestsellers

0:20:410:20:44

using reclaimed offcuts of slate from across the county -

0:20:440:20:47

mostly found or donated.

0:20:470:20:49

What are we making today?

0:20:490:20:51

Well, I was thinking of showing you my window feeder -

0:20:510:20:53

it's my most popular product.

0:20:530:20:55

The birds love it, but also people who buy it love it,

0:20:550:20:57

because you can see birds in very close proximity.

0:20:570:21:00

This is the bottom. You put it in position there, under a slope.

0:21:000:21:03

-The reason why I use a slope is the water will drain out.

-Yeah.

0:21:030:21:06

So, when you put the food on, the food will never get mouldy,

0:21:060:21:09

and therefore they will eat everything you put there,

0:21:090:21:12

and so you won't attract vermin.

0:21:120:21:14

Using eco-friendly glue, two pre-cut angled slates are hinged together...

0:21:160:21:20

That doesn't seem a lot.

0:21:200:21:22

You don't really need very much.

0:21:220:21:25

..then joined to the base and left to set.

0:21:250:21:27

A bracket is then fashioned using salvaged copper wire...

0:21:290:21:31

..onto which a sucker is attached

0:21:320:21:34

so the feeder can be hung from a window.

0:21:340:21:36

Where do you get all the rest of your materials from?

0:21:380:21:40

Well, the slate is coming from all kinds of directions, to be honest.

0:21:400:21:44

A lot is donated, and I try to give it an extra life.

0:21:440:21:47

So after hanging 100 years on the roof,

0:21:470:21:50

I'm now trying to extend it by another, say, 25, even more, years.

0:21:500:21:54

Slate is a dark-grey metamorphic rock.

0:21:550:21:58

Essentially, it's compressed mud

0:21:580:22:00

that's been compacted and heated under extreme pressure

0:22:000:22:03

over millions of years.

0:22:030:22:05

-Finished?

-Yeah.

0:22:050:22:06

So another three window feeders.

0:22:060:22:08

I would say take the window feeder with you,

0:22:080:22:11

-and that's a token from me.

-Oh, thank you.

0:22:110:22:12

-Thank you, it's very kind of you.

-Lovely memory of today.

0:22:120:22:15

-It's been brilliant.

-Thank you.

-You've been inspirational.

0:22:150:22:17

So, as we turn our attention back to the house hunt,

0:22:170:22:21

let's trust that the inspiring vision continues.

0:22:210:22:24

Now, your son in Edinburgh must be delighted

0:22:280:22:30

that you're going to move so much closer to him?

0:22:300:22:32

-LAUGHING:

-Must be!

0:22:320:22:33

LAUGHING: Have you not told him yet?!

0:22:330:22:36

When I initially told them... When they moved to Edinburgh,

0:22:360:22:38

I said, "Oh, I could come up and live there!"

0:22:380:22:41

And my daughter-in-law laughed, which was not the response I wanted.

0:22:410:22:44

But since they've got used to the idea, they're quite keen,

0:22:440:22:47

-I think they'll like it.

-I think it would be great,

0:22:470:22:50

and you've got so much to explore up here!

0:22:500:22:53

So many things to go and see and to inspire you

0:22:530:22:57

and help you realise your creative ambitions,

0:22:570:23:01

from the coastline, the castles,

0:23:010:23:03

Hadrian's Wall, Kielder, the National Park,

0:23:030:23:07

you know, there are so many things, I think,

0:23:070:23:09

that can really fulfil that ambition.

0:23:090:23:12

And we're not far from Edinburgh and Newcastle as well,

0:23:120:23:16

-if we want a bit of culture.

-Absolutely.

0:23:160:23:18

Our property search is heading right up north and just out of the county

0:23:200:23:24

to the border village of Sprouston.

0:23:240:23:26

From here, the Scottish market town of Kelso

0:23:260:23:29

is the nearest place to pick up essentials and luxuries.

0:23:290:23:31

Situated on the banks of the River Tweed,

0:23:330:23:35

Kelso lies in a fertile valley

0:23:350:23:37

within ten miles of the English border.

0:23:370:23:40

At its centre is a cobbled square which is the largest in Scotland,

0:23:400:23:43

and whose Georgian town hall

0:23:430:23:45

is topped by a clock tower that chimes every quarter.

0:23:450:23:49

Another notable landmark

0:23:490:23:50

are the elegant remains of the Romanesque Kelso Abbey,

0:23:500:23:54

which was originally built in the 12th century.

0:23:540:23:56

It was once the largest and wealthiest abbey in the country.

0:23:560:24:00

The winding streets of the town host a vast range of shops and amenities,

0:24:000:24:04

eateries and accommodation.

0:24:040:24:06

These are all just a ten-minute drive

0:24:070:24:10

from the property I want to show Chris and Linda,

0:24:100:24:13

back in the rural outskirts of Sprouston.

0:24:130:24:16

Right then, Chris and Linda. Come over here.

0:24:160:24:19

-There we are.

-That is beautiful.

-Oh, that is really nice.

0:24:210:24:24

It's the end terrace, really,

0:24:240:24:27

in this interesting complex of former farm workers' cottages.

0:24:270:24:30

The look of the house with the porch and...

0:24:300:24:33

even those tiles on the roof, it just looks so welcoming.

0:24:330:24:36

It's just lovely.

0:24:360:24:37

The nice thing is, of course,

0:24:370:24:39

it being on the end, it does feel more like it is completely detached,

0:24:390:24:43

because your garden goes that way

0:24:430:24:45

and you've got those amazing views beyond

0:24:450:24:48

over towards England - because we have stepped over the border,

0:24:480:24:52

as you know. Only just.

0:24:520:24:53

About a mile or so.

0:24:530:24:55

You've also got access to a communal garden out here.

0:24:550:24:59

The garden, that sort of drew me in straightaway.

0:24:590:25:01

You can see already from here

0:25:010:25:03

there's all little nooks and crannies where you could sit,

0:25:030:25:06

and a summerhouse.

0:25:060:25:07

-Is this the sort of thing that might appeal?

-Yes. This looks gorgeous.

0:25:070:25:10

Let's have a look. Come on!

