Cumbria Escape to the Country


Cumbria

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Welcome to Escape To The Country where today I'm in Cumbria,

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one of the most picturesque and historic counties anywhere in the British Isles.

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These ruins behind me are those of Egremont Castle, one of the most important towns in Cumbria.

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But it's also famous not just for these beautiful old ruins, but also for the art of gurning.

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If you don't know what that is, stick around on Escape To The Country and I'll show you.

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-Ooh!

-In today's show, I'll be helping a couple leave suburbia

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to start a new life in a part of the world famed for its poetic scenery.

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-Have you, have you noticed Tony, look!

-Yeah.

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I'll be showing them some exciting properties in dramatic settings that they just can't quite believe.

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Tears of joy, I hope?

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It's just amazing.

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And there's the mystery house, which is almost too good to be true.

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This is the art of gurning, or pulling funny faces,

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a tradition in Cumbria that dates back to 1266,

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and it's here in Egremont that the annual world championships still take place.

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But there's plenty more to this area than gurning.

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Cumbria is England's most north-westerly county, situated

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on the west coast, with Durham and North Yorkshire to the east.

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It's home to the Lake District National Park, famed for its

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dramatic and wild mountain ranges, and stunning Lakeland valleys.

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But it's not all remote for some community life. The traditional market towns of Penrith

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and Kendal offer tourists and locals a welcome stop-off with plenty of individual shops and eateries.

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And to the west of the county there are 93 miles of coast to explore.

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But we're interested in property, and in Cumbria it's characterised by solid stone cottages, quarried from

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local limestone with slate roofs, all to be found nestled in beautiful countryside.

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Now Cumbria's glorious landscape is full of some fantastic properties,

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but of course they do come at a price.

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Your average detached will set you back around about £273,000,

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six% above the national average. But if property is your thing,

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set within beautiful picture postcard scenery, there is an awful lot on offer.

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For a truly stunning setting look no further than this four bedroom

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Lakeland farmhouse at the foot of the Dunnerdale Fells.

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Inside it has retained the original beams,

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open fireplaces and stone floors. £1.3 million is the price tag,

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but how could you put a price on waking up in a bedroom with a view like that?

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Or, if you like your history, this former 16th century

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four bedroom Tudor hall is on the market for 598,000.

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Whilst sympathetically updated in the kitchen, many original features,

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such as the beautiful oak panelling, remain intact.

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Or for just under 300,000 you could buy this three bedroom barn conversion.

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It has a contemporary feel with solid oak flooring,

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and to the back of the property there's a secluded lawn garden.

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There are plenty of great properties on offer in Cumbria, so today's buyers shouldn't be disappointed.

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Jenny and Tony have been living in their five bedroom house

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in Macclesfield, Cheshire, for over 20 years.

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Having both recently retired, and with their grown-up daughters about to fly the nest,

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they're keen to make the most of their new found freedom.

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Our reasons for moving to the country is that we're not

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restricted any more by jobs and children's schooling.

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We love being able to walk in the country, to walk the dog.

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I love the sea particularly.

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I don't like to be enclosed with lots of buildings roundabout,

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and also traffic seems to be getting worse as you get more towards the cities,

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so the country is really where we would love to be.

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Cumbria is a perfect choice for them as far as walking

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and open spaces go, but what are they looking for in their new property?

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This is my kitchen, and we've had many happy meals around here.

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It's a priority for me, feeding people, really.

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I love cooking, so I would really like to have a lovely kitchen

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where we move to, perhaps with a range cooker.

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But while Jenny cooks up a feast, Tony's vegetable plot needs to grow in size to keep up with the demand.

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So this is the vegetable plot, with also a small fruit patch.

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As you can see, it's a little bit cramped,

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so I'm really looking forward to moving to a new house

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which will give me a lot more scope for growing more fruit and vegetables.

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And, keeping with the simple things in life, Jenny has another request.

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This is my utility room.

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It's a glory hole, and I have to go up and down stairs to it,

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so it makes laundry even harder work than it normally is.

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So I would love a utility room off the kitchen in my new property.

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As far as the location goes, they'd love to be close to

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the coast, but at the same time, they don't want to be too remote.

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The sort of dream lifestyle that we're looking for is get involved with the local community a bit,

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be nice to have a local pub, we'll go and meet people, to make new friends.

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We also enjoy eating out, so to be near some really nice restaurants,

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that'll be nice as well.

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So with no time to lose, we've invited an estate agent around to give them a current valuation.

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This is a five bedroom detached property in an ideal location for schools and local amenities.

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For this reason we would value the property at £365,000.

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With that in mind, how much do they have to spend on their new home?

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If we find our perfect house with three bedrooms,

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a good size kitchen, good flat garden and a view,

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then our budget really is 400,000.

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Now it may be that Tony and Jenny's requirements are fairly ambitious.

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They want three bedrooms at least,

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preferably a nice big farmhouse kitchen with a utility room attached,

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and some outside space for some vegetables and somewhere for the dog to play.

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Now of course they do have £400,000, but in a popular part of the country

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like this, it may not be quite enough.

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We've decided to focus our search

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to the south of Cumbria, around the town of Kendal.

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Not only will Jenny and Tony have the Lake District

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National Park on their doorstep

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but they'll be in striking distance of the coast.

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Over the course of two days I'll be taking them to see a selection of Cumbrian properties,

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but I won't be letting them in on the prices straight away.

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And last on our tour is the mystery house, which today is a property with a unique twist.

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-Well, Jenny, Tony, welcome to the Lake District.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

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What a fantastic spot you've decided to come and live in.

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Couldn't be better, it's absolutely stunning this morning, really lovely.

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-Now you've got 400 grand or so to spend...

-Yeah.

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We want a property for you, but also for your two daughters.

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They've technically left home, but they aren't going to fly that far, are they?

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Hopefully they'll come home sometimes.

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-And of course the dog.

-Yes.

-Yeah. The dog's important.

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This is a very popular part of the country,

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so it may be a bit of a challenge to fit everything you want in.

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-But who knows?

