Northern Ireland Escape to the Country


Northern Ireland

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Behind me is a lough, and at its inland head lies a city port

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which has provided the chance of a new life for thousands of people

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through the ships that once graced its docks.

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And one iconic ship was launched off these very waters back in 1911.

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So, where am I, and which ship was she?

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Find out in just a moment.

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Today, it's family ties luring our house hunters

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to a new life in a new land.

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And our property search is full of surprises.

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Oh, my God. I didn't expect anything like that.

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-Yeah?

-Yeah.

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But it's not just our couple we're accommodating.

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So, how many alpacas can we get on there?

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-Oh, we'd get loads on there.

-Loads.

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Today, I'm in Northern Ireland, and this is Belfast Lough,

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where the River Lagan runs into the Irish Sea.

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Now, at the mouth of the river stands the great city of Belfast,

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renowned both as an exit port for immigrants to New World destinations

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and its illustrious shipbuilding past -

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in particular, the construction of perhaps the most famous ship

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in the whole world - the RMS Titanic.

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Now, later on in the programme, I'll be finding out more about

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this country's glorious shipbuilding heritage

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and visiting the place where the story of the Titanic first began.

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There are six historic counties that make up

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the country of Northern Ireland,

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spanning nearly 5,500 square miles.

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Bordering five of these is a Lough Neagh.

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Lying at the heart of the country,

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it's the largest freshwater lake in the UK.

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Covering 220 square miles of moorland and woodland,

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the highest point is found in the Mourne Mountains,

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a brooding landscape that inspired much of CS Lewis's mythical Narnia.

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Curious natural phenomena draws visitors to the Giant's Causeway

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on Antrim's northern shore,

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a spectacular formation of hexagonal basalt columns

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that rise dramatically from the sea.

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Of Northern Ireland's 1.8 million population, a third are fortunate

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to enjoy the quality of life that can only be found in

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the unsurpassed rural enchantment of this beautiful Emerald Isle.

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Despite its mesmerising natural beauty,

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Northern Ireland boasts some of the best-valued property in the UK.

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The average price of detached homes here come in at around £189,000.

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But, as with anywhere, this part of the world

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also has its hot spots.

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For example, County Down has the capital, it has the coast,

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it also has two airports, so homes there tend to be

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the most sought-after and typically come at a premium.

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Today, we have a family that are so keen to buy a slice of

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this beautiful countryside that they're travelling

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over 200 miles to be here.

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Ruth and Stewart from Hartlepool in County Durham

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are both mental-health nurses.

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They've been married for 16 years.

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-We met on the wards, didn't we?

-Yeah.

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You were the nurse in charge, I think, on my first day.

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-So we tried to keep it secret.

-Yeah.

-Um, so...

-And I think...

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-Arranging dates over the dinner trolley.

-Yeah.

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They've spent a lifetime in Hartlepool, and 5½ years

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in their current four-bedroom detached coastal home.

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But with Stewart's imminent retirement,

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they've decided it's time to up sticks and start afresh.

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I'm quite open to moving to anywhere in the countryside, really.

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Initially looked at Scotland,

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and then I think you mentioned Ireland.

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The countryside's just so green, it's beautiful,

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and everyone's really friendly.

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Their 14-year-old son, rugby enthusiast Charlie,

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and Ruth's mum Gillian will be crossing the water, too.

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But it's Gillian's family ties that are driving

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the move to Northern Ireland.

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With me mam coming, originating from Ireland,

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if we were going to make that big move,

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-it seemed to make sense to take Mam back to Ireland...

-Yeah.

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..and to be with our family over there.

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And with their relocation on the cards,

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there are also plans for a complete life change.

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The dream. It's The Good Life.

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It's being as self-sufficient as we possibly can be

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and enjoying family time.

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We just want to enjoy the lifestyle and have enough money

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-so we can do that, don't we?

-Yeah, yeah.

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We've looked at glamping.

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I thought either the glamping or holiday cottages,

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something like that.

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They're also hoping to keep a variety of animals

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and have already got a head start on their menagerie.

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They'll be taking their four dogs and five alpacas with them.

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We went to the glamping show just to get some ideas,

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didn't we, last September, and there was an alpaca stand there.

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And Ruth, as soon as she them, she said, "I would love them alpacas."

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And from there, really, it became a big idea for us.

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We'd like to become serious breeders, I think, really.

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So, with big plans for their small holding, an offer on their house

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and family ties pulling them westwards, the family is

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getting ready for their new life surrounded by those who matter most.

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I think it's took me a little while to realise that

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things don't make you happy -

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it's kind of the people around you that do.

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So it's having time together and enjoying life, really.

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I'm looking forward to a new chapter in me life, really.

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-I'm very keen to get away and get started.

-Mm-hm, yeah.

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Ruth and Stewart are happy to consider anywhere

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in Northern Ireland to lay down roots,

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so the country's our oyster as we begin our search.

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I'm catching up with them to discuss the finer details

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of their property wish list.

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Welcome to Northern Ireland.

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So, Ruth, this isn't just about bricks and mortar

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-for the whole family, is it?

-No.

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-It's about changing the way you live your lives.

-Yes, definitely.

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Ruth works in quite an intense place,

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where, at times, it gets very stressful,

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so we just want to try and take some of that stress off her, really.

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-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-But you're in a good place, aren't you?

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-Because your mum's sold her house...

-Yes, yes.

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-..yours is going through.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

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So we know the pressure is on to find you this perfect property.

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What exactly are we looking for with the property itself?

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We're looking for somewhere with some land.

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The style of the house, we're quite open-minded, aren't we, really?

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-Yeah.

-Um...

-How many bedrooms would you like?

-At least three.

-Yeah.

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-Three bedrooms?

-Yeah.

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And taking with the family, the extended family,

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-large kitchen-diner?

-Yeah, that would be lovely.

-Yeah.