0:25:100:25:11

Let's stop talking about it. Let's see what you think.

0:25:110:25:14

Built between 1890 and 1900,

0:25:140:25:17

at first sight this pretty end terrace seems

0:25:170:25:19

to deliver on the character Chris was after.

0:25:190:25:22

Recently refurbished inside,

0:25:230:25:25

I'm confident the interior design will also match up to expectations.

0:25:250:25:30

To the right of the entrance hall we find the main reception room.

0:25:300:25:33

All right, Linda. You're in charge of the door.

0:25:330:25:35

Come this way, Chris.

0:25:350:25:37

Let's start with the living room.

0:25:370:25:39

This delightful space features a wood-burning stove in the fireplace

0:25:390:25:43

and double doors out onto the garden.

0:25:430:25:45

-This is nice.

-Yeah.

0:25:470:25:49

I feel like somebody like me lives here.

0:25:490:25:51

This first room is hitting the right mark for Chris,

0:25:520:25:54

so it's all very good so far.

0:25:540:25:57

What's more, we've also got a charming country kitchen.

0:25:570:26:00

-I love it.

-Do you?

0:26:020:26:03

Yeah.

0:26:030:26:05

It looks like solid beech, is it?

0:26:050:26:08

Yeah, it is solid beech, yeah.

0:26:080:26:10

As well as rustic wooden worktops,

0:26:100:26:12

the kitchen also has enough space for a small table

0:26:120:26:15

and a great utility room beyond.

0:26:150:26:17

Also on the ground floor is the family bathroom,

0:26:170:26:20

fitted with a classic heritage three-piece suite.

0:26:200:26:23

Then the staircase winds up to the first floor,

0:26:240:26:27

where there are three bedrooms.

0:26:270:26:28

One is part-furnished and comes with a WC en suite.

0:26:280:26:32

Another is being used as an office/music room.

0:26:320:26:36

And this is the master.

0:26:360:26:37

It's absolutely gorgeous.

0:26:390:26:41

The master also comes with its own en-suite shower room

0:26:430:26:45

and a decorative cast-iron fireplace,

0:26:450:26:48

but the real highlight of the master,

0:26:480:26:50

and indeed the whole property,

0:26:500:26:51

has to be the large wooden balcony through the French doors.

0:26:510:26:55

Wow, look at this.

0:26:560:26:58

-Wow.

-Amazing view, isn't it?

0:26:580:27:00

Yeah. I can see a little river.

0:27:000:27:02

Now, then. Here's the story.

0:27:020:27:04

That little bit of river you can see

0:27:040:27:06

is actually just a tiny part of the River Tweed,

0:27:060:27:09

and that's the border between England and Scotland.

0:27:090:27:11

So those houses you can see beyond it,

0:27:110:27:13

they're in England, and we're in Scotland.

0:27:130:27:16

-Right.

-You couldn't be closer.

0:27:160:27:17

And I love this time of year.

0:27:170:27:19

I love seeing the harvest in and done

0:27:190:27:21

and these round bales strewn across the landscape.

0:27:210:27:24

-It's just a lovely entree into autumn.

-Mm.

0:27:240:27:29

-And you wanted a view, didn't you?

-Yeah.

0:27:290:27:32

This is a lovely view.

0:27:320:27:33

It's not a sea view, but it's not bad.

0:27:330:27:36

Somehow appropriate that my English son's married a Scottish girl.

0:27:360:27:39

-There you are.

-And here I am.

-Yeah, exactly -

0:27:390:27:41

the whole family's now in Scotland.

0:27:410:27:43

Potentially. Not to pre-empt anything, of course, Chris.

0:27:430:27:46

SHE LAUGHS

0:27:460:27:48

I love it.

0:27:480:27:49

Can I have it?

0:27:490:27:50

Course you can! SHE LAUGHS

0:27:500:27:52

-If you can afford it!

-How much?

0:27:520:27:54

How much, is the question, isn't it?

0:27:540:27:56

-Mm.

-Come on. Let's go down there.

0:27:560:27:57

Give you a closer look at the garden,

0:27:570:27:59

and talk about the price.

0:27:590:28:01

So, as well as those stunning panoramic views,

0:28:010:28:03

which the owner tells me deliver amazing sunrises,

0:28:030:28:07

the cottage also benefits from a large communal lawned area

0:28:070:28:10

and a landscaped private garden.

0:28:100:28:12

With al fresco seating areas,

0:28:120:28:15

a sheltered barbecue,

0:28:150:28:17

a water feature, mature trees

0:28:170:28:21

and colourful shrubs, the garden is a real oasis

0:28:210:28:24

and the tools to tend it can be stored in a useful brick outhouse.

0:28:240:28:29

What's more, there's even the requested workshop

0:28:290:28:32

in the form of a sage-green timber summerhouse.

0:28:320:28:34

Now, this, I'm thinking, would make a great writer's retreat.

0:28:350:28:38

Yeah, it's great. Writing and reading in there, it's wonderful.

0:28:380:28:42

Is this inspiring to you?

0:28:420:28:44

I just love it. The whole... Everything about it.

0:28:440:28:46

-Yeah?

-Yeah, it's very you, this house, I think.

-Yeah.

0:28:460:28:50

Let's get to the nitty-gritty, then,

0:28:500:28:52

because we haven't dealt with the price yet, Linda.

0:28:520:28:56

-Mm.

-Go on, then.

-I would say...

0:28:560:28:59

-195.

-195.

0:28:590:29:02

-Just under budget.

-Mm.

0:29:020:29:04

I think it's above my budget.

0:29:040:29:05

-Go on.

-225.

0:29:050:29:07

225.

0:29:070:29:09

This is on the market for offers in excess...

0:29:090:29:13

of £192,500.

0:29:130:29:18

-So you weren't far off, Linda.

-No!

0:29:180:29:21

It's certainly under budget.

0:29:210:29:23

It's a great property in a great, great spot.

0:29:230:29:26

I will seriously consider it.

0:29:260:29:29

Go on, then. Discuss it amongst yourselves,

0:29:290:29:31

-and I will come and find you a bit later on.

-OK.

0:29:310:29:34

Comfortably under budget,

0:29:390:29:41

this Victorian cottage is packed full of charm and character.

