- 8 hours ago
a place in the sun what happened next s03e01
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:01For over 22 years, A Place in the Sun has been helping couples find their dream homes abroad.
00:07I'm getting a bit of a tingly feeling. Are you?
00:10Loving 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? Yeah.
00:27Today, Jean Johanson 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.
00:36Does it feel real? It does feel real.
00:39Yeah, it's not feeling like a holiday now. No.
00:41This is real life now. It's amazing.
00:44Well, Jasmine Harman 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.
00:53Almost exactly to the week, isn't it? Six years. Six years ago.
00:59Yeah, it's been crazy.
01:09These picturesque fields in the Charente with their rolling landscapes are so charming.
01:15It 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
01:21to find the perfect permanent home 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 Calais.
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,
02:09with room for their grown-up children from previous relationships to stay.
02:13They 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. Null Sanders. Gurnal, for one. Sanders, for other.
02:28It's not that we're going to be eating the chickens. We're looking to be as self-sufficient as possible out
02:33there.
02:33I first met them in the grounds of the Chateau du La Rochefoucauld to find out what they were after
02:39in their dream forever home.
02:41A minimum of three bedrooms. OK. A lovely rural property or edge of village. Right. Detached.
02:47We'd like a small amount of space for additional people to be able to come over with well. Yeah.
02:52That would be nice. Nice and traditional inside as well. OK.
02:56So I'd love to see a fireplace, maybe a few beams.
02:58And while the first property I showed them, this three-bedroom stone cottage, certainly fitted that build,
03:05it didn't make a great initial impression. A bit too small.
03:09OK. Right. Just 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. OK. It's not a bad size.
03:27No. Nice wood flooring as well.
03:29The picture got a bit better.
03:31It's growing on us. I've got to be honest.
03:34Pleasantly surprised by looking at the bedroom set up.
03:38And the garage. Mm-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 Ro were cock-a-hoop.
03:51I like it. You do? I do, yeah.
03:54Yeah, I love the wall. And the fireplace. Traditional.
03:58Yeah, definitely.
03:59Inside and outside. Mind the chickens as you go. Yeah.
04:03Because they're dotted about in here.
04:05Superb. Yeah, fantastic.
04:07I 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.
04:14But I was hoping they'd be even more egg-cited by property three.
04:18This very grand three-bedroom house in the village of Tezi Azi.
04:22But things immediately went off the boil.
04:25What do you think of this curb appeal?
04:29There is none for me.
04:31No curb appeal? None.
04:33OK.
04:33I can't get past the road.
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.
04:47Right, OK.
04:47It hasn't got that je ne sais quoi.
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 Charente countryside.
05:02I think this is a good silence this time.
05:05Am I right?
05:06No, it is. It 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-hm.
05:36And I love the fact that it can accommodate easily.
05:38Probably bigger than the 65-inch telly now.
05:41I love the beams.
05:42Yeah.
05:43Fireplace as well.
05:44Yeah.
05:45The kitchen went down pretty well, as did both the bedrooms.
05:49Oh, this is big.
05:50Good flooring.
05:51Yeah.
05:52Yeah, 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.
05:57They 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.
06:19Loved it.
06:20I 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, and I pushed the boat
06:38out to give Rob and Lisa this detached four-bedroom house, priced over budget, but with plenty of
06:43room for negotiation.
06:45You have delivered.
06:46Yeah.
06:47Good.
06:47Definitely.
06:48In terms of the garden, you have delivered.
06:49Yeah.
06:49I've been 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, definitely, with the fireplace sitting central to the room as well.
07:06Yeah.
07:06This is not what I expected.
07:08A good surprise.
07:09Good surprise.
07:10Rob 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, it's because your fourth bedroom is not complete, like that
07:31was a bedroom, so we're going to put an offer in £135,000.
07:35That offer, however, was rejected.
07:39They've made a counter offer.
07:40Okay.
07:41Of £137,000 to do the deal.
07:45Deal.
07:46Emma, we have a deal, thank you so much.
