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a place in the sun what happen Episode 1 Engsub
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00:01For over 22 years, A Place in the Sun has been helping couples find their dream homes abroad.
00:07Kind of a bit of a tingly feeling. 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? 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.
00:37Does 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?
00:57Six 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.
01:26If you're flying to Charente in the south-west of France,
01:29the 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.
01:37Or if you're driving, it takes about seven and a half hours, roadworks permitting from Calais.
01:42Charente is named after the river that runs through it and is a very rural region
01:47full of traditional French towns and villages dotted around the stunning countryside.
01:52And it's very popular with Brits. More than 16,000 of us live there.
01:58It was in 2023 when police administrator Lisa and former police officer and soldier Rob
02:04asked us to find a permanent 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.
02:20Chickens are girls, so we'd call them girl.
02:22Girl, Null Sanders.
02:25Colonel for one, Sanders 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
02:37to find out what they were after in their dream forever home.
02:41A minimum of three bedrooms.
02:43OK.
02:43A lovely rural property or edge of village, detached.
02:47We'd like a small amount of space for additional people to be able to come over.
02:52Yeah.
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,
03:03certainly fitted that build, it didn't make a great initial impression.
03:08A bit too small.
03:09OK, right.
03:11Yeah.
03:11Just 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.
03:28Nice wood flooring as well.
03:29The picture got a bit better.
03:32It's growing on us, I've got to be honest.
03:34Pleasantly surprised by looking at the bedroom set up.
03:38And the garage.
03:38Mm-hm.
03:40So I kind of had a contender, but definitely some room for improvement
03:44as we headed to property two.
03:46This three-bedroom house with some important added extras
03:49and Lisa and Rob were cock-a-hoop.
03:52I 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, because 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
04:12to be top of the pecking order.
04:14But I was hoping they'd be even more excited by property three.
04:18This very grand three-bedroom house in the village of Teze Azee.
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?
04:32None.
04:33OK.
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.
04:47Right, OK.
04:48Yeah.
04:48It 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 and a small hamlet in the Chiron countryside.
05:02I think this is a good silence this time.
05:05Am I right?
05:06No, it is.
05:07It 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?
05:29Oh, 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.
05:39Probably 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, yeah, 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?
06:04Yes.
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.
06:18Oh.
06:18This is absolutely amazing.
06:19I agree.
06:20You loved it?
06:21Yeah.
06:22Tell me what you loved.
06:23I loved the staircase in the lounge, really worked for me.
06:27I just like everything about it.
06:29It's just a really family house, you 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 room for
06:44negotiation.
06:45You have delivered.
06:47Yeah.
06:47Good.
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.
06:54The outside worked for sure, and the inside wasn't too shabby either.
06:57What do you think of this space?
06:59It's big.
07:00Mm-hmm.
07:00Loving the wood.
07:01I like the beams.
07:02Definitely with the fireplace that's 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, leaving me with
07:16two contenders.
07:17But 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.
07:31It's like that was a bedroom, so we're going to put an offer in £135,000.
07:36That 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.
07:50Congratulations.
07:51Boom.
07:51You've got an amazing property in France for £137,000.
07:55That's amazing.
07:57Amazing.
07:58Thank you so much.
07:59Santé.
07:59Salud.
08:00Cheers.
08:04Salud.
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, Rob.
08:15Bonjour.
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.
08:26Evangeline.
08:26Good to see you.
08:27I can't believe it.
08:28You live in France.
08:29Crazy.
08:30How's it going?
08:30Absolutely amazing, isn't it?
08:31Yeah.
08:32We're loving it.
08:33You look really well.
08:34We both changed our hair.
08:35I know.
08:36Are you speaking French, you two?
08:37I'm a 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.
08:42Let's do it.
08:43Bonne va.
08:43Yeah.
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 Chironne 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 forward
09:14to seeing how they and their two children have settled into it.
09:17Oh yes, I remember that lovely meadow there.
09:21It's gorgeous.
09:22And you've got a dog as well?
09:23Yep.