-Who knows?

-Plenty of property out there,

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-I've got lots to show you, so shall we?

-Yeah.

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-Yes, great.

-Come on, then. Look at that!

-Beautiful!

-Absolutely stunning.

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Jenny and Tony have a budget of £400,000.

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Keen cook Jenny is after a country style kitchen,

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big enough for entertaining all of her friends, and a utility room.

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They need a minimum of three bedrooms

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for when their daughters come to stay,

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and a garden big enough

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for a decent sized vegetable plot for Tony.

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Now it's obviously a beautiful part of the world, this, but why did you pick it, what does it mean to you?

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Well, I was at college in Lancaster many years ago, and we knew each other then, we were engaged.

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So when Tony used to drive all the way up from the south we often

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used to sort of explore this part of the world, and we loved it.

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Recently we came in August, and Tony walked across Morecambe Bay,

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and we rediscovered the area really, and thought gosh, this ticks a lot of boxes for us.

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So we really have caught you on the cusp. I mean the iron's hot, isn't it?

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-Yeah, it is really.

-I think it is.

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Our first property is to the east of Kendal,

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seven miles from the market town of Sedbergh.

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Although officially in Cumbria, Sedbergh is set on the edge of the

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Yorkshire Dales, so there's great walking to be had for Tony.

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And for Jenny, the town provides a focal point for rural life,

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with a post office, book shop and a chemist.

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Property number one is set in a beautiful location, so time to see what Jenny and Tony make of it.

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Right, guys, well, this is where we're going to start.

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My goodness me, it's cold. We'll get in there as soon as possible, I promise you.

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But what do you think of this as our first property?

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-Well...

-It's lovely.

-It's impressive I think. It's lovely stonework,

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-really like the stonework.

-Is this a barn conversion?

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It is a barn conversion, and it's actually set into the hillside, the hill rises up behind it, so,

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-in terms of the geography, it's arranged over three floors.

-Yeah.

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Bearing in mind that it's built into a bank, so we've got

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the ground floor, most of the bedrooms everything are down here.

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-Right.

-So it's all a bit upside down, but it does mean that

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as you go higher your living areas, etcetera, make the best of all of these lovely views.

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-I bet it's for the views.

-Exactly.

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-Yeah.

-That's exactly it. Well, let's go inside out of this cold and have a look.

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Ah, come on in, come on in. Grab the door.

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There we go.

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Right, follow me through here.

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-This is probably the biggest room down here.

-Wow.

-OK.

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-Yeah.

-Nice window.

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Yeah, very much part of the old sort of barn construction as you

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can see, they've basically glazed a big, you know, double doorway.

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And also, having the light.

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-So often these places can be really dark with tiny little windows.

-Yeah.

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And that's a really important thing to us, having the light.

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I mean as a bedroom, this is probably the lightest one, certainly on this floor.

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You've also got an en suite in here.

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I mean I'm thinking of your daughters, coming back from uni.

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Oh, yes, yeah. Having some space.

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-They could have their own thing down here.

-Yes, yes.

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So that would work well for them, this particularly would...

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Yes, it would, they'd love it, absolutely.

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This is a four bedroom property.

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On this floor there are another couple of options for the girls.

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There's a fairly compact double, and a small single, currently used as an office.

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There's also a modern and neutral family bathroom.

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-All very straightforward, but it's the living space upstairs where this house gets really exciting.

-Ooh.

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Oh, wow. Well, this is different.

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Gosh, this is nice. It's lovely.

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-Beautiful, isn't it? What a lovely room.

-It's a lovely room.

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Look at that view!

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That's really beautiful.

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That is a painting in itself, isn't it, there.

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Yeah, you've got a little mezzanine floor up there.

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Potentially a study.

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-Yeah, yeah.

-Gosh, I didn't expect this.

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No, no, it's...

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That is, have you noticed, Tony, look, look, look!

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Jenny, I love it! I mean, you wanted a bit of, a bit of this.

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-It's certainly rural.

-It's like a painting!

-Yeah, it's lovely.

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I mean, you're obviously dominated by this wood burner.

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-Yes, cosy.

-Multi-fuel wood burner, which is going to be very very cosy.

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Really got a lot of character, that.

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-It's tremendous.

-Certainly got character.

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And light, it's light. It's super.

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-Very nice.

-If you like this space, wait till you've had a look in here.

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-Wow.

-Now then Jenny,

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what about this?

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-Ooh, wow!

-Come on in, come on in.

-Gosh.

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-What do you think of that?

-Oh, yes, range cooker.

-There you go.

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Yes, decent, decent cooker.

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-I like the colours.

-Yes, I like the colours.

-The tiles are beautiful.

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Now I know that utility rooms are quite important to you.

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-Mm, yes.

-Where's the utility room at home at the moment?

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It's downstairs, and I have to keep going down there to get the washing.

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It makes it hard work, I curse it all the time.

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-If it was on the same level as the kitchen, that'd be good.

-That would be wonderful.

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We have got you one, it is on this level, it's right next door.

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-Come and have a look at this.

-Oh, wow.

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Now then, Jenny.

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Wow, this,

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-this ticks the box.

-Yeah?

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Gosh.

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To be honest, it's as big as some cottage kitchens.

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I was going to say, you could have a dance in here!

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Now then, top floor is all about you, because that is something

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of a sort of master suite. Come with me.

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Right, lead on.

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Last but not least, your own little floor.

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Ooh, gosh. This would make a lovely study, wouldn't it?

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-Yes, it would, yes.

-Nice area.

-Yeah.

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It's not over yet. Have a look in here, because this, albeit not the biggest

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master bedroom in the world, is technically the master.

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-Would this work?

-Ooh.

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Yeah, yeah. We might have to... we've got a big bed!

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It's a little smaller than we've got at the moment, perhaps, isn't it?

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-Yes.

-But we could make it work.

-Yes.

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-The upside is you've got an en suite in there.

-Oh, good, right!

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Well, I get the sense that as as an overall proposition this place is kind of working.

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It's lovely, it really is.