0:29:410:29:45

It has three bedrooms that include a most impressive master suite

0:29:450:29:48

with commanding views from a private balcony.

0:29:480:29:51

Outside, the gardens offer plenty of scope

0:29:510:29:54

for Chris's creative ambitions.

0:29:540:29:57

Ah! Here you are. Enjoying your garden?

0:29:580:30:02

-I am.

-Ah!

-Just mind out, there.

0:30:020:30:04

-I can't see the view.

-Pardon me!

0:30:040:30:06

Pardon me. Well, you haven't bought it yet.

0:30:060:30:09

-No.

-Our search will continue tomorrow, but in the meantime

0:30:090:30:11

-I think we should go and enjoy a well-earned glass of wine.

-Let's.

0:30:110:30:14

-Come on.

-Sounds good.

-Mine's red.

-Oh, is it?!

0:30:140:30:17

We're in Northumberland, which is where Chris,

0:30:260:30:28

from a town near Doncaster in South Yorkshire,

0:30:280:30:31

wants to establish a new life in the country.

0:30:310:30:34

She's got £200,000 to spend

0:30:340:30:36

and has brought along her best friend and neighbour Linda to help.

0:30:360:30:40

We've still got two more property options to put forward,

0:30:400:30:43

and our ladies are lost for words

0:30:430:30:45

when it comes to the Mystery House.

0:30:450:30:47

How do we feel about this...notion?

0:30:470:30:49

This idea?

0:30:490:30:50

-There is a deathly silence!

-I know!

0:30:540:30:57

And I visit one of the county's many fascinating castles...

0:30:570:31:00

Wow!

0:31:000:31:01

..to learn about its ancestors past and present

0:31:010:31:04

both inside and out.

0:31:040:31:05

I never thought I'd see prehistoric cattle in this number.

0:31:050:31:08

Not least in Northumberland.

0:31:080:31:10

I am loving this house search in Northumberland,

0:31:130:31:16

and the unique dynamic between Chris and Linda

0:31:160:31:19

is, if I'm honest, really intriguing -

0:31:190:31:21

because on the one hand we are trying to fulfil Chris's ambitions

0:31:210:31:24

to make a move to Northumberland,

0:31:240:31:27

but if Linda's hopes for the future are to be realised, too, well,

0:31:270:31:30

chances are she may not be far behind her -

0:31:300:31:33

and that is where our Mystery House comes in.

0:31:330:31:35

Now, on the one hand, of course, I would love to sell it to Chris,

0:31:350:31:38

but it's also got an interesting option for Linda, as well,

0:31:380:31:41

so could we be on the brink of pulling off a first

0:31:410:31:44

for Escape To The Country - selling not just one, but two properties?

0:31:440:31:48

However, before we get to the mystery proposition,

0:31:480:31:51

we have another house to see.

0:31:510:31:52

To get to it, we're going to hop back over the border

0:31:540:31:56

between England and Scotland

0:31:560:31:58

to the small rural Scottish village of Whitsome.

0:31:580:32:01

Just over three miles away from the house,

0:32:020:32:04

the English village of Norham is the closest place

0:32:040:32:07

to find a good selection of facilities,

0:32:070:32:08

from pubs and a convenience store to a baker's and a butcher's.

0:32:080:32:12

Featuring a green surrounded by terraced stone cottages,

0:32:130:32:16

Norham is one of the most northerly villages in England.

0:32:160:32:19

So much so that one end actually lies in Scotland.

0:32:190:32:22

The village sits in the shadow

0:32:230:32:25

of the towering 12th-century Norham Castle,

0:32:250:32:27

whose ruins were first captured on canvas by the painter JMW Turner

0:32:270:32:31

in 1797 and came to feature in many of his works.

0:32:310:32:35

So, following in the footsteps of one of the country's great masters,

0:32:370:32:41

the landscape here could provide the perfect backdrop

0:32:410:32:43

for our creative house hunter Chris.

0:32:430:32:46

If she can see past the bovine neighbours.

0:32:460:32:49

We talk about the peace and quiet of the countryside, but not here today.

0:32:510:32:54

As you can hear, the farmers around about

0:32:540:32:57

are busy sorting out their planting for winter crops and so on.

0:32:570:33:00

There's a bit of farming activity going on,

0:33:000:33:02

but of course, the countryside is a busy place.

0:33:020:33:04

All of this activity surrounds... that.

0:33:040:33:07

It's a lovely-looking house. Stone-built.

0:33:070:33:10

Here we are again in farm worker's cottage territory.

0:33:100:33:12

You can see this lovely Victorian terrace.

0:33:120:33:16

End property, again, so you've got lovely views.

0:33:160:33:18

Somewhere to sit out and enjoy looking at those cows.

0:33:180:33:22

Yes, now, the cows, we've laid them on especially, Chris,

0:33:220:33:25

to help you try and overcome your cow phobia.

0:33:250:33:28

-Thank you.

-They're enjoying the sunshine,

0:33:280:33:31

they're not bothered by us,

0:33:310:33:32

so I'm hoping that in time you won't be bothered by them.

0:33:320:33:34

They're very close to the house, though.

0:33:340:33:36

The fence is all right, though, I've checked it.

0:33:360:33:39

Don't worry about it.

0:33:390:33:40

It also comes with this garden and that summerhouse.

0:33:400:33:44

I didn't notice that at first.

0:33:440:33:46

-That's nice.

-Yeah.

-That would be quite a useful studio for you.

0:33:460:33:49

-It would.

-Linda, what's your first impression?

0:33:490:33:51

I don't think it's as pretty as the last house we saw,

0:33:510:33:55

but it is nice, yeah. Let's see what it looks like inside.

0:33:550:33:58

Right then, let's see what you think.

0:33:580:34:00

Although sensing a bit of trepidation outside,

0:34:000:34:03

this stone-built semidetached home

0:34:030:34:05

is definitely worth a closer inspection.

0:34:050:34:08

It's got a rather unusual layout,

0:34:080:34:10

so could deliver that quirky character

0:34:100:34:12

Chris was hoping for.

