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00:01For over 22 years, A Place in the Sun has been helping couples find their dream homes abroad.
00:07I'm going to be a tingly family. Are you? Loving it, loving it.
00:12Creating hundreds of happy households across the world.
00:15Oh, it's gorgeous, isn't it? Beautiful.
00:17Shall we do it? Look, we're all welling up here.
00:20In this series, we'll be revisiting some of them to find out what happened next.
00:25Can I get a high five? Yes.
00:27Today, Jean Johansson is in the Charente in south-western France with Rob and Lisa.
00:33She helped them buy a forever family home there less than a year ago.
00:37Does it feel real? It does feel real.
00:39Yeah, it's not feeling like a holiday now.
00:41No, so this is real life now. It's amazing.
00:44Well, Jasmine Harvin is in a traditional village set amongst the hills of Malaga,
00:49catching up with Alison and her daughter Paula, who she helped find a holiday home.
00:54Almost exactly to the week, isn't it?
00:57Six years.
00:58Six years ago.
01:00It's my baby.
01:09These picturesque fields in the Charente with their rolling landscapes are so charming.
01:14It really is like something out of a storybook.
01:17And it's this beautiful landscape that captured Lisa and Rob when I brought them here to find the perfect permanent
01:23home for them and their young family.
01:25If you're flying to Charente in the south-west of France, the most convenient airports are La Rochelle and Bordeaux,
01:32both of which take just over an hour and a half to fly to from the UK.
01:36Or if you're driving, it takes about seven and a half hours, roadworks permitting from Cali.
01:43Charente is named after the river that runs through it and is a very rural region full of traditional French
01:49towns and villages dotted around the stunning countryside.
01:52And it's very popular with Brits. More than 16,000 of us live there.
01:57It was in 2023 when police administrator Lisa and former police officer and soldier Rob asked us to find a
02:05permanent home in Charente for them and their son and daughter,
02:08with room for their grown-up children from previous relationships to stay.
02:12They had a maximum budget of £160,000 and plans to get a few chickens to add to their brood.
02:19Chickens are girls, so we'd call them girl.
02:23Noel Sanders.
02:25Colonel for one.
02:27Sanders for the other.
02:28It's not that we're going to be eating the chickens.
02:30We're looking to be as self-sufficient as possible out there.
02:33I first met them in the grounds of the Chateau de la Rochefoucauld to find out what they were after
02:39in their dream forever home.
02:41A minimum of three bedrooms.
02:43OK.
02:43A lovely rural property or edge of village.
02:46Great.
02:47Detached.
02:47We'd like a small amount of space for additional people to be able to come over with well.
02:52That would be nice.
02:53Nice and traditional inside as well.
02:56So I'd love to see a fireplace, maybe a few beans.
02:59And while the first property I showed them, this three-bedroom stone cottage, certainly fitted that build, it didn't make
03:05a great initial impression.
03:07A bit too small.
03:09OK, right.
03:10Just from being in here, you're picturing something with a bit more room.
03:15I'm picturing something that can fit my 65-inch telly in.
03:18But once they'd had a viewing of the rest of what it had to offer...
03:22OK, so this is one of the first bedrooms.
03:25OK.
03:26It's not a bad size.
03:27No, nice wood flooring as well.
03:29The picture got a bit better.
03:31It's grown on us.
03:33I've got to be honest.
03:34Pleasantly surprised by looking at the bedroom set-up.
03:37And the garage.
03:38Mm-hm.
03:39So I kind of had a contender, but definitely some room for improvement as we headed to property two.
03:45This three-bedroom house with some important added extras.
03:49And Lisa and Rob were cock-a-hoop.
03:51I like it.
03:53You do?
03:54I do, yeah.
03:55Yeah, I love the wall.
03:56And the fireplace.
03:57Traditional.
03:58Yeah, definitely.
03:59Inside and outside.
04:01Mind the chickens as you go.
04:02Yeah.
04:03Because they're dotted about in here.
04:05Superb.
04:05Yeah, fantastic.
04:06I think it's everything that we hoped it would be.
04:09That place knocked property one out of the running to be top of the pecking order.
04:13But I was hoping they'd be even more excited by property three.
04:18This very grand three-bedroom house in the village of Tezzy Azzy.
04:22But things immediately went off the boil.
04:25What do you think of this kerb of peel?
04:29There is none for me.
04:31No kerb of peel?
04:32None.
04:33Okay.
04:33I can't get past the roads.
04:35Right.
04:36It's too busy.
04:37And it didn't get any better inside.
04:40It's too modern looking inside for me.
04:42It hasn't got the French appeal.
04:44It's not a scratch on the chicken house.
04:46Right, okay.
04:47It hasn't got that je ne sais quoi for me.
04:51I needed to get back on track and thankfully I did at my fourth property.
04:56A three-bedroom barn conversion with two acres of land
04:59and a small hamlet in the Chirante countryside.
05:02I think this is a good silence this time.
05:05Am I right?
05:06No, it is.
05:06It is.
05:07It's definitely a good silence.
05:09What kind of feelings has this property given you?
05:12Dreamy.
05:13Definitely dreamy.
05:14I can see the kids here.
05:15Stunning.
05:16Really lovely.
05:17Yeah.
05:18What do you think of that view?
05:19Speechless.
05:20Screams French countryside to me.
05:22Definitely.
05:23I left Lisa and Rob to have a look round on their own.
05:27What do you think in here?
05:28Oh, this is good.
05:30I love the floor.
05:31I love the staircase.
05:32I love the way that it separates two halves of the room.
05:35Mm-hmm.
05:35And I love the fact that it can accommodate easily.
05:38Probably bigger than the 65-inch tell you now.
05:41I love the beams.
05:42Yeah.
05:43Fireplace as well.
05:45The kitchen went down pretty well, as did both the bedrooms.
05:49Oh, this is big.
05:50Good flooring.
05:51Yeah.
05:51Yeah, it is.