07:49Congratulations.
07:51You've got an amazing property in France for £137,000.
07:55That's a brand.
07:55That's amazing.
07:57Amazing.
07:57Thank you so much.
07:59Santé.
08:00Salud.
08:00Cheers.
08:04It's been just over a year since I was out here house hunting with Lisa and Rob.
08:09I am so looking forward to seeing them and catching up on what's been happening.
08:14Bonjour.
08:15Bonjour.
08:16Bonjour.
08:16Ça va?
08:16How are we?
08:18How are you?
08:19Good to see you.
08:20And you?
08:21Oh, amazing to see you and meet the kids.
08:23Hi, Robby.
08:24Robby.
08:25Evangeline.
08:25Good 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 both changed our hair.
08:35I know.
08:36Are you speaking French, you two?
08:37Un 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.
08:42On Eva.
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 Chirant in south-western France with Lisa and Rob.
09:08Just a year ago, I helped them find this three bedroom barn conversion and I'm really looking
09:13forward to seeing how they and their two children have settled into it.
09:17Oh, yes.
09:18I 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, Robby?
09:25Jean Le.
09:26Oh, cute.
09:27Oh, it's so lovely to see it again.
09:29What a beautiful house.
09:31You 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.
09:40Robby, what do you think of your new house?
09:43Good.
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.
09:49Yeah, flying by.
09:50Does it feel real?
09:51It does feel real.
09:53Yeah, it's not feeling like a holiday now.
09:55You know, so it's, this is real life now and it's amazing.
09:57The burning question's for me.
09:59Do you have chickens and do you have a ride on lawnmower?
10:02We 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 too can show me this time.
10:15Let's do that.
10:16Yeah.
10:16Do you want to go and play?
10:17See you soon.
10:23Come in.
10:23Aww.
10:24Yes, lovely original features.
10:27Yeah.
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, 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, the 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.
11:03Ooh.
11:04And 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.
11:12Yeah.
11:13Yeah.
11:13Well this is definitely different.
11:15Yeah.
11:16Completely.
11:16Really pleased with it.
11:18Yeah.
11:18Talk me through.
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 there the outline of where the toilet room was.
11:31Uh-huh.
11:32So that's going to get plastered next week.
11:33Mm-hmm.
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.
11:38And did you get a bit of help?
11:39Was there anybody around the neighbourhood?
11:41Yeah, so we're friends with Colin and Sean.
11:44You know, so Sean started the project in terms of the plumbing, because I can't plumb,
11:48not yet anyway.
11:49I'm sure I will do at some point.
11:50Mm-hmm.
11:50And then Colin did the tiling.
11:52Mm-hmm.
11:52Did you have to spend a lot of money on this?
11:54Yeah.
11:54Yeah, this was nearing about £6,000 to do the bathroom, but it was well worth it.
11:59So family bathroom, we've got bedrooms off here.
12:01There was a room that was pretty unfinished.
12:03Mm-hmm.
12:04Yeah, so there was a large attic room that we've now converted into an office and a bedroom.
12:10Oh, great job.
12:12I mean, I don't even think there was a roof on this room, was there?
12:15Nope.
12:16You can see right up to the rafters, yeah.
12:18Yeah.
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.
12:31I have to do it.
12:32Right, let's do that.
12:35Aw.
12:37Robbie and Evangeline were such a big part of this search, so to be stood here in Robbie's
12:42bedroom, well, this is what it's all about.
12:48A good-sized chicken coop you've got here.
12:50Yeah.
12:50There you are, Rob.
12:52That's what you wanted.
12:53Yeah.
12:53Yeah.
12:54Everyone does it.
12:55You move to France 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 because 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 as well.
13:12Lisa, what are you growing?
13:14All sorts.
13:15So strawberries, raspberries, courgettes, beetroot.
13:20So you've found yourself getting quite green-fingered?
13:22Yeah.
13:22Actually, I've surprised myself.
13:24Yeah, we used to joke that Lisa would walk past a flower in the UK and it would wilt.