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-It's got better and better.

-It's got a terrific amount of character, yes.

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It's certainly a possibility, yes.

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The master bedroom may not be as big as they were hoping for, but offset that against this impressive

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reception room and the stunning views from the garden, I think it makes this house a real contender.

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Ah, some nice bracing,

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-mountain weather for you both!

-Lakeland weather.

-Lakeland weather.

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Now the garden as such is pretty much what you can see.

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-So it's not acres and acres.

-No.

-Mm.

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I don't know how much of a garden project you really want to take on.

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We didn't want huge, did we?

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No. I mean, I was looking ideally for a small plot for vegetables and fruit.

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Yeah.

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-I guess it may be, it may be possible somewhere, but...

-So you've got a bit.

-Yeah.

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I suppose you could argue that your garden is all around you.

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Yes, yes, it is.

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I mean, beautiful views all round.

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Now before we get totally soaking wet and frozen to death,

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let's have a very quick but focused thought

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about how much it's going to cost.

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You've got 400 grand to spend.

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What do you think this little lot is worth?

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Well, bearing in mind the amount of space in there, I'd have thought it was a bit above that.

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I'd have said 425.

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425, yeah, that's not bad.

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Yeah, I'd say 425 to 445, really.

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-So if it was 399,950...

-Oh, really?

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Oh, right!

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-That'd be really cool, wouldn't it?

-Yes, it would.

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-It would! Bang on.

-Bang on the budget.

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-That's incredible.

-Really good.

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You've got 50 quid change to take your wife out for dinner!

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Yeah, we'll spend that.

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-Have a look around, I'll catch up with you later.

-Get the hair dryer! OK.

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-Go and see if this is going to be the place for you.

-Thanks.

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It has to be said that if you can sell a property

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on a day like this you can sell it in any conditions. The wind's got up, the rain is lashing down.

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It's bang on the budget, 399,950.

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Is it for them? Who knows? When they warm up it might be!

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The price tag of this barn conversion has definitely taken Jenny and Tony by surprise.

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For just under £400,000, you get four bedrooms, a large galleried reception area with character beams.

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The garden is admittedly a bit small, but its location

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means it has some priceless views of the Yorkshire Dales.

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And despite the weather doing its best to put them off, I don't think it has.

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You can have that as a separate, almost like a little telly area.

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-Yeah.

-And then this is cosy round the fire. I'd love it.

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-Yeah.

-Absolutely super.

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I think this lounge absolutely sells it.

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It's so wonderful. It'll be difficult to better it, really.

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It's quite stunning when you enter it because of the height of the ceiling.

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Terrific amount of space there.

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We did say that we would like to be within walking distance to a shop, and we are a bit away

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from a village, we'd have to get in a car, so we'd have to think about that carefully.

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We'll certainly keep this one in mind, it certainly deserves some serious thought from us.

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If you can picture yourself in a house, that's really important.

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And actually I can. I just think it's got tremendous potential.

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Right, Jenny, Tony, come and brave the weather.

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Now then, I think that was quite a good start, really.

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Yes, I think it was quite a positive start.

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Can it get better?

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Well, it might get wetter, and it might get colder!

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But yes, it can get better. Come on.

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For our next property, we're just dipping our toes over the border

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into Lancashire, on the outskirts of the village of Warton, and only a short drive from Morecambe Bay.

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Warton is a small village with its own post office and a couple of pubs to choose from.

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The church of St Oswald dates from the mid 14th century.

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Apparently, a local family, the Washingtons, paid for the tower, who it transpires were the ancestors

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of George Washington, the first president of the United States.

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Our second house is just ten minutes from here, in a street of pretty stone cottages. More rain!

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-You want to...

-Up you come.

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Oh, my goodness me. Come on, Jenny.

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Now then. I'm going to keep this brief cos it's pouring down,

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-but what we've got here is very much a village cottage.

-Yeah.

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-Right.

-Now as you can see it's been much extended.

0:18:210:18:24

-You get that bit...

-Right.

-And you get this bit as well, which is the new bit.

0:18:240:18:27

This is about four years old. What do you think?

0:18:270:18:29

-It's cute.

-It's very quaint. Yes, I mean I like it.

0:18:290:18:33

-It's secluded in the front.

-Front garden. Yes, I like it.

0:18:330:18:36

Well, it's in. Positive.

0:18:360:18:38

Right. Let's not labour it, let's get out of the weather. Come on.

0:18:380:18:44

-Ah, right. Come on, get out of that weather.

-Thank you.

0:18:440:18:48

-Can you grab the door, Tony?

-Yeah, sure.

0:18:480:18:50

Right.

0:18:500:18:53

-This is all new extension.

-Right.

0:18:530:18:55

-Everything from this wall, that way.

-Gosh.

0:18:550:18:58

To give you an idea. It used to be a two up, two down cottage.

0:18:580:19:01

-Yes.

-But it's a lot bigger now, it's basically doubled in size.

-Right.

0:19:010:19:04

Essentially. But let's start in here, let's see what you think of this, Jenny.

0:19:040:19:09

-Yes, yes.

-It's not a huge farmhouse kitchen.

0:19:090:19:12

No, but it's nicely done.

0:19:120:19:15

-Cosy.

-Very nicely done, actually.

0:19:150:19:17

-It is quite small.

-Mm.

-Yes.

0:19:170:19:19

But it is right next to the dining room, which is through here.

0:19:190:19:22

Right.

0:19:220:19:24

-This is nice, it's a very attractive room, isn't it?

-Nice living room, isn't it?

0:19:250:19:30

-Good proportions, I suppose this would have been the main room as you came in, wouldn't it?

-Exactly.

0:19:300:19:35

That would have been the front door.

0:19:350:19:37

-Yes.

-And you can see that huge old fireplace.

-Beautiful, lovely fireplace. Fabulous.

-Yes.

0:19:370:19:41

And a multi-fuel burner sat in there, so as a dining room,

0:19:410:19:44

to entertain family and friends...

0:19:440:19:46

-Very, very cosy.

-Very attractive, yeah, very nice.

