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a place in the sun what happened next s03e06
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00:01for over 22 years a place in the Sun has been helping couples find their dream
00:06homes abroad in this series we'll be revisiting some of them to find out what
00:24happened next can I get a high five oh yeah today Sara damage II is heading to Malta to catch
00:32up
00:32with Chris and his mom Kerry Sara enjoyed a successful house hunt on the island with Chris
00:37and his nan Pat over a decade ago and is excited to be back the property wasn't even finished no
00:43when you bought it so I'm so excited when you first out of the box while Ben Hillman gets put
00:49to the test on the Costa Blanca with Jan and Bill who he helped buy a property three years ago
00:55and
00:56you've done quite a bit of work I hear loads you won't recognize it's a competition yeah for you
01:02to find which house it is game on winding streets natural beauty and history all weave together such
01:18a fantastic tapestry here in Malta and it was that alongside two generations of family living here
01:24that drew Chris and his nan Pat to come house hunting with me to find them their perfect family holiday
01:31home Malta is a Mediterranean island positioned between Italy and North Africa that's around a
01:37three-hour flight from the UK it was once a British colony and important naval base although it's been an
01:44independent nation since 1964 the locals tend to speak both English and Maltese Chris's search was
01:52focused amongst the resort towns of the northeast coast around the capital Valletta a location filled
01:58with character and traditional Maltese flair back in 2013 police officer Chris from Birmingham had chosen
02:07his nan Pat to join him on his property search and he had a 70,000 pound budget I'm the
02:13first grandchild so
02:14we're just very close we do a lot of things together more like friends I was actually there when he
02:19was
02:19born and the first to hold him and we've just we just clipped as as nan and grandson before checking
02:29out
02:29the first property I wanted to find out a bit more about this family connection to Malta and Chris's
02:35motivations behind getting a place out here so welcome to Malta thank you you've got quite a lot of history
02:41here as well yes we were posted over here for two years with the army and consequently my daughter
02:49was born in a mishapha military hospital so she's got Maltese nationality your mom yeah yeah and you want
02:57to buy a property that you both can use is that right yes I swear property that I can use
03:03as a retreat
03:04on my days after for the family and when I can whiz over yeah Chris wanted two bedrooms but said
03:12he'd be
03:13happy with one rental potential to cover costs and a minimalist and fresh interior we started a 20
03:20minute drive from Vletta in Sleema one of the most desirable locations property-wise on the island with a
03:26rather central place a stone's throw from the sea that had one bedroom and was on the market a little
03:32over budget so come through oh wow do you like it I really like it yeah really do do you
03:42yeah light
03:43fresh clean I think it's lovely there's enough room for a sofa bed yeah for people to sleep great
03:52well that was a good start as we continue to look around it became clear Chris and Pat were thinking
03:58bigger moving forward how can I do better I'd probably say more space than another bedroom you
04:04ready to get on to the next one we are let's go it was the other side of Vletta in
04:10sanglia another busy
04:12and historic location filled with character properties which wasn't necessarily what Chris had asked for
04:18but the place I lined up this dockside maisonette with two bedrooms while a little over budget did
04:25offer a lot more space I'm a bit unconvinced at the moment it's the style it's the the flooring is
04:33not
04:33to my taste I would want to change a lot of things and is it too much of a project
04:37I don't know but we
04:39haven't seen it all yet he looks quite depressed but this is no doesn't he while Pat liked the
04:47character as it reminded her of when she lived in Malta and Chris warmed to it a little as he
04:53continued to look around and saw the space on offer it certainly hadn't stolen his heart so we headed to
04:59a very different option six miles north of the letter in the town of Bojibba this top floor apartment
05:06with two bedrooms was under budget well look at the space it's enormous isn't it wow yeah it's
05:14much more of a traditional layout here yeah it's modern enough how does this compare to your property
05:19back in the UK and it's a new world three years old I was the first one to move in
05:23and I think I
05:24naively thought I was gonna duplicate that over here but with the limited budget it seems a little bit
05:29realistic so I can't really compare it really okay so the ideal was a new build but you're coming
05:35around to the idea of actually this is okay this could work yeah it had the space Chris wanted as
05:41well as a more modern finish and once they'd seen it all we had ourselves a strong contender however as
05:48it now seemed Chris's dream was to buy a new build I found one just around the corner I wanted
05:53to try it