09:24What's your dog's name Robbie? Jean-Luc. Oh cute. Oh it's so lovely to see it again. What a beautiful
09:30house. You chose the right one. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. And it kind of looks the same out
09:35here. A couple of additions. Yeah we've got the garden furniture and the spa over there and the
09:40barbecue. Robbie what do you think of your new house? Good. Yeah very good. How long have you
09:46guys been here? Ten months now. Oh has it been ten months already? Yeah flying by. Does it feel real?
09:51It does feel real. Yeah it's not feeling like a holiday now you know so it's this is real life
09:56now and it's amazing. The burning questions for me. Do you have chickens and do you have a ride on
10:01lawnmower?
10:02We have how many chickens do we have? Eight? We have eight chickens one cockerel. And a ride on mower
10:07called Larry. Oh I'm so happy you got that mower. I mean the house is as gorgeous as I remember
10:12it.
10:12I can't wait to look inside and you too can show me this time. Let's do that. Yeah. Yeah do
10:16you want to go and play? See you soon.
10:23Come in. Aww. Yes lovely original features. Yeah. You've got the beams which everybody wants in their French house and
10:30that lovely staircase.
10:32What have you done in here? It feels different. We've done very little to be honest with you. We've bought
10:37the sofas and furniture off the people that were selling it to us.
10:41Perfect. It feels really homely. Yeah. We loved the colouring already. It just wasn't an urgent room to start looking
10:47at was it?
10:48No. No not at all. So you've had a winter here? Yeah. How was that? Cold. And what made it
10:52worse was our chimney was condemned.
10:54So we couldn't use the fireplace that was here so we needed to buy a new chimney flue. Yeah.
11:00And a new log burner so for a good while we were very very cold.
11:04These are all the little things that it does sometimes it just takes time to sort out and it's problems
11:08you don't know you've got until you actually live here.
11:11Exactly. Yeah. Oh right yeah well this is definitely different. Yeah completely. Really pleased with it. Yeah talk me through
11:19what have you done.
11:20This side of the room has remained unchanged. That was the original bathroom wasn't it with the wall running through.
11:26We've now had the shower put in. You can see there the outline of where the toilet room was you
11:31know so 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. I'm impressed I have to
11:38say.
11:38And did you get a bit of help? Was there anybody around the neighborhood?
11:41Yeah so we're friends with Colin and Sean you know so 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. And then Colin did the tiling.
11:52Did you have to spend a lot of money on this? Yeah this is nearing about £6,000 to do
11:57the bathroom but it was well worth it.
11:59So family bathroom we've got bedrooms off here. There 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. I mean I don't even think there was a roof on this room was there?
12:15Nope. You can see right up to the rafters yeah.
12:18Oh you've done such a good job and this is Robbie's room.
12:21It is. Is he happy with it? He absolutely loves it.
12:24Yeah. It was nice to get Robbie and Angel their separate rooms. Yeah.
12:28And you got your chickens. Got the chickens. I have to meet them Lisa I have to do it.
12:32Right let's do that.
12:36Oh Robbie and Evangeline were such a big part of this search so to be stood here in Robbie's bedroom
12:42well this is what it's all about.
12:48Oh good sized chicken coop you've got here. Yeah. There you are Rob. That's what you wanted.
12:53Yeah. Everyone does it. You 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. So in the winter time it takes me about three days to mow it because it's just
13:06over two acres.
13:06But 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 Lisa what are you growing?
13:14Oh all sorts. So strawberries, raspberries, courgettes, beetroot.
13:20So you've found yourself getting quite green fingered?
13:22Yeah actually I've surprised myself.
13:24Yeah we used to joke that Lisa would walk past a flower in the UK and it would wilt.
13:30So we've both been really proud of how she's turned the veggie patch into what it is now.
13:35Yeah and there'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.
13:43Okay yeah. You've got vegetable patch, you've got your chickens, you've got a ride on lawnmower.
13:47You're living the dream? You were definitely living the dream.
13:50Definitely living the dream.
13:51Oh well I'm so proud that I played a part in it because I mean chickens everywhere and this lovely
13:57view is gorgeous.
13:59I think what we'd like to show you is like a traditional French meal which is called an aperro.
14:05So it's a bit like a meal before a meal but it's quite popular in France especially when they meet
14:09people for the first time.
14:11Cooked meats, cheeses, olives.