0:19:460:19:48

Very cosy. And also the floor's lovely, isn't it?

0:19:480:19:51

-Mm, yes.

-Original floorboards.

0:19:510:19:53

-Yes, you can see that.

-Creaking away.

0:19:530:19:55

Let's explore this extension through here.

0:19:550:19:59

-This is the main living room.

-Oh. Ooh, this is a good size.

0:20:010:20:06

Yes, it is.

0:20:060:20:08

-It's lovely, isn't it?

-And you get a free cat.

0:20:080:20:10

Oh, she's very chilled. Typical cat.

0:20:100:20:13

-I like the French windows there too, yeah.

-Yes.

0:20:130:20:16

You're getting a sense of how the ground floor works here, this is pretty much it.

0:20:160:20:19

Kitchen, dining room, living room...

0:20:190:20:21

But you've got nice two rooms off the hallway, which is a nice balance, isn't it?

0:20:210:20:26

There's a downstairs cloakroom

0:20:260:20:28

at the end of the corridor, so that's a nice addition.

0:20:280:20:31

We haven't got the utility room.

0:20:310:20:33

-No.

-But, you know, who knows?

0:20:330:20:36

-C'est la vie.

-C'est la vie.

0:20:360:20:38

I just won't need to do any washing.

0:20:380:20:40

Send it out.

0:20:400:20:42

-You'll have to do some, because we've got four bedrooms for you.

-Gosh.

0:20:420:20:46

-Gosh, right.

-Yes, four.

0:20:460:20:48

Let's go and explore those and see what you make of that.

0:20:480:20:51

Admittedly, some compromises do have to be made with this place, but it's in such a great location

0:20:510:20:57

I'm hoping Jenny and Tony think that they're worth making.

0:20:570:21:00

Upstairs, there's a bright and shiny new family bathroom.

0:21:000:21:04

And bedroom wise, the first is small, but it has a neat window seat

0:21:040:21:07

with a great view, and there are also two good-sized doubles.

0:21:070:21:11

But then there's the master.

0:21:110:21:13

-But this is you.

-Oh, right.

0:21:130:21:15

Come on in.

0:21:150:21:17

This is nice.

0:21:170:21:19

-Yeah?

-Yeah, it is lovely.

-Lovely. Love the fireplace.

0:21:190:21:21

-Yeah.

-Isn't this lovely, nice cast iron fireplace, probably Victorian.

0:21:210:21:25

-Yes, we'd say Victorian.

-Good.

0:21:250:21:27

-The en suite's a bonus.

-Yeah, go and have a look in there.

0:21:270:21:29

-It's really nice and bigger than what we've seen so far.

-Oh, yes.

0:21:290:21:33

That's absolutely fine.

0:21:330:21:34

That's beautifully done, isn't it? It's a really good size, actually.

0:21:340:21:38

It's quite rare in a cottage this small to have something that big.

0:21:380:21:42

-It is.

-It is, I wasn't expecting an en suite at all.

0:21:420:21:44

-Ah, you see?

-So that's a plus.

0:21:440:21:46

You don't get utility but you do get an en suite.

0:21:460:21:49

I'd much rather have a utility room in there as well.

0:21:490:21:52

-Washing, over the sink! So that's pretty much it for the interior of this place.

-Yeah.

0:21:520:21:57

Let's have a look at the garden and finish it off, and then we'll think about how much it might cost you.

0:21:570:22:02

-OK.

-That'd be great.

-That'd be good.

-Follow me, back to the rain.

0:22:020:22:05

Right, out you come.

0:22:120:22:14

Ah, good old weather.

0:22:160:22:18

Very typical sort of little cottage garden that you'd expect

0:22:180:22:22

in a village location like this, with a property of this sort.

0:22:220:22:25

You've obviously got patio area there, you've got shed,

0:22:250:22:30

a little gate out there to the main street again.

0:22:300:22:33

I mean, once I'm outside the garden's a little bit bigger than I thought.

0:22:330:22:37

Yes, it's the vegetable problem again, isn't it?

0:22:370:22:40

-Yeah. I mean...

-We'll have to get an allotment.

0:22:400:22:42

There isn't an obvious place.

0:22:420:22:45

How much lawn would you be prepared to give up for your vegetables?

0:22:450:22:50

Mm, probably...

0:22:500:22:51

a patch about that area the other side of the path there. Would do it. Yes, yes.

0:22:510:22:56

-Yeah.

-So actually, if that would turn into a nice,

0:22:560:22:59

-maybe raised beds or something.

-Yes.

-Possibly, yeah.

0:22:590:23:02

-It is, it is actually bigger than you think, this garden.

-Yeah.

0:23:020:23:05

All right. Well, let's have a think about how much this house might be of interest to you, then.

0:23:050:23:11

I mean, I might be a bit on the harsh side, but I'd say 375.

0:23:110:23:16

Yeah, I'd even say perhaps even a bit less than that, 365.

0:23:160:23:21

365. Well, I suppose in some ways you've sort of

0:23:210:23:24

split the difference. It's actually on the market for 369,950.

0:23:240:23:29

-Oh, right.

-OK.

-So how does that sound?

-Mm...

0:23:290:23:32

Yeah, that sounds realistic.

0:23:320:23:34

-It's a very different proposition, this is talking about village life.

-This is village life.

0:23:340:23:39

-The other is rural.

-Yes.

0:23:390:23:41

And we did say that we wanted to be in a community, so again this might have another box to tick it.

0:23:410:23:48

-Possibly.

-Have another look around, I'll catch up with you later.

0:23:480:23:51

-Yes.

-OK, thanks.

-Thank you.

-Can I have the brolly?

-Sure.

0:23:510:23:54

Thank you very much indeed.

0:23:540:23:56

Being well under budget, this village cottage has a price tag just shy of £370,000.

0:23:560:24:02

It has four bedrooms, two spacious reception rooms, and it's been stylishly refurbished throughout,

0:24:020:24:08

but the garden isn't the biggest.

0:24:080:24:10

But with the coast being so near, will that be enough to make them see past its size?