0:34:120:34:13

Down on the ground floor

0:34:150:34:16

is a double bedroom, a bathroom and an open-plan

0:34:160:34:19

kitchen, dining and living room

0:34:190:34:21

with a stone feature fireplace.

0:34:210:34:23

-That's lovely.

-Oh, that is nice.

0:34:240:34:26

I've never had a kitchen this big before.

0:34:260:34:28

But what makes this one slightly curious

0:34:280:34:30

is that the main living room is not here, it's upstairs.

0:34:300:34:34

Just beyond the kitchen/living area, through a small hall,

0:34:340:34:37

lies the double bedroom and the main four-piece family bathroom,

0:34:370:34:40

which has two entrances...

0:34:400:34:42

..but in many ways this is a property of twos.

0:34:430:34:47

It's got two bedrooms, two bathrooms

0:34:470:34:49

and two living rooms,

0:34:490:34:50

the second one being up the stairs

0:34:500:34:52

on the first floor.

0:34:520:34:53

Have you ever tried upside-down living, as it were?

0:34:540:34:58

No. But somebody who lives at the bottom of my garden

0:34:580:35:01

has got an upside-down house.

0:35:010:35:02

And I've been to New Zealand.

0:35:020:35:04

There you are, then!

0:35:040:35:06

-What do you think?

-That's really unusual, isn't it?

0:35:060:35:09

I was just expecting a landing, but it's the whole floor,

0:35:090:35:12

and I love the windows.

0:35:120:35:13

I'm already thinking that I'd have the bigger kitchen

0:35:130:35:16

and come and sit up here,

0:35:160:35:17

or maybe I'd have one room for music, one room for the TV.

0:35:170:35:20

-Nice idea.

-Quirky.

0:35:200:35:22

It is quirky. Well, you said that Chris would like quirky.

0:35:220:35:25

Is this quirky enough, Chris?

0:35:250:35:26

It's quirky, yeah.

0:35:260:35:27

Up here, what could be Chris's master

0:35:290:35:31

is another spacious double bedroom.

0:35:310:35:34

Fitted wardrobes. I like the shape of it, again.

0:35:340:35:37

And finally for the internal tour is the shower room -

0:35:380:35:41

again, Jack and Jill in style,

0:35:410:35:43

so also acts as an en-suite to the master.

0:35:430:35:45

There you are.

0:35:450:35:47

Jack and Jill, what a great idea.

0:35:470:35:49

THEY CHUCKLE

0:35:490:35:50

I think it's fair to say that both ladies are suitably impressed

0:35:520:35:56

up to now - and the final piece of the puzzle

0:35:560:35:58

is what's on offer in terms of garden space.

0:35:580:36:00

That, and the all-important price.

0:36:000:36:02

This is the thing to consider now, of course, the garden.

0:36:050:36:08

We glimpsed it on our way in.

0:36:080:36:10

The main event here, really,

0:36:100:36:11

is that studio summerhouse, which I'm sure you'd make good use of.

0:36:110:36:14

Insulated, it's got power in it -

0:36:140:36:16

and, of course, behind it, those lovely views of the Cheviots.

0:36:160:36:19

Yeah, it's gorgeous.

0:36:190:36:20

I think it's a really simple proposition,

0:36:200:36:22

but I think it could work for you, that's what I really like about it -

0:36:220:36:25

and I think Linda's coming round to it, too.

0:36:250:36:26

-Yeah, I agree. I do think it would work for her, actually.

-Yeah.

0:36:260:36:29

Well, let's get down to the numbers, shall we?

0:36:290:36:32

You've got £200,000 to spend.

0:36:320:36:35

We're just over the border in Scotland, so...

0:36:360:36:39

make me an offer on this one.

0:36:390:36:40

I think it's near the top of the budget.

0:36:400:36:42

I would say 195.

0:36:420:36:44

195. Linda?

0:36:440:36:46

I don't agree, actually. I think it's the lower end.

0:36:460:36:49

I think maybe even 175.

0:36:490:36:51

-Oh, do you?

-Mm.

0:36:510:36:53

Well, I'm afraid you're both wrong -

0:36:530:36:55

but it's good news,

0:36:550:36:56

because this is on the market for offers in the region of...

0:36:560:37:00

£165,000.

0:37:000:37:03

Wow, I like it even more now!

0:37:030:37:05

I thought you might!

0:37:050:37:06

Right. It's not a big place, but we will give you a little more time

0:37:070:37:10

to have a run around and see what you think of it, get a feel of it,

0:37:100:37:13

because it is different, that whole upside-down thing.

0:37:130:37:16

Go and enjoy yourselves.

0:37:160:37:17

-OK.

-OK.

-And I will find you somewhere a little bit later on.

0:37:170:37:21

Brilliant.

0:37:210:37:22

You know, there's an old phrase which I rely upon every day -

0:37:220:37:25

less is more.

0:37:250:37:26

That's the way to get something simple, to get something efficient,

0:37:260:37:29

and to get something which ultimately just works,

0:37:290:37:32

and that's what I love about this property.

0:37:320:37:34

Less is more.

0:37:340:37:35

£35,000 below budget,

0:37:380:37:40

this Victorian semidetached upside-down cottage has a modern,

0:37:400:37:44

open-plan kitchen, living and dining room.

0:37:440:37:47

Two double bedrooms, two bathrooms,

0:37:470:37:50

as well as a substantial, fully-powered summerhouse -

0:37:500:37:53

and the property is situated in a peaceful, rural pocket

0:37:530:37:56

surrounded by farmland.

0:37:560:37:58

This house is probably more the sort of house that I was imagining

0:38:000:38:04

I would want to have.

0:38:040:38:06

Because of that old exterior, some history to it,

0:38:060:38:11

but all the mod cons inside.

0:38:110:38:13

I wouldn't have to do anything to it, and yet it would be so peaceful

0:38:130:38:17

and I've got extra space outside,

0:38:170:38:20

a small garden but also a summerhouse and somewhere to sit.

0:38:200:38:24

-Wow, it's big in here, isn't it?

-It's lovely.

0:38:240:38:27

I can imagine actually not having the settee in here

0:38:270:38:30

-and have this as like a workshop.

-Yeah, it's a lovely space.

