Escape To The Country (Nit Picking).

Sometimes the idea of moving especially to a favourite location takes over rational thinking it happened to us. We bought a small cottage about twenty five years ago in Wales. It was our holiday home and intending to be our retirement home. It was quaint and it suited us for weekends and holidays with our son and daughter. As they got older they went with their partners occasionally and we stayed there as often as possible.

Just as we were about to retire we became grand parents. Our priorities changed I was a full time helper and glad to be available. We hardly ever went to our cottage and after much debate we had to admit it wasn’t practical for us to retire there away from our family. The cottage was on a main A road it had no accessible practical garden as it was on a rock unsuitable for little visitors. The house would not have been big enough if all the family wanted to visit. The practical things that didn’t even occur to us when we bought it cropped up so we sold it and we are glad we did.

We have three gorgeous grandchildren who visit often. Spare rooms when required and a large garden at our house the one we were thinking of giving up! The cottage couldn’t have accommodated the toy boxes we have in the living room dining room or conservatory.

CanadianGran, I’m in Canada and we get all the episodes on you tube

My last village was on, just a couple of doors away from where I lived. The producers use wide angle lenses to make the aspect look different and passing people and parked cars are deleted. The house they showed had been up for sale for ages and was completely unsuitable for the couple

My local area has also been on and again, no passing people or cars

We don't have a Canadian version of this show, but I do watch the UK one if it comes on. Obviously I don't know the areas, but I do wonder at some of the realtors' choices.

The one odd thing I did notice is that sometimes the realtor is the one first through the door, when here, they would let the potential buyers in first. Even in the interior rooms.

I wonder how many couples actually buy a home that was shown on the list.

MayBee70

It’s always interesting when in some of the programmes they show areas that I know and it isn’t an area that I’d consider living in.’You get so much garden for your money with this house’. Of course you do: it’s drug central! I’m still addicted to that sort of programme though!

I agree.
One time the couple wanted a 30 minute commute to Bristol. The presenter told them that a particular house would be within their 30 minute commute. I know that road! In their dreams!! The journey would take at least double that, maybe even more, sitting mostly in gridlock.

Another time the woman wanted to commute by train and they were shown a house which the presenter said was only a 10 minute walk from the station. She neglected to mention that it would be up an extremely steep hill on the return journey. I know that hill as I had to walk up it to school every day. The woman would have calf muscles like a weight trainer after a few months.

I lived in the middle of nowhere with land and spectacular views for 25years. I loved it but when DH died I was gone like a bolting rabbit!

We were very much part of the local community but the village was two miles away, the nearest market town six miles and GP surgery four miles away.

No fun when you’re on your own.

We promised each other that whoever was left wouldn’t even try to cope alone. You have to accept that this will happen right from the start but of course this kind of thing would never be aired on a feel good show.

Yes, we have the high windows and white floor tiles and a large dog, in the back of beyond. At least I can say the people we bought the house from chose them and we went into it with eyes wide open …

I watch Grand Designs et al , shouting at the screen " How on earth are you going to clean that 30 foot high window" and " White tiles on the floor with two dogs - you must be mad" etc etc .

It’s always interesting when in some of the programmes they show areas that I know and it isn’t an area that I’d consider living in.’You get so much garden for your money with this house’. Of course you do: it’s drug central! I’m still addicted to that sort of programme though!

And they often say that want rural seclusion but be part of a community....

I have long thought ETTC should have a therapist to hand. Why would people want to move to a county they hardly know (3 couples recently!)? Those with family currently down the road, why move 300 miles away!
And do retired people never realise how close they are to becoming their own parents? Medical support, supermarket described as 'only ten minutes in the car'!
With you all the way lovetopaint

I agree with you - although there are programmes called I escaped to the country, so they must find some folks the right place!

We have been contacted twice by production companies regarding homes we had for sale, the first time we agreed and the house was never shown despite hours of filming and moving stuff around, the second time in another property we said a big fat NO, it was Kirsty and Phil’s show and we felt it didn’t match the brief.
I think the researchers are sat in London and have no idea of anything north of Watford.

As an oldie I always mutter away “what will you do when eventually you can’t drive? What will it be like when there is only one of you and you are alone and can’t get about with ease.Also what is the wi fi like? What if it is nowhere as good as you have been used to? Yes, I’m an old misery but pragmatic with it.

“

Yes, it was an odd suggestion, which she quickly rejected. Quite often the mystery house is a success, but not this time.

I often wonder to what extent people have really considered their proposed move, and how long they will last, especially those who are a bit older and opt to live in a remote area, hardly practical for doctors etc, or young families, having to ferry their children around.