13:29So we've both been really proud of how she's turned the veggie patch into what it is now.
13:35Yeah.
13:36There's all these things that you couldn't do back in Hastings.
13:38Either you don't have the time or you don't have the climate.
13:40I think what we didn't have was the space.
13:42No.
13:43Okay, yeah.
13:44You've got vegetable patch, you've got your chickens, you've got a ride on lawnmower.
13:47You're living the dream.
13:48It does feel like it.
13:50Yeah.
13:50Definitely living the dream.
13:51Oh, well, I'm so proud that I played a part in it because, I mean, there are chickens everywhere.
13:56And this lovely view is gorgeous.
13:58I think what we'd like to show you is like a traditional French meal, which is called an aperro.
14:05Mm-hmm.
14:05So it's a bit like a meal before a meal, but it's quite popular in France, especially when
14:09they 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 in such a short space of
14:21time, not just with the property, but with their lifestyle as well.
14:25Now I'm looking forward to finding out more and enjoying a few nibbles.
14:31Right, so what's the tradition then?
14:32Do I just dive right in?
14:33Go for it.
14:34Okay, good.
14:36This looks lovely, Lisa.
14:39Let me.
14:40Oh, I like that sound.
14:41That reminds me of Franz.
14:45So remind me, how much did you pay for it?
14:46I do remember a cheeky offer went in, Rob.
14:49So it was on for one, four, five.
14:51That's right.
14:52The cheeky offer was 135,000.
14:55They came back with a counter offer of 137,000 and we went yes.
14:58You just wouldn't get anything comparable in the UK for the same amount of money.
15:02And tell me about the process.
15:03How did it go?
15:04It went really smoothly.
15:05You've got 10 days cooling off period, then you put the deposit down.
15:11And then because we live in rural France, the farmers get first refusal on whether they
15:16want to buy some of the land or the property itself.
15:20I've heard that before, yeah.
15:22Yeah.
15:22So that process normally takes two months, but we paid the extra money along with the
15:26people who sold us the house for 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?
15:40Okay.
15:40When we moved over, we rented for a small while, just a couple of weeks, but we definitely
15:46wanted to get in, get settled.
15:48And of course, since we've left the European Union, it's a bit harder to move to other
15:52countries 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.
16:01So it's the easiest visa to get.
16:04Otherwise, if you start going for entrepreneur visas or owning a business, you're going to
16:08need to show a proficiency at French.
16:10Complicated, yeah.
16:11Yeah.
16:12And you're going to need to have business plans and income and stuff like that.
16:15So we've gone for the easiest visa.
16:17So then we need to apply for our carte de sejour, which will extend the 12 months into
16:22a lot longer.
16:24So 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.
16:39Yeah.
16:39Has that made things easier?
16:41Hell of a lot easier.
16:41Yeah.
16:41Yeah, 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.
16:48Yeah.
16:48It's a set income.
16:49We know what our goings are.
16:50We know what our incomings are.
16:52And it's almost a silly question, but do you feel happier?
16:56I mean, you did your time in the army and the police, both quite challenging careers.
17:00I retired from the police through ill health.
17:04I was diagnosed with a 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, the way I was behaving.
17:15Yeah.
17:15I managed to get diagnosed through a part of the NHS that deal with military veterans,
17:20Operation Courage.
17:22And, you know, that sent me on the road to some sort of recovery with a lot of trauma therapy.
17:29But we came to the realisation that although I was getting to a point where I was getting well,
17:36it was never to the point where I could continue with the career.
17:39So we made the decision to apply for ill health retirement and 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.
18:15That's understandable.
18:17And Lisa, I'm sure you've had your ups and downs special when it's your partner and you can see they're
18:20not quite right.
18:21Yeah.
18:22Have 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.
18:28Oh, 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?
18:37Well, we've recently found a game called Pétanque.
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.
18:46Yeah, we definitely have a go at that.
18:47Let's eat a bit more and then I'm going to show you my Pétanque 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 Pétanque.