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We're looking at somewhere with, like, an annexe or something

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that we could develop for Ruth's mam to live in.

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And land, how many acres exactly?

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-Minimum ten acres.

-Yeah.

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-Whoa! We're talking a lot, aren't we?

-Yeah.

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Ideally, I'd like to do, sort of,

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an old barn holiday cottage, or something like that.

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And you don't mind a bit of work, a bit of a project?

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-I was a bricklayer before I was a nurse, so...

-Right.

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..something like that would be ideal.

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And also, location-wise, obviously, you're looking at being

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-sort of semirural with that much land...

-Yes, yeah.

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-..but mindful of Charlie, with schools...

-Yes.

-..sport...

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Charlie's a keen rugby player,

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-so we need to get somewhere what's got a good rugby club going.

-Yeah.

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Let's remind ourselves how much we've got to spend with this move.

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Yeah... Up to 500,000.

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Um, if we go to 500,000, we would hope that would have

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sort of a business attached to it already.

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-Let's see how we get on.

-Thanks.

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For their top budget of £500,000, Ruth and Stewart are looking for

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a property with land where they can keep animals

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and welcome paying guests.

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They're looking for a home with a large kitchen-diner

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and at least three bedrooms.

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Ideally, there'll be an annexe for Ruth's mum Gillian,

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or the potential to create living quarters for her.

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And location-wise, they need to be within easy reach of a school

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for their son Charlie.

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We've gathered a fabulous selection of properties for Ruth

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and Stewart to tour, but only after they've viewed each one

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will I reveal its price tag.

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The final visit to the Mystery House

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will go above and beyond their requirements,

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and could be just the ticket to set them off on their new path.

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We're heading to Coleraine, right up in the north of the country.

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It's a location that's close to the coast

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and situated on the River Bann.

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The town square, known as The Diamond, is home to the town hall.

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There are plenty of good schools here and a rugby club.

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Ruth's extended family is also nearby.

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We're travelling just over five miles away to a rural setting,

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where we find this handsome house.

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So you can now take a look at your first property.

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-Wow.

-Oh, my God. I didn't expect anything like that.

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-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-A bit of a surprise.

-It is.

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We're elevated, so you do get a spectacular view.

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-Now, can't lie, there is a main road at the bottom.

-Yeah.

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But if you're thinking of business opportunities, you know,

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-for your son to catch the bus...

-Yeah. Yeah, that's true.

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-I bet you're very keen to get in, aren't you?

-We are, yeah.

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-Shall we start?

-Yeah.

-Yes, please.

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This grand and substantial house was built in the Georgian style

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just ten years ago.

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As such, it's got all the modern conveniences

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and is ready to move straight into.

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So, a very pleasing hallway here.

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-Wow.

-It's lovely.

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Which leads us through... a large dining room.

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But let's start off the tour off with this, the main sitting room.

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Wow.

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-Yeah, it's lovely, isn't it?

-Gorgeous!

-Yeah.

-Really lovely.

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-Not what we were expecting.

-No.

-What were you expecting?

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Something small, weren't we?

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Yeah, we were thinking we were going to have to

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-get rid of all our furniture!

-Yeah.

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-Think you might have to buy some more if you buy this property!

-Yeah.

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A cracking start to our first house. Long may it continue.

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-Let's take a look at the kitchen.

-Yeah.

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So, you do have a second sitting room there, stroke snug.

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-That's nice.

-Which is wonderful because...

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..leads into the kitchen.

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-So all the family can be together.

-Beautiful.

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Yes, it's lovely, isn't it?

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-Especially with the two rooms onto it, as well.

-Yeah.

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-Makes it nice and cosy.

-Yeah.

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-It's beautiful.

-Yeah, it's nice, yeah.

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Everything an extra, really, by the looks of it.

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Wonderful reactions to what we've seen so far.

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And also situated on the ground floor is a sunroom

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to one side of the kitchen...

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..plus a study to the other.

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Moving upstairs, there's an attractive contemporary

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family bathroom, servicing four of the six double bedrooms.

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There are two on one side of the landing -

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one at the front of the house, and one at the back.

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Beyond these two rooms is a small nursery,

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a shower room,

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and what's currently in use as a games room.

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On the other side of the house there's a double

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with a feature window and an en suite.

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But we're heading to the master, which also has an en suite

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and a pretty sizeable dressing room.

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-Oh, it's lovely.

-Nice and light, isn't it?

-Isn't it?

-Yeah.

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-Really lovely.

-So I've earmarked this space for the two of you.

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-Oh, good.

-Six bedrooms, all of them are a really good size.

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-Plus a games room up here, as well.

-Wow, great.

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But also the games room has access downstairs.

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One, that could be fantastic for Charlie,

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especially as he gets older.

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-Two, it could be fantastic for Gillian, your mum.

-Yep.

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My third thought was, business opportunities.

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Because it has a separate entrance you could actually let that out.

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-Oh, right. So a holiday let sort of thing.

-Mm.

-Exactly.

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-Are we surprising you?

-You are.

-Very much so!

-Yeah.

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Didn't expect a house this size at all.

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Above us on the second floor there's even more.

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Bedroom numbers five and six are both loft rooms.

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But we're heading outside which for Stewart could be

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even more important than the house.

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To the front is a lawned garden

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which overlooks a three-acre paddock ideal for glamping...

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..and to take in the views.

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There's also an outbuilding divided into three separate spaces,

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including an office.

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And now to address the burning question of acreage.

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Ideally, you asked me for ten.

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We're probably going to be giving you about half of that

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-with this property.

-Right.

-Right.

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You know, if you wanted chickens or pigs or a vegetable patch,

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the land is here.

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-Perhaps not the acreage that ideally you were after.

-Yeah.

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-But you could certainly easily change it.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

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Let's see what price we're going to put on this property and see

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if there's enough money left in the pot for you perhaps

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to buy some additional land or even lease it.