0:38:300:38:34

This one is a good contender, I think,

0:38:340:38:36

because it's got the space she needs, the quirkiness she likes,

0:38:360:38:40

it's nice and quiet, lovely views.

0:38:400:38:42

I'm not sure about the cows. She didn't seem too worried today,

0:38:420:38:47

so it may cure her phobia, you never know!

0:38:470:38:49

Ah, I thought I might find you out here!

0:38:490:38:53

Very useful thing, isn't it?

0:38:530:38:55

-It's lovely.

-Yeah.

-It's perfect.

0:38:550:38:57

Already I'm having my studio workshop in here

0:38:570:39:00

to do my driftwood sculptures.

0:39:000:39:02

I thought you might.

0:39:020:39:03

-You see, it's all coming together beautifully.

-Mm!

0:39:030:39:06

So, we have potentially another property

0:39:060:39:09

on your list of possibles, do we?

0:39:090:39:11

-Definitely.

-But there is one more to see - our Mystery House -

0:39:110:39:15

and for that we're going to take a bit of a drive back over the border.

0:39:150:39:19

-Come on.

-OK.

0:39:190:39:21

With miles of prime coast and acres of beautiful countryside,

0:39:340:39:38

control of Northumberland has been a source of conflict for centuries.

0:39:380:39:42

A legacy of this turbulent past

0:39:420:39:44

is found within the now peaceful walls of the county's castles.

0:39:440:39:48

I've come to visit Chillingham Castle,

0:39:500:39:52

home to Sir Humphry Wakefield.

0:39:520:39:54

The castle had lain derelict for some 50 years,

0:39:540:39:58

but Sir Humphry poured his heart and soul

0:39:580:40:00

into a formidable restoration project,

0:40:000:40:02

and now proudly opens the castle to the public.

0:40:020:40:05

-Sir Humphry.

-Jules.

-Very nice to see you, sir.

0:40:080:40:11

-Very good to see you.

-And what a wonderful home you have.

0:40:110:40:14

I love it very much indeed.

0:40:140:40:15

It's a wonderful border castle

0:40:150:40:16

with all the strengths that you would expect,

0:40:160:40:18

and all the history's still here.

0:40:180:40:20

It's interesting to stand here and imagine

0:40:200:40:22

what this would have looked like when great retinues arrived

0:40:220:40:25

to use the castle and host events over the centuries.

0:40:250:40:27

Oh, many kings, and forces - assault forces - as well.

0:40:270:40:32

-It's seen a lot.

-But it's been your home since the early 1980s,

0:40:320:40:35

when you set about, let's face it, a pretty ambitious project.

0:40:350:40:39

I'm fascinated to see just what you've done

0:40:390:40:42

and how you've gone about it.

0:40:420:40:43

Can you give me a very personal tour?

0:40:430:40:45

I will show it to you.

0:40:450:40:47

It's wonderful.

0:40:470:40:49

Chillingham became fully fortified in 1344,

0:40:490:40:52

and there have been very few structural additions since then,

0:40:520:40:55

apart from the elaborate galleries built in the Tudor period

0:40:550:40:58

which surround the central courtyard.

0:40:580:41:00

This is fabulous.

0:41:020:41:03

Wow. What was it like when you first discovered it?

0:41:030:41:06

When I came here it was a forest of trees.

0:41:060:41:10

Wherever you see a stone cracked,

0:41:100:41:12

there was a tree growing up.

0:41:120:41:13

It was just crying out for action.

0:41:130:41:15

The stones here, the paving stones here,

0:41:150:41:18

they were put in for the King's visit in 1603.

0:41:180:41:22

-Which king?

-King James I of England, VI of Scotland.

0:41:220:41:26

But the family's ancestors must have been a bit downhearted

0:41:260:41:29

when they thought the King was coming,

0:41:290:41:31

because the amount of expense they'd have to go to to accommodate him.

0:41:310:41:34

They had cash.

0:41:340:41:36

They wanted him to stay.

0:41:360:41:37

They were on the up, and that was just the ticket.

0:41:370:41:40

-So it was a nice political move?

-Very nice.

0:41:400:41:42

A very good, strong political move, yes.

0:41:420:41:45

-Come on, show me what you've done.

-Come and have a look.

0:41:450:41:49

Many rooms have been returned to their opulent regal splendour

0:41:490:41:53

and are chock-full of curios

0:41:530:41:55

that present a wonderful mosaic of history and periods.

0:41:550:41:59

Sir Humphry has tackled dry rot, collapsed roofs, burst pipes,

0:41:590:42:02

birds and bats to bring the castle back to its former glory,

0:42:020:42:06

which really shines through in the King James I drawing room.

0:42:060:42:10

Wow. Well, this is another moment in time completely, isn't it?

0:42:120:42:16

It is. It's the same moment in time put in for the King.

0:42:160:42:20

Is that an Elizabethan ceiling?

0:42:200:42:22

Yes. 1500.

0:42:220:42:23

But for all the challenges of restoring the castle

0:42:230:42:26

and the responsibility of being the guardian of this building,

0:42:260:42:31

what is day-to-day life like for you in a castle like this?

0:42:310:42:35

Day-to-day life is absolutely wonderful,

0:42:350:42:37

and I love living here,

0:42:370:42:40

and feel very happy living here,

0:42:400:42:42

and feel the ghosts are happy with me.

0:42:420:42:45

Well, Sir Humphry, it's been a real treat.

0:42:450:42:47

I'm going to leave you in peace. Thank you very much indeed.

0:42:470:42:50

But there's so much more to see.

0:42:500:42:52

Come back many times and see all the other rooms,

0:42:520:42:53

because we've got lots of other rooms to show you.

0:42:530:42:57

There is so much more to see,

0:42:570:42:59

and I couldn't leave without exploring

0:42:590:43:01

some of the 360 acres here,

0:43:010:43:03

and, exclusively on the grounds of this estate,

0:43:030:43:06

another descendant, this time of potentially prehistoric pedigree,

0:43:060:43:10

is free to roam the grounds outside.

0:43:100:43:13

Park warden Ellie Crossley is taking me to see

0:43:130:43:15

the Chillingham wild cattle... from a very safe distance.