05:52The views out there.
05:54I know.
05:54Can you see?
05:55Lovely views.
05:56There's lots you can do with this.
05:57Yeah.
05:58They ended up in the attic with loads of room for conversion.
06:02So, additional space?
06:03Yes.
06:04I don't know what I would use it for.
06:06This has got a lot of potential, hasn't it?
06:08Project for the future.
06:10Project for the future.
06:12Before giving me their final verdict.
06:14What do you think for this house?
06:16This is amazing.
06:17Oh.
06:18This is absolutely amazing.
06:19I agree.
06:20You loved it?
06:22Yeah.
06:22Tell me what you loved.
06:23I loved the staircase in the lounge.
06:26Really worked for me.
06:27I just like everything about it.
06:29It's just a really family house.
06:30You can just tell that.
06:31As soon as you walk in, it's just a family home.
06:33So, I had a lot to live up to with my fifth and final property.
06:37And I pushed the boat out to give Rob and Lisa this detached four-bedroom house priced
06:41over budget, but with plenty of room for negotiation.
06:45You have delivered.
06:46Yeah.
06:47Good.
06:48In terms of the garden, you have delivered.
06:49Yeah.
06:49It's like being in the woods.
06:50Yeah.
06:51I can see chickens in here.
06:52Yes.
06:53The outside worked for sure, and the inside wasn't too shabby either.
06:57What do you think of this space?
06:59It's big.
06:59Mm-hmm.
07:00Loving the wood.
07:01I like the beams.
07:02Definitely with the fireplace sitting central to the room as well.
07:06Yeah.
07:06This is not what I expected.
07:08A good surprise.
07:08Good surprise.
07:09Rob and Lisa loved Property 5 so much, it knocked the chicken house out of the running,
07:15leaving me with two contenders.
07:16But it was Property 4, the band conversion, priced at just over £145,000, that won out.
07:24We definitely want to put a cheeky offer in.
07:26Okay.
07:27And there's a reason for that.
07:28It's because your fourth bedroom is not complete.
07:31It's like that was a bedroom.
07:32So, we're going to put an offer in, £135,000.
07:36That offer, however, was rejected.
07:38They've made a counter-offer of £137,000 to do the deal.
07:45Deal.
07:46Emma, we have a deal.
07:47Thank you so much.
07:49Congratulations.
07:51Boom.
07:51You've got an amazing property in France for £137,000.
07:55That's amazing.
07:57Amazing.
07:57Thank you so much.
07:59Santé.
08:00Cheers.
08:04It's been just over a year since I was out here house hunting with Lisa and Rob.
08:08I am so looking forward to seeing them and catching up on what's been happening.
08:14Bonjour, Rob.
08:15Bonjour, ça va?
08:16How are we?
08:18How are you?
08:19Good to see you.
08:20And you?
08:20Ça va?
08:21Oh, amazing to see you and meet the kids.
08:23Hi, Robby.
08:24Robby.
08:25Evangeline.
08:25Evangeline.
08:26Good to see you.
08:27I can't believe it.
08:28You live in France.
08:29Crazy.
08:29How's it going?
08:30Absolutely amazing, isn't it?
08:31Yeah.
08:32We're loving it.
08:32You look really well.
08:34We've both changed our hair.
08:35I know.
08:36Are you speaking French, you two?
08:37A petit peu.
08:38I can't wait to hear all about it and I can't wait to see the house.
08:41Can't wait to show you.
08:41Yeah, let's do it.
08:42Bonne va.
08:44Coming up, I take a tour of Rob and Lisa's house and find out exactly what they've done
08:49to it since they moved in.
08:51Great job.
08:52I mean, I don't even think there was a roof on this room, was there?
08:55No.
08:56Yeah, you can see right up to the rafters, yeah.
09:04Today, I'm in Charente in southwestern France with Lisa and Rob.
09:08Just a year ago, I helped them find this three-bedroom barn conversion and I'm really
09:13looking forward to seeing how they and their two children have settled into it.
09:17Oh, yes, I remember that lovely meadow there.
09:20It's gorgeous.
09:22And you've got a dog as well.
09:23Yep.
09:24What's your dog's name, Robbie?
09:25Jean-Lé.
09:26Oh, cute.
09:27Oh, it's so lovely to see it again.
09:29What a beautiful house.
09:30You chose the right one.
09:32Yeah.
09:32Yeah.
09:33Definitely.
09:33And it kind of looks the same out here, a couple of additions.
09:36Yeah, we've got the garden furniture and the spa over there and the barbecue.
09:40Robbie, what do you think of your new house?
09:42Good.
09:43Yeah, very good.
09:44How long have you guys been here?
09:46Ten months now.
09:47Oh, has it been ten months already?
09:49Yeah, flying by.
09:50Does it feel real?
09:52It does feel real.
09:53Yeah, it's not feeling like a holiday now.
09:55You know, so this is real life now and it's amazing.
09:57The burning questions for me, do you have chickens and do you have a ride-on lawnmower?
10:01We have, how many chickens do we have, eight?
10:03We have eight chickens, one cockerel.
10:06And a ride-on mower called Larry.
10:07Oh, I'm so happy you got that mower.
10:10I mean, the house is as gorgeous as I remember it.
10:12I can't wait to look inside and you two can show me this time.
10:15Let's do that.
10:16Yeah?
10:16Yeah, do you want to go and play?
10:17See you soon.
10:22Come in.
10:24Yes, lovely original features.
10:26Yes.
10:27You've got the beams, which everybody wants in their French house.
10:30And that lovely staircase.
10:32Hello.
10:32What have you done in here?
10:33It feels different.
10:35We've done very little, to be honest with you.
10:37We've bought the sofas and furniture off the people that were selling it to us.
10:41Perfect.
10:41It feels really homely.
10:43Yeah.
10:43We loved the colouring already.
10:44It just wasn't an urgent room to start looking at, was it?
10:48No, no, not at all.
10:48So you've had a winter here?
