- 2 days ago
Touraine is one of the traditional provinces of France. Its capital was Tours. During the political reorganisation of French territory in 1790 amid the French Revolution, Touraine formed the bulk of the Indre-et-Loire department as well as parts of the new departments of Loir-et-Cher, Indre and Vienne.
图赖讷（Touraine）地区的主要城市是图尔（Tours），该地区位于卢瓦尔河谷内。这里以宏伟的城堡、优质的葡萄酒和绿意盎然的河谷而闻名，是深受游客喜爱的旅游与历史文化胜地。
图赖讷（Touraine）地区的主要城市是图尔（Tours），该地区位于卢瓦尔河谷内。这里以宏伟的城堡、优质的葡萄酒和绿意盎然的河谷而闻名，是深受游客喜爱的旅游与历史文化胜地。
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00:00Today's house hunter, single mum Dawn de Leon, wants a better life for herself and her five-year-old daughter.
00:07She's got £120,000 to spend and wants to trade the busy streets of London for a more relaxed life
00:13by the Loire.
00:14So I've brought her to France's terrain region, just one hour south of Paris.
00:44Oh my goodness.
00:45Single working mum Dawn is done with the frantic pace of London life and wants to find tranquility across the
00:51channel for her and daughter Demi Jade.
00:53With her friend also called Dawn in tow to help, will she find the perfect place for her much-needed
01:00peace?
01:01This is it.
01:02This is me, yes.
01:02Oh good.
01:03Or will she be stuffed by the property available for her budget abroad?
01:08Brilliant.
01:08Okay.
01:09That's different.
01:13Dawn de Leon from South London's Brixton has been a social worker for over 20 years and has known best
01:19friend Dawn number two for ten.
01:22Loving her job, but finding it quite stressful, she feels it's time to try life somewhere calmer.
01:29With her three-year-old daughter Demi Jade, she wants to find somewhere for them both to relax and spend
01:35more time together,
01:36whilst not being too far from the shores back home.
01:39And where does she hope to find all this?
01:42In the terrain region in the Loire in France.
01:47Popular with French aristocracy over the centuries, many chateaux were built throughout the region.
01:53To date, these provide the area's main tourist attractions, with the extraordinary Chateau de Chenonceau being the second most visited
02:01in France after the Palace of Versailles.
02:04Some castles have been bought by individuals, with Mick Jagger himself owning one in the region.
02:10The Capital Tour is just an hour's train ride from Paris, but with a much less busy pace of life.
02:17The town of Loire and the surrounding villages are said to be some of the most laid back in the
02:22region,
02:23with a number of international events, including jazz festivals and gospel concerts.
02:28Property and terrain has been caught in the entire country's boom, with prices rising 15 to 20% in the
02:35last three years.
02:37Although this has now slowed down, terrain is still a good investment, thanks to the strong tourist trade here.
02:44Dawn has a budget of £120,000, with a ceiling of £130,000,
02:50to find herself the French property oasis she's looking for.
02:54Now, you're both called Dawn, aren't you?
02:56But you're Dawn the friend who's helping out here.
03:00My role is to sort of keep her on the ground, so she doesn't get too kind of carried away,
03:04but to just kind of give advice, to sort of ask questions that she may not have thought of.
03:08Yeah.
03:08So why have you decided to leave London behind for France?
03:12I'm looking for a less frenetic, hectic, stressed-out way of life.
03:16More time for my daughter, more time for me.
03:18It's a huge move. You're a lone parent, aren't you?
03:21I am.
03:22And your daughter, Demi Jade, is five years old.
03:25She is, yes.
03:25Is that right?
03:25Yes, five, five and a half.
03:27Have you got any trepidations about coming over here on your own?
03:29I am daunted, definitely, but I'm also off the kind of, at a stage where I'm thinking,
03:34nothing mentioned, nothing gained.
03:36Will you miss them both?
03:37I will do, but I'll be on the boat, and I'll be sort of popping over from time to time.
03:42Now, in terms of the property itself, tell me a bit about that.
03:46What's your requirements there?
03:47The wish list is something old, character, three bedrooms minimum, so one for myself,
03:55one for Demi Jade, and the visiting friends, and the opportunity to do some business.
03:59A garden is a must.
04:00A likely outdoor space.