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-Yeah.

-Mm.

-What are we thinking?

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I think around 450.

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£450,000, interesting, OK.

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Hm. Erm...

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I'm going to say 425.

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Ooh, you're very good at this, aren't you?

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The asking price is £425,000.

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-No, really?

-Yeah. Yeah.

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Fancy having another look around on your own?

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-Oh, yes, please.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Go on, then.

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This impressive home has come in a generous £75,000 under budget.

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It's beautifully finished throughout with an open-plan kitchen,

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five reception rooms and six bedrooms,

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plus an additional room that has its own access.

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Outside offers scope for a new business with five acres of land.

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This is definitely more house than I thought

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I was going to get for my budget.

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I really thought we would be downsizing,

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but actually, yep, from four beds to six beds!

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A little bit disappointed with the land.

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I think I would probably prefer half the house and double the land.

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-Happy?

-Yes, very much so, yeah.

-Yeah, thanks, lovely.

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Takes a while to get round that property, doesn't it?

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-Yeah, you get lost.

-You do get lost, yeah.

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-But I've found you and we're going to head off now. Come on.

-Thanks.

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Ruth and Stewart are counting down to being as self-sufficient

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as possible when they make their move

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and to witness first-hand how it's done, they've come to meet

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Claire and Steve Golemboski-Byrne who try to make as little impact

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on the environment as possible on their six-acre smallholding.

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-Hi.

-Hi.

-Nice to meet you.

-Welcome to Lackan Cottage Farm.

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It's located in a stunning spot in the shadow of the

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Mourne Mountains in County Down.

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-It's beautiful.

-Thank you.

-Yeah, you've got a gorgeous spot here.

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How long have you been here for?

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-We've been here five years now.

-Right, and what do you do here?

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-Well, it's our home, we live off-grid.

-Right.

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And we also run courses.

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-We do things like woodworking, we do lots of crafts.

-Oh, wow.

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Willow basket making.

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But that's not all.

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Claire and Steve also make it possible for others to sample

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their sustainable way of life by renting out a cottage on their land.

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-We're Northern Ireland's only off-grid self kitchen.

-Oh, great.

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So, why did you choose to go off-grid?

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We just wanted to be responsible for our own energy production.

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So we have the wind turbine, we have the solar panels.

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You're more in tune with the weather.

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Ruth and Stewart are considering holiday lets themselves

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in their new property...

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..so they're keen to have a look inside Claire

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and Steve's unique cottage, which they renovated themselves.

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Because of the way it runs it has absolutely no utility bills.

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Beautiful, it wasn't what I expected.

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-Yeah, it's really cosy, especially with the log burner.

-Yeah.

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How does it work with being off-grid, then,

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having the holiday cottage?

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Well, all the electricity we generate on-site,

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-so it comes from the wind turbine and solar panels.

-Right.

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And then the hot water in the underfloor

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comes from solar panels on the roof...

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-Right.

-..from the sun, and the little wood burner.

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As well as all-year-round bookings for the cottage,

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this eco-friendly pair also offer popular courses.

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They're run from their classroom which has been built

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using natural local materials.

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Ruth and Stewart will be getting hands-on with one of these courses,

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learning how to make a willow fence.

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-So do you cut that willow yourself, then?

-Yeah, we grow it here on site.

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-Right.

-It's really simple.

-So, yeah.

-Right.

0:17:340:17:36

So what we do, we just weave this willow in and out of the upright.

0:17:360:17:41

-Yeah.

-And then once we've got a few in, we can bend them over

0:17:410:17:45

and tuck them in and it will hold itself together

0:17:450:17:47

so there's no need for any string or anything, it just sits here.

0:17:470:17:51

The willow grown here is organic and flexible.

0:17:510:17:54

Not only practical, it will ultimately decompose

0:17:540:17:57

and become fertiliser -

0:17:570:17:59

all part of the sustainable philosophy at work here.

0:17:590:18:02

-Have I done that right?

-That's it.

0:18:020:18:04

-That one looks too low.

-That one that way.

0:18:040:18:07

-That one... Push it down.

-Yeah.

-Just push it down to the line.

0:18:070:18:10

-That's it. The trick is using stuff that's available.

-Yeah.

0:18:100:18:14

-Yeah, it's getting there, isn't it?

-Yeah, it soon starts to...

0:18:210:18:24

-Yeah.

-It gets a little bit more sturdy as you go.

0:18:240:18:26

-It will get easier as you get further up, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

0:18:280:18:30

-And push them down.

-Erm... I think we need to be...

0:18:300:18:33

-Yeah, do a second.

-..that way.

0:18:330:18:34

-So, is it this bit that goes...?

-Yeah, so tuck it down there.

0:18:340:18:39

-So, is this how you finish them off, then?

-Yeah.

0:18:390:18:42

Turn them over and then we'll just thread the end through here...

0:18:420:18:47

-..and that will hold it tightly enough.

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

0:18:470:18:50

-We done that.

-SHE LAUGHS

0:18:500:18:53

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-That's brilliant.

0:18:530:18:55

-That was great.

-Yeah, thanks very much.

0:18:550:18:56

-It's really good.

-OK, thanks for your help.

0:18:560:18:59

-And good luck with the house-hunting.

-Bye.

-Oh, thanks.

0:18:590:19:01

With a new skill under their belts, and full of inspiration

0:19:010:19:04

after their visit, it's back to the search

0:19:040:19:07

for a slice of the Northern Irish good life for Ruth and Stewart.

0:19:070:19:11

We're on our way to Ballymoney in Antrim towards the north-east

0:19:160:19:19

of the country.

0:19:190:19:21

It's a small town that's awash with independent shops and eateries

0:19:210:19:25

and there's also a high school and rugby club.