0:43:150:43:19

Ellie, I've come across many animals that are termed wild,

0:43:190:43:22

-but yours are the real thing, aren't they?

-Yeah, absolutely.

0:43:220:43:25

They've been here for, potentially, 800 years

0:43:250:43:28

-and they've never been handled by humans.

-And how careful

0:43:280:43:31

do we need to be in getting close to them to get a real understanding

0:43:310:43:34

of how they've managed to survive for so many centuries?

0:43:340:43:37

Each and every day, when I take people into the park,

0:43:370:43:40

I make my decision based on their mood and what sort of day it is.

0:43:400:43:43

Today it is quite warm and sunny,

0:43:430:43:44

so they're quite relaxed, so we can probably get a bit closer today.

0:43:440:43:47

I can see one just poking his head up through there. Is it a he?

0:43:470:43:50

-Yes, that is a bull. You see the horns that point forward?

-Yes.

0:43:500:43:53

The cows have horns that go upwards and backwards slightly.

0:43:530:43:56

-How much closer can we get?

-We can get a bit closer, yes.

0:43:560:43:59

Come on, let's have a look.

0:43:590:44:01

BULL MOOS

0:44:010:44:04

This rare-breed herd currently stands at just over 100

0:44:040:44:07

and are believed to be the only survivors of the wild herds

0:44:070:44:10

that once roamed Britain's forests.

0:44:100:44:13

The cattle were held sacred by pre-Christian pagans,

0:44:130:44:16

who sacrificed them to their gods

0:44:160:44:18

and later in their history the wild cattle were used

0:44:180:44:21

both to defend the castle, as well as to feed its inhabitants.

0:44:210:44:24

The bull, there, looks absolutely beautiful,

0:44:260:44:29

and there is certainly something very prehistoric

0:44:290:44:32

about the outline of the head and the shoulders.

0:44:320:44:34

Yeah, and the way the dappled effect

0:44:340:44:36

makes him blend perfectly in with the woodland, as well.

0:44:360:44:38

But in terms of the way you manage them,

0:44:380:44:40

as I understand it, you don't interfere with them at all.

0:44:400:44:43

No vets, no calving.

0:44:430:44:45

You don't really even have to feed them.

0:44:450:44:46

No, I mean, it's literally just survival of the fittest out here.

0:44:460:44:49

That's how it's always been.

0:44:490:44:50

That's resulted in extremely strong, hardy animals

0:44:500:44:53

that can do very well without our help.

0:44:530:44:55

It's quite a thought to think that this small number of animals

0:44:550:44:58

that we're looking at now represents such a huge leap back in time.

0:44:580:45:02

And that's why it's really important to keep them here,

0:45:020:45:05

cos this shows such a vast difference between these animals

0:45:050:45:08

and what we've now created on our farms,

0:45:080:45:10

which are so incredibly different to these guys.

0:45:100:45:13

A dairy cow wouldn't survive five seconds out here.

0:45:130:45:16

On a farm, you have one bull who never has to compete for his females

0:45:160:45:19

a day in his life, basically.

0:45:190:45:21

Whereas here we have 50 bulls,

0:45:210:45:22

and they're all competing for the top spot

0:45:220:45:24

to be able to mate with the females.

0:45:240:45:26

It's absolutely amazing watching that.

0:45:260:45:28

Well, it's a wonderful sight, Ellie.

0:45:280:45:29

I never thought I'd see prehistoric cattle in this number.

0:45:290:45:32

Not least in Northumberland. But it's a real joy.

0:45:320:45:35

-Thank you very much.

-You're very welcome.

0:45:350:45:37

What history these ancient cattle,

0:45:380:45:40

the castle walls and its reputed ghosts have experienced

0:45:400:45:44

over the centuries.

0:45:440:45:46

In an unbroken cycle since the 13th century,

0:45:460:45:49

the majestic Chillingham has proudly stood the test of time.

0:45:490:45:52

I'm back on the road with our house-hunter Chris,

0:45:570:46:00

along with her best mate Linda,

0:46:000:46:02

and we're all travelling to our final property destination.

0:46:020:46:05

The mystery proposition is in the hamlet of Guyzance,

0:46:050:46:09

in the heart of Northumberland proper -

0:46:090:46:11

and also our closest location to the coast.

0:46:110:46:14

Well, Linda and Chris, our property tour is nearly over,

0:46:140:46:19

we've just got one more to come, our Mystery House.

0:46:190:46:23

Any thoughts, Linda, as to what it might be?

0:46:230:46:26

I have no idea at all what you're going to get for her this time,

0:46:260:46:30

I just can't think what it might be at all.

0:46:300:46:33

Well, it might not just be for Chris.

0:46:330:46:36

-Ah!

-It might involve something for you, Linda...

-OK.

0:46:360:46:39

..as well,

0:46:390:46:40

and you may not have to fight over it.

0:46:400:46:43

-There's a riddle for you, Chris.

-Mm.

0:46:430:46:46

Our ladies should be encouraged to know

0:46:470:46:50

that the Mystery House is just five miles from Warkworth,

0:46:500:46:52

a place they both know and love.

0:46:520:46:55

Just a mile from the beaches, and surrounded by the River Coquet,

0:46:550:46:58

Warkworth is an ancient village

0:46:580:47:00

whose steep roads are lined with attractive traditional buildings

0:47:000:47:03

housing an assortment of artisan shops, pubs, cafes and hotels.

0:47:030:47:08

Then, at the summit, stand the medieval ruins of Warkworth Castle,

0:47:100:47:14

which is where William Shakespeare set scenes from his play Henry IV.

0:47:140:47:18

A ten-minute drive away from the action, in the quiet of Guyzance,

0:47:180:47:22

is a 35-acre woodland

0:47:220:47:23

where, within a private development of 12 holiday cottages,

0:47:230:47:27

we find the last in our selection.

0:47:270:47:29

Right, then.

0:47:320:47:34

Mystery House time.

0:47:340:47:35

-Or Mystery Houses.

-Mm!

0:47:350:47:37

Because within this complex of holiday cottages,

0:47:370:47:41

a good number of them are being sold off into private home ownership,

0:47:410:47:45

as it were, as more domestic homes.