0:24:100:24:15

I wonder if that wall might come down.

0:24:150:24:17

There is the possibility of knocking that wall down and extending through into the dining area.

0:24:170:24:21

-To make a big kitchen diner.

-All the way through.

0:24:210:24:24

That would make a lovely big room, wouldn't it?

0:24:240:24:26

I like this house, it's very well proportioned, it's got a nice feel about it.

0:24:260:24:32

There was a lot more space than I thought there'd be from the outside.

0:24:320:24:37

Particularly the garden perhaps is a little disappointing, I would have liked something a little

0:24:370:24:42

larger, but overall I think there are some definite positives, particularly being in the middle of a village.

0:24:420:24:50

-Have you seen enough, do you think?

-Yes, yes, we have.

-It's been good.

0:24:500:24:53

-I like the front door colour.

-Good...

0:24:530:24:55

It's not over yet, we've seen two, there is one more to come of course,

0:24:550:24:59

-and a few more other little bits and pieces...

-I know.

-..in the area.

0:24:590:25:02

-Come with me.

-Exciting.

0:25:020:25:04

As the afternoon sun slips over the horizon, day one of our property search draws to a close.

0:25:100:25:17

Tony and Jenny from Macclesfield in Cheshire are looking for a house in Cumbria with a budget of £400,000.

0:25:210:25:27

They're looking forward to retirement in one of the most tranquil landscapes.

0:25:270:25:31

So far they've viewed two properties.

0:25:310:25:35

-It's got better and better.

-It's got a terrific amount of character.

0:25:350:25:39

But still to come, we surpass ourselves with the mystery house.

0:25:390:25:42

I just can't get over it, it's just incredible!

0:25:420:25:45

Tony is a keen walker, and it's one of the driving forces behind their move to Cumbria,

0:25:490:25:55

home to England's largest national park.

0:25:550:25:57

And with around 2,000 square miles to explore, Tony has his work cut out,

0:25:570:26:02

so we thought we'd make a start by arranging to meet a local expert,

0:26:020:26:05

Stephen Lee, who's been mountaineering for 35 years, and most recently scrambling.

0:26:050:26:10

-Steve, very nice to see you. Let me introduce you to Tony.

-Hiya, Tony.

-Hi, Steve.

0:26:110:26:16

As you can see, look, he's got all the gear, sticks and everything, boots and all the rest of it,

0:26:160:26:21

very, very keen walker. I love being in the great outdoors as well, but I've never heard of scrambling.

0:26:210:26:26

-What's it all about?

-Well, scrambling is like walking but a bit more difficult.

0:26:260:26:30

A bit more of a challenge,

0:26:300:26:32

-definitely occasions when you might need to use your hands to help yourself balance.

-OK.

0:26:320:26:36

A bit of climbing here and there, and just making our way up the rocky ridge above us.

0:26:360:26:41

So it's kind of walking but a bit more interactive with the environment?

0:26:410:26:44

Yeah, it's a lot more hands-on, quite literally.

0:26:440:26:47

-How do you feel about that?

-Good, I'm looking forward to it.

0:26:470:26:50

-Right.

-Perhaps you'd better have one of my sticks.

-Thank you, you're very kind. Right then.

0:26:500:26:54

-Let's go up there, shall we?

-OK.

-After you.

0:26:540:26:57

'We're scrambling up Raven Crag, a rocky outcrop on the Egremont of Home Fell near Coniston,

0:26:580:27:04

'as it's suitable for beginners.'

0:27:040:27:06

-Now we might just stop here a moment, folks.

-How you doing?

0:27:060:27:10

Doing great, thanks.

0:27:100:27:12

You can see ahead that it gets a bit more steep now, and it's a good place to put a helmet on.

0:27:120:27:16

-OK.

-Cos it's an essential part of scrambling equipment.

-Right.

0:27:160:27:20

There's a chance you might slip over and you want to make sure you don't bang your heads.

0:27:200:27:24

-OK, is yours ready, Tony?

-Yeah.

-Right, yeah, let's give it a go.

0:27:240:27:28

I have to say this does make a very, very welcome change, doesn't it, Tony, to running round houses?

0:27:280:27:33

It does, it's nice to get out in the fresh air, get some exercise, lovely.

0:27:330:27:38

'The summit of Raven Crag is 1,000 feet above sea level,

0:27:380:27:41

'although we're only going to attempt to climb halfway up.

0:27:410:27:45

'The volcanic rocks that make up this crag record nearly 500 million years of geology.'

0:27:450:27:51

Well, shall we have a bit of a breather, do you think?

0:27:510:27:54

Yeah, here's a good spot.

0:27:540:27:56

Absolutely glorious.

0:27:560:27:58

I mean, Steve, what do you think, having lived here,

0:27:580:28:01

are the real advantages to this part of the world?

0:28:010:28:04

You can be somewhere like this in a 30-minute drive.

0:28:040:28:07

You can wake up, look out of the window and think, "I've got today off,

0:28:070:28:11

"it looks great in the hills," and then pack the car and away you go.

0:28:110:28:14

He's got the rest of his life off, he's retired!

0:28:140:28:17

THEY LAUGH

0:28:170:28:18

I'd thoroughly recommend it then.

0:28:180:28:19

-Be a good way of keeping fit in my retirement, hopefully.

-Absolutely, yeah.

0:28:190:28:23

Well, I have to say I could stay up here all day long, it is absolutely terrific,

0:28:230:28:28

-but it's not going to help us find you a house, is it?

-That's true.

0:28:280:28:31

-We've got one more to come. Can you show us the way down, Steve?

-Certainly I can.

-Come on, then.

0:28:310:28:36

Well, at long last it's time for me to reveal the mystery house to Jenny and to Tony.

0:28:400:28:46

Now, it's perfectly clear that they are downsizing, but the mystery house

0:28:460:28:50

wouldn't be the mystery house if it didn't have some kind of surprise.

0:28:500:28:53

The point is, it's bigger, much bigger.

