Escape to the Country

Visiting families

I agree - so many of them are 'empty nesters' moving from the Home Counties to the imagined idyll of the countryside and I find myself asking 'but what about when you're too old to cope with the acres of steep gardens (lovely views), the distance from the doctors' s etc.

However, it is very enjoyable and interesting to see the properties, especially if we recognise some of them. One smaller and cheaper house was one that one of our relatives had viewed (didn't buy it).

The difference with 'Wanted Down Under' is that the presenter is nowhere near the visiting family - Nikki is on a lovely beach and that's all we see of her. Perhaps she records them all in one filming session then they send her home again.

I did enjoy this programme in its original form. Mch more normal families looking to move. Presenters sent them information on a laptop of about five or six houses and then they had to choose two to actually visit. Also, much more normal . I now prefer Location, Location to ETtC as it is about much more normal people, usually with not quite nough money for what they think they want.
I can remember on Escape.... watching one quite elderly couple enthusing over a house that had many steps up to it and stairs all over indoors and wanting someone to point out to them that perhaps this would not be a suitable purchase at their time of their lives!!

The people on the programme are for real, I know a couple who were on, they bought a large four bedroom house in the middle of nowhere, sadly the house burnt down before they could move in. The insurers are dragging their heels, fortunately they have a property abroad too so they are not homeless.

I can’t stand Denise Nurse because she is so easily impressed by frankly rather indifferent houses and interiors- ”this fantastic kitchen”(when it clearly isn’t,) and tells us how the viewers love a property when it is obvious they are only just being polite!

I think Alistair Appleton is very diplomatic and keeps his thoughts to himself. I liked Denise Nurse but wonder whether the strain got to her - hence the giggle.
Do you remember the woman who had a phobia of spiral staircases? She and her husband decided to stay in London after all.

Must say my man has taken a dislike to Denise Nurse because in the earlier days her dress sense was simply a mess and she was forever raptoriously giggling ..........it got on his nerves!
Don`t mention Aled Jones though, another pet hate,he simply cannot stand the man!.......Welsh or not!!

My favourite presenter is Jules,and then Alistair,Johnie and Nicky come in about level...............whilst the very best and outstanding at that time was the very first presenter Catherine Gee,and although she had and has a very "posh" accent she is not patronising just warm and kind.

Most of all I just love the programme,rigged or not, it suits me ........and duly presses many of my buttons!

I didn't know Alastair used to be a monk! I remember him ages ago as a very young presenter with Ann Maurice (pronounced Mor-eeesss, in American accent), who was "The House Doctor".

Presenters I don't like are Ginny Buckley (patronising) and Sonali Shah (mega-patronising). I liked Denise Nurse with her lovely dimply smile, but Aled Jones was deeply disappointing in this role, I thought.

annep
*Sparklefizz Jules next door- good enough reason to buy ?.
Alastair Appleton has a retreat centre. I think its in Wales. Cant remember details. I'm sure you could google it. But I prefer Jules.*

Love it!
Alastair used to be a monk if I remember rightly, so it makes sense that he has a retreat.

This programme has featured the area where my brother lives (Dorset - kits a wonder there is any room left down there). I rang him and said excitedly 'your favourite pub is up for sale'. 'No it isnt' he replied. ' The programme makers went in and said could they put it on the programme as the couple they were featuring said they might want a pub but its not for sale'.

Panache you're right. I remember a friend who said he didn't know he had a "Wine cellar" until he read the estate agent's details when he was selling the house. He thought it was just a cupboard under the stairs

Quite frankly, when we listen to the "speel" describing these "desirable residences",were we to use those those same descriptions to various areas of our own homes I think many of us would be pleasantly surprised to find that our own home becomes far more desirable.!!!!

We tend to forget that and moan about the few areas where it does not exactly "pass muster"............but with a little more time thinking about those better points, why on earth would we want to move?

Unless of course, the genuine reasons we have............health poor and deteriorating plus ever advancing years!!

Overthehill very true! We have a small south facing garden. We can watch the going down over the hills every evening. How priceless is that.

Not forgetting that dreadful "road noise" they are all obsessed about. The nearest road is a mile away but if I stand just here and cup my hand around my ear I think I might've heard a car go past in the next county.

Sparklefizz Jules next door- good enough reason to buy ?.
Alastair Appleton has a retreat centre. I think its in Wales. Cant remember details. I'm sure you could google it. But I prefer Jules.

Annep you mention what some poor people do not have and I remember seeing a woman who lived in flat and was so sad without a garden she managed to rent an allotment and that was her garden. We who have gardens however small should be grateful

Sparklyfizz........high ceilings as mentioned by DanniRae and myself a few posts ago...........dusting?????
No problem..........don`t bother ..........you can`t see that far up!!!

I love grand designs too.
Just the music sends me into a blissful state, then watching the homes take shape..

I love these programmes..Place in the country..Place in the Sun..Home or Away etc. Enjoyable relaxing viewing. . I love my little house with south facing garden but its little. I would like somewhere where family could stay comfortably. However its not thatimportant. But what gets me, really annoys me is how picky some people can be when looking at beautiful large houses and gardens. ie"half an acre isn't enough for the dogs and a vegetable plot". Don't they realise how fortunate they are. Have they not seen conditions that some families are forced to live in? homeless people? Honestly!!

DanniRae
"When people are shown barn conversions with really high ceilings I always think that the place looks amazing but how are they going to heat it in the winter?"

..... or dust it??

Oops yes...............we have a belfast sink actually in our kitchen
PamelaJ.............!!!

Dannirae............just further to your worry of high ceilings in barn conversions for fear of those cold winters?
Can I please correct this......we have what in "Escape to the Country " terms would be a "Cathedral ceiling" one of the features that we have previousely had and loved but yes we feared for those winters despite oil CH (2 radiotors) and a bottled gas stove in the obligatory "Inglenook"
This is the warmest sitting room .....or as Nikki Chapman would say......Drrrrrrawung Rooooom....that we have ever had.Even during this last Beast fron the East cold spell the fire alone made that room deliciously toasty.
Mind you our bungalow is exceptionally well insulated so that might well be the secret ingredient

Did I mention that I have a Belfast sink in the utility room.
Nirvana. Actually it is terrific for the oven shelves.

Yeah it makes me appreciate what I have too.

It gives me a really feel good experience.
My house isn’t as beautiful or as fabulously appointed or well equipped as most of the homes on there but:
It’s detached (= no issue with shared drives, noisy televisions etc.) and we have lovely neighbours .
It’s a bungalow with room for family to stay.( unlike those house hunters we don’t often have to put up more than 4guests)
It’s round the corner from a bus stop.
Our garden isn’t big enough for more than 2 small goats and certainly wouldn’t accommodate an alpaca or llama.
It’s in a village but near a market town.
My husband doesn’t hit his head on the ceilings (been there, done that)
The plaster doesn’t fall off when you try to take the paper off and the walls are straight.
That programme makes me count my blessings.
I do watch it and then bask in happiness??