0:19:250:19:29

On the outskirts of the town in a peaceful setting,

0:19:290:19:32

a long gravel driveway leads us to this double-fronted,

0:19:320:19:35

rather smart property.

0:19:350:19:38

Take a look at your house.

0:19:380:19:41

-Oh, that's nice.

-Wow. Yeah. Lovely.

-I like it. Yeah.

0:19:410:19:45

But it is a splendid property.

0:19:450:19:47

-Oh, this feels good.

-Mm-hm.

0:19:470:19:49

And shall I let you into a little secret right at the beginning?

0:19:490:19:52

-Yeah.

-M-hm.

-Ten acres.

0:19:520:19:54

SHE COUGHS

0:19:540:19:56

So you've got your house here, you've got a garage there.

0:19:560:19:58

But I'm going to take you inside, show you the house where

0:19:580:20:00

-you're going to live and then we'll worry about the animals.

-Yeah.

0:20:000:20:03

-Deal?

-Lovely. Yeah, deal.

-Brilliant.

0:20:030:20:07

This somewhat stately home was built in 2006

0:20:070:20:10

and is finished to a very high standard.

0:20:100:20:13

As we enter the property through double oak doors, we're greeted

0:20:130:20:16

by a grand hallway which leads us to a triple-aspect sitting room.

0:20:160:20:20

-It's lovely. I like the fire. That's really nice.

-Yeah.

0:20:220:20:24

That's an open fire. SHE GASPS

0:20:240:20:26

-Oh, lovely, that's what we want.

-That would be nice, yeah.

0:20:260:20:29

I could see our furniture in here.

0:20:290:20:32

-And you've got two reception rooms.

-Right.

0:20:320:20:33

You've got one at the other side, as well,

0:20:330:20:35

which is perhaps a tad smaller.

0:20:350:20:38

A good start, brilliant.

0:20:380:20:39

And I don't think you are going to be disappointed with the kitchen.

0:20:390:20:42

-Ooh!

-Let's see.

0:20:420:20:44

-A practical tiled floor for the four dogs...

-Wow!

0:20:500:20:52

..that are going to be moving in.

0:20:520:20:54

That's a good size, isn't it...?

0:20:540:20:56

-This is good, I like this.

-..the dining room bit.

0:20:560:20:58

-The dining table... Our table would go in there, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

0:20:580:21:00

-It would fit in there lovely.

-There's a bit more to it.

0:21:000:21:03

Round the side there's an additional room.

0:21:030:21:06

I'm going to call it the sun room

0:21:060:21:07

because I think it would be fantastic to read in that room,

0:21:070:21:10

but it could be a study, it could be another sitting room.

0:21:100:21:13

It feels like we could fit in here, doesn't it? It feels...

0:21:130:21:15

Yeah, it's got a good feeling. Definitely.

0:21:150:21:18

Well, a successful tour downstairs.

0:21:180:21:21

May it continue when I show you the bedrooms.

0:21:210:21:23

A beautiful bespoke glazed-oak staircase leads us

0:21:260:21:29

upstairs to a long hallway with solid wood floors.

0:21:290:21:32

There's a stylish family bath and shower room

0:21:350:21:38

that serves four of the five bedrooms.

0:21:380:21:40

There are three spacious doubles, all dual aspect,

0:21:420:21:46

allowing in lots of light.

0:21:460:21:48

Then there's the smaller double bedroom which just leaves

0:21:480:21:51

the largest of the five, the master.

0:21:510:21:54

So this is the main bedroom with its own en suite.

0:21:560:22:00

A rather large bathroom there.

0:22:000:22:03

-And you've got a dressing room just behind you, too.

-Great.

0:22:030:22:05

-That's brilliant.

-Charlie would be wanting the en suite, wouldn't he?

0:22:050:22:09

-We'd be fighting over it.

-Really?

-Oh, yeah!

-Really?

-Yeah.

0:22:090:22:13

-Does it feel like somewhere that you could all live?

-I think so, yeah.

0:22:130:22:16

-I think so, yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Definitely.

0:22:160:22:19

-Yeah. Plenty of room.

-Yeah, there is.

0:22:190:22:21

Now, if you all wanted to live under one roof you could do it here

0:22:210:22:24

but I know Gillian would ideally like her own space...

0:22:240:22:26

-Yes, she would.

-..and her own independence.

0:22:260:22:28

But, you know, we do have some options

0:22:280:22:30

so keep that in the back of your mind.

0:22:300:22:34

The interior of this fabulous home has Ruth and Stewart

0:22:340:22:37

making all the right noises and I think that'll continue

0:22:370:22:40

as we head outside to take in the ten acres of land,

0:22:400:22:45

which includes a raised deck...

0:22:450:22:47

..two large paddocks...

0:22:500:22:51

..and an extensive lawn area.

0:22:550:22:58

All in all, plenty of space for alpacas and glamping.

0:22:580:23:02

There's also a double detached garage with what could be

0:23:020:23:06

an office above it, or even a bedroom.

0:23:060:23:09

Just standing out here, the sun's come out, it's shining,

0:23:090:23:13

peace and quiet. Is this what you had in mind?

0:23:130:23:16

-It's just perfect, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:23:160:23:18

-You can hear the birds singing, can't you?

-Yeah.

-Beautiful.

0:23:180:23:21

The current owners applied for planning permission to build

0:23:210:23:24

-a separate building, and it was granted.

-Oh.

-Right.

0:23:240:23:26

Well, that sounds interesting.

0:23:260:23:28

-Now, you did say you used to be a bricklayer, is that right?

-Yeah.

0:23:280:23:32

So if the budget allows, you don't have to do it straightaway,

0:23:320:23:34

you could actually build another property there for the family.

0:23:340:23:38

-Wow, wow.

-How would Gillian feel about living here?

0:23:380:23:41

-Mam would love it, wouldn't she?

-Yeah, she'd love it.