0:28:530:28:57

The mystery house is a little further off the beaten track,

0:28:590:29:02

it's right on the coast in the small village of Silecroft.

0:29:020:29:05

Dominating the village skyline is the mountain of Black Combe, perfect walking territory for Tony.

0:29:050:29:12

It's a quiet rural village, but there is a small train station, so Jenny and Tony

0:29:120:29:15

shouldn't feel completely out on a limb.

0:29:150:29:18

Well, at long last it's time to show you the mystery house.

0:29:180:29:23

Now, Tony, how do you feel about a project?

0:29:230:29:26

THEY LAUGH You've got to be joking!

0:29:260:29:30

That looks a bit more than I could take on, I think.

0:29:300:29:32

We've seen one barn conversion, I thought perhaps you'd fancy putting your mark on another.

0:29:320:29:37

-Yeah...

-It is a bit of a project, and you would need somewhere to stay while you did it up, in fairness...

0:29:370:29:44

but the good news is, that comes with it.

0:29:440:29:46

THEY LAUGH

0:29:460:29:49

-My heart was sinking!

-Oh, right!

0:29:490:29:53

-Gosh, that is amazing.

-Wow.

0:29:530:29:55

-Wow, yeah.

-I mean, what you've got again is

0:29:550:29:59

technically a semi-detached, OK, because there's a property there...

0:29:590:30:03

-It's not a problem.

-And there's one here.

0:30:030:30:06

-So you've got that similar kind of community feel that we saw in our very first property.

-Yeah.

-OK.

0:30:060:30:11

but at its core, what we've got here is a possibly 17th-century old mill.

0:30:110:30:17

-Wow.

-Oh, wow.

0:30:170:30:20

-It's exciting, it really is.

-It is very exciting.

-I'm itching to get in and have a look.

-Yeah.

0:30:200:30:25

Well, come on, let's have a look.

0:30:250:30:27

'And the surprises aren't over yet. Wait till they discover the mystery that's tucked away in the kitchen.'

0:30:270:30:32

Wow, yeah, hasn't it got character? It's terrific.

0:30:340:30:38

Oh, the hall is just fabulous.

0:30:380:30:40

-Yeah.

-Now you did want a nice big kitchen, didn't you?

-Yeah.

0:30:400:30:44

Go on, go in there.

0:30:440:30:46

-Go on, Tony.

-Thanks.

0:30:460:30:47

In you go.

0:30:470:30:49

-Wow, this is...

-Oh, gosh!

0:30:500:30:52

-In you go!

-Oh, that is terrific!

-Oh, wow!

0:30:520:30:54

Just about brings tears to my eyes.

0:30:540:30:56

Gosh, that is amazing, that is really amazing.

0:30:560:31:00

That is stunning, actually.

0:31:000:31:02

That is stunning.

0:31:020:31:04

-Jenny, you're lost for words.

-I am!

0:31:040:31:06

THEY LAUGH

0:31:060:31:08

-It's just...

-What a wonderful room.

-I don't think I've ever been in such a beautiful kitchen.

0:31:080:31:13

Terrific, yeah.

0:31:130:31:15

You, you've really, really done well on this one!

0:31:150:31:19

Oh, I just can't get over it, it's just incredible!

0:31:190:31:22

-Is there a tear there, Jenny?

-Yes, it's a tear!

0:31:220:31:24

THEY LAUGH

0:31:240:31:25

-Oh...

-Tears of joy, I hope!

0:31:250:31:28

It's just amazing.

0:31:280:31:29

I think the mystery house has really lived up to its... Our expectations.

0:31:290:31:33

-Yeah, terrific.

-It's beautiful, really beautiful. Look at those cupboards!

0:31:330:31:38

Well, no, these are not cupboards.

0:31:380:31:40

-That's where the mill was.

-That contains the old mill working.

0:31:400:31:43

-Wonderful.

-Come and have a look.

0:31:430:31:45

-This is the guts of the mill, isn't that just extraordinary?

-That is.

0:31:450:31:50

It's like a museum piece, isn't it, really?

0:31:500:31:52

It's a beautiful thing, I think, to have. It's stunning, really.

0:31:520:31:56

But it is of course a working kitchen.

0:31:560:31:58

-Mm, lovely.

-At its heart you've got this great big island which has an electric range cooker in it.

0:31:580:32:03

-Everything in this house is electric, including the heating.

-Right.

-OK.

0:32:030:32:07

Just to be able to work here and look at that,

0:32:070:32:10

and you've got your table there, you can just imagine entertaining here, couldn't you?

0:32:100:32:15

-It's just wonderful, absolutely amazing.

-Terrific.

0:32:150:32:18

Well, it's got all sorts of things. Come through here, cos there is a utility room.

0:32:180:32:23

Now I know this is an important space for you, Jenny.

0:32:230:32:25

-Oh.

-So you've got one.

0:32:250:32:27

Oh, yes, plenty.

0:32:270:32:29

And it's great that you've got room for a really big fridge.

0:32:290:32:32

Well, to be honest I think if that was in there,

0:32:320:32:35

-in the kitchen, it would spoil it.

-You're right, it would spoil it.

-Very good.

-Wonderful.

0:32:350:32:40

Now this is pretty much it for downstairs.

0:32:400:32:43

-Right.

-Upstairs, let's see what you make of that.

0:32:430:32:46

'I'm not sure if it can get any better.

0:32:460:32:49

'Jenny has already been moved to tears and she hasn't seen the lounge yet,

0:32:490:32:53

'which unusually is on the first floor.'

0:32:530:32:55

-Nice wide stairs, aren't they?

-Lovely, lovely staircase.

-Very nice.

0:32:550:32:59

-And what do you think of this little room?

-Little?!

-Come on in.

0:32:590:33:04

-I think that's the understatement of the series.

-Oh, wow.

0:33:040:33:08

-Come in, come in!

-That is... That again is... What an amazing lounge!

0:33:080:33:13

-Amazing place.

-It's a ballroom!

-Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

0:33:130:33:17

-It's just, it's just...

-Yeah, that is stunning.