14:13Oh now you're talking, yes 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 time.
14:22Not 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? Do I just dive right in?
14:34Go for it.
14:34Okay good.
14:36This looks lovely Lisa.
14:39Lovely.
14:40Oh I like that sound.
14:41That reminds me of France.
14:45So remind me how much did you pay for it?
14:47I do remember a cheeky offer went in Rob.
14:48So it was on for one, four, five.
14:52That's right.
14:52The cheeky offer was 135,000.
14:55They came up 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.
15:06You've got 10 days cooling off period, then you put the deposit down and then because
15:12we live in rural France, the farmers get first refusal on whether they want to buy some
15:18of the land or the property itself.
15:21I have heard that before yeah.
15:22Yeah so 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?
15:35Did 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?
15:40When 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 countries
15:53within Europe.
15:54What's your status?
15:55So we've come over on a non-working visa.
15:59Which 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 you're going to
16:08need 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 which will extend the 12 months into a lot
16:23longer.
16:24So first three years we're being monitored and have to do an extension.
16:28After that it will go five years and then you can apply for the 10 year.
16:31And you're technically, you're a pensioner.
16:35Yeah.
16:36So 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.
16:43Yeah so we know how much we're bringing in each month you know we're not relying on wages
16:47where wages go up and down.
16:48Yeah.
16:48It's a set income.
16:49We know what our incomes are.
16:50We know what our incomes 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.
17:01I retired from the police through ill health.
17:04I was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder back in 2019 which came out
17:10of the blue.
17:10I knew things that weren't right with me in the way I was thinking, the way I was behaving.
17:14Yeah.
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 set 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
17:35well, it 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?
17:52So with my PTSD, it makes it nigh on difficult, impossible to return to the UK because of
17:59the 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.
18:17And Lisa, I'm sure you've had your ups and downs special and it's your partner and you
18:20can see they're not quite right.
18:21Yeah.
18:22Have you seen some changes since you've moved to France?
18:24Oh, definitely.
18:25We were only saying the other day that it's been your best year, hasn't it?
18:29I'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.
18:35You 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.
18:41You'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 act 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.
19:18So, from the rules that I know.
19:21Yeah.
19:21You're meant to draw a circle within the gravel.
19:24Good start.
19:25Yep.
19:25That's where you start.
19:27Then you've got, I think they call it le petit, maybe.
19:30Okay, go for it.
19:32Then you throw it.
19:35Good.
19:36Throw.
19:36Then it's whoever's closest.
19:38Of course, yeah.
19:39Gets the point.
19:40Go for it, Rob.
19:43Oh, not bad.
19:45Go on, Angel.
19:47Wow.
19:48Not bad.
19:49Well done.
19:55Rubbish.
19:58See that?
19:59Oh.
19:59Jean wins that point.
20:01Oh, that one's clear.
20:02Yeah.
20:02Merci beaucoup.
20:04It is getting warm out here.
20:05Shall we go 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, but I think the real winners out here in Chironch
20:15are 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
20:21as 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 Chironch.
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 miss from the UK?
20:55Family.
20:55Yeah.
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.
21:04I 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.
21:13You 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.
21:20French lessons.
21:21Right.
21:22That'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
22:03and then 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.
22:17Cheers.
22:18Cheers.
22:19Cheers.
22:20I got no three.
22:21Oh.
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, they've walked the walk and they will be the envy of many,
22:43including me.
22:47Coming up, Jasmine Harman's in a wonderful traditional village in Malaga province,
22:52not far 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.
23:07So that's from a local artist who does all the murals around the village.
23:11How lovely.
23:19That's very good.