19:07I've gotten quite good at this, you know, over the years.
19:09Just letting you all know.
19:11Well, a tough fact to follow then.
19:13When you live in France, does that make you better at Pétanque?
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.
19:31Je ne sais pas.
19:32Then 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.
19:47Not bad.
19:49Well done.
19:55Rubbish.
19:58See that?
19:59Jean wins that point.
20:00Oh, that one's clear.
20:02Merci beaucoup.
20:04It is getting warm out here.
20:05Shall we grab a drink?
20:06Oh, sounds good, Lisa.
20:07Let's do that.
20:08Come on, kids.
20:09Nice to see I haven't lost my Pétanque skills.
20:12But I think the real winners out here in Chiron are Rob, 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?
20:24It's lovely.
20:25Is 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 round the Chiron.
20:33It was just a case of finding the best property.
20:35And 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,
20:44I remember we were on the aeroplane and we said,
20:47it 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.
20:56But then the flights are dirt cheap.
20:58You know, you can come over for £13.
20:59Yeah.
21:00One way.
21:00Yeah.
21:01And 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.
21:08They enjoy it, don't they?
21:10Yeah, they love it.
21:10And it's not a thing that just happens.
21:13You move to a new country.
21:14There is a lot of stuff that you have to do.
21:16Anything that you would do differently?
21:18Robbie.
21:19French lessons.
21:21Right.
21:21That's a good one, yeah.
21:23Having a bit of the language before you put them in the school.
21:25Yeah.
21:26Just 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?
21:33You know, how is the process 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
22:02and then move over.
22:04I'd love to hear that and I'd 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.
22:11And what can I say?
22:12It's beautiful, Angel.
22:14It's cheers to that.
22:15It's great to that.
22:16It's great to that.
22:16Yes.
22:16It's great.
22:17Cheers.
22:18Cheers.
22:19Cheers.
22:20Cheers.
22:20Cheers.
22:21Cheers.
22:22Cheers.
22:24Cheers.
22:26Cheers.
22:26It's been great to see Rob and Lisa and experience just a bit of the life they've made
22:31for themselves.
22:32I really admire them for dealing with all the stuff that life throws at you and they've
22:36made a beautiful life 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
22:52far from the city itself.
22:54Catching up with Alison and her daughter Paula, who she helped find a magnificent holiday townhouse
22:59six years ago.
23:01Oh 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.
23:12What's going on?
23:12What's going on?
23:17What's going on?
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
23:37Andalusian retreat.
23:39She'd already viewed numerous properties, but I'm very glad to say that I managed to find
23:45her the right one.
23:46A 40 minute or so drive east of Malaga with its airport welcoming visitors from most corners
23:52of the UK, a three hour flight away, this part of Andalusia is truly remarkable.
23:57Amongst the lush green countryside and rolling hills, there are a handful of stunning whitewashed
24:03villages offering a slice of traditional Spanish life with weekly markets and flamenco music
24:08easy to find.
24:10While we're a little off the more conventional tourist trail, the golden sandy beaches and
24:15holiday fun of the Costa del Sol is just a short drive from here.
24:18It'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
24:29for her and her then husband Ian, within reach of the town of Veleth Malaga, working with
24:34a budget of up to £65,000.
24:37And it was pretty clear even before we met how important Paula was to this 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 drink than some of the girls.
24:53I trust her judgement and her opinion.
24:56It's Paula's house as much as ours.
24:58Alison wanted a two bedroom townhouse with enough space for Paula and her son Ollie to
25:02visit.
25:03She'd already made a few trips to the area, seen a number of properties and had one clear
25:08priority.
25:08Do you want to have maybe like a jacuzzi kind of thing on top?
25:13Oh, okay.
25:14Well, that's top of the list and I have promised my girlfriends that we will have a champagne
25:20jacuzzi party in the summer.
25:23So that's...
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.
25:41But...
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.
25:52However, I wouldn't at this stage rule out.
25:54You wouldn't?
25:55No.
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.