0:33:170:33:19

They have done it so beautifully. I wouldn't... You know, if they left their decor I would be very happy.

0:33:190:33:26

Well, you never know, it's all negotiable.

0:33:260:33:28

There's more to this room than just this bit, because over here, what we've also got...

0:33:280:33:32

-Oh, wow!

-is a kind of dedicated study arrangement.

-Oh, gosh.

0:33:320:33:36

-Well, isn't that good!

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-It's incredible. A den.

0:33:360:33:41

-Yeah that's, that's lovely, even with a curtain that you can draw across.

-Shut yourself away.

0:33:410:33:47

Yeah. That's really useful.

0:33:470:33:49

Just what we need, we wanted a study and this would... This would do really well.

0:33:490:33:53

Now, this whole property's arranged over three floors.

0:33:530:33:57

We've seen two of them, but of course bedrooms are going to be important.

0:33:570:34:01

-You wanted three, we've got you four.

-Wow. Great.

-Come and have a look at these.

0:34:010:34:08

'There are two smaller-sized bedrooms, perfect for when Tony and Jenny's daughters come to stay.

0:34:110:34:16

'There's also a large double which would make a good guest room, and a family bathroom

0:34:160:34:20

'which has been quite cleverly split into two, depending on your preference for a shower or a bath.

0:34:200:34:25

'And then there's a room for them.'

0:34:250:34:28

-And this is the master bedroom as currently arranged.

-Right.

0:34:280:34:33

-You can take your pick from any of the bedrooms up here!

-Yes, yes.

0:34:330:34:36

None of them have an en suite, in fairness.

0:34:360:34:39

-Right.

-But you've got your separate shower and bathroom.

0:34:390:34:42

-There are two bathrooms, aren't there?

-There are.

-It's not a problem.

-No, not really.

0:34:420:34:46

-It's a lovely size room though.

-It is, it is. Lovely wardrobe.

0:34:460:34:50

-You've got loads of storage. You've also got a sea view.

-No!

-Have a look through that window.

0:34:500:34:54

-Really?

-Yeah. The sea is but five minutes away, through there. Yeah.

0:34:540:34:57

Let's see. Oh. That's the icing on the cake.

0:34:570:35:00

Yeah, terrific, that.

0:35:000:35:02

-Lovely.

-Oh!

0:35:020:35:05

-No, it's a lovely room.

-So it's all working, then, this house?

0:35:050:35:07

-It certainly is.

-Certainly is.

0:35:070:35:09

-Beautiful house.

-It's just incredible.

-It really is.

0:35:090:35:12

-Perfect.

-It's just incredible.

0:35:120:35:13

Good. Right, well there's plenty of options outside as well.

0:35:130:35:17

I don't think we've been able to offer you the kind of outside space that'd complete the dream package.

0:35:170:35:25

But here, we might just have done it.

0:35:250:35:27

-Great.

-Come and have a look.

-Look forward to that.

0:35:270:35:30

So back where we started, out in the kind of courtyard area.

0:35:380:35:42

-Lovely.

-Now, of course, there's the barn,

0:35:420:35:46

which you thought you were going to be getting.

0:35:460:35:49

-Oh, yeah.

-Which you do get. I mean, that's all part of it.

-That's extra.

0:35:490:35:52

There's something that will keep you busy through here.

0:35:520:35:56

COCK CROWS

0:35:580:36:00

Sounds of the country.

0:36:000:36:02

Now, then, Tony,

0:36:020:36:04

-this would be your own little domain in the garden.

-Lovely.

0:36:040:36:09

-This really is just ideal, I think.

-Absolutely fabulous.

0:36:090:36:12

Lovely lawned area there, fruit trees in there already.

0:36:120:36:16

-This stream arrangement is all part of the waterworks that would have once fed the mill, of course.

-Yeah.

0:36:160:36:23

So it's all nicely retained by this stone wall. You've also got that wood store arrangement,

0:36:230:36:27

which is behind the barn, so plenty of room for firewood.

0:36:270:36:31

-Yeah, lovely garden.

-Wonderful.

-But this isn't all of it. Come and look at this.

0:36:310:36:36

Now, last but not least...

0:36:430:36:46

-Oh!

-You've got this little area.

-Wow.

-There's a sunhouse.

0:36:460:36:50

-That's lovely.

-You've got a lovely walled-garden effect there as well.

-Yes.

-Yeah, you have.

0:36:500:36:55

I think this is one of the prettiest aspects of the property, through here.

0:36:550:36:59

-It is, it's lovely.

-It's a real old-fashioned type garden, isn't it?

0:36:590:37:03

-Beautiful.

-Well, it's lovely because actually in a way you kind of get a garden each.

0:37:030:37:08

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-You can have the industrial vegetable area over there...

0:37:080:37:12

-Yes, the orchard.

-And you can have this.

0:37:120:37:14

-Yes.

-Now, I'm afraid that's it.

0:37:140:37:17

-You mean...

-You mean that's all?

0:37:170:37:20

-That's all there is to this mystery house, I know it's not much.

-OK.

0:37:200:37:23

-Only joking.

-But...

-No, it's perfect.

-For what there is...

0:37:230:37:27

-It's incredible.

-How much do you think it's worth though?

0:37:270:37:30

-It's got to be over our budget.

-Over our budget, I'd imagine. I can't even...

0:37:300:37:34

You've £400,000.

0:37:340:37:37

-I would have said...

-More towards 500,000 I'd have thought.

0:37:370:37:41

I would have said 440, 450 even.

0:37:410:37:43

-Easily, easily, easily.

-Go on, then, Jenny, what do you think?

0:37:430:37:48

I'd say more like, I don't know, 465 sort of thing like that.

0:37:480:37:52

Mm-hm.

0:37:520:37:54

OK. It was on the market for the best part of half a million...

0:37:540:37:59

-Mm, yeah.

-I can imagine.

-But it is now on the market...

0:37:590:38:02

for...

0:38:020:38:04

4...

0:38:040:38:06

2...

0:38:060:38:08

5.