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 she'd already viewed numerous properties but i'm very glad to say that i managed
23:45to find her the right one a 40 minute or so drive east of malaga with its airport welcoming visitors
23:51from most corners of 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 easy
24:09to find while we're a little off the more conventional tourist trail the golden sandy
24:14beaches and holiday fun of the costa del sol is just a short drive from here it's an area that
24:20really does offer the best of both worlds back in 2018 allison was house hunting with her daughter
24:27paula looking for a holiday home for her and her then husband ian within reach of the town of
24:33veleth malaga working with a budget of up to 65 000 pounds and it was pretty clear even before we
24:39met
24:39how important paula was to this search we do a lot together we spend a lot of time together
24:48socialize together i would sometimes rather go with my mom for the drink than yeah some of the girls i
24:53trust her judgment and her opinion it's paula's house as much as ours allison wanted a two-bedroom
24:59townhouse with enough space for paula and her son ollie to visit she'd already made a few trips to
25:05the area seen a number of properties and had one clear priority i do want to have maybe like a
25:11jacuzzi
25:12kind of thing on top so okay well that's what that's top of the list and i have promised my
25:18girlfriend that we will have a champagne jacuzzi party in the summer so and i can't
25:27we kicked things off 20 minutes from veleth malaga just outside the village of bena margosa with this
25:34traditional townhouse that was over budget but with room to negotiate it had all the character and charm
25:40they were after but i think the downside would be the outside space i think the terrace i'm not quite
25:47sure that it's big enough for my hot tub um however i wouldn't at this stage you wouldn't no no
25:55with
25:56champagne hot tub parties in mind we moved swiftly on to another two-bedroom townhouse this time in
26:02veleth malaga itself and with a large terrace however the space and light on offer inside along with the
26:08amount of work needed meant it was a no with that we headed back into the hills to the village
26:15of
26:15villanueva del trabuco somewhere i knew allison had already visited and loved in fact she and ian
26:21had viewed this house with a roof terrace and two bedrooms before i'm delighted that you've brought me
26:28back here um oh and once they got inside you might want to change the furniture it's um but there's
26:42nothing to do it literally is you can come in put your bags down and you're good i do have
26:48a good
26:49feeling about this one you do yeah oh that's very good do you do yeah i'm not bad now paula
27:00what are you thinking i'm a bit speechless to be honest that's amazing i could definitely see us
27:07sitting here it's so nice and your jacuzzi could fit in here too oh absolutely
27:16we now had ourselves a very solid contender so i thought we'd head back to villeth malaga to find
27:22another this in budget three-bedroom but unfurnished townhouse was the place i'd lined up but it didn't
27:29stand a chance so it's not for us no it's not really for us no i couldn't really see us
27:34being
27:34here as a family it sounds like this one's a bit of a non-starter all together really yeah well
27:40i think
27:41for our final property i'm going to pull out all the stops and hopefully we'll have another contender
27:45for you to at least give you some food for thought okay okay let's go the place i had in
27:51mind was back in villanueva del trabuco the location of our top contender and in the form of
27:57this upside down house with its two bedrooms downstairs and the hot tub these two were after
28:02already installed it was on the market a little over budget but with some room for negotiation
28:09it's almost like a sanctuary this is somewhere that you would actually want to spend time and
28:15snuggle down in you like this air it's beautiful you know when i imagined having my little andalusian
28:26retreat this is pretty much have you ever felt like this walking into a place before never oh
28:38oh mom oh to me it continued to impress
28:47ta-da look at this paula oh my word you've got your hot tub there does this come with it's
28:57actually not
28:57included but it's negotiable do you want to come up and see what we can see from up here yes
29:03wow
29:05this is a cupboard terrace oh wow wow it's so nice and private here like literally nobody can see
29:12just gorgeous
29:25and with those tears we had ourselves a winner ian was whisked out for a quick tour but i don't
29:31think he
29:32really had too much say in the matter and they all agreed that our final place the house with a
29:37hot tub
29:37was the winner the next day they were ready to make an offer and it was for 62 and a
29:42half thousand
29:42pounds nearly four and a half thousand below the asking price okay okay thanks judith i'll get back to
29:51okay
29:55your initial offer has not been accepted but the vendors have come back and said that they would
30:02accept an offer of 66 000 pounds and they would include the hot tub
30:10all the furniture wow and they'll take it off the market
30:17there you go wow that's amazing what do you think
30:25What are you going to do?
30:29Yes! Yes? Do we have a yes?
30:31So exciting!
30:33Let me go right back and just come down.
30:40Judith, that's fantastic. We've got a deal.
30:43Tell them they can take it off the market.
30:50Oh, Jess!
30:51This one, I can't believe!
30:53Stop that chicken!
30:57We would have never seen that if it wasn't for you.