05:54had two bedrooms and was on a grand or so over budget we're gonna be looking at one in here
06:01new
06:01build Wow speechless I'm in shock why are you in shock just the image I had in my head of
06:07the property
06:08I wanted was exactly like this and but I thought it was far beyond my reach and I just couldn't
06:13afford
06:13it so I sent Chris and Pat off to take a look around and they were impressed by the layout
06:18and the
06:19space on offer we had ourselves an even stronger contender and with one final chance to impress I
06:25tried another new build option just up the road in Aura it's actually due for completion in three
06:30months which could work quite well for you because the average time of completion of a property sale in
06:36Malta is around the three month mark I like the exterior and imagine because it hasn't yet been
06:41completed probably have a lot more involvement within and the designs and choosing stuff etc yeah that's
06:47totally your bag isn't it yeah it was looking good for this unfinished apartment with two bedrooms and
06:53bathrooms and an over budget price tag and once we got inside nice the lights and it's big yeah I
07:01like
07:01it nice sized room isn't it you do have a bathroom off here with a new there this is where
07:07your kitchen
07:08would be as well which you would be purchasing yourself similar to the last property similar to the
07:15master bedroom what a strange shape it's kind of like an ellie's I think it is an L shape but
07:21there
07:22are going to be some doors here which will lead on to your own private patio space yeah lovely when
07:28they'd seen it all so how are you feeling about the property now I'm feeling good it's I mean it's
07:33a
07:33beautiful property and I'm a little bit concerned about the elevated price maybe because it's not
07:39complete I've got the breathing space to save for the kitchen and the furniture and so it's still
07:44good work so a lot of them thinking to do other night yeah you look a little bit worried you
07:49two
07:49need to talk about this this is where you come into your strength for advice I think tonight we'll talk
07:55it over and the next day we sat down for a chat and the final place had one out so
08:01you're aware that
08:02the properties on at 74,000 pounds so what would you like to offer bearing in mind my budget I'll
08:08probably go with a cheeky offer of sixty nine thousand five hundred okay sixty nine thousand five
08:16hundred pounds why not let's try let's be cheeky I made the call and it wasn't long before we heard
08:21back so the owners come back with a counter offer he's saying this is the lowest he will go which
08:28is
08:28seventy thousand six hundred pounds sterling yeah yeah really good yeah yeah hello Marcella they're
08:39happy to go for it perfect so um we'll get back to you very shortly and sort out all the
08:46details
08:46thank you bye-bye oh is this real is it real wow he's done it oh thank you sorry oh
08:57you are welcome
08:58thank you you're welcome congratulations let me shop let me shop I'm delighted for him it's what he wanted I
09:09knew he wanted that property and he's got it that was such a memorable search so it feels great
09:16over a decade later to be back
09:19hello hello how lovely to see you looking lovely younger than ever oh I wish I was after nearly 11
09:27years
09:27lovely to see you Kerry I remember them talking about you yes all those years ago how's nanny Pat doing
09:33because she wasn't able to make it this time was she she's good she's probably not well enough to come
09:38so I've got mommy to come and support me this time yeah she's got it that she's not here but
09:42she sent
09:42her love oh send my love back actually we should probably call her later shouldn't we that would
09:46be nice she would really like that yeah she was brilliant fun yeah I remember her so well she's such
09:51a character isn't she very gobby and you're still here you're still loving it love it yeah the property
09:59wasn't even finished no when you bought it so I'm so excited brand new I think it's our turn to
10:06show
10:06you around then isn't it is we go let's go coming up I'm excited to have a good look around
10:13that
10:13apartment and it seems Chris has been pretty busy we've actually get a massive container get permits
10:19take off the doors a big crane it was a big job but it was worth it wait to see
10:23inside today I'm in
10:31Malta catching up with Chris who I helped to find a wonderful new-built holiday apartment on an island
10:37where his family had lots of connections over a decade ago while our original search was with his
10:44Nan Pat as she's not feeling too well he's here with his mum Kerry this time and I can't wait
10:50for
10:50them to give me a tour Wow here we are I mean it's obviously not changed that much from the
10:56outside no
10:57change loads on the inside back so how was it what was that feeling like when you got the keys
11:01I'm
11:02daunting I think about that young 25 year old it was really daunting but it's worked out with the
11:07help of mom dad Nan old family yeah because it is a family apartment absolutely I think the most
11:12stressful part we really was how are we going to furnish it or how is Christopher going to furnish
11:16it we had to ship everything from the UK which was a mission in itself and quite expensive it was