0:23:410:23:44

-And close to family, as well.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:23:440:23:47

-It's a lot to think about, isn't it?

-It is, yeah.

0:23:470:23:51

It's a lot to think about. Is it a lot to pay?

0:23:510:23:53

I think it's top of the budget.

0:23:530:23:57

I'm going to say £500,000.

0:23:570:23:59

I think I'm going to go a bit lower.

0:23:590:24:01

I'm going to hopefully say 425.

0:24:010:24:05

Oh, you are hopeful, aren't you? Very hopeful!

0:24:050:24:08

Well, the asking price is still way under your top budget.

0:24:080:24:13

-They're asking for £449,950.

-Oh.

-Right.

0:24:130:24:17

-That doesn't sound too bad, does it?

-Yeah.

0:24:170:24:20

Hands up who wants to have another look? Go, please.

0:24:200:24:24

Have a wander. I'll see you later.

0:24:240:24:27

This beautifully kitted-out detached home has a price tag

0:24:300:24:34

some £50,000 under Ruth and Stewart's budget.

0:24:340:24:38

It's finished to a high standard and comes with a large

0:24:380:24:41

kitchen/diner, three reception rooms and five bedrooms.

0:24:410:24:46

It all sits in ten acres of land.

0:24:460:24:49

Plus there's planning permission in place to build a second dwelling.

0:24:490:24:53

This house is absolutely beautiful.

0:24:540:24:57

It's got a beautiful house, it's got potential in the land,

0:24:570:25:00

it's got ten acres, which we asked for.

0:25:000:25:03

And a possible kind of area for me mam

0:25:030:25:07

and planning permission for another house.

0:25:070:25:09

It's got lots of potential.

0:25:090:25:11

The setting, I like the setting.

0:25:130:25:15

I am more around the setting and the land than the house.

0:25:150:25:19

It's just the setting, it's so peaceful and beautiful, isn't it?

0:25:210:25:25

Because there's obviously lots of potential for development with the

0:25:250:25:28

building plot and the garage there, a possible annexe for Ruth's mum.

0:25:280:25:32

I could really see my family here, I really can. Yeah.

0:25:320:25:37

So that's it for today.

0:25:400:25:43

-Ending on a high note, I wonder?

-Yeah, lovely.

-Yeah?

0:25:430:25:46

-Happy?

-Very happy.

-Good.

0:25:460:25:48

-And guess what? I've got more to show you tomorrow.

-Oh, blimey!

0:25:480:25:53

It's day two of our tour around Northern Ireland, searching out

0:25:590:26:03

a home to entice Ruth and Stewart from Hartlepool to cross the water.

0:26:030:26:08

And with a budget of £500,000, they are on the hunt for a house

0:26:080:26:12

with land for themselves, their son, and Ruth's mum, Gillian.

0:26:120:26:16

We've still got a big surprise to come with our Mystery House.

0:26:160:26:20

-Are we allowed to look yet?

-You are allowed to look. Come on.

0:26:200:26:23

It's the mystery!

0:26:230:26:25

And I'll be learning about one of the most majestic

0:26:250:26:29

and tragic vessels in the world.

0:26:290:26:30

We are actually standing on the birthplace of Titanic.

0:26:300:26:33

This is where she was actually built from the ground floor up.

0:26:330:26:36

It's day two of our house search,

0:26:400:26:42

and we have still got the Mystery House to come, and I've got

0:26:420:26:46

a feeling it's going to offer Stewart more than he ever imagined.

0:26:460:26:50

For our final stop on our property quest in Northern Ireland,

0:26:530:26:56

we're travelling to Portadown in Armagh in the centre of the country.

0:26:560:27:00

Surrounded by countryside, the provincial town is home to a

0:27:000:27:04

rugby club and is a short drive from the tranquil setting of Lough Neagh.

0:27:040:27:09

And just over ten minutes away from our next house,

0:27:090:27:12

there's a senior school. Even closer is a small cluster of shops,

0:27:120:27:16

providing local residents with all the basic amenities.

0:27:160:27:20

On the outskirts of Portadown, a narrow country lane

0:27:200:27:23

in a peaceful location leads us to our Mystery House.

0:27:230:27:27

-Are we are allowed to look yet?

-You are allowed to look. Come on.

0:27:270:27:31

-It's the mystery.

-This is looking more like it.

-Yeah?

0:27:310:27:36

Is there a smile on your face?

0:27:360:27:37

Yeah, I can see little buildings behind and things.

0:27:370:27:40

-It's gorgeous.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-This is the dream?

-Yeah.

0:27:400:27:45

-Ruth, you're getting emotional there, aren't you?

-Yeah.

0:27:450:27:48

I said I wouldn't do this, but it's just...

0:27:480:27:51

But that's the sign, isn't it?

0:27:510:27:53

If you start to well up and you can feel those emotions -

0:27:530:27:55

Stewart is not far behind you, I'll make sure -

0:27:550:27:57

that shows how serious you are about this move,

0:27:570:28:01

and perhaps we are tantalisingly close. Before we step inside,

0:28:010:28:04

I just want to let you know this is a small farm.

0:28:040:28:08

-So, farmhouses have...

-Outbuildings and land.

-And land. Yeah.

0:28:080:28:14

-The first signs are good?

-Yep.

-The Mystery House might deliver?

0:28:140:28:18

Let's step inside and see what you think.

0:28:180:28:21

Our handsome mystery farmhouse was built in the early 1900s.

0:28:210:28:26

It's said that a local resident who made his fortune in America

0:28:260:28:29

sent money back to build it for his family. It's currently vacant.

0:28:290:28:33

So, let's start off in one of the sitting rooms,

0:28:330:28:37

because as you walk through, you've got one to one side,

0:28:370:28:39

and one to the other.

0:28:390:28:40

Now, undecorated, but you can see it for what it is.

0:28:420:28:46

-Yeah, it doesn't faze me, this.