31:04I can't thank you enough.
31:06Cheers! I think we need champagne, really.
31:09We'll save that for the hot tub.
31:11That was an incredibly emotional but fun house hunt.
31:17Six years later, I'm back in Villanueva del Trabuco
31:21to 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?
31:30Definitely does.
31:31Oh, there's Jasmine there! Hello!
31:34Hello!
31:35Oh, my word!
31:37It'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?
31:48Six years.
31:49Six years ago?
31:51Yeah.
31:51It'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,
31:58because I now stay here permanently.
32:01I'm actually a Spanish resident.
32:04Oh!
32:04My gosh, really?
32:05Yes.
32:06Yes, for four years.
32:08Oh, wow!
32:11We really need a catch-up, don't we?
32:14A proper catch-up.
32:16Would 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
32:23and its new hot tub.
32:25It took, was it three men, about ten hours?
32:29I actually can't.
32:29A lot.
32:30And it had to be lifted over the roof of the house from the street.
32:34I knew a hot tub was important to you.
32:37But it is.
32:37My goodness.
32:44Today, I'm in Villanueva del Tribuco,
32:47a wonderfully traditional village set amongst the hills of Malaga,
32:50catching up with Alison and her daughter Paula.
32:53Six years ago, I helped find a beautiful townhouse for Alison,
32:58her then-husband Ian, Paula and her son Ollie to use as a holiday home.
33:02But I hear Alison's now retired, become 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!
33:15It looks different.
33:16I love the little butterflies.
33:18Yes.
33:18So that's from a local artist who does all the murals around the village
33:22and 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 or do you get a lot of attention from locals?
33:30Yes.
33:31You do attract attention as a single British woman with a pink house.
33:38You're single now?
33:40Oh, God, yes.
33:41Yes, I am.
33:43I am.
33:44And happy.
33:45And happy? OK, that's the main thing.
33:47Yes.
33:47I'll update you after I've shown you round the house.
33:50OK.
33:51OK.
33:56So, welcome, Jasmine.
33:58Oh, look!
34:00Yeah.
34:02So, do you remember how it was, like, an upside-down house?
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 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.
34:23Yeah.
34:23Amazing.
34:24So, things like that, if I can do it, I'll do it.
34:26You'll remember as well that I loved that bedroom.
34:30That bedroom.
34:30When I was here on...
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,
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 homely.
34:56It's mainly cosmetic, I'd say, in here.
34:59You know, painting things differently.
35:02Obviously, different new beds and different, you know, furnishings.
35:07So, here's the living room.
35:11Oh, wow.
35:13Oh, look.
35:14You've done so much up here.
35:17Yeah.
35:18Everything'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.
35:28Oh, goodness.
35:28Yes.
35:29It's that relentless heat.
35:31And do you know what?
35:32It's great and I'm not complaining about the heat, but my goodness,
35:35you do need to keep yourself cool.
35:37Yeah.
35:38Well, 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.
35:44We'll take you through.
35:48So, this is the kitchen.
35:50See if you see any changes.
35:51Let me see.
35:52To here.
35:53I mean, I can see quite a few changes already.
35:55Yeah.
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.
36:16I didn't like it.
36:16But I did that myself too.
36:18Another DIY.
36:18I was really chuffed with myself for that because I'd never done the plumbing thing.
36:24And I thought, I know.
36:25I'm so impressed.
36:27I thought, I'm going to give it a try.
36:28I love the changes you've made here.
36:31It looks amazing.
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.
36:41Okay.
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.
37:03Yeah.
37:03So, I had to get them.
37:04So, I had to get them.
37:05First, yeah.
37:05How on earth did you get that?
37:07Through the house.
37:08There was a big drama.
37:10They managed to get the crane into the street just in front.
37:13It took, was it three men, about ten hours.
37:17I've actually got a lot.
37:18And it had to be lifted over the roof of the house from the street.
37:23I knew a hot tub was important to you.
37:25Yeah.
37:25But my goodness, that is over the top.
37:28Yeah.
37:28I think it was.
37:28Over 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.
37:34I think it was a bit of a...
37:35Oh, it was.
37:35Oh, it absolutely was.
37:37The women with the pink houses 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.