11:22expensive actually get a massive container get permits take off the doors a big crane it was a big job
11:27but it was worth it wait to see inside really I can't wait should we go in I think so
11:32yeah
11:39wow welcome thank you so much look at that and there's a kitchen a lovely kitchen as well all the
11:46way from Italy all the way from Italy and so that's the sofa that you must have had to take
11:51all the windows
11:52yeah we call it the beast the beast is that we call it yeah so it was quite a struggle
11:58in terms
11:58of getting everything in but once everything was in how has it been having this as your holiday home
12:03it's been absolutely amazing I don't think I use it more than anyone else do you more than Chris
12:08definitely maybe about three or four times a year do you yeah yeah absolutely love it short breaks you
12:14know four days yeah and then I think for people like my sister and you know it's a cheap holiday
12:19guaranteed son we know it exactly so she comes over as well how does nanny Pat love it every time
12:28we come she cries soon we land in the airport she starts crying she doesn't yeah it brings back so
12:33many memories where should we have a look next to have a look at the bedroom yeah love to
12:38me lovely it's very bright and fresh isn't it yes so that's um a pullout trundle bed there so is
12:50that
12:50to fit in lots of guests yeah and I think just from a family point of view you know we
12:54just three three
12:56members of the family can sleep in here comes up into a double so either double or two singles yeah
13:00oh
13:01that's ideal isn't it so I remember you might rent it out have you done that yeah do you know
13:05what we
13:05did try that out for a bit and had some good experience and really good guests but then we
13:09had some probably not so nice experience doesn't terrible but I think my parents put so much love
13:14and attention into it they really look after it I mean it's it's really well maintained I think now
13:18I just want to leave it for the family oh do you yeah do you want to go see the
13:21main bedroom yeah
13:23love to this way yes just through here do you think I remember this space really nice because
13:35it was an L it was an L shape wasn't it I'm trying to work out how I was going
13:38to um how you were going
13:39to furnish it you think I've maximized the space well yeah absolutely it feels really big doesn't it
13:45when you come in yeah and I remember that space as well the outside space there which is very Maltese
13:51you've got your en suite and furnished it all your taste I mean how does it feel waking up here
13:57is it
13:57a relaxing place for you do you know it really is work is as stressful as that as ever it
14:02was back
14:03then it is now and I think sometimes when I'm here I don't miss I don't want to go home
14:07I could
14:07literally just you know never go never go back it's just yeah the funny thing is when we came out
14:12on
14:13holidays to Malta before Christopher had the apartment he took my mum for a walk along Pajiba Beach and said
14:19to
14:19her I'm gonna buy a property here one day when when was this how old were you about 18 when
14:25you're
14:2518 did you too cocky you did it it's time to relax now yeah you can take your foot off
14:32a little bit
14:33now can't you and just yeah exactly exactly speaking of kicking back should we go for a drink down on
14:40the
14:40front shall we yeah I think we've deserved it nice cool drink look at the sea look at the boats
14:45yeah
14:45sounds good perfect let's go that place is looking great a real family affair oh this is gorgeous isn't
14:54it cheers cheers lovely so is this what life looks like for you all the time when you're out here
15:01chilling sitting by the sea yeah I think something like it's still exploring the island 11 years later
15:07are you mm-hmm every time you come something different pops up there's a new there's a new bar
15:12to go to a new restaurant so what activities have you done when you're out here what does your average
15:17day look like or I like horse riding my mom won't do but I really like the horse riding game
15:22around
15:23Golden Bay across the the cliffs there's no as low to do but my niece we have to go to
15:28the water park every
15:29time we come oh bet you love that yeah and my husband's mad for the karaoke so every time he
15:34comes
15:35he finds a karaoke and he sings piano man oh does he he sings it that much that even the
15:41granddaughter
15:41loves the words so the property nearly 11 years now that must have gone up a fair whack because I
15:51remember you got it for just over 70,000 pounds yes and I think when I look back on it
15:56now um yeah I
15:58got a really I got a steal and then since then property is just boomed in Malta so it's I
16:06think
16:06when we last checked last week it's probably about 250 220 sterling thousand pounds so it's yeah you've
16:15made a fortune on that place haven't you I've been very lucky very blessed but I think again testament to
16:20all your knowledge and your advice back then oh I'm so happy for you that's brilliant not that you
16:25want to sell it I can tell you don't want to sell it no because that's the family base isn't
16:29it I think
16:29if I sell it on it but my nan will learn when I'm just on me nanny Pat will be
16:33fuming because it would