10:50Yeah.
10:50How was that?
10:51Cold.
10:51And what made it worse was our chimney was condemned.
10:54So we couldn't use the fireplace that was here.
10:57So we needed to buy a new chimney flue.
10:59Yeah.
11:00And a new log burner.
11:01So for a good while, we were very, very cold.
11:03Oh, these are all the little things that it does.
11:06Sometimes it just takes time to sort out.
11:07And it's problems you don't know you've got until you actually live here.
11:11Exactly.
11:13Oh, thank you.
11:13Well, this is definitely different.
11:15Yeah, completely.
11:16Really pleased with it.
11:18Yeah, talk me through it.
11:19What have you done?
11:20This side of the room has remained unchanged.
11:23That was the original bathroom, wasn't it?
11:25With the wall running through.
11:26We've now had the shower put in.
11:28You can see the outline of where the toilet room was.
11:31So that's going to get plastered next week.
11:33I've tiled this floor, which is the first time I've ever tiled in my life.
11:36I'm impressed, I have to say.
11:38Did you get a bit of help?
11:39Was there anybody around the neighbourhood?
11:41Yeah, so we're friends with Colin and Sean.
11:44So Sean started the project in terms of the plumbing,
11:47because I can't plumb, not yet anyway.
11:49I'm sure I will do at some point.
11:50And then Colin did the tiling.
11:52Did you have to spend a lot of money on this?
11:53Yeah, this was nearing about £6,000 to do the bathroom.
11:58But it was well worth it.
11:59So family bathroom, we've got bedrooms off here.
12:01There was a room that was pretty unfinished.
12:04Yeah, so there was a large attic room that we've now converted into an office and a bedroom.
12:11Great job.
12:12I mean, I don't even think there was a roof on this room, was there?
12:15No.
12:16You can see right up to the rafters, yeah.
12:18Oh, you've done such a good job.
12:20And this is Robbie's room.
12:21It is, yeah.
12:22Is he happy with it?
12:22He absolutely loves it.
12:24Yeah.
12:24It was nice to get Robbie and Angel their separate rooms.
12:27Yeah.
12:28And you got your chickens.
12:29Got the chickens?
12:30I have to meet them, Lisa, I have to do it.
12:32Right, let's do that.
12:35Oh, Robbie and Evangeline were such a big part of this search,
12:40so to be stood here in Robbie's bedroom, well, this is what it's all about.
12:48Oh, good-sized chicken coop you've got here.
12:50Yeah.
12:51There you are, Rob.
12:51That's what you wanted.
12:53Yeah.
12:54Yeah.
12:54Everyone does it.
12:55You move to Fance and you buy chickens and a lawnmower.
12:58Good-sized land here as well, but I bet it takes a lot of work.
13:01Yeah, it does.
13:02So in the wintertime, it takes me about three days to mow it,
13:05because it's just over two acres.
13:07But in the summer, when the grass is all dry, it'll take four and a half hours.
13:10You've got a little vegetable patch over there, is there, Lisa?
13:12What are you growing?
13:13Oh, all sorts, so strawberries, raspberries, courgettes, beetroot.
13:19So you've found yourself getting quite clean-fingered?
13:22Yeah, actually, I've surprised myself.
13:24Yeah, we used to joke that Lisa would walk past a flower in the UK
13:28and it would wilt.
13:29So we've both been really proud of how she's turned the veggie patch
13:33into what it is now.
13:35Yeah.
13:36There's all these things that you couldn't do back in here.
13:38It's either you don't have the time or you don't have the climate.
13:40I think what we didn't have was the space, did we?
13:43OK, yeah.
13:43You've got a vegetable patch, you've got your chickens,
13:45you've got a ride on lawnmower.
13:47You're living the dream?
13:48You would definitely live in the dream.
13:49It does feel like it.
13:50Oh.
13:50Definitely living the dream.
13:51Oh, well, I'm so proud that I played a part in it,
13:53because, I mean, there are chickens everywhere
13:56and this lovely view.
13:57It's gorgeous.
13:58I think what we'd like to show you is, like,
14:01a traditional French meal, which is called an aperro.
14:05So it's a bit like a meal before a meal,
14:07but it's quite popular in France,
14:09especially when they meet people for the first time.
14:10Cooked meats, cheeses, olives, pizza and stuff.
14:13Oh, now you're talking.
14:14Yes, please.
14:15Let's go.
14:17I'm so impressed with what Lisa and Rob have managed to achieve
14:20in such a short space of time,
14:22not just with the property, but with their lifestyle as well.
14:25Now I'm looking forward to finding out more
14:27and enjoying a few nibbles.
14:31Right, so what's the tradition then?
14:32Do I just dive right in?
14:34Go for it.
14:34OK, good.
14:36This looks lovely, Lisa.
14:39Lovely.
14:40Oh, I like that sound.
14:41That reminds me of France.
14:44So remind me, how much did you pay for it?
14:46I do remember a cheeky offer went in, Rob.
14:48So it was on for one, four, five.
14:51That's right.
14:52The cheeky offer was 135,000.
14:54They came back with a counteroffer of 137,000 and we went yes.
14:58You just wouldn't get anything comparable in the UK
15:01for the same amount of money.
15:02Tell me about the process.
15:03How did it go?
15:04It went really smoothly.
15:06You've got 10 days cooling off period.
15:08Then you put the deposit down.
15:11And then because we live in rural France,
15:13the farmers get first refusal on whether they want to buy
15:18some of the land or the property itself.
15:21I have heard that before, yeah.
15:21Yeah, so that process normally takes two months,
15:24but we paid the extra money along with the people who sold us the house
15:27for it to be fast-tracked.
15:28So when we filmed to when we moved in, two months.
15:31That's quick.
15:32Yeah, really, really quick.
15:33Did that feel fast for you, Lisa?
15:34Did it give you enough time for your brain to catch up with what was happening?
15:38No, we were ready for the house, weren't we?