37:47Well, let's go see the hot tub.
37:48Let's get changed.
37:52Wow.
37:53It's amazing to hear how much Alison has achieved.
37:55But now, the bit I've been waiting for, the champagne hot tub party.
38:00Have 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 for six years.
38:08I know.
38:08Congratulations.
38:10It'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.
38:17Yeah.
38:18Well, I mean, it's nice to be back.
38:21I've got to say, I could quite get used to this.
38:24It'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, black.
38:36Really?
38:37You bought the house.
38:39Yeah.
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, if you were going to say.
39:02Yeah.
39:02Looking at the local market.
39:04Yeah, looking at the local market.
39:05Yeah, definitely.
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.
39:22And 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.
39:39So, 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.
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.
39:57A backpack.
39:58Not even, nobody even packaged a backpack and gone.
40:00How did you feel about that?
40:02Like, I was proud of her for just jumping to do it.
40:04But, obviously, at the time it was difficult.
40:06Yeah.
40:06But I think now it's all worked out for the better.
40:10Yeah.
40:10Things were difficult then, but now it's all made it worthwhile.
40:14So, you're obviously still in Scotland.
40:16Yeah.
40:17Do you miss your mum loud?
40:18Yeah, of course I miss her, though.
40:19But then, yeah, you can come up here all the time, which 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.
40:33I think that's really a bit annoying.
40:37But, yeah, no, it's great.
40:38And I feel really safe here, you know.
40:40I 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.
40:55Aww.
40:55Yeah.
40:55And I hardly knew them, you know.
40:58And they turned out to be just amazing people.
41:02You know, so, yeah.
41:03Oh, that must be really reassuring.
41:05Yeah, for me to know that's just got that support and if anything happens,
41:08you've got all the people.
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.
41:21Yes.
41:21And 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 and 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
41:45and I've experienced an Alison and Paula hot tub party.
41:49As Malaga City is only an hour away by bus, its busy streets, glamorous marina
41:54and host of curbside bars and restaurants offer a wonderful contrast
41:59to sleepy Villanueva del Trabuco.
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.
42:15Yeah.
42:15It's the main kind of hub for festivals, fiestas.
42:20There's always something going on here.
42:23So, at the moment...
42:24Shopping!
42:24At 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 after us that's OK.
42:35Of course it's for us.
42:36Oh, it's really quite special.
42:36Of course it's for us.
42:38And also the buildings are amazing here as well.
42:40Like...
42:41They're so nice.
42:42It's such a stunning street.
42:44After checking out a few more sites, such as Malaga's Cathedral,
42:48known as the One Armed Lady because it has just one tower,
42:52and 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.
43:07I know.
43:07In the city.
43:08So, what would you say is the best thing about your decision
43:11to 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.
43:27I'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
43:38because, you know, they have the opportunity as well
43:40to come here and enjoy everything that we do here.
43:44Yeah.
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
43:52as you were six years ago?
43:54You don't need, you know, a huge amount of money.
43:58I mean, I didn't spend that much on the house, you know,
44:01in comparison to...
44:02In comparison to one of those, you're extravagant.
44:04Yeah.
44:05You could probably...
44:05But, if you have everything that you want,
44:09it doesn't have to be extravagant.
44:12Yeah.
44:12I think that if somebody, if they were thinking about doing it,
44:14I would say, do it.
44:16Oh, do it.
44:16Do it.
44:16Because there's also a sense of adventure in doing it as well,
44:21you know?
44:21And that makes you happy.
44:24Yeah.
44:24Well...
44:25I know, it was so nice to see you.
44:27Me too.
44:28Have a lovely time, OK?
44:29See you later.
44:30You too.
44:30We're practising 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,
44:44and yet she has completely embraced the Spanish lifestyle.
44:48She's followed her dreams, and it looks like her daughter Paula
44:52might soon be following in her mum's footsteps.
44:55What an inspiring woman.
44:57If you'd like to be on a place in the sun to find your own dream home,
45:01go to channel4.com forward slash take part.
45:24Bye.
45:24Bye.
45:27Bye.
45:29Bye.
45:29Bye.
45:29Bye.
45:29Bye.
45:30Bye.
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