0:47:450:47:47

-So we have a choice of properties to show you...

-Oh!

0:47:470:47:50

..and we have two in particular that we'd like you to look at.

0:47:500:47:54

Which would mean, of course, Linda,

0:47:540:47:55

that you and Chris could continue to be neighbours.

0:47:550:47:58

How do we feel about this...notion, this idea?

0:47:580:48:01

-There is a deathly silence!

-I know!

0:48:060:48:08

Well, initially, I don't like it.

0:48:100:48:13

It looks like a holiday cottage.

0:48:130:48:15

Exactly what it is.

0:48:150:48:17

However, as I say, many of them are now being sold off

0:48:170:48:19

-to become individual homes.

-Mm.

0:48:190:48:21

I have the keys, here, to this one,

0:48:210:48:24

-which I'd like you to look at in particular...

-Mm-hm.

0:48:240:48:26

..but I think, Chris, we'll show you one down here.

0:48:260:48:30

OK.

0:48:300:48:31

Although it appears that Chris has made up her mind already,

0:48:330:48:37

I've still got my fingers crossed

0:48:370:48:38

that she might like the exterior of the cottage we've chosen for her.

0:48:380:48:42

What do you think?

0:48:420:48:44

It sort of looks like a... glorified caravan site.

0:48:440:48:47

Given the robust but enchanting stone architecture

0:48:480:48:51

and the history that goes with it, to be fair,

0:48:510:48:54

I definitely wouldn't describe this development as a caravan park.

0:48:540:48:58

Come on, let's see what you think.

0:48:580:49:00

What we have to show Chris

0:49:000:49:02

is an end-of-terrace old farmer's cottage

0:49:020:49:04

with a neat garden that wraps around the back.

0:49:040:49:07

Recently renovated to a high-spec contemporary finish,

0:49:070:49:11

on the ground floor there's a kitchen,

0:49:110:49:13

a WC and a sitting room -

0:49:130:49:14

which is our first port of call.

0:49:140:49:16

It's a bit small and a bit modern-looking, I think.

0:49:180:49:21

Not much character inside.

0:49:210:49:22

Sadly, they haven't been persuaded.

0:49:240:49:26

Perhaps the kitchen might fare better.

0:49:260:49:28

It still feels modern and a bit plain.

0:49:280:49:32

Oh, dear. Chris?

0:49:320:49:33

I agree. It's just not working for me.

0:49:330:49:35

Still no takers from either of our ladies.

0:49:370:49:40

So this will be a whistle-stop tour.

0:49:400:49:43

Upstairs, a family bathroom serves two bedrooms -

0:49:430:49:46

one a double with exposed beams, the other slightly smaller.

0:49:460:49:49

On paper, the mystery property

0:49:500:49:52

seemed like an obvious plan to present -

0:49:520:49:55

two great friends, two great neighbours,

0:49:550:49:57

and here's the chance to continue living close by to one another -

0:49:570:50:01

but it's not to be.

0:50:010:50:03

So, next, we need to talk about the price,

0:50:030:50:05

which is normally the moment I look forward to -

0:50:050:50:07

but on this occasion I'm dreading it.

0:50:070:50:09

It does open up right around here.

0:50:110:50:14

Yes, it's a fair-sized garden, isn't it?

0:50:140:50:16

I can certainly see this bursting with life

0:50:160:50:18

with some clever planting and what have you.

0:50:180:50:20

I mean, yeah, you've got the neighbours around,

0:50:200:50:22

but it is what it is, it's an old farm complex.

0:50:220:50:25

But, again, this lovely architecture coming through.

0:50:250:50:27

Yes, a nice outside space.

0:50:270:50:29

Hurrah. We got a good thing.

0:50:300:50:32

We got one thing right with this one for you.

0:50:320:50:35

Humour me and make us an offer on our Mystery House.

0:50:350:50:38

I think, given the proximity to the sea, I'll say 150.

0:50:380:50:43

150. Linda?

0:50:430:50:45

I was thinking the same, actually.

0:50:450:50:46

I thought about 150,000.

0:50:460:50:48

So let's say you both agree on 150.

0:50:480:50:51

This is on at £175,000 -

0:50:510:50:53

because of its proximity to the sea

0:50:530:50:55

and all the things that you've identified, Chris, really.

0:50:550:50:58

Yeah.

0:50:580:51:00

Now, to be fair, I don't think you need to have another look inside

0:51:000:51:03

this one. However, I would appreciate it

0:51:030:51:06

if you would go and have a look at the first property we saw, Linda,

0:51:060:51:10

which I think might be of interest to you.

0:51:100:51:12

I'm still hoping!

0:51:120:51:14

You know where it is, it's round the corner,

0:51:140:51:16

and I will come and find you later on.

0:51:160:51:17

-We'll guess the price on that one, too.

-OK.

0:51:170:51:19

Be interesting to see what you think. Off you go.

0:51:190:51:22

Well, there you have it.

0:51:230:51:25

Sometimes it goes really well, and sometimes it goes really badly.

0:51:250:51:31

And sometimes it feels like a real disaster.

0:51:320:51:36

Comfortably under budget,

0:51:380:51:40

the two-bedroom Mystery Home for Chris

0:51:400:51:42

is a stone cottage in a small private complex

0:51:420:51:44

of both residential and commercial properties.

0:51:440:51:48

Set within a 35-acre site and close to the coast,

0:51:480:51:51

the development has another lot for sale,

0:51:510:51:53

so could enable the two friends to stay as neighbours.

0:51:530:51:57

And the other property that we had earmarked for Linda

0:51:570:52:00

is just around the corner.

0:52:000:52:02

This is another semidetached two-bedroom potential home,

0:52:020:52:06

but with a slightly smaller internal footprint

0:52:060:52:09

and an open-plan kitchen and living area

0:52:090:52:11

that spreads throughout the entire ground floor.

0:52:110:52:14

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall

0:52:140:52:16

during their house tour of this one!

0:52:160:52:18

HE KNOCKS But we've got to go.

0:52:180:52:20

-How are we doing?

-OK.

0:52:200:52:22

Out you come. Come on, Linda.

0:52:220:52:24

Now, I know what Chris thinks of next door

0:52:260:52:28

and what you thought of it.