15:39OK.
15:40When we moved over, we rented for a small while, just a couple of weeks,
15:45but we definitely wanted to get in, get settled.
15:48And of course, since we've left the European Union,
15:50it's a bit harder to move to other countries within Europe.
15:54What's your status?
15:55So we've come over on a non-working visa.
15:58Which is a long-term visitor visa.
16:01Yeah, so it's the easiest visa to get.
16:04Otherwise, if you start going for entrepreneur visas or owning a business,
16:08you're going to need to show a proficiency at French.
16:10Complicated, yeah.
16:11Yeah, and you're going to need to have business plans and income and stuff like that.
16:15So we've gone for the easiest visa.
16:17Then we need to apply for our carte de sojour,
16:20which will extend the 12 months into a lot longer.
16:23So the first three years, we're being monitored and have to do an extension.
16:27After that, it will go five years, and then you can apply for the tenure.
16:32And you're technically, you're a pensioner.
16:35Yeah.
16:35So, yeah, that's your income while you're in France is coming from a pension.
16:39Has that made things easier?
16:40Yeah, a hell of a lot easier, yeah, definitely.
16:42Yeah, so we know how much we're bringing in each month.
16:45You know, we're not relying on wages, where wages go up and down.
16:48It's a set income.
16:49We know what our incomes are, we know what our incomes are.
16:51And it's almost a silly question, but do you feel happier?
16:55I mean, you did your time in the army and the police,
16:58both quite challenging careers.
17:00I retired from the police through ill health.
17:04I was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder back in 2019,
17:09which came out of the blue.
17:10I knew things that weren't right with me in the way I was thinking,
17:13the way I was behaving.
17:14Yeah.
17:15I managed to get diagnosed through a part of the NHS
17:18that deal with military veterans, Operation Courage.
17:22And, you know, that set me on the road to some sort of recovery
17:27with a lot of trauma therapy.
17:29But we came to the realisation that although I was getting to a point
17:34where I was getting well, it was never to the point where I could continue
17:38with the career.
17:39So we made the decision to apply for ill health retirement
17:42and that's what I got.
17:45And what about being here?
17:46You know, the landscape here is totally different.
17:48The culture is different.
17:49Lifestyle.
17:50Do you think that's helping you as well in your recovery?
17:53So with my PTSD, it makes it nigh on difficult, impossible to return to the UK
17:57because of the amount of triggers that are there.
18:01You know, the sound of the sirens are different over here.
18:05You know, so they're not as traumatic.
18:07You know, it's a completely different pace in life.
18:09You know, I'm surrounded by countryside.
18:11I'm not surrounded by the trauma that I would have been had I stayed in the UK.
18:16That's understandable.
18:17Well, Lisa, I'm sure you've had your ups and downs, especially when it's your partner
18:20and you can see they're not quite right.
18:21Have you seen some changes since you've moved to France?
18:24Oh, definitely.
18:24We were only saying the other day that it's been your best year, hasn't it?
18:29Oh, I'd love to hear that for both of you, for all of you.
18:31Yeah.
18:32This is such a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
18:34You guys are so lucky.
18:36What else do you get up to?
18:37We've recently found a game called Petonc.
18:40Of course, you're in France.
18:42We've not long started playing it.
18:44We don't know the rules massively about it.
18:45Yeah, we'll definitely have a go at that.
18:47Let's eat a bit more and then I'm going to show you my Petonc skills.
18:50How's that?
18:51You ready, Robbie?
18:52Amazing.
18:53Yeah.
18:53Let's do that.
18:54It's wonderful to hear how much things have improved for the family since moving out here
18:59and particularly for Rob after everything he's been through.
19:02Now, though, I'm looking forward to putting them all through their paces over a game of Petonc.
19:07I've gotten quite good at this, you know, over the years, just letting you all know.
19:10Well, it's all fun to follow then.
19:13When you live in France, does that make you better at Petonc?
19:16Let's see.
19:17Well, let's have a go.
19:18Right, so, from the rules that I know, you're meant to draw a circle within the gravel.
19:24Good start, yep.
19:25That's where you start.
19:27Then you've got, I think they call it le petit, maybe.
19:30Okay, go for it.
19:32And then you throw it.
19:35Good, throw.
19:36And then it's whoever's closest gets the point.
19:40Go for it, Rob.
19:43Oh, not bad.
19:44Go on, Angel.
19:47Wow.
19:48Not bad.
19:49Well done.
19:55Rubbish.
19:58See that?
19:58Oh, Jean wins that point.
20:00Oh, that one's glad.
20:02Merci beaucoup.
20:03It is getting warm out here.
20:05Shall we go grab a drink?
20:06Oh, sounds good, Lisa.
20:07Let's do that, Monkheads.
20:09Nice to see I haven't lost my Petonc skills, but I think the real winners out here in Chiron are
20:15Rob, Lisa and the family.
20:17And I'm interested to find out how it's working with the grown-up children visiting from the UK as well.
20:22This is a lovely spot right here, isn't it?
20:24Is that limousine cows in the distance there?
20:27Yeah.
20:27It is, yeah.
20:28Beautiful.
20:29So you sort of came knowing that you wanted to look around the Chiron.
20:33It was just a case of finding the best property, and I think everything happens for a reason.
20:37So is this the right one for you?
20:39100%.
20:40Yeah, definitely.
20:41When we chose the house and then we had to go back to the UK, I remember we were on
20:45the aeroplane and we said, it feels like we're leaving home.
20:48Yeah.
20:48That's nice.
20:49Like we've left a little part of us here.
20:51Yeah.
20:52Is there anything that you missed from the UK?
20:54Family.
20:55Yeah.
20:56Yeah.
20:56But then the flights are dirt cheap, you know, you can come over for £13.
20:59Yeah.
21:00One way.
21:01Yeah, and when your other kids are coming over, it's like quality time.
21:03I mean, to sit here or sit in the garden there is just so lovely.
21:08Yeah.