04:02How would you feel about being in a quiet village, or would you like to be in the centre
04:06of all the action?
04:07If it's quiet and it gives them a day, the good school, good friends, some other English
04:10families, that will be helpful, because as you know, my French is nil point.
04:16Now, tell me a bit about the way you want to make an income over here.
04:20You want to make some money out of your property, don't you?
04:22Yes, I want to hopefully do a B&B regie, something small, nothing too big.
04:27Wow, I think you'd better click on and see the four I've lined up for you.
04:30Oh, I'm looking forward to that.
04:32So, she's after calm, character, quiet, and business potential.
04:37That's certainly a challenge.
04:39With quite a specific list, are Dawn number two and I going to be able to keep her property
04:45feet on the ground?
04:48To begin with, I thought I'd take Dawn to the forest-clad haven of the Solonia.
04:53Lying between the Loire and Cher rivers, this was the most popular place for royalty to hunt
04:59and fish.
04:59Both pastimes are still popular in the many protected areas here.
05:04Many tourists come to this part of terrain to visit, among other things, the castle at
05:09Blois and the Chateau Cheveny.
05:12Two wheels is currently the most popular way to get around, since several bike routes have
05:17been created throughout the region.
05:20Sadly, this isn't the first house that I'm going to show you today.
05:23What a shame.
05:27But the first house is really close to here.
05:30So much so, in fact, that you would benefit from the reduced rates for local residents.
05:34You'd only pay £6 a year for entrance.
05:36That's really cheap.
05:37Very cheap.
05:38Next to the Chateau is the town of Courcheveny, which, along with all the basic amenities,
05:44also has a primary school.
05:46Now, this is the main road that leads up to the Chateau, because it's pretty toxic in
05:50the summer months.
05:51All right.
05:52Just behind us is the tourist office.
06:01This house has four bedrooms, large garden and terrace, is next to a chateau in its passing
06:07trade, and is on the market at £127,000.
06:12Okay, so this house used to be split into two, so it's got two different entrances, but
06:17this one is more commonly used.
06:20Useful hallway for receiving your guests?
06:22Very much so.
06:23Lovely view.
06:23Beautiful.
06:25We've got more beans through here in your living room.
06:28All right.
06:29Lovely.
06:29Oh, this is very precious.
06:31Lovely sign.
06:32He is taking his furry friends with you, isn't he?
06:35Yes, I am.
06:36I'm very pleased to know that.
06:37That wild ball was caught locally, and the current owner is a chef, and he cooked it.
06:43Cooked it.
06:44Have you ever had ball to do it?
06:45No.
06:46Maybe as a pate, but I'm not sure about...
06:47Maybe.
06:48No.
06:49So, first room, good response.
06:51Lovely sign.
06:51Very nice.
06:53Okay, well, follow me.
06:55All right.
06:55And the kitchen.
06:57That's it again, actually.
06:59For a chef, is it fit for you?
07:02Nice size.
07:03Lovely size.
07:03It is, isn't it?
07:04I'd like lighter cupboards, and a bit of colour maybe on the wall.
07:08Mm-hmm.
07:09Fabulous size, though.
07:10The size.
07:11No complaints.
07:12Well, not only has this property got its great location going for it, it's also got ample
07:18rooms up here.
07:20All right.
07:20You've got four bedrooms.
07:21Fantastic.
07:22Fantastic.
07:23Now, additional to all the rooms you've got here, you've also got a huge loft waiting
07:28to be converted.
07:30Fantastic.
07:31Which, I think you could get at least three good-sized bedrooms out of.
07:35Good for business.
07:35All right.
07:36So, something to think about there.
07:37Very much, yeah.
07:38Mm-hmm.
07:39I have to say, it's quite unusual to find a garden of this size so close to the centre
07:44of the village.
07:44Ah.
07:45It's great having it, isn't it?
07:46Fantastic size.
07:47Really good.
07:47Lots of room.
07:48So, there's only days to run around in.
07:50Absolutely.
07:50Barbies, parties.
07:52She'll love it.
07:53Plus a few chickens and a vegetable patch.
07:56If Dawn wanted to convert the attic into three en-suite bedrooms, it would be likely
08:01to cost around £25,000.
08:05Lots of updating upstairs.
08:08Not so much downstairs.
08:09Yeah.
08:10Change in the kitchen.