16:35regret it for life really wouldn't you if you sold it because it's just so easy you know the the
16:40flying time the
16:41transfer time it's nothing it's nothing is it no so how about the running costs of the property um so
16:48I no longer have a mortgage so the
16:50property's all sorted legend this guy's a legend you're still so young oh I don't know about that
16:57but I mean that's brilliant so at the moment it's just my you don't pay council tax in Malta yeah
17:02which
17:04actually that's it's a bonus isn't it that's so at the moment I've just got my internet costs
17:09and that varies when I'm not here I pause it and suspend it so it's only five euro okay um
17:13and when I
17:14do reactivate it's 35 okay and then just my water and my my electric which is depending on usage so
17:20yeah the costs are really minimal that's brilliant really minimal more money to come out and have two
17:25two for one on the happy hours yeah absolutely so what does nanny pat like to do when she's over
17:30here so I think one of her one of her main things when we always come over we always do
17:36it religiously
17:37we'll catch the ferry over to gozo then go on the tour bus and we'll go to um a church
17:42that she
17:43really likes that's part of kind of like the tour of the tour bus tapping tapping new tapping you okay
17:48a
17:48really beautiful church that actually would really like to show you it we'd like to take
17:52you over and to show you how special it is to my nan and to us oh I'd love to
17:55do that let's do that
17:57then shall we cheers cheers cheers here's to a lovely afternoon
18:05we're taking the car ferry that runs from the western end of Malta and it takes just 25 minutes
18:10to make the 15 mile crossing but what do you love so much about goes though but I think when
18:15we pull
18:15into the harbour you'll see the views are stunning and it's almost like Malta 60 years ago it's really
18:21kind of authentic isn't it and kind of um unspoiled and you can just there's just so much to do
18:27you
18:27can literally spend the whole day here really catch one of the last ferries back so that's what you do
18:31with your nan yeah so the island's got so much history but then from a family perspective as well
18:35there's loads of history and memories yeah and still more to make and still more to make gozo is
18:42the second largest of the 21 islands that make up the maltese archipelago three are inhabited with
18:49camino being the third wow stunning isn't it it's absolutely stunning and just the setting as well
18:56yeah these beautiful mosaics almost like telling a story yeah so i think this is the national shrine
19:03um for tapping you and the belief is that a local lady had the voice of the virgin mary and
19:12then i
19:12think there were a number of miracles afterwards and i think this church is renowned for locals kind
19:17of prayer and miracles for people that have potentially been ill or um suffered with an illness
19:23for a period of time so a really special place potentially why my nan loves it that much oh i
19:28can
19:28understand why and she always likes a candle oh she's so sweet isn't she she is so shall we go
19:33inside have a look yeah yeah so i'm gonna like one for my dad
19:43and i'm gonna do it on behalf of my nan she would want to do it for her granny oh
19:54i'll put another one in
19:57and that's for nanny pat to get better oh thank you thank you why don't we video call her should
20:03be over the moon to speak to you to know that we're here and that we've lit a candle for
20:07her oh
20:08yeah let's do that should we go outside yeah yeah
20:15oh so lovely to see you thank you we wish you were here we do oh don't get upset you'll
20:24start us all
20:24off if you start well christine wouldn't be there if it wasn't for me now would it no that's true
20:32she's the matriarch she's the boss yeah but once you've sorted yourself out then we can come here again
20:38you mean once i've sorted you out she doesn't change is that all right then it was nearly 11
20:46years ago we were out here that's right and look where he is now he's done really well he's done
20:53good
20:55and you know you don't think these things are going to happen but it it did happen and i'm really
21:02happy about him love you granny all the love bye bye oh oh bless her though she got a bit
21:13emotional
21:13didn't she she did yeah that was always gonna happen but it means a lot to her it does yeah
21:18and you can
21:19understand why though can't you yeah so if anybody's watching the show and they're thinking do you know
21:24i'd love to take that step and buy the dream property what would be your top tips for them
21:30they've probably got three so have a good support network you can't do it all by yourself i've been
21:35really lucky with my family i've got my mum here today to support me so thank you i say the
21:40second
21:40one is be be prepared to take a risk and then the third one is i'll just say keep an
21:46open mind and be
21:47flexible yeah i don't know if you if you if you've got anything in to add to that month i
21:51think you pretty
21:52much sums it up to be honest and then just enjoy endless holidays yeah enjoy it yeah that's a good
21:57one yeah you've got to enjoy it yeah i'm so happy it's worked out for you and it's been so
22:01lovely to
22:01talk to nanny pat again yeah give her a hug for me i will look so nice seeing you oh
