Garth View,    Saturday 12th May 2012

After the disasterously unsuccessful attempts to add a day-by-day journal of the Cornish house-hunting and filming, it seems rather silly to do the whole thing in retrospect now that we’re back from France. I’ll put an album or two of the best photos from both visits on SkyDrive for those who’d like to see them.

Anyway, the three days in Cornwall left us with a clear favourite among the houses we had seen.  It was this bungalow in Pelynt, four miles from the sea. It had ample space for Harry at the front and a nice, though small, conservatory at the rear.

To add to the attraction of the area we were taken there (apparently) by boat, along the coast from Polperro to Looe. Here’s Looe:

And so to France, where in spite of a few drops of drizzle as we landed at Carcassonne, the weather treated us to a heat waive, reaching 36.5° on Friday afternoon.

Hannah was still in charge as Producer, and the stop sign above her head in the photo is pointless because during the working day she never does!

But in France the Presenter was Laura Hamilton (Dancing On Ice).

Assistant Producer, Antonio, introduced himself at the airport, when he met us, as our ‘babysitter’ for four days, and it has to be said that he sat on us (looked after us, that is,) very well.

The schedule was the same as in England; up at six, on the road at 7.30 or 8. Again, one property stood out, a 20 year old villa (?) built into the hillside above the suburb of Ginoles, near Quillan (in Aude). The views as we approached the house took our breath away – as did the walk up the hill, but never mind that …

Being built into the hill means that the main living space (and there’s plenty of it) is at ground level at the back, but one floor up at the front. The ‘basement’ is shared between the garage, a huge storage area and a potentially self-contained guest flat with its own french windows!

At the rear of the house (which stands in half an acre of garden to lose children in) there’s a wonderful full-width conservatory, or “véranda” in French …

The only disappointment was the kitchen which I just couldn’t see myself working in….

(Plot spoiler alert!!) I could go on, but let’s say that the TV programme ends with us making an offer to buy this spot. The price is amazingly well below what we are getting for Garth View, which will cover expenses and a new kitchen, and there’s talk of selling the flat at Murton View (which we’ve not managed to let yet) to put in a swimming pool.

Once the filming was over everything happened so fast! (Maybe too fast for comfort). The estate agent called for us at the hotel and we went to his office to give our details. “We’ve got nothing on you” he said. (He’s English) “Keep it that way”, I said. Then to the Notary’s office to make an innitial payment for him to draw up the ‘Compromis De Vente’ (We’re not legally committed till that is signed – a bit like exchanging contracts) then another visit to the house where this time we met the owners, also English. 

We treated ourselves to a special supper and this morning Antonio completed his minder’s duties by driving us to the airport and ensuring we left the country. So that’s that! Removal men on Friday morning …

Take another look, though …

Tuesday May 1st 2012:  It’s been quite a day! Up at 6am, breakfast at 7, on the road (soon after) 7.30.

Grumpy old man!

First stop, Talland Bay Hotel, where we did the introductory interviews; a curious coincidence since it was at Talland Bay that we spent a week in the third ‘box’ in 2007! (Log and pics here:

http://sandconoliday.posterous.com/cornwall-september-2007   )(Everything from Posterous has vanished, unfortunately.)

First location, Talland Bay, where, by coincidence, we stayed with Box 3 in 2007.

The views are just as good, but the caravan park where we pitched is now an upmarket holiday village.

Carol gets miked up for the first time.

The team look happy:

The team look happy.

Cameraman and sound technician get set up:

Carol gets close to Presenter, Luke: 

And finally, even Producer, Hannah, seems pleased with how things are going!

And Stephen finds a friend (gets a wet bum – the bench was damp).

Next, a picnic of Cornish cheese and cyder on the village green at Herodsfoot.  

Where we then did our first house viewing. We wont say too much about it, but it was a charming beckside cottage in this little hamlet with the church high above.

There was much to like, but one particular downside – no Harryspace within the property, nor even immediately outside. Various possibilities were mentioned, but …

Anyway, we were then treated to a nice lunch at the ‘Fat Frog’ cafe in Liskeard, and driven back to our Hotel, The Crooked Inn:

Apart from a wet bench and some spillt cyder, a disaster had occured to one of SKT’s shoes which had more or less disintegrated during the morning! In that we were free of further commitments at about 4pm we went out in Sally and found a shopping outlet by the nearest major roundabout to buy a replacement pair, looking as close as we could get to the useless ones. (Same clothes tomorrow are a requirement.)

We then drove, as last year around Whitsand Bay, with the Sea a perfect blue – beat that, Med! – had fish and chips in Torpoint and returned to base, hoping to be able to get up at the same time and do it all – and more – again tomorrow!