21:09They enjoy it, don't they?
21:10Yeah, they love it.
21:10And it's not a thing that just happens.
21:12You move to a new country, there is a lot of stuff that you have to do.
21:16Anything that you would do differently?
21:18Robbie.
21:19French lessons.
21:21Right.
21:21French lessons.
21:22That's a good one, yeah, having a bit of the language before you put them in the school.
21:25Yeah.
21:25Just to equip him better for when he started.
21:29What advice would you give to anyone sat at home thinking, we're going to do this, you know, how's the
21:34process going to be?
21:35Get all your official documents translated by a French registered official translator.
21:42Mm-hmm.
21:42Because it will be asked for at some point.
21:44Yeah.
21:45And plan.
21:47Plan, yes.
21:47It's a couple of years in the planning.
21:49Yeah.
21:50I mean, I think this happened quite fast for you two.
21:53It did, but that's only because we had the help from a place in the sun.
21:58So if we didn't have that, it would have taken us longer to be able to find the property and
22:03then move over.
22:04I love to hear that and I love to see you two sitting looking at this view.
22:08It's been lovely just to get a little slice of your lives here and what can I say?
22:12It's beautiful, Angel.
22:14Let's cheers to that.
22:15Sonte to that, yes.
22:16Sonte.
22:17Sonte.
22:17Cheers.
22:18Cheers.
22:19Cheers.
22:26It's been great to see Rob and Lisa and experience just a bit of the life they've made for themselves.
22:32I really admire them for dealing with all the stuff that life throws at you and they've made a beautiful
22:37life for themselves.
22:38They didn't just talk the talk.
22:40They've walked the walk and they will be the envy of many, including me.
22:47Coming up, Jasmine Harman's in a wonderful traditional village in Malaga province, not far from the city itself.
22:53Catching up with Alison and her daughter Paula, who she helped find a magnificent holiday townhouse six years ago.
23:01Oh, my gosh.
23:02Oh, my gosh.
23:03It looks different.
23:04I love the little butterflies.
23:06Yes.
23:06So, that's from a local artist who does all the murals around the village.
23:11How lovely.
23:20Relaxing and chilling out whilst enjoying these spectacular views.
23:26Now, if that doesn't scream living the dream, then I don't know what does.
23:32Alison shared this exact same dream when I first met her house hunting for her perfect Andalusian retreat.
23:38She'd already viewed numerous properties, but I'm very glad to say that I managed to find her the right one.
23:46A 40 minute or so drive east of Malaga with its airport welcoming visitors from most corners of the UK
23:52a three hour flight away.
23:54This part of Andalusia is truly remarkable.
23:58Amongst the lush green countryside and rolling hills, there are a handful of stunning whitewashed villages offering a slice of
24:04traditional Spanish life.
24:05With weekly markets and flamenco music easy to find.
24:10While we're a little off the more conventional tourist trail, the golden sandy beaches and holiday fun of the Costa
24:16del Sol is just a short drive from here.
24:19It's an area that really does offer the best of both worlds.
24:24Back in 2018, Alison was house hunting with her daughter Paula, looking for a holiday home for her and her
24:30then husband Ian, within reach of the town of Veleth Malaga, working with a budget of up to £65,000.
24:36And it was pretty clear, even before we met, how important Paula was to the search.
24:43We do a lot together. We spend a lot of time together, socialise together.
24:49I would sometimes rather go with my mum for the junk than, you know, some of the girls.
24:53I trust her judgement and her opinion. It's Paula's house as much as ours.
24:57Alison wanted a two-bedroom townhouse with enough space for Paula and her son Ollie to visit.
25:03She'd already made a few trips to the area, seen a number of properties and had one clear priority.
25:09I do want to have maybe like a jacuzzi kind of thing on top.
25:13Oh, OK.
25:14Well, that's top of the list and I have promised my girlfriends that we will have a champagne jacuzzi party
25:22in the summer.
25:23So, that's...
25:24And I can...
25:24Can I have an invite?
25:25Yes, of course.
25:28We kicked things off 20 minutes from Veleth Malaga, just outside the village of Benamargosa,
25:33with this traditional townhouse that was over budget but with room to negotiate.
25:38It had all the character and charm they were after, but...
25:42I think the downside would be the outside space.
25:45I think the terrace, I'm not quite sure that it's big enough for my hot tub.
25:51However, I wouldn't let the studio out.
25:54You wouldn't, no?
25:55No.
25:55With champagne hot tub parties in mind, we moved swiftly on to another two-bedroom townhouse,
26:01this time in Veleth Malaga itself and with a large terrace.
26:05However, the space and light on offer inside, along with the amount of work needed, meant it was a no.
26:12With that, we headed back into the hills to the village of Villanueva del Trabuco,
26:16somewhere I knew Alison had already visited and loved.
26:20In fact, she and Ian had viewed this house with a roof terrace and two bedrooms before.
26:26I'm delighted that you've brought me back here.
26:37And once they got inside, you might want to change the furniture, but there's nothing to do.
26:44It literally is, you can come in, put your bags down and you're good to go.
26:48I do have a good feeling about this one.
26:50You do?
26:50Ooh, that's very good.
26:53Do you?
26:54Yeah.
26:55I'm not bad.
26:55No, I'm not bad.
26:56Now, Paula, what are you thinking?
27:02I'm a bit speechless, to be honest.
27:04That's amazing.
27:06I could definitely see us sitting here.
27:08It's so nice.
27:10And your jacuzzi could fit in here too.
27:11Oh, absolutely.
27:13Jacuzzi.
27:16We now had ourselves a very solid contender,
27:19so I thought we'd head back to Villach-Malaga to find another.
27:22This in-budget, three-bedroom but unfurnished townhouse was the place I'd lined up.
27:27But it didn't stand a chance.
27:30So?
27:31It's not for us.
27:32No, it's not really for us.
27:33No, I couldn't really see us being here as a family.