22:06it's been lovely
22:06to see you you haven't changed at all oh yeah i love it lovely meeting you oh it's been lovely
22:12meeting
22:12you too so i must go but all the best and do keep in touch yeah and if you ever
22:17want to come back
22:18you more than welcome i'll take you up on that one day thank you bye oh she's lovely isn't she
22:24yeah
22:27it's been amazing to come back to malta and see how chris and his family are absolutely thriving out
22:33here and i love the fact it's not just benefiting chris it's benefiting four generations
22:40coming up ben hillman is on the costa blanca with bill and jan who he went house hunting with three
22:46years ago you found us exactly our vision right yeah and if i had to give anybody any advice
22:57um is if you feel it in your heart go for it
23:12there is nothing quite like the thrill of zipping across the waves on one of these and it's experiences
23:19like this that make the best holidays and create memories that will last a lifetime
23:25joanne and bill wanted to create more special memories when i went house hunting with them
23:30to find their dream holiday home on the costa blanca which is just over there yeah baby
23:38to get to the costa blanca you fly into mercia airport which takes just under three hours from
23:43the uk the costa blanca which translates as white coast has 120 miles of stunning coastline which offers
23:51beautiful beaches and loads of water sports it's a real mix of lively resorts and traditional towns
23:57and villages and there's also a good variety of properties for sale here including apartment blocks
24:02urbanizations and traditional houses if you fancy splashing the cash
24:09it was back in 2021 when nhs worker and swimming instructor jan and retired engineer bill asked us to
24:17find them a holiday home which they wanted to call casa milly in honor of bill's mum for their maximum
24:22budgets of 85 000 pounds the night i met bill was amazing and we went to a restaurant and he
24:31bought me
24:32some roses and yeah and ever since took off from there and they went from roses to a property in
24:39spain
24:39i met them on the beach in san pedro del pinotar a place jan in particular knows really well my
24:46mom
24:46and dad had a villa in caberoy yeah and we had lots and lots of family holidays what are you
24:51hoping to
24:52find two bedrooms yeah lots of space particularly on the outside we're party animals we love a good
24:58barbecue we love a good party my search for the perfect party pad began in the seaside town of santiago
25:04de la ribera lifestyle-wise strolling down here in the evening is that the thing for you to be so
25:09close as you could just stroll down here out of the house out onto the prom go for a nice
25:14evening
25:14walk along the prom yeah that'd be wonderful so the town was a hit as was my first property this
25:20two
25:20bedroom townhouse with a fantastic communal pool that made a big splash wow wow that's lovely it's really
25:29nice yeah it's a highlight isn't it the pool definitely one of the most tabs and they hadn't
25:35even seen the property oh yeah they delivered here yeah wow it's awesome i'll take it you like
25:44first property like it that feeling yeah is here that sensation continued inside in the living room
25:52and dining room oh wow i wanted that feel good yeah and that's what i'm getting you're getting it
25:59yes definitely and up top on the roof terrace have you lost the words here really sorry no it's it's
26:08lovely i can imagine and see us here and enjoying it and the grandchildren and it will mean so much
26:16joy
26:17for so many people i left them to look around the rest of the place on their own that's my
26:23wardrobe
26:23and that's yours remember balcony as well this is all we've dreamt of before bagging myself a super
26:31strong contender you're in heaven aren't you i've moved it that was wonderful really wonderful that
26:38ticked all the boxes i can't see how you could better this it's amazing this is our first property
26:43it clearly has gone really really well yeah now i'm worrying that i've set the bar too high so you
26:47should be because you have your man and you have and i had indeed set that bar too high as
26:53my next
26:53property this two-bedroom apartment with a wrap-around patio didn't do the job for jan and bill
27:00what's that with your face oh my gosh ben i don't feel it we haven't got that wow factor i
27:06feel i could
27:07stand here and touch the walls but it's it's like it's the kitchenette everything's on top of each
27:15other we couldn't have the the kids and the grandkids around a two-seater table and you haven't
27:20got much more room and also there's no room to get away from him though space wasn't an issue at
27:27property three this two-bedroom ground floor apartment on a lovely development in the town of
27:32formentera del segura oh i like it's a lovely size isn't it yeah it is this is a nice size
27:41good feelings
27:42yes then yeah definitely yeah definitely as soon as i walked through the door there's a feeling of
27:49space light and i can imagine the family here so i have myself another kind of contender and we moved
27:57on to my fourth place a two-bedroom townhouse in san pedro del pinotar this one was a bit of
28:03a wild