08:11On and upwards in terms of others, but this is a good base.
08:14Yeah.
08:15So, first house.
08:17Oh, you have to do a good start.
08:19Very good.
08:20Yeah, I think so.
08:21Good start, yeah.
08:21Well, next, I'm going to take you further south in the region where property is even
08:25better value for money.
08:26And this next house has got a different sort of rental investment.
08:29All right.
08:30Let's go.
08:30So, it's boding well for Dawn after our first house.
08:34Perhaps our next property will add even more joie de property vivre to our search.
08:42The town of Angles-sur-Loglain is named as one of the most beautiful villages in France.
08:48Needless to say, it's popular with visitors who come to take in the ancient abbey, the chateau
08:53and the lake with its many activities.
08:56Buying property in this location just over Terrain's southern border would open up Dawn's
09:01rental market as she could advertise her business in both Terrain and the neighbouring department
09:06of Vienne.
09:07Well, the first house was right in the thick of things.
09:10It's definitely more peaceful around here, isn't it?
09:13Certainly.
09:14Green and tranquil.
09:15Yes.
09:16And very different.
09:17Very different, isn't it?
09:18Yes.
09:18Well, although it is a bit more peaceful around here, it's still only just a mile away from
09:23all the nearest amenity shops and things.
09:25All right.
09:25The house I've got to show Dawn is just five minutes from Angles-sur-Loglain, just out
09:31of the market town of Tournault-Saint-Martin.
09:33So, while it might be a little quiet around here, I think you're going to be quite tempted
09:38by the price tag.
09:39Oh, because you certainly get a lot more house for your money around here.
09:43All right.
09:43This one's on the market for £88,000.
09:46Wow.
09:46Fantastic.
09:47This house has two bedrooms with room to make more, a garden, an outbuilding and a price
09:53tag of £88,000.
09:55Well, I know you like colour Dawn.
09:57I certainly make a juice of it here.
09:59Very nice.
10:00This is fantastic.
10:01Very nice.
10:02Is this more your sort of style?
10:04This is definitely my style.
10:05No, you're hitting the mark.
10:06You're tempting me.
10:07Yes, this is Dawn.
10:08Is it?
10:09Oh, yes.
10:09Immediately you can tell.
10:11Oh, absolutely.
10:11Oh, wow.
10:13Dawn.
10:14Yes.
10:15Definitely.
10:16Now, this is it.
10:17This is me.
10:17Yes.
10:17Oh, good.
10:19Fantastic.
10:19Not everybody would like this amount of green in a room.
10:22No, I would.
10:23Good.
10:24We'll have positive vibes for continuing.
10:26All right.
10:27Let me show you the bedrooms.
10:30Upstairs, you've got two bedrooms here.
10:32That would be your master bedroom.
10:34Oh, lovely.
10:35Fabulous size.
10:36And what do you think Demi Jade would think of this room?
10:38Oh, she would love this full space.
10:40She would be up for the lilac.
10:41She would be up for the lilac.
10:43Unlike her mummy.
10:43Who would want to be continuing with her orange theme next door.
10:47It comes up from both thorns here.
10:49I think so.
10:50Very much.
10:51So your garden space out here is smaller than the first house, but still enough space for
10:56you?
10:57More than enough space.
10:58Lovely.
10:58Different, but absolutely lovely.
10:59So this house definitely seems to be working for you, doesn't it?
11:03In a big way, Victoria.
11:04In a big way.
11:05It's ticking all the boxes.
11:06Brilliant.
11:08So, as well as the house, you've got this barn over here.
11:12All right.
11:12That also is included in the asking farm.
11:15Fantastic.
11:16Wow.
11:16It needs work doing to it.
11:17All right.
11:18It needs a full on conversion job.
11:19I'm game.
11:21But starting price around £30,000 to convert that.
11:24So that's still going to keep you within your £120,000 budget.
11:27Yeah.
11:28So has this made it more enticing for you?
11:30It has.
11:30It has.
11:31Victoria, you're on the button today.
11:32You're on the button today.
11:33Don't get too carried away.
11:36Other British families currently live nearby.
11:39Some of them have small children.
11:41So it would be a great way for Dawn and Demi Jade to get to know the area.
11:50This is getting close to my deal, really.
11:52And you could be my first £200 a week paying client.
11:55I don't think so.