-You like a challenge, don't you?

-Yeah.

0:28:460:28:52

-And how is that for a fireplace?

-It's beautiful, isn't it?

0:28:520:28:56

So you've got a fireplace in here, and you've also got

0:28:560:28:58

a beautiful fireplace in the other reception room.

0:28:580:29:02

Any idea why it's the Mystery House?

0:29:020:29:04

It's got buildings and land.

0:29:060:29:10

-How much land did you want?

-Ten.

-A little bit more?

0:29:100:29:13

-The more the better for me.

-Yes, please.

-12?

-12, yeah?

0:29:130:29:18

-14?

-Keep going.

-I feel anxious!

-16 acres.

0:29:180:29:22

-Oh, lovely.

-Oh, brilliant. That's more like it.

0:29:220:29:25

It is not often I can say that with a Mystery House,

0:29:250:29:27

but that's what it is. It's on a very, very large plot.

0:29:270:29:31

-Brilliant, that sounds great.

-It's all going so well, may it continue.

0:29:310:29:36

Follow me.

0:29:360:29:38

With our super-sized surprise revealed, we're heading

0:29:380:29:40

back across the hallway to the rear of the house.

0:29:400:29:43

So you've got a third reception room,

0:29:430:29:45

which we're probably going to call the dining room.

0:29:450:29:48

-Right.

-And then it brings us into the kitchen.

0:29:480:29:51

Now, my first question is, would you change the kitchen?

0:29:510:29:55

Yes!

0:29:550:29:56

Got a utility room next door.

0:29:580:29:59

I'm guessing that used to be a larder-scullery area,

0:29:590:30:04

but what you could do is if you literally took that wall out and

0:30:040:30:07

joined up that with this, you could have a really good-sized kitchen.

0:30:070:30:10

Yeah, that's a good idea. Hmm. I'm quite excited.

0:30:100:30:14

-Feels like we could do lots in here.

-Yeah.

0:30:140:30:17

Upstairs in this blank canvas of a house is a sizeable family bathroom,

0:30:170:30:22

with tongue-and-groove panelling, and three bedrooms.

0:30:220:30:25

They're all bright doubles, and two are furnished with

0:30:270:30:30

feature fireplaces, the largest of which could be the master.

0:30:300:30:33

We've made our way outside, so I can show Ruth and Stewart

0:30:370:30:41

the complete package on offer here -

0:30:410:30:43

the huge acreage that gives the property its Mystery House title.

0:30:430:30:48

Now, this is where it gets exciting for the two of you.

0:30:480:30:52

It seems I can throw anything at you,

0:30:520:30:54

and you're going to be going, "Yes, yes, give me more!"

0:30:540:30:58

-There's your mum in there!

-Yeah!

0:30:580:31:00

Well, in actual fact, I'm laughing, but you're right.

0:31:000:31:03

Because originally, when the house was built, which we know was around

0:31:030:31:06

the 1900s, this was used, as well, as a dwelling,

0:31:060:31:08

so that could be holiday let

0:31:080:31:10

potential, but also could be a great place for Gillian, as well.

0:31:100:31:13

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:31:130:31:14

You've got a massive courtyard, as you can see, where we're standing.

0:31:140:31:18

-Do you want a big barn?

-Yeah.

-Yeah? Stables. Whatever you like in there.

0:31:180:31:23

Behind us, you can see we've got an orchard, already established.

0:31:230:31:28

Old, isn't it?

0:31:280:31:29

And then in front of us we have the original milking parlour,

0:31:290:31:33

which, again, you can seek planning permission and you can change that.

0:31:330:31:37

-Yeah.

-This is what we wanted. This is it.

-Courtyard. Yeah.

-Wonderful.

0:31:370:31:43

-You've done it.

-Could it be yours?

0:31:430:31:45

Well, let's have a wander, and then we'll discuss it in further detail.

0:31:450:31:49

Just beyond the farm buildings are four large paddocks, ideal for

0:31:520:31:58

Ruth and Stewart's plans for both animals and their business ideas.

0:31:580:32:03

-Have we left the best till last?

-Oh, definitely.

0:32:040:32:08

-Let's hope the price is the same!

-We hope so, yeah.

0:32:080:32:11

Hope so for your sake! Right, serious times. What are we thinking?

0:32:110:32:16

It's difficult, isn't it?

0:32:160:32:17

Because we've moved away from the more touristy areas and the city,

0:32:170:32:21

but we've got more land.

0:32:210:32:23

Erm... Thinking around about 450.

0:32:240:32:27

OK, £450,000. Right. Ruth?

0:32:270:32:31

I was going to say 450 but that's wishful thinking.

0:32:310:32:35

-I think you're going to be ecstatic.

-Right.

0:32:350:32:37

-Asking price, £400,000.

-Wow! That's good.

0:32:370:32:41

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

0:32:410:32:42

Look at that face. She's going! You're going, Ruth!

0:32:450:32:48

-Yeah.

-Oh, you ARE going. I can see.

-Sorry.

0:32:480:32:52

No, that's good. It's better than good. This is what it's all about.

0:32:520:32:56

-I don't want to leave.

-Do you want to have a wander?

-Yes, please.

0:32:560:33:00

-Please.

-All right. See you in a minute.

-Thank you.

0:33:000:33:03

I say "see you in a minute" -

0:33:030:33:04

-I think I'm going to see them in about two hours!

-Yeah!

0:33:040:33:06

Our brick-built mystery farmhouse is priced £100,000 below budget,

0:33:080:33:14

and is just waiting for someone to turn it into a family home.

0:33:140:33:18

It's got three reception rooms,

0:33:180:33:19

the potential for a great kitchen/diner, and three bedrooms.

0:33:190:33:24

Outside, there are a number of outbuildings offering

0:33:240:33:27

the chance for additional living quarters and business opportunities,

0:33:270:33:31

and all this in a rambling 16 acres of countryside.