28:03card as it needed a fair bit of work doing to it are you seeing the same potential with this
28:10property
28:10as i'm seeing i can see the potential ben but i think it is quite a project they're all small
28:16jobs
28:17but all his number of small jobs add up to a big job we're not ruling it we're not ruling
28:21it out
28:21because there's some really big plus points yeah so i had one strong contender and two potential ones
28:28in the bag as we approached my fifth and final property this two-bedroom house with a terrific
28:34terrace up top priced above budget though i'd been told there was some room for negotiation and while
28:39it made a great first impression wow then it's beautiful it's a stunner isn't it it's small
28:49kitchen ruled it out and helped bill and jan make up their minds property-wise there's a standout winner
28:55yeah number one is anything else in contention at this point in time no no please we found something
29:01fantastic you have found a house beyond our wildest dreams oh that's amazing so the next day i was
29:08prepped and poised to put in a bid for property number one it's on the market for just under 82
29:13and a half thousand pounds which i know is pushing the upper reaches of your budget
29:17yeah your thoughts we'd like to put an opening offer in of 75k that was rejected but the vendor came
29:24back with a counter offer they're willing to meet you around about halfway at 78 and a half thousand pounds
29:28it's not too bad i'll never nag you again don ever don don don we have a deal and bill
29:34and jan had
29:35their very own casa milly oh my god it's wonderful congratulations you have been an absolute dream and
29:43a blast it's been a pleasure for us ben as well oh definitely enjoy a very happy future with your
29:49family in that property thank you three years have passed since i helped jan and bill find their
29:58perfect holiday home in this beautiful seaside town and i can't wait to see them and find out
30:03how it's all been going well i can't believe how long it's been three years three years yeah
30:19you're looking happy you're looking healthy oh we're good we're good and i hear congratulations
30:25are in order we got married on wednesday before we came out here on friday married in the uk
30:30married in the uk honeymooning out here back to our fun house your happy place first property you
30:36saw fall in love and you've done quite a bit of work i hear on it loads you won't recognize
30:41it in fact
30:42it's a competition yeah for you to find which house it is game on oh this is exciting
30:49coming up i take a look at all the changes jan and bill have made to casa milly since they
30:55bought
30:56it three years ago it is not the house i remember at all everything is brand new we shipped all
31:02of
31:02our furniture out from england went in the furniture shop went mad and then had to give up all our
31:09furniture today i'm in santiago de la ribera on spain's costa blanca with jan and bill three years ago i
31:25helped them find a two-bedroom townhouse and now i can't wait to find out what they've done to it
31:29and learn more about how having a holiday home here has changed their lives oh well look just as
31:36i remember it it's incredibly important isn't it yeah you were a swim england instructor i'm really
31:44passionate about children learning to swim but this is a real community in the summer and a couple of
31:51children lola and jesus they couldn't swim so i thought right gonna have a swimming lesson and
31:58more and more kids were coming in and i thought i'm gonna have to put this on a road so
32:02really it's
32:03absolutely fabulous it really are you still doing that back home in the uk i'm not because i've actually
32:09retired now hey i know congratulations oh lots of congratulations going on here isn't there
32:16you've completely transformed your lives we have and for the better i want to say it's this one
32:22but it looks completely different it is it's open it is this one it is wow my goodness not as
32:30i
32:30remember it at all no you've done tons of work it's completely changed is that sign above the door
32:38yes that must have been emotional it was very emotional i know she's gone but she's always here
32:45yeah these gates and you aren't they yeah you remember the green ones that were before yeah
32:51yeah that was the first job we had done you've retiled the whole floor you've got this amazing
32:56glass curtains here which has given you another room it's a dining room yeah and it's great because
33:02she can use it all year round was that a difficult job to have done no not really what once
33:08we got the
33:08build around we went through exactly what we wanted because there's lots of things optional
33:12whether you have the floor tiled or not and we coordinated it so we weren't actually here here
33:17we've not been here well all the building work's been done it's all all those gaps when we've been
33:21in uk yeah we've sorted with the builder and the builders have the keys he's come in did all the
33:25work super busy out here it looks amazing and if this is a taste of things to come can't wait
33:32to
33:32see inside if we can of course you can this is not that well same as the outside it is
33:38not the house
33:39i remember at all everything is brand new and pristine and wonderful we shipped all of our