11:57No, I'd expect a freebie.
11:59I'll see about that.
12:00Yes.
12:02That's interesting, isn't it?
12:04Oh, Victoria, the third one was a starter, but this is getting very close to the ideal.
12:08Very close to the ideal.
12:10The question is, can you top it?
12:11It is brilliant.
12:13Brilliant.
12:13Raising the stakes.
12:14Indeed.
12:15Indeed.
12:16So it seems that the house, plus its business potential, is tempting Dawn away from her London
12:22life.
12:23Will what I've got to show her next give her that extra rasher on her bed and breakfast
12:27plate?
12:28That's different.
12:29It is, isn't it?
12:30Or will Terrain's property market prove to be the break of our Dawn?
12:35A bit dated.
12:36Very much.
12:43Today's house hunter, single mum Dawn de Leon from London wants to trade the bustle of the
12:48city for a quieter life with her five-year-old daughter Demi Jade in central France.
12:53She's looking for a home that will also generate an income and has a budget of £120,000.
12:59Now, this is it.
13:00Yeah?
13:00Me, yes.
13:01Oh, good.
13:02Dawn de Leon from London and friend Dawn number two are two properties into their search.
13:07With one house getting a big thumbs up, will what I've got lined up next give Dawn a dilemma?
13:15Seeing as Dawn wants a place with a good business opportunity, but away from the hustle and bustle
13:21of city life, I thought I'd take her to Terrain's calm and quiet south.
13:26The land here is mainly agricultural, with small historic villages and chateaux punctuating
13:32the landscape.
13:33One such place is Grand Pretany, which is home to the remains of a 12th century castle.
13:40Ten minutes away is Grand Pretany's sister town and the next house's location.
13:45It isn't the most touristy part of the Terrain region, but it's not without its attractions.
13:51That restaurant over there, Michelin Stard.
13:54Oh, good food.
13:55Very nice.
13:56Indeed.
13:56And the house we're going to look at is just across the road from it.
13:58Oh.
13:59Not far to go, it's a good cuisine.
14:00As well as accessibility to the shops, restaurants and school of Grand Pretany, Le Petit Pretany
14:07also boasts a great business opportunity with the highly rated restaurants.
14:12This house has four ensuite bedrooms, a separate three bedroom house and a small terrace.
14:19It's on the market for £136,000.
14:23Well, this used to be a thriving bed and breakfast business.
14:27All right.
14:27Up until a few years ago and the current owner had to give it up due to ill health.
14:31All right.
14:32All right.
14:32Now, I thought that you might be quite interested in this, not only because it's the only bed
14:36and breakfast in the village, but also because you don't need to live with your guests.
14:41Fabulous.
14:41Because it also comes with this, a three bedroom house separate.
14:44Fantastic.
14:45We're going to look at the bed and breakfast section first.
14:48Okay.
14:49Straight into where you would entertain your guests.
14:52All right.
14:52Lovely size.
14:53It would need some serious updating.
14:56So down here you've got two double bedrooms there and two more upstairs.
14:59All right.
14:59So let's go and have a look at those up there.
15:04You've got two good size double bedrooms.
15:07They've both got pretty big en suite as well.
15:09Yes.
15:09Lovely size.
15:10Nice to hold it en suite, but...
15:13A bit dated.
15:14Very much.
15:15It's very useful where this is located opposite the Michelin-styled restaurant.
15:19Mm-hmm.
15:20I think in the time this hotel was running, they were building up quite a good track record
15:24with restauranteurs that needed a night to stay out a few too many.
15:28All right.
15:28Very handy.
15:29So I think that's definitely good.
15:31Absolutely.
15:32Definitely.
15:34So back out here.
15:36Yes.
15:36Away from the bed and breakfast and into your house.
15:40Just across from there.
15:41Bearing in mind it is a little bit cluttered in here at the moment.
15:44There's an awful lot of furniture going on.
15:46If you can imagine without it, this would be your kitchen sort of living area.
15:52Do you think you could make it work for you?
15:54Erm...
15:54I'm not sure.
15:55The good seats are not grabbing you.
15:56No.
15:56As much as the other.
15:57I think the business end is probably grabbing more than the accommodation end.
16:01Okay.
16:01Even though there are three bedrooms here and great business potential,
16:06it seems that this house still isn't right for Dawn.