0:33:310:33:36

I've got an image of all our polytunnels. Here they are.

0:33:360:33:40

-The top corner, yeah.

-Yeah. All our veg and things.

0:33:400:33:45

-Wow! This is a big area, isn't it, actually?

-It is.

0:33:450:33:49

-Hmm.

-So, a little bit glamping.

0:33:490:33:51

Maybe do one of the barns up as a holiday cottage.

0:33:510:33:54

And we'll be set, won't we? A few animals, a few pigs, sheep, goats.

0:33:550:34:00

Lovely.

0:34:000:34:02

Yeah, the Mystery House has... It's been spot-on.

0:34:040:34:07

It's exactly what we wanted. Somewhere for Gillian to stay,

0:34:070:34:09

plenty of room for our animals, everything we wanted, so, yeah.

0:34:090:34:14

This property has got so much potential

0:34:140:34:16

that we won't have to make any compromises.

0:34:160:34:18

We can do the development, we can have our animals,

0:34:180:34:22

we can think about glamping, and it's got space for everything.

0:34:220:34:25

I'm excited, yeah.

0:34:250:34:27

I want to get stuck into them barns and things, and get going.

0:34:270:34:30

I can really see the whole family living here, and we're actually

0:34:300:34:33

really, really close to one of my aunties, which is just fabulous.

0:34:330:34:39

We could pop in for a cuppa, which is great!

0:34:390:34:43

-I don't want to take you two away.

-I don't want to go!

-No?

0:34:450:34:48

-I don't think we are going.

-Are you not?

0:34:480:34:50

-Have we left the best till last?

-Oh, easily.

-Yeah.

-Oh!

0:34:500:34:54

I am so looking forward to our conversation. OK, let's go.

0:34:540:34:57

The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast,

0:35:040:35:06

is the country's largest city.

0:35:060:35:09

Its industrial past includes linen, rope-making and shipbuilding,

0:35:090:35:14

and in the early 20th century, it was the birthplace of RMS Titanic.

0:35:140:35:19

The huge iconic passenger ship was built by Harland and Wolff

0:35:190:35:23

and sank on her maiden voyage in 1912,

0:35:230:35:26

when she set sail from Southampton to New York.

0:35:260:35:29

I've come to the Titanic Belfast exhibition to meet Phil.

0:35:290:35:34

He's a visitor experience leader here, who's going to tell me more

0:35:340:35:38

about this fascinating and tragic slice of Northern Irish history.

0:35:380:35:43

Phil, Belfast has such a legacy when it comes to shipbuilding.

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Why is that, and when did it all start?

0:35:470:35:50

There was a man from Scotland called Hexham, and the merchants of Belfast

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asked him to open up a yard to start building ships

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because of the industry back then.

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In 1794, Belfast had exported over 24.7 million yards of linen.

0:35:580:36:04

-In fact, it was known as Linen-opolis.

-Was it?

-Yeah.

0:36:040:36:07

So they had to get their goods to the new lands -

0:36:070:36:10

to Europe, to America.

0:36:100:36:11

And with that there, the shipbuilding continued.

0:36:110:36:14

Well, we're actually standing on the birthplace of Titanic.

0:36:140:36:17

This is where she was actually built from the ground floor up.

0:36:170:36:20

They wanted to build the most luxurious ship in the world.

0:36:200:36:23

-It was not about speed, it was about luxury.

-How big a ship was she?

0:36:230:36:28

Well, you can see an exact outline, as we go down here,

0:36:280:36:31

of the vessel itself.

0:36:310:36:32

So imagine this building here,

0:36:340:36:36

all the way to the water's edge, surrounded by...

0:36:360:36:38

-All this way?

-All the way.

-So this would have been the bow?

0:36:380:36:41

This would have been the bow, that's correct.

0:36:410:36:43

And if you imagine our building here,

0:36:430:36:45

Titanic Belfast is the same height as Titanic from keel to boat deck.

0:36:450:36:49

It would have been seen from everywhere in Belfast,

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this huge, floating, gigantic vessel.

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RMS Titanic was the biggest ship in the world at the time.

0:36:550:36:58

It was her empty shell which was built on the expansive concourse

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before she was moved to the dry dock to be fitted.

0:37:030:37:06

It's in the dry dock I'm meeting Mervyn Watley,

0:37:060:37:08

who's the estate manager here.

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Obviously there was huge cost implications to building Titanic,

0:37:120:37:16

and also, I suppose, time frames.

0:37:160:37:19

Yes, a lot of pressure on time,

0:37:190:37:20

and actually Titanic's exit from Belfast was delayed.

0:37:200:37:24

-Was it?

-Yes, her sister ship, Olympic, had an impact at sea

0:37:240:37:29

and she had to be brought back to Belfast, so

0:37:290:37:31

Titanic had to go out of the dock, Olympic had to come back in again.

0:37:310:37:35

That delayed Titanic's exit from Belfast by a number of weeks,

0:37:350:37:38

which in turn had a knock-on impact on her departure,

0:37:380:37:41

on her maiden voyage from Southampton,

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and if that delay hadn't happened, it's highly unlikely that she

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would have had a collision with an iceberg because the icebergs

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wouldn't have been as far south at that time of the year.

0:37:500:37:53

I had no idea. So, in actual fact, there could have been

0:37:530:37:56

a very different outcome from that maiden voyage?

0:37:560:37:59

Very much so.

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Tragically, although she was billed as virtually unsinkable,

0:38:010:38:05

five days into her journey,

0:38:050:38:07

Titanic hit the iceberg which ended her ill-fated and short career.

0:38:070:38:11

One person who feels the full weight of the tragedy is Susie Miller.

0:38:120:38:17

I'm meeting her on board SS Nomadic.