26:04However, the space and light on offer inside, along with the amount of work needed, meant
26:10it was a no.
26:12With that, we headed back into the hills to the village of Villanueva del Trabuco,
26:17somewhere 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.
26:25Oh!
26:26I'm delighted that you've brought me back here.
26:31Um...
26:32Oh!
26:33God, I know.
26:34Really?
26:36Oh!
26:37And once they got inside, you might want to change the furniture, but there's nothing to
26:43do.
26:44It literally is.
26:44You can come in, put your bags down and you're good to go.
26:48Yeah, I do have a good feeling about this one.
26:50You do?
26:51Ooh!
26:52That's pretty good.
26:53Do you?
26:54Yeah.
26:55I'm not bad.
26:57Now, Paula, what are you thinking?
27:01I'm a bit speechless, to be honest.
27:04It'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.
27:13She could.
27:14I really like it.
27:16We now had ourselves a very solid contender, so I thought we'd head back to Vilath Malaga
27:21to find another.
27:22This in-budget, three-bedroom but unfurnished townhouse was the place I'd lined up, but it
27:28didn'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 and hopefully we'll
27:44have another contender for you to at least give you some food for thought.
27:48Okay.
27:48Okay?
27:48Let's go.
27:50The place I had in mind was back in Villanueva del Trabuco, the location of our top contender,
27:56and in the form of this upside-down house with its two bedrooms downstairs and the hot tub
28:01these 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.
28:18You like this, eh?
28:20It's beautiful.
28:21Mm-hm.
28:22You know, when I imagined having my little Andalusian retreat, this is pretty much it.
28:29Oh!
28:29Oh!
28:30Yes!
28:32Have you ever felt like this walking into a place before?
28:35Never.
28:37Never.
28:38Oh, Mum!
28:39Oh!
28:40To me!
28:43It continued to impress.
28:47Ta-da!
28:48Look at this, Paula!
28:51Oh, my word!
28:52Oh, my God!
28:54You've got your hot tub there!
28:55Does this come with the property?
28:57It's actually not included, but it's negotiable.
28:59OK.
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 private here.
29:11Like, literally nobody can see on it.
29:13This is just gorgeous.
29:16You can't do it!
29:20Not again!
29:22Not again!
29:23Almost.
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, nearly £4,500 below
29:45the asking price.
29:47OK.
29:48OK.
29:48Thanks, Judith.
29:49I'll get back to you.
29:51OK.
29:55Your initial offer has not been accepted, but the vendors have come back and said that they would accept an
30:03offer of £66,000, and they would include the hot tub, all the furniture.
30:12Wow!
30:14And 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?
30:24I wonder they took so long.
30:27What are you going to do?
30:28Yes!
30:29Yes!
30:29Do we have a yes?
30:31Oh!
30:31So exciting!
30:33Let me go back and just come down.
30:40Judith, that's fantastic.
30:41We've got a deal.
30:42Tell them they can take it off the market.
30:46Yes!
30:48Oh, my God.
30:50Oh, Jess, what a kangaroo!
30:53Stop that, she can't.
30:54Oh!
30:57We would have never seen that if it wasn't for you.
31:04So, I can't thank you enough.
31:05Oh.
31:06Cheers!
31:06Cheers!
31:07I think we need champagne, really.
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 to meet Alison and Paula.
31:22And from what I understand, a lot has changed.
31:25I wonder what she's going to think, because it just looks so different, doesn't it?
31:30It definitely does.
31:31Oh, there's Jasmine there!
31:32Hello!
31:34Hello!
31:34Oh, my word!
31:37It's so nice to see you.
31:38It's so nice to see you, isn't it?
31:38What, is this crazy wind?
31:40Yes.
31:40It's better than the rain the last time.
31:42That's true.
31:43But this was the same time of year the last time.
31:44Exactly.
31:45It was.
31:45Almost exactly.
31:46It was.
31:47To the week, isn't it?
31:48Yes.
31:48Six years.
31:49Six years ago.
31:50It's been crazy.
31:51So, are you still enjoying your holidays out here, obviously?