0:38:080:38:09

-Oh!

-Really?

0:38:090:38:11

Gosh, yeah, that is... that's pretty good.

0:38:110:38:14

-Now it's over budget...

-Yeah.

0:38:140:38:16

-But you do get an awful lot for your money.

-Oh, yes.

0:38:160:38:19

-You certainly do.

-A phrase which is often heard on shows like this, but I think it's true.

-Incredible.

0:38:190:38:25

-Yes.

-That is wonderful value for money actually.

-Could you stretch?

0:38:250:38:29

-I think we might do...

-I think we have to.

-..for something as stunning as this.

0:38:290:38:34

-Certainly, we need to give it very serious thought.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:38:340:38:39

-Yeah.

-I mean, you see a place like this, it's a one-off, isn't it?

0:38:390:38:43

-It is, it is.

-It's a total one-off.

0:38:430:38:45

And it's like living the dream, really, you know,

0:38:450:38:49

that you'd never thought you could aspire to a property like this.

0:38:490:38:52

-Yes, it's really...

-Oh, Jenny!

-LAUGHTER

0:38:520:38:56

-Go on, take some time. Go and enjoy it.

-OK, thanks.

0:38:560:38:59

-Thanks.

-I'll catch up with you later.

0:38:590:39:02

-HE LAUGHS

-Brilliant! Well, there we are, two very, very happy buyers.

0:39:020:39:08

£425,000, yes, it is 25 grand over-budget, but what price the right property for you?

0:39:080:39:15

This is as Jenny says something of a one-off, and if they can stretch to it, they won't regret it.

0:39:150:39:20

This former mill is on the market for £425,000.

0:39:200:39:25

It is over-budget, but you do get a lot of house for your money.

0:39:250:39:29

There are four double bedrooms, a huge kitchen cum dining room,

0:39:290:39:32

complete with the original mill workings,

0:39:320:39:35

a large lounge, a barn, two gardens, and it's only two minutes from the coast.

0:39:350:39:40

What more could they want?

0:39:400:39:42

I just can't get over this, how amazing this house is.

0:39:420:39:46

Yeah. A stunning house, absolutely fantastic.

0:39:460:39:51

Absolutely love it. The kitchen, I can see myself in it.

0:39:510:39:55

I never ever thought that it would be possible for us to look at a property like this.

0:39:550:40:00

It's a dream, really, it's my sort of dream.

0:40:000:40:04

-I thought you weren't going to take this on!

-Had to have a peek inside.

0:40:040:40:07

-Yes, you've got to see it all. It's certainly one to consider.

-Certainly is.

0:40:070:40:11

-Let's get you somewhere where you can have a good old think about it all.

-OK, thanks.

-Thank you.

0:40:110:40:18

Well, at long last, it's decision time for Tony and for Jenny.

0:40:210:40:25

We've explored a good deal of what Cumbria has to offer, as well as three fantastic properties.

0:40:250:40:30

I have a sneaky feeling as to which one they might go for, but do you?

0:40:300:40:35

Well, you two, this is it, it's the end of our little journey.

0:40:370:40:42

It all started, the barn conversion set within that courtyard development.

0:40:420:40:46

What did you make of that, Jenny?

0:40:460:40:48

I was very taken with the barn property, particularly the lounge,

0:40:480:40:54

and that amazing view was just stunning.

0:40:540:40:58

-And you had the kitchen you were after and the famous utility room.

-Yeah, brilliant utility room.

0:40:580:41:05

I suppose it made us think whether we wanted a property that was that rural.

0:41:050:41:11

-In a way, it was quite isolated.

-OK, so not a bad start.

0:41:110:41:15

Well, then we went to that little cottage set within the village. What did you think of that one, Tony?

0:41:150:41:22

It had some good features and there was plenty of living space.

0:41:220:41:25

-The master bedroom was good, with en suite.

-Mm.

0:41:250:41:30

I think the garden disappointed me slightly, in terms of the proportions and the size.

0:41:300:41:37

-So we then trawled round a bit more of Cumbria, and we finally ended up at the mystery house.

-Mm.

0:41:370:41:43

Well, I think it really knocked us sideways, really.

0:41:430:41:47

I mean, it was...in almost every respect, it was absolutely stunning.

0:41:470:41:52

-Inside was...

-Amazing.

0:41:520:41:55

The rooms were...the main living rooms were absolutely stunning.

0:41:550:41:59

Of really tremendous proportions.

0:41:590:42:02

I have to say when I first saw that property,

0:42:020:42:04

and I saw the kitchen - I mean, it was a great kitchen.

0:42:040:42:07

Oh, it was a wonderful kitchen.

0:42:070:42:09

You wouldn't want to get out of it. You don't just cook in it, you'd live in it.

0:42:090:42:13

It was just so, so homely. It was just totally unique.

0:42:130:42:17

I'm now going to ask you what happens next,

0:42:170:42:19

but I suspect it will be no great surprise to anybody watching as to what your next move is.

0:42:190:42:26

Go on, Tony.

0:42:260:42:28

Well, we were really knocked sideways by the mystery house,

0:42:280:42:32

and we are very seriously thinking about putting in an offer.

0:42:320:42:37

That's very, very exciting.

0:42:370:42:40

Guys, it's a wonderful end to this journey.

0:42:400:42:43

Thank you for coming on the show, and we wish you all the best of luck.

0:42:430:42:47

-Thank you.

-Thank you for all your hard work in finding these properties for us.

0:42:470:42:51

It's been a wonderful experience.

0:42:510:42:53

You know, in many ways for me, Tony and Jenny's story is a particularly warm one.

0:42:560:43:01

For a couple who've cherished the idea of living in this stunning part of the world for so many years,

0:43:010:43:06

the thought that they're now going to actually get the chance to live the dream is a wonderful end.

0:43:060:43:13

It just goes to show that if you keep looking hard enough, you too can find that perfect happy ending.

0:43:130:43:19

I'll see you next time.

0:43:190:43:21

If you'd like our help on Escape To The Country, then why not apply online at...

0:43:210:43:27

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