0:38:170:38:20

She transported Titanic passengers from port to ship,

0:38:200:38:22

and is the largest remaining Titanic artefact in the world.

0:38:220:38:26

My great-grandfather, Tommy Miller,

0:38:270:38:29

was an assistant deck engineer on Titanic.

0:38:290:38:32

He'd helped to build the ship,

0:38:320:38:34

in particular the engines for Titanic,

0:38:340:38:36

and then he decided he wanted to become a marine engineer and go

0:38:360:38:40

to sea, in the hope of starting a new life in New York City.

0:38:400:38:44

So he decided he would leave his children at home.

0:38:440:38:47

And did he leave any mementos,

0:38:470:38:49

any legacy of his time working on the ship?

0:38:490:38:52

So Tommy gave them each two pennies from 1912, and he said,

0:38:520:38:58

"Don't spend those until we are all together again".

0:38:580:39:01

So my grandfather describes how he stood on the shores

0:39:010:39:04

of Belfast Lough, and he was clutching those pennies so

0:39:040:39:07

tightly in his hand that the date of 1912 was nearly burnt into his palm.

0:39:070:39:12

Oh, my goodness! And that would have been the last time he ever saw him.

0:39:120:39:15

Yes, yes, because then a few weeks later,

0:39:150:39:18

news came back that the Titanic had hit the iceberg.

0:39:180:39:21

What an incredible story. Incredible.

0:39:210:39:23

And do we know what happened to the pennies?

0:39:230:39:25

My grandfather was true to his word.

0:39:250:39:27

He promised his dad he never would spend those two pennies,

0:39:270:39:30

and he didn't.

0:39:300:39:31

And I'm sure, as a family, it's really important to all of you to

0:39:310:39:36

keep the story alive and make sure it's told in the right way.

0:39:360:39:39

Yes, my father and now me,

0:39:390:39:41

we're very active members of Belfast Titanic Society and our role

0:39:410:39:45

there is really to preserve and protect the story of Titanic.

0:39:450:39:50

Long may it continue and be respected.

0:39:500:39:52

-Susie, thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

0:39:520:39:55

Over 1,500 people died that fateful night, affecting countless families,

0:39:550:40:00

but it's heartening that, more than a century later,

0:40:000:40:03

the memory of those that perished still lives on.

0:40:030:40:06

Well, that was a really, really successful house tour,

0:40:100:40:14

and I've given Ruth and Stewart some time

0:40:140:40:17

so they can contemplate what their next move is going to be.

0:40:170:40:21

I hope they're not going to disappoint me on this one.

0:40:210:40:24

Well, we've shown you quite a broad range of properties, but I think...

0:40:310:40:36

I think it would be fair for me to say that there was one.

0:40:360:40:40

I thought there was going to be two, but then there was one

0:40:400:40:42

that really hit home and, of course, it was our Mystery House.

0:40:420:40:46

For me, it had everything that we dreamt of, really.

0:40:460:40:49

There's no compromising on what we can do.

0:40:490:40:51

We can do glamping, we can have the animals,

0:40:510:40:55

we can build another property, possibly.

0:40:550:40:57

You know, there's lots of things that we could do.

0:40:570:40:59

I wanted that project, I wanted them rundown down barns

0:40:590:41:03

so I could do them up.

0:41:030:41:04

-That's what I wanted, yeah.

-What happens next?

0:41:040:41:07

We're planning on going back tomorrow, have a look around

0:41:070:41:11

tomorrow before we go back home.

0:41:110:41:12

-Right.

-We've already spoke to Charlie, and Ruth's mum.

0:41:120:41:16

They're desperate to get out to look at it,

0:41:160:41:18

so we're looking at organising that in the next couple of weeks.

0:41:180:41:21

-So you really are prepared to move quickly?

-Yeah.

0:41:210:41:23

Our house has just gone through, we've just found out today,

0:41:230:41:26

so we're looking at completing on that in the next two weeks.

0:41:260:41:29

Fantastic.

0:41:290:41:30

So we're waiting on Gillian to say yes, Charlie to say yes, and then

0:41:300:41:36

if everything goes according to plan, say those magic words.

0:41:360:41:39

-Yeah, we're looking at putting an offer in.

-Brilliant!

0:41:390:41:43

The Mystery House has worked its magic.

0:41:430:41:45

Well, may it work its magic on the rest of the family as well.

0:41:450:41:50

-We'll be rooting for you.

-Thank you.

-Do let us know, won't you?

0:41:500:41:53

And I'd like an invite, actually, because I want

0:41:530:41:56

any excuse to come back to this beautiful part of the world.

0:41:560:41:58

-Want to see how you're getting on when you move in.

-Definitely.

0:41:580:42:01

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

0:42:010:42:02

I hope it all goes really well for you. I'm sure it will.

0:42:020:42:07

I had a feeling when I saw tears of joy at the start of the

0:42:090:42:12

house tour and smiles of relief on guess-the-price that we were

0:42:120:42:16

onto a winner, and it's certainly been the case with Ruth and Stewart.

0:42:160:42:20

They both adore our mystery farmhouse, and if the rest

0:42:200:42:25

of the family agree, they could be living in beautiful Northern Ireland

0:42:250:42:29

very soon, enjoying the kind of lifestyle that they all so crave.

0:42:290:42:34

I'm keeping everything crossed for them. That's it from me.

0:42:340:42:38

It's been the most wonderful few days

0:42:380:42:41

and I'll see you again soon on Escape To The Country.

0:42:410:42:43

Ruth and Stewart did revisit the Mystery House, and

0:42:460:42:48

made an offer for the asking price, but lost out to another buyer.

0:42:480:42:53

So, sadly, their house-hunt continues,

0:42:530:42:56

and we wish them the very best of luck.

0:42:560:42:58

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

0:43:000:43:02

Scotland, Wales or England, and need our help, why not apply online?

0:43:020:43:10

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