31:54I am.
31:55Well, things have changed a little for me, Jasmine, because I now stay here permanently.
32:01I'm actually a Spanish resident.
32:03Oh, my gosh, really?
32:05Yes.
32:06Yes, for four years.
32:08Yeah.
32:09Oh, wow!
32:11We really need a catch-up, don't we? A proper catch-up.
32:15Would you like to see the changes?
32:17I would love to.
32:18Yes, lead the way.
32:19Okay.
32:20Coming up, I get a tour of that gorgeous townhouse and its new hot tub.
32:25Yeah.
32:25It took, was it three men, about ten hours?
32:29That was a lot.
32:29And it had to be lifted over the roof of the house from the street.
32:34I knew a hot tub was important to you.
32:36Yeah, my goodness.
32:44Today, I'm in Villanueva del Tribuco, a wonderfully traditional village set amongst the hills of Malaga, catching up with Alison
32:51and her daughter Paula.
32:53Six years ago, I helped find a beautiful townhouse for Alison, her then husband Ian, Paula and her son Ollie
33:00to use as a holiday home.
33:02But I hear Alison's now retired, become a Spanish resident and is living out here permanently.
33:07I can't wait to see how it's changed and find out more about her life here.
33:12Oh, my gosh.
33:14It looks different.
33:16I love the little butterflies.
33:17Yes.
33:18So that's from a local artist who does all the murals around the village.
33:23And she asked my mum if she could paint on her house and she was like, of course.
33:26How lovely.
33:27Do a lot of people speak to you or do you get a lot of attention from locals?
33:30Yes.
33:30You do attract attention as a single British woman with a pink hat.
33:37Yes.
33:38You're 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?
34:04Yes.
34:04So, bedrooms downstairs, living in upstairs.
34:07It's so different in here.
34:09Do you do this yourself?
34:10I do.
34:10I do.
34:11I do have a little pink drill as well.
34:14I know.
34:14So, obviously, I have to keep within a budget when I'm making improvements.
34:18So, some of the things I can do myself.
34:20I love the little DIY projects.
34:23Amazing.
34:24So, things like that, if I can do it, I'll do it.
34:26You will remember as well that I loved that bedroom.
34:30That bedroom.
34:30When I was here on my own...
34:32Do 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, I'll look out the window and
34:40I 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 homely.
34:56It's mainly cosmetic.
34:58Yeah.
34:58I'd say in here, you 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 the aircon.
35:27Oh, goodness.
35:28Yes.
35:29It's that relentless heat.
35:31Yeah.
35:31And do you know what?
35:32It's great and I'm not complaining about the heat, but my goodness, you do need to keep
35:36yourself cool.
35:37Yeah.
35:38Well, I love what you've done in here.
35:39Have you done much in the kitchen and what 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.
36:04Pink.
36:04I mean, the kitchen units are the same.
36:08The 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 D.
36:18I was really chuffed with myself for that because 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.
36:33Perfect, 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, I'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, they kept bursting the inflatable...
37:03So I had to go home.
37:04I had the first...
37:05How on earth did you get that through the house?
37:07So it was...
37:08There 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 wish I could.
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...
37:28I mean, over the top, literally.
37:30It 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, that's the new thing.
37:40Have you got your costume?
37:41Of course!
37:42Did you?
37:43Yes.
37:43You've brought your costume?
37:44I have.
37:45And I've brought the bubbles as well.
37:46Yes.
37:46Well, let's go and see what I've done.
37:48So...
37:48Let's get changed!
37:51Wow!
37:52It'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?
38:02Every summer!
38:02Yeah, we've had a few drinks.
38:05This is what I've been waiting for for six years!
38:07I know!
38:07It's yours!
38:08Congratulations!
38:09Thank you!
38:10It's just...
38:11It's a new life for me now!
38:12It is!
38:13It's just amazing!
38:13And 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 what?
38:29Completely different.
38:29This might sound strange, but when I saw you, I thought, Alison looks completely different.