16:09Well, I thought Dawn would get quite excited about the business venture here,
16:12but I just don't think that house has captured her heart.
16:15I think that is going to be the deal breaker.
16:17The business, I'm really taken by.
16:19Yeah.
16:20And I could really give that a go and see myself being really involved with that.
16:23Mm.
16:24But I think you'd have to do too much work to this to kind of get to where you want
16:27to
16:28get to, and that's a lot of work and a lot of money.
16:31Erm, you're right.
16:32I think the business bit is good.
16:34Mm.
16:37So, have you got any final thoughts yet on this house?
16:42The business?
16:43Yes, thank you.
16:44Love that.
16:45The house?
16:46No, thank you.
16:47I mean, I think it's not going to be an option for you.
16:49No, no.
16:50Is your heart still set on the Hamlet House by any chance?
16:53Definitely.
16:53I think it is, isn't it?
16:55Having shown her a variety of property incorporating what she said she was looking for, I wanted to
17:01make sure that I pulled out all the stops for our last house.
17:04With one last chance to get it right, I thought I'd take Dawn to the Cher Valley.
17:11As well as being home to one of France's most famous castles, the Chateau Chenonceau,
17:17one of Terrain's three rivers the Cher runs through here.
17:21Set alongside the river is the picturesque town of Blaire, a good-sized town.
17:26Dawn could potentially find part-time work here or teach English to students.
17:31Just ten minutes away is the village of Luzile, which carries all the basic amenities, including
17:37a primary school.
17:38Now this is the house we're going to look at.
17:40All right.
17:41But it dates back to the era of Napoleon III around the middle of the 19th century.
17:45Okay.
17:45Lots of history.
17:46Lots of history.
17:47This house has three bedrooms, a self-contained guest house, outbuildings, courtyard and traditional
17:54features.
17:54It's on the market at £118,000.
17:57Now although we're in the centre of the village, this used to be a farmhouse.
18:02All right.
18:03Which is good, because you get the benefits of having all the beautiful outbuildings that
18:07go with it.
18:08All right.
18:09So here's the main body of the house, which I'll show you first.
18:11I'm sure you're getting to the market again.
18:14Excited?
18:15Yes, indeed.
18:16Okay, let's hope the positive vibes continue.
18:19This is your living room.
18:20Oh, yes.
18:21Fabulous eyes, character.
18:23What do you think you want?
18:24Yes.
18:24Very nice.
18:25Very spacious, airy.
18:26Yes.
18:27A fabulous size room.
18:28Well, as well as this living area, you've also got through here an additional space.
18:34Now, at the moment it's being used, it's sort of part bedroom, part office.
18:40Oh, wow.
18:40Oh, my goodness.
18:40And the only bathroom is in the corner through there.
18:44All right.
18:45Needless to say, you're going to change the decor I imagine.
18:48Empathically.
18:50So up your quite narrow staircase.
18:53Indeed.
18:53Your landing area.
18:54Now, I did point out to you that you've only got one bathroom downstairs.
18:57Yes.
18:58Which is very common in traditional French houses.
19:01All right.
19:01This one comes with an added bonus.
19:03Mm-hmm.
19:03It's got all the mod cons of the time that it was built, including a Napoleonic toilet.
19:10Brilliant.
19:11Okay.
19:11That's different.
19:12It is, isn't it?
19:13So this is the one bedroom that is ready and converted, ready to go there.
19:18Maybe Demi Jade's room.
19:20Okay.
19:21Your room, however, needs a little bit more work.
19:23All right.
19:24Ooh.
19:25It's been part converted.
19:28Just a little bit.
19:29Yes.
19:29The current owner has started to renovate and convert it.
19:32He's half insulated the roof, but you need to finish that off, and the walls, and the
19:37floor, and I think it's going to cost you in the region of £7,000 to get a basement
19:41bathroom fitted and do the conversion job here.
19:43Okay.
19:44Mm-hmm.
19:44Definitely worth it.
19:46So while the house has got bags of potential, this also comes with the all-important
19:51opportunity to make a bit of extra cash.
19:53Very important.
19:54You've got two separate units here.
19:56Do you want to have a look up there and see what you think?
19:58Yes.
19:59All right.
19:59Shall we go?
20:01Go up to the top first, Dawn?