0:52:280:52:29

This one is cheaper, but what do you think it's worth?

0:52:290:52:33

Hm, 145?

0:52:330:52:35

Try 165. Yeah, there's only ten grand in it.

0:52:350:52:39

-Has it sold itself?

-No, it's too small.

0:52:390:52:41

It just feels the same as the other one.

0:52:410:52:44

However, ordinarily I might be crestfallen

0:52:440:52:47

and desperately disappointed -

0:52:470:52:49

but I think we've shown you some really good properties

0:52:490:52:51

this week, Chris, and maybe one or two of them

0:52:510:52:54

may provide an option for the future.

0:52:540:52:56

-Maybe.

-Maybe.

0:52:560:52:58

Right, come on. Let's go and think about it.

0:52:580:53:00

When I last saw Linda and Chris,

0:53:090:53:10

I certainly got the sense that perhaps not all of our efforts

0:53:100:53:14

this week had been in vain.

0:53:140:53:15

There certainly seemed to be a little twinkle in Chris's eye -

0:53:150:53:19

but have we managed to find her a home for the future?

0:53:190:53:22

Well, let's go and ask her.

0:53:220:53:23

Well, how are we doing, then?

0:53:300:53:32

-Great, thank you.

-Are you feeling refreshed?

0:53:320:53:35

-Yes.

-Relaxed?

0:53:350:53:37

-Yes.

-Relieved?

0:53:370:53:38

-Yes.

-I thought you might be!

0:53:380:53:40

Hopefully it wasn't that bad, Chris.

0:53:400:53:43

-Goodness me, we've done some miles this week, haven't we?

-We have!

0:53:430:53:46

And we've seen some fabulous scenery

0:53:460:53:48

and we've also been able to offer you, I think,

0:53:480:53:50

a really nice package of properties to tempt you with.

0:53:500:53:55

Are you still sure that this is the part of the world for you?

0:53:550:53:57

Definitely.

0:53:570:53:58

-So, where are we?

-I like the property with the balcony...

-Yeah.

0:53:580:54:03

..and the upside-down house.

0:54:030:54:06

Both of which happen to be...

0:54:060:54:08

in Scotland, albeit only just,

0:54:080:54:12

-but let's face it, the border is pretty porous really.

-Yep.

0:54:120:54:16

Right, then. Two properties to choose from.

0:54:160:54:20

A property with a balcony near Kelso.

0:54:200:54:22

-What did you think of that, then?

-It was beautiful.

0:54:220:54:25

I felt like somebody like me had lived in it.

0:54:250:54:28

-You said that when we got there.

-I know.

0:54:280:54:30

And then I found out that it was an artist's house.

0:54:300:54:32

It was just beautiful.

0:54:320:54:34

It's obviously made quite an impression.

0:54:340:54:36

-Linda, what did you make of it?

-It was just so stunning,

0:54:360:54:39

I just didn't imagine she could get anything like that for her money.

0:54:390:54:42

But then we took you to what we're now calling

0:54:420:54:45

the upside-down house, Chris -

0:54:450:54:47

and clearly that works for you as well.

0:54:470:54:49

At first when I saw it...

0:54:490:54:51

I mean, there was a field full of cows next to it to start with,

0:54:510:54:54

which put me off a little bit.

0:54:540:54:55

But, again, it was a beautiful house,

0:54:550:54:57

beautifully built, an old farmer's house,

0:54:570:55:00

but once you went inside, it was so modern,

0:55:000:55:03

and it would be a lovely house for people to come and stay, as well.

0:55:030:55:07

What have you concocted between you to try and resolve this dilemma?

0:55:070:55:10

The price of the upside-down house is appealing,

0:55:100:55:16

but I'm trying not to let that sway me absolutely

0:55:160:55:19

if I wanted the other one more,

0:55:190:55:22

and it is difficult to decide between the two,

0:55:220:55:25

so I'd have to come up and see them both again.

0:55:250:55:29

Probably bring my son and his wife with me.

0:55:290:55:31

I mean, we know you wanted to be nearer to your son.

0:55:310:55:34

He, of course, lives in Edinburgh.

0:55:340:55:35

So actually it might work out quite well.

0:55:350:55:37

Yeah - and I've always wanted to be Scottish as well.

0:55:370:55:40

So, I would be!

0:55:400:55:41

But for both of those properties you can look out and see England.

0:55:430:55:45

I mean, you couldn't be closer to the border.

0:55:450:55:48

-No.

-So, Linda, you also have said throughout

0:55:480:55:51

that you also were considering following your neighbour

0:55:510:55:55

and moving up here.

0:55:550:55:57

-Would you do it?

-I would, actually -

0:55:570:55:59

but I think I would have something nearer to the coast,

0:55:590:56:02

but I'd still be near enough to Chris to see her regularly.

0:56:020:56:05

So you won't be near neighbours.

0:56:050:56:07

You may indeed end up on either side of the border -

0:56:070:56:11

but clearly remaining the greatest of friends.

0:56:110:56:14

That is, I think, very obvious for anyone watching this.

0:56:140:56:17

So I wish you all the best, Chris,

0:56:170:56:19

in making what could be quite a difficult decision,

0:56:190:56:22

but one which I hope will give you everything you've been looking for.

0:56:220:56:26

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

0:56:260:56:28

Well, Northumberland and its border with Scotland

0:56:330:56:35

has been hotly contested for centuries,

0:56:350:56:38

but it would seem we've left Chris with a contest all of her own -

0:56:380:56:42

to try and choose between two, I think,

0:56:420:56:44

pretty exceptional properties.

0:56:440:56:46

But unlike so many of the fierce battles

0:56:460:56:48

that have been fought up here over the years,

0:56:480:56:51

I do hope hers has a happy ending.

0:56:510:56:53

I'll see you next time.

0:56:530:56:54

A week after our visit,

0:56:560:56:57

Chris tried to make plans for a second viewing

0:56:570:57:00

at the upside-down house,

0:57:000:57:01

but, alas, someone else had already snapped it up.

0:57:010:57:04

So her search continues.

0:57:040:57:06

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0:57:060:57:08

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0:57:080:57:11

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