Escape To The Country

Rosesarered, commiserations to your DH. Whilst deep in my own trench of despair about Escape I console myself that things could indeed be worse - Madame could be threatening to expose me to yet another horrid dose of 'Omes under the 'Ammer and its irritating blend of tumbledown wrecks, windbaggery, pouting and awful flower shirts. Escape? Folks certainly need one...but not to that sort of country!

Wanted Down Under?

Now you're talking, M74. Sun, sand and sea nicely presented. A very pleasant winter diversion, well supported by both sides of the house.

I'm sorry papaoscar but I really enjoy Homes under the Hammer (and so does DH) It's about the only show that doesn't have artificial dead lines and if a renovation takes 5 years or the whole thing goes t**s up and the house has to go straight back into an auction then so be it.
But then I don't like Wanted Down Under! Too many one track minded fanatics bulldozing their families into emigrating, having to pay a lot of money for unimpressive houses and working long hours to try and finance it.

What I can't understand about Wanted Down Under, is that all that seems to matter is the house. The big question surely is; do you want to live in Australia [hot, far away, snakes, spiders, crocs, sharks.] If you really want to live there for 'the lifestyle' [they all say that , do they mean constant barbecues?]then go for it. If they can't afford 'the dream house' then they can work hard and get it later on, but the big decider must be which country, not if they can't get the magazine type house then they won't go, seems odd to me.That's without all the sobbing relatives. Are we really prizing houses above all else now?

Deedaa, your defence of HUTH prompts me to think of a new show that could be put together to suit all tastes - Strictly Pointless Escape to Bargain Hunt under the Hammer, but who to have as presenter(s)?

Typed a comment then this thing froze and lost it (so have I)

roses I agree - some of these families' priorities seem rather odd to me - as you say, a house isn't everything. I've learned from experience that however nice your house is, if you don't like where you're living it will in no way compensate. And no matter how attractive the lifestyle, I would hate to move so far away from family and friends, though I suppose I can understand someone emigrating if they're unable to find a decent job here.

A lot of Australian houses are not wonderful, even new build. Certainly not the ones a lot of them could afford to either buy or rent.

I would like to see a new series called Escape to the Country- Revisited to see how they are all coping with the reality of their fantasy lives. And as to wanted down under what is it with these people? Why not spend more time 'as a family' here? They all seem to compromise on house, work longer hours than here, and where is the support network of family and friends? What happen when a child is ill and you both have to go to work? I cannot see how a bit of sunshine makes up for depriving your children of their extended family, missing all the family events and growing up with aunties, uncles, cousins etc. And as to those families who decide to go but leave their teenager behind what is that saying?

I wish I could have left my daughter behind somewhere when she was a teenager, but no one else would have had her.

Love it Aka!
Both my DDs were wanted down under. We wonder if it was something we said.

I always wonder why they think they will have more time to be with their children [are there more hours there than 24?]They seem to also think they will not have to work as hard, when in fact the reality is that they will!Leaving close family and friends must be awful, both for them and the relatives left behind. If going to OZ would be a huge step up, with space, house and a good job then I could understand it, and in fact I have seen 2 programmes where the family would truly benefit [out of hundreds of programmes.]The last one I saw , the young family seemed to have everything to stay here for, but if they must move, why not to Devon or Cornwall?Or anywhere nice and rural, come to that.

Just watched today's ETTC with Jules looking svelte as ever in his gilet. The couple were shown houses in North Wales that were lovely [especially the last 2] and the low prices!!!!! We should go there.Except...... well, I like living in England, but must admit I am envious of the sort of homes you can buy there. Prices here still continue to go through the roof.

papaoscar I think you've left a bit of the title out - shouldn't The Great British be in there somewhere?
How about Davina McCall as one of the presenters? When things got boring she could cross Lake Windemere by bike or have I got that bit wrong?

She'd look better on water skis being towed by a couple of alpacas.

When they cry...today, a woman cried THREE times. Is it because they love the house (why would you cry? ) or because you might have to part with £400K?

The reason they hardly ever buy on 'escape to the country' is because they can't afford it! I think its a pack of lies. The average spend on a house is what £250k at most. A stamp duty threshold. Why don't they do more at the average house price for that area? I do love Alastair A, he's so ambivalent about the whole thing. Jules has finally calmed his voice.(He's had a bit of media training!) If he could raise his voice at the end of a sentence more I'd have to slap him hard!!

Yes, I quite like Jules [so enthusiastic!] but prefer Alistair, who seems more shall we say 'cynical' about the whole thing, and has a great smile as well.More properties from £200,00 to £300,00 would be more realistic for most people watching, with some above that and up to £500,000, and only the odd £700,00 and upward now and again for fantasy viewing!

I missed a few 000 out!

Jules has the most irritating laugh on TV!

Wanted Down Under. What I really loathe is the messages from 'loved ones' back home. Probably heavily edited for maximum emotional impact. Yuck!

Deedaa - Davina? I couldn't possibly comment, but anybody really so long as its not poor old Brucie in tights on the bike.

I'd live in a tent with Jules Hudson if I could.... he's lovely.

papaoscar I suppose it would have to be a toss up between Nick Knowles and Ant and Dec - they seem to do 90% of the shows while Holly what she race does the other 10%