27:35It sounds like this one's a bit of a non-starter altogether, really.
27:39Yeah.
27:40Well, I think for our final property, I'm going to pull out all the stops
27:43and hopefully we'll have another contender for you to at least give you some food for thought.
27:47Okay.
27:48Okay, let's go.
27:50The place I had in mind was back in Villanueva del Trabuco,
27:53the location of our top contender,
27:56and in the form of this upside-down house with its two bedrooms downstairs
28:00and the hot tub these two were after already installed.
28:03It was on the market a little over budget, but with some room for negotiation.
28:09It's almost like a sanctuary.
28:11This is somewhere that you would actually want to spend time and snuggle down in.
28:18Do you like this, eh?
28:20It's beautiful.
28:21Mm-hmm.
28:22You know, when I imagined having my little Andalusian retreat, this is pretty much it.
28:29Oh!
28:32Have you ever felt like this walking into a place before?
28:34Never.
28:36Never.
28:37Oh, Mum.
28:39Oh!
28:42It continued to impress.
28:47Ta-da!
28:48Look at this, Paula.
28:51Oh, my word, but my very good.
28:53You've got your hot tub there.
28:55Does this come with the property?
28:57It's actually not included, but it's negotiable.
28:59Okay.
29:00Do you want to come up and see what we can see from up here?
29:03Yes.
29:04Wow.
29:05This is a cupboard terrace.
29:08Oh, wow.
29:09Wow.
29:10It's so nice and tight to here.
29:11Like, literally nobody can see us.
29:13This is just gorgeous.
29:15You can't do it.
29:19Oh, my God.
29:20Not again.
29:22Oh, my God.
29:25And with those tears, we had ourselves a winner.
29:29Ian was whisked out for a quick tour, but I don't think he really had too much say in the
29:33matter,
29:34and they all agreed that our final place, the house with a hot tub, was the winner.
29:38The next day, they were ready to make an offer, and it was for £62,500,
29:43nearly £4,500 below the asking price.
29:47Okay.
29:48Okay, thanks, Judith.
29:49I'll get back to you.
29:52Okay.
29:55Your initial offer has not been accepted,
29:59but the vendors have come back and said that they would accept an offer of £66,000,
30:07and they would include the hot tub, all the furniture,
30:13and they'll take it off the market.
30:17There you go.
30:19Wow, yes.
30:20That's amazing.
30:22I mean, what do you think?
30:24What are you going to do?
30:28Yes!
30:29Yes?
30:29Do we have a yes?
30:31So exciting!
30:33Let me go right back and just come down.
30:37Don't do that.
30:40Judith, that's fantastic.
30:41We've got a deal.
30:43Tell them they can take it off the market.
30:47Oh, my God.
30:50Oh, Jess, what's the kind of thing?
30:53Let's slap that chicken.
30:54Oh, my gosh.
30:57We would have never seen that if it wasn't for you, so...
31:04I can't thank you enough.
31:06Cheers!
31:07I think we need champagne, really.
31:08Absolutely.
31:09We'll save that for the hot tub.
31:11Yes.
31:11That was an incredibly emotional but fun house hunt.
31:17Six years later, I'm back in Villanueva del Trabuco
31:20to meet Alison and Paula.
31:22And from what I understand, a lot has changed.
31:25I wonder what she's going to think
31:27because it just looks so different, doesn't it?
31:30It definitely does.
31:31Oh, there's Jasmine there.
31:32Hello.
31:34Hello.
31:35Oh, my God.
31:37It's so nice to see you.
31:38What is this crazy wind?
31:40Yes.
31:40It's better than the rain the last time.
31:42That's true.
31:42But this is the same time of year last time.
31:44Exactly.
31:44It was almost exactly to the week, isn't it?
31:48Yes.
31:48Six years.
31:49Six years ago?
31:50Yeah.
31:51It's been crazy.
31:51So are you still enjoying your holidays out here, obviously?
31:54Well, things have changed a little for me, Jasmine,
31:58because I now stay here permanently.
32:01I'm actually a Spanish resident.
32:03Oh, my God, really?
32:05Oh, my God, really?
32:06Yes, for four years.
32:08Oh, wow.
32:11We really need a catch-up, don't we?
32:14A proper catch-up.
32:15Would you like to see the changes?
32:17I would love to.
32:18Yes, lead the way.
32:19Good to see you.
32:19Good to see you.
32:20Coming up, I get a tour of that gorgeous townhouse
32:23and its new hot tub.
32:25It took, was it, three men, about ten hours?
32:29I just can't.
32:29And it had to be lifted over the roof of the house
32:33from the street.
32:34I knew a hot tub was important to you.
32:44Today, I'm in Villanueva del Tribuco,
32:47a wonderfully traditional village
32:48set amongst the hills of Malaga,
32:50catching up with Alison and her daughter, Paula.
32:53Six years ago, I helped find a beautiful townhouse
32:56for Alison, her then-husband Ian, Paula,
32:59and her son, Ollie, to use as a holiday home.
33:02But I hear Alison's now retired,
33:04become a Spanish resident,
33:06and is living out here permanently.
33:08I can't wait to see how it's changed
33:10and find out more about her life here.
33:13Oh, my gosh.
33:14It looks different.
33:16I love the little butterflies.
33:17Yes.
33:18So that's from a local artist
33:19who does all the murals around the village.
33:23And she asked my mum if she could paint on her house
33:25and she was like, of course.
33:26How lovely.
33:27Do a lot of people speak to you?
33:28Yes.
33:28Do you get a lot of attention from locals?
33:30You do attract attention as a single British woman
33:36with a pink house.
33:38Are you single now?
33:40Oh, God, yes.
33:41Yes, I am.
33:43I am.
33:44And happy.
33:45And happy?
33:45OK, that's the main thing.
33:47I'll update you after I've shown you around the house.
33:50OK.
33:51OK.
33:56So, welcome, Jasmine.
33:58Oh, look.
34:00Yeah.