33:45furniture out from england went in the furniture shop went mad and then had to give all our furniture
33:53so did you blow the budget i mean did you just think oh we just want to enjoy it this
33:59is it yeah
34:01like i say it looked so different to when we first came in here it was darker it was
34:07heavy ground furniture but we wanted something that was minimalistic pastel colors and something
34:14that had the wow factor well look this this is looking really beautiful absolutely cracking
34:25i'm gonna be nosy i'm just gonna quote my head in here do you like it what do i i
34:29love it look
34:30what you've done to this place it's brilliant it's obviously a lot of work done in there
34:35but has this been a collaboration like have you been in the same camp when it comes to what's
34:40being done here yeah yeah chance tells me what we're doing and i have to agree yeah changed quite
34:46a bit in here as well especially decoratively because this was all orange pine running through the house
34:51it just made it so dark did it um and we saw pictures of somebody else who'd had it done
34:58and i thought you know what that is so gonna work yeah i love it and and i've got to
35:03ask the balcony
35:04which is it's a lovely thing to have isn't it off of your main bedroom here's the scene treat of
35:11the day
35:11this tray of tea shades on sit on the balcony and just grin oh so that's that is where you
35:18take stock
35:19of everything that's happened in the last three years yeah it's so nice it's home yeah it's so home
35:27it really is ah i remember i remember this well when we first came up here you got very emotional
35:36up here
35:37didn't you i did if i had to give anybody any advice is if you feel it in your heart
35:43go for it
35:45you found us exactly our vision so how come you haven't got around to this bit yeah we kind of
35:54started at the ground floor and worked up but i've got visions i would love um a rooftop cooking area
36:03this is a bit i don't know about you yeah it's all going to be sprung on to let it
36:07out let it out
36:09right the ceasing area here okay and then built-in cooking area with fridge little mini sinks
36:18how much are we talking here oh it's so reasonable like you wouldn't believe she's really not going
36:24to tell you i'm not going to get this number am i so reasonable i couldn't possibly say yeah i
36:29think
36:29i maybe i need to make him a cup of tea and sit him down with a piece of a
36:35lemon drizzle cake now
36:37you're talking shall i put i think it's time don't you i think jan and bill have done a cracking
36:44job
36:45with the house with more to come as well now i'm looking forward to finding out what they get up
36:50to
36:50out here in spain over a nice slice of lemon drizzle cake do you really enjoy your baking and
36:56your cooking i love do you love to feed everybody let's have a go you do a cracking lemon drizzle
37:06that is lovely how much time do you get to spend out here in the sunshine just taking it easy
37:12when we
37:13bought the house it was very much a holiday home as time evolves we actually began to realize that we
37:21like our lifestyle here that's it than we do in the uk is there any chance that this could become
37:28a
37:28permanent thing oh yes really that's the next step that's the next step yeah just starting the process
37:35now of applying for the non-lucrative visa so we've been in contact with an agency to help us through
37:41the
37:41whole process we filled all the forms in application forms so what are the what are the key requirements
37:47to secure that visa the initial because the first one is only a year there's an acro which is the
37:54police check uh-huh there's a medical health certificate but because of our ages we can go down the s1
38:00route which allow us to move our nhs effectively into spain but the biggest one is the financial
38:08i-prem is an amount it's determined at the beginning of the year by the government so you
38:13have to demonstrate that you've got access to that amount of funds it can be savings or it can be
38:19in
38:19pensions as a married couple you need four times for the main applicant and one for the additional
38:25applicants so when you do finally get your visa and you're living out here full time do you think
38:30you'd ever return to the uk after that only to see family yeah but i think i have a feeling
38:38we'll stay here this is it for you guys i think the longer we stay the more we'll become entrenched
38:44in
38:44staying in spain yes yeah i can and i can totally see why so let's let's cast our minds back
38:50you bought
38:50this in 2021 we did 78 000 pounds you've spent a bit of money on it have you crunched the
38:58numbers do you
38:59know what it's cost can't be far off altogether 30 000 euros right so what would that bring to about
39:06103 000 pounds all in everything probably that ballpark kind of somewhere around yeah yeah yeah
39:14out of interest have you had it priced at all one over the road sold for 115. but was it
39:21it's well finished as this no but it's the fact we bought it to live in just to enjoy just
39:27to enjoy it
39:28yeah i'm assuming you're not eating lemon drizzle cake every day of the week what are you doing you
39:34getting out together you're going on trips jan goes down to susu the hairdresser yeah teaching her
39:40spanish while she's having a herd on i love that it's hilarious that is lovely you have a good giggle