38:35Oh, relaxed!
38:36Relaxed!
38:37You bought the house.
38:39Yeah.
38:39It was about £66,000, wasn't it?
38:41Yeah.
38:41That included the furniture at the time, yeah?
38:43Yes, it did, yeah.
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, if you were going to say.
39:02Yeah, looking at the local market.
39:04Yeah, looking at the local market, yeah, definitely.
39:05Yeah.
39:06So, 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.
39:23I think when you're making big life decisions like that, you know, to buy a property, to
39:29live abroad, whatever, you know, if you don't agree on something as major as that, then,
39:36you know, you have to make a decision.
39:39So, 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, and I had a very short window,
39:49literally, I think it was three months.
39:51I think she decided one day, I'm going, and then literally, within two days, she was
39:56gone.
39:56Yeah.
39:56A backpack, not even, nobody even packaged a backpack and gone.
40:00How did you feel about that?
40:01I was proud of her for just jumping to do it, but obviously at the time it was difficult,
40:06but I think now it's all worked out for the better, so you look back and think things
40:10were 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, Laurie?
40:18Yeah, of course I miss her, though, but then, yeah, you can come up here all the time,
40:22which is amazing.
40:23And 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, I think
40:33that's really a bit annoying, but, yeah, no, it's great.
40:38And I feel really safe here, you know, I mean, our Spanish neighbours are just...
40:43Yeah, they look after our...
40:45Wonderful people.
40:46In fact, the first Christmas here, my Spanish neighbours actually said to me,
40:51are you on your own at Christmas?
40:53Come for dinner.
40:54Aww.
40:55Yeah.
40:55And I hardly knew them, you know, and they turned out to be just amazing people.
41:01Lovely, how lovely.
41:02You know, so, yeah.
41:03Oh, that must be really reassuring for you as well.
41:05Yeah, for me, too, yeah.
41:06Oh, that's just got that support, and if anything happened, 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 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 put 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 Cahillarius, 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.
42:21There's always something going on here.
42:23So, at the moment...
42:24Chocking!
42:24Oh!
42:26At the moment, there's a film festival going on, hence the red carpet.
42:31I 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.
42:35Oh, it's really quite special.
42:36Of course it's for us.
42:38And also, the buildings are amazing here as well.
42:40Like, they're so nice.
42:42It's such a stunning street.
42:44After checking out a few more sites, such as Malaga's Cathedral, known as the One Armed Lady,
42:50because it has just one tower, and the beautiful centre of culture next door,
42:54we're heading up to a viewpoint overlooking this wonderful city.
42:59Check out the view from up here.
43:02Yeah, it's beautiful.
43:04It's so nice.
43:04I mean, that's the beauty of Malaga, isn't it?
43:05You're right on the seafront in the city.
43:08I know.
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.
43:22They were going to come at some point.
43:24It had to come out, didn't they?
43:26Yeah.
43:26I'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.
43:44She will be joining me at some point.
43:47OK.
43:48So, what would you say to someone who was maybe in the same position as you were six years ago?
43:53You 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 yachts.
44:04Yeah.
44:05Probably.
44:05But if you have everything that you want, it doesn't have to be extravagant.
44:12Yeah.
44:12I think if somebody, if they were thinking about doing it, I would say, do it.
44:16Do it.
44:16What's the heart?
44:17Because there's also a sense of adventure in doing it as well, you know?
44:22And that makes you happy.
44:23Yeah.
44:25Well...
44:25I know, it was so nice to see you.
44:27You too.
44:28Have a lovely time, OK?
44:29You too.
44:30We're practising neighbours now, so I'll see you again.
44:33I'll see you soon.
44:34Bye.
44:38Wow.
44:40So many massive changes in Alison's life, and yet she has completely embraced the Spanish lifestyle.
44:48She's followed her dreams, and it looks like her daughter Paula might soon be following in 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 forward slash take part.
45:26Bye.
45:27Bye.
45:28Bye.
45:29Bye.
45:29Bye.
45:29Bye.
Comments