34:01So, do you remember how it was like an upside-down house?
34:04So, bedroom downstairs, living in upstairs.
34:07So different in here.
34:09Do you do this yourself?
34:10I do, I do.
34:11I do have a little pink drill as well.
34:14I know.
34:14So, obviously, I have to keep within a budget
34:16when I'm making improvements.
34:18So, some of the things I can do myself.
34:20I love the little DIY projects.
34:23Yeah, amazing.
34:24So, things like that, if I can do it, I'll do it.
34:25You'll remember as well that I loved that bedroom.
34:29That bedroom.
34:30When I was here on my...
34:31Do you know what?
34:32I don't even know why.
34:33I just started sleeping in here.
34:36And I like the idea that when I wake up in the morning,
34:39I'll look out the window and I can actually see the mountains from there.
34:42This is my mum's room.
34:43So, when me and Ollie come over, this is the room that we sleep in.
34:50Yes!
34:52Oh, it looks lovely.
34:54You've done it so nice.
34:55Nice and homeless.
34:56It's mainly cosmetic, I'd say, in here.
34:59You know, painting things differently.
35:01Obviously, different new beds and different, you know, furnishings.
35:07So, here's the living room.
35:11Oh, wow.
35:13Oh, look, you've done so much up here.
35:17Yeah, everything's new.
35:19It looks fantastic.
35:20Completely refurnished and painted.
35:24But the best thing I think we've got has been there, Colin.
35:28Oh, goodness.
35:28Yes.
35:29Yes.
35:29It's that relentless heat.
35:31And do you know what?
35:32It's great, and I'm not complaining about the heat,
35:34but my goodness, you do need to keep yourself cool.
35:37Yeah.
35:37Well, I love what you've done in here.
35:39Have you done much in the kitchen in the way of changing things?
35:43Yes, a little.
35:43Yeah, there's changes.
35:44Would you like to see?
35:44Yeah.
35:44I'll take you through.
35:48So, this is the kitchen.
35:49See if you see any changes.
35:51Let me see.
35:52To here.
35:52I mean, I can see quite a few changes already.
35:56I'm pretty sure that pink fish was not part of the original house.
36:00Is that one of your touches?
36:02Surprise, surprise.
36:03I know, pink.
36:04I mean, the kitchen units are the same.
36:07Yeah.
36:07Do you have a little original tiles?
36:09The only thing I did do, though, is I installed the black sink.
36:13The new sink.
36:13Because I didn't like it.
36:14There was a silver one there before.
36:15I didn't like it.
36:16But I did that myself, too.
36:18Another DIY.
36:18I was really chuffed with myself for that,
36:21because I'd never done the plumbing thing.
36:23And I thought, I know.
36:25I'm so impressed.
36:26I thought, I'm going to give it a try.
36:28I love the changes you've made here.
36:30It looks amazing.
36:32Yeah, perfect, actually, for a home.
36:35It doesn't feel like a holiday home.
36:36It feels like a home.
36:37But if you like these changes,
36:38I'll take you upstairs and see what you think.
36:40OK.
36:45So, welcome to my party patio, Jasmine.
36:49Ah.
36:51You've upgraded the hot tub.
36:53Yeah.
36:53The original one, to be honest, was too big, I felt, for the space.
36:56But also, you know, because I've got cats,
37:00they kept bursting the inflatable.
37:02So I had to go home.
37:04So I had the first.
37:05How on earth did you get that?
37:06Through the house.
37:07Through the house.
37:07So it was, there was a big drama.
37:10They managed to get the crane into the street just in front.
37:14It took, was it three men, about ten hours.
37:17I actually don't know.
37:17And it had to be lifted over the roof of the house from the street.
37:22I knew a hot tub was important to you, but my goodness, that is over the top.
37:28I think it was.
37:29I mean, over the top, literally.
37:30It was, it was literally over the top.
37:31I think it was a bit of the talk of the town.
37:33Yeah.
37:33I think it was a bit of a...
37:35Oh, it was.
37:35Oh, it absolutely was.
37:36The woman with the pink house is getting the hot tub now.
37:39That's the thing.
37:40Have you got your costume?
37:41Of course.
37:42Did you?
37:43Yes.
37:43You brought your costume?
37:44I have.
37:45And I brought the bubbles as well.
37:46Wow.
37:46Yes.
37:47Well, let's go see what the hot tub is.
37:48Let's get changed.
37:51Wow, it's amazing to hear how much Alison has achieved.
37:55But now, the bit I've been waiting for, the champagne hot tub party.
37:59Have you had lots of parties in here then?
38:02Yeah, we've had a few drinks.
38:05This is what I've been waiting for.
38:06I know, it is.
38:08Congratulations.
38:10On this new...
38:11It's a new life form.
38:12It is.
38:13It's just amazing.
38:14And it's nice to have you back and to see what's happened.
38:18Yeah.
38:18Well, I mean, it's nice to be back.
38:21I've got to say, I could quite get used to this.
38:23It's lovely.
38:25My life is just completely different.
38:28I mean, do you know, this might sound strange, but when I saw you, I thought, Alison looks
38:34completely different.
38:35Oh, relaxed.
38:36Relaxed.
38:37You bought the house.
38:39Yes.
38:39It was about £66,000, wasn't it?
38:41But that included the furniture at the time.
38:43Yes, it did.
38:44That you had there.
38:45How much would you say you've spent on everything?
38:47I would say about £20,000, £25,000 for the hot tub, the terrace, refurnishing improvements
38:55to the facade of the house, etc.
38:58And what would it be worth now?
38:59I think you'd maybe put it over about £100,000.
39:02Yeah.
39:02Looking at the local market.
39:04Yeah.
39:04Looking at the local market.
39:05Yeah, definitely.
39:07So, when you actually completed on this house, it was just you on your own, was it?
39:14Because, again, we'd just decided or it was obvious that we wanted different things and
39:21went our separate ways.