39:45oh yeah yeah you've got to be prepared to make an effort with the language if you make an effort
39:50they absolutely love it and are you sort of up to speed as as jan is with the spanish no
39:57i'm
39:57comfortable sort of ordering the menus and things and i'm i'm quite happy day today to get pie yeah
40:03but i'm not as versed in it as jan is i want to take it further i do you're really
40:08enjoying it that's
40:09the thing isn't it yeah i do keep telling i do keep telling her a mexican is coming on very
40:13well yeah
40:15which is something you're not funny
40:21i'm so pleased jan and bill love life out here so much they now want to make the permanent move
40:26and i think it's time to head out to walk off a bit of that lovely cake along the promenade
40:31here
40:33absolutely see why you're heading down here all the time
40:36i mean even though the sun isn't quite shining it doesn't matter it doesn't know it don't need it
40:42a day like today it's still lovely so lovely i was surprised i won't in fact maybe it doesn't
40:46surprise me but it's just how quickly you've settled in here do you think the key to that has
40:53been just sheer contentment yeah um there's no stress no worries no you so you relax all the time
41:03you've got a good circle of friends you know good people there's good activities you're never bored
41:09you're always there's always something to do yeah ever since we've had cassimili our lives have
41:15changed not only for the better but just so positive and so happy how could you not be happy here
41:22no
41:22and for the grandkids oh and if the whole point of this was family making new memories yeah and to
41:31have
41:31all of this at your disposal you know for them yeah is i mean you can't put a price on
41:37that really can
41:37you i suppose and that's right now we've got like both families anytime they want to come out once
41:43they're living here they can always come out and visit even if they want to come out for two or
41:46three
41:46days just a short break they can come out and just chill for a bit well all that strolling's thirsty
41:53work time for a little sit down methinks what could be better though after a beautiful walk along this
41:59event and stopping at this cafe and just having a nice drink we've embraced the spanish way of life in
42:06many ways and the spanish culture and we've got many spanish friends so we're learning a lot about
42:11being in spain and how to live in spain how to enjoy spain yeah so we're looking forward now to
42:16being
42:16here i start to whole explore the whole country it's a big country and there's lots of things in spain
42:22so we want to get out there and start seeing a lot more of it and we know we've got
42:27our casemili to
42:28come back to so plenty of adventures in store oh for you both but that is what you two are
42:34all about
42:35isn't it it's i would say your motto is life's for living because that's what i get from you
42:40yeah definitely yeah i really do and you're so you're chipper about everything you're so enthusiastic
42:47for life which is lovely and has that made it easier for you to do this because of that kind
42:52of
42:52mindset yes definitely i think you've got to have an open mind and start to embrace it and enjoy it
42:59you don't come here to live like you did in the uk yeah i know there'll be plenty of people
43:04watching
43:05this back in the uk that have been thinking about it for ages and ages what would you say to
43:10people
43:10that are thinking about it but worried about the process and what's what it entails i would never
43:15put anybody off and i would i would always say don't put don't put stumbling blocks in front of
43:19yourself if you're thinking about it explore it go for it don't rush headlong into it yeah but
43:25explore it and do your research and make sure you talk to people that have been through it get the
43:31experience and find a good lawyer to talk to yeah yeah do you have any regrets at all we constrained
43:39ourselves by our budget a little bit yes and we did we thought about what we could get given our
43:45budget
43:45without thinking let's think what we want and then see if we can afford it right yeah but if we'd
43:50have
43:50tried that we wouldn't have ended up with the castle miller we have now it's true and maybe it's just
43:54hindsight isn't it because actually you only know that now that you love it out here so much but could
44:01there potentially be one more move then do you think down the line never say never i will say never
44:09i'll leave that with you too well i just wish i could stay here to be fair but it's been
44:13so lovely
44:14it's been really great to see you again and see how well life is going for you both
44:19give us a hug big man take care let me let me know if you do that roof terry well
44:26i always knew it
44:32was going to be great fun meeting up with jan and bill again what i hadn't quite prepared for
44:37was the amount of surprises that they had in store for me they have fully embraced life out here in
44:44spain
44:45and my goodness what a wonderful future they've got ahead of them if you'd like to be on a place
44:52in
44:52the sun to find your own dream home go to channel4.com forward slash take part
45:15so
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