20:03Yeah.
20:03Sure.
20:06Okay.
20:07Ah.
20:08Spacious.
20:09Yeah.
20:10Nice size.
20:11If Dawn converted the separate units into rental property, she could either rent them
20:16out as holiday lets or annually.
20:18She could expect to charge around £200 a month for the whole property on a yearly basis.
20:24I think Dawn's definitely got a vision for this house, but I wonder if at the end of
20:28the day, she'd rather go for an easier option.
20:31Stags of potential continues in here.
20:33Mm-hmm.
20:34But I think...
20:34Stags of money will be required.
20:36Mm-hmm.
20:36I think so.
20:37So you can get to the standard that you want to get to.
20:40So how about that guest accommodation?
20:42Do you think we could get it to work for you?
20:45Yes.
20:46I think so.
20:47Mm-hmm.
20:47So do you think this house is really quite a good option for you now?
20:51I think so.
20:51I think it's a good house.
20:52It's a good house.
20:53Lovely location.
20:54Yeah.
20:55The location is right.
20:56So do you prefer this house to the Hamlet house then?
21:00There's more potential.
21:01The Hamlet house is my ideal house.
21:02Yeah.
21:03But I think this house can become that.
21:04So overall, do you really think you can imagine your life here with Demi James?
21:08Absolutely.
21:09Can't you?
21:09I think so.
21:10I think you need to get a bit more advice about how much it would kind of cost to fix
21:14up this place to know what you want.
21:16Yeah.
21:16Well, how about I try and line up a builder for you to come by the property.
21:20You can walk around the house with him.
21:21Yeah.
21:21Show him the work that you want to do and we can really see if we can get finances to
21:25work for you here.
21:26Get some quotes, yeah?
21:27That would be much appreciated, Victoria.
21:28Don't you think?
21:29That would be really helpful.
21:30Fantastic.
21:30Fingers crossed you can make the house work.
21:32Indeed.
21:32And I do what I can line up.
21:33All right.
21:33Many thanks.
21:34Okay.
21:35Well, we're here now.
21:36I managed to locate a builder and an English interpreter to come round and talk through
21:41the changes that Dawn would want to make.
21:47Yes.
21:48Well, what do we do in it?
21:49We cost everything.
21:50He said you have to break everything in there.
21:52I think so.
21:53Start completely from scratch.
21:54I agree with you.
21:59He said what would be quite nice in this room would be a spunk and bath.
22:07So, was that useful for you?
22:09Really helpful.
22:10That was so necessary.
22:11Many thanks so much.
22:12Good.
22:12So, what did he say?
22:13To get the stairs shifted or widened to have a good family bathroom and also to get
22:19this up and running as a business.
22:20Between 20,000 to 25,000 pounds.
22:22Is that more than you thought?
22:24What do you think?
22:25No, I kind of thought it was about 25,000.
22:27I think it's a good idea to get a couple of quotes, especially because it's quite a
22:29big job, isn't it?
22:30Yeah.
22:30Because it's exactly the way that you want it.
22:33Indeed.
22:33So, has it got you more excited about the house?
22:36Has it put you off slightly?
22:37It's not put me off slightly.
22:38What it has done is brought the Hamlet house property back into contention.
22:42Okay.
22:43You know, it was dear to my heart.
22:45It was my ideal.
22:46And now I've got to really go away and think about converting the barn there and balance
22:50all the things that I thought was potential here versus that.
22:53So, I really need to kind of go away and think about it.
22:55And what you've given me is food of thought and some decision making.
22:58A few properties in the running.
23:00Fantastic.
23:01So, what's the space, Victoria?
23:02Well, I will indeed.
23:03Well, take your time thinking about it.
23:05I'm sure whatever decision you come to, you're going to be very happy with your new life
23:09over here with Demi Jade.
23:10Definitely.
23:11Many thanks, Victoria.
23:12Yes, thank you.
23:13While Dawn was tempted by the house, she decided that it was just too much work to take
23:18on.
23:19She has since, however, found another house back in Le Petit Presigny and is currently negotiating
23:25a price with the owners.
23:27The terrain region might be most famous for its chateau, but it's good to know that you
23:32don't need a king's ransom in order to buy here.
23:34I hope you've enjoyed discovering what's in the area and I look forward to seeing you again
23:38next time.
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