39:22And I think when you're making big life decisions like that, you know, to buy a property, to live
39:30abroad, whatever, you know, if you don't agree on something as major as that, then, you know,
39:37you have to make a decision.
39:38So, yes, that was a big decision.
39:41Brexit was a major factor.
39:43If I wanted to stay here, I had to apply for residency.
39:47And I had a very short window.
39:49Literally, I think it was three months.
39:51I think she decided one day, I'm going.
39:54And then, literally, within two days, she was gone.
39:56Yeah.
39:56A backpack.
39:57Not even, nobody even packaged a backpack and gone.
40:00How did you feel about that?
40:01Like, I was proud of her for just jumping to do it, but obviously at the time it was
40:05difficult, but I think now it's all worked out for the better.
40:09So, you look back and think, things were difficult then, but now it's all made it worthwhile.
40:14So, you're obviously still in Scotland.
40:16Yeah.
40:16Do you miss your mum loads?
40:17Yeah, of course I miss her, though.
40:19But then, yeah.
40:20You can come up here all the time, which is amazing.
40:22And we speak every single day.
40:24Yeah, every single day on the phone, ten times a day.
40:26Yeah.
40:27So, it's, yeah, it's just, it's been great.
40:30Obviously, I'm sitting in cold Scotland and she's sitting here in the hot tub.
40:33I think that's really a bit annoying, but, yeah, no, it's great.
40:38And I feel really safe here, you know.
40:41Our Spanish neighbours are just...
40:43Yeah, they look after our...
40:44Wonderful people.
40:46In fact, the first Christmas here, my Spanish neighbours actually said to me, are you on
40:52your own at Christmas?
40:53Come for dinner.
40:54Aw.
40:55Yeah.
40:55And I hardly knew them, you know.
40:58And they turned out to be just amazing people.
41:01You know, so, yeah.
41:03Oh, that must be really reassuring.
41:05Yeah, for me, too.
41:05Oh, that's just got that support.
41:07And if anything happened, it's just got all the people.
41:09Yeah.
41:09So, this is absolutely lovely.
41:11I am starting to turn into a prude.
41:14What's the plan for the rest of this afternoon for you?
41:17So, we're maybe going to go down to Malaga on the bus, if you'd like to join us.
41:20And we can go for a little wander and see down there.
41:23Because that's what I'm leaving.
41:24That sounds lovely.
41:25I'd love to.
41:26Actually, I've not explored Malaga City yet.
41:28Oh, you'll love it.
41:29You'll love it.
41:29Cheers.
41:30Cheers.
41:31Let's go to Malaga.
41:32Let's go.
41:33Put some bubbles on first.
41:37If I'm honest, I could have stayed in there all day.
41:40I'm so pleased that six years after we first met, the dream has come true and I've experienced
41:47an Alison and Paula hot tub party.
41:49As Malaga City is only an hour away by bus, its busy streets, glamorous marina and host
41:55of curbside bars and restaurants offer a wonderful contrast to sleepy Villanueva del
42:00Trabuco.
42:01So, we've brought you to Cahilarios in Malaga.
42:06In the heart of Malaga City.
42:08It's an absolutely beautiful street and it's somewhere that we come to quite often.
42:14It's the main kind of hub for festivals, fiestas, there's always something going on here.
42:23So, at the moment, at the moment, there's a film festival going on, hence the red carpet.
42:30I thought they'd round it out specially for us.
42:33We'll just pretend that's for us, but that's okay.
42:35Of course it's for us.
42:36Of course it's for us.
42:36Of course it's for us.
42:38And also the buildings are amazing here as well.
42:40Like, it's such a stunning street.
42:44After checking out a few more sites, such as Malaga's Cathedral, known as the One-Armed
42:49Lady because it has just one tower and the beautiful centre of culture next door, we're heading
42:55up to a viewpoint overlooking this wonderful city.
42:59Check out the view from up here.
43:02Yeah, it's beautiful.
43:04So nice.
43:04I mean, that's the beauty of Malaga, isn't it?
43:05You're right on the seafront in the city.
43:08So, what would you say is the best thing about your decision to buy a place in Spain?
43:14It's changed my life.
43:17Completely.
43:20I knew those two were coming.
43:22They were trying to come at some point.
43:24It had to come out, didn't they?
43:26Yeah.
43:27I'm just so happy, settled, content.
43:32It's just been really therapeutic for me.
43:34Yeah.
43:35And the fact that it's changed Paula's life, it's changed Ollie's life because, you know,
43:39they have the opportunity as well to come here and enjoy everything that we do here.
43:43Yeah.
43:44So, she will be joining me at some point.
43:47So, what would you say to someone who was maybe in the same position as you were six years
43:53ago?
43:53So, you don't need, you know, a huge amount of money.
43:58I mean, I didn't spend that much on the house, you know, in comparison to...
44:02In comparison to one of those yorks.
44:04Yeah.
44:04You could probably...
44:05But if you have everything that you want, it doesn't have to be extravagant.
44:11Yeah.
44:12I think they would someday, if they were thinking about doing it, I would say, do it.
44:16Do it.
44:16What's the heart like?
44:17Yeah.
44:18Because there's also a sense of adventure in doing it as well, you know, and that makes
44:23you happy.
44:23Yeah.
44:25Well...
44:25I know.
44:26It was so nice to see you.
44:27Me too.
44:28Have a lovely time, okay?
44:29You too.
44:30We're practically neighbours now, so I'll see you again.
44:32I'll see you soon.
44:34Bye.
44:39Wow.
44:40So many massive changes in Alison's life, and yet she has completely embraced the Spanish
44:47lifestyle.
44:48She's followed her dreams, and it looks like her daughter Paula might soon be following
44:53in her mum's footsteps.
44:54What an inspiring woman.
44:57If you'd like to be on a place in the sun to find your own dream home, go to channel4
45:02.com
45:02forward slash take part.
45:04Bye.
45:06Bye.
45:16Bye.
45:19Bye.
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