To be a bit fuming at Escape To The Country

[jamoncrumpets]

Yes, yes, I know I am watching tv in the day and should be out working or volunteering or something, but both kids are ill so we're all having a down day today.

Anyway, I'm fuming because the couple (male, female) are viewing houses and every single time they walk into a kitchen the presenter says 'Well, will this do for you Sharon?' and then when they get to the outside space, garage etc, he turns to the man and says 'What do you think then, Nigel?'

The woman has already said that she isn't much of a cook. He's not letting her off the hook, he is absolutely DESPERATE to sell her a big old kitchen so she fit more neatly into her gender role.

I've never seen this show before, is it always like this? AIBU to want to take the presenter to a female boxing club and have him pummelled for a few bouts?

I know what you mean I've noticed that too on that show, lots of assumptions that the man and woman will be at odds (man will want to be near the pub, woman will want a big kitchen).

I don't like this presenter either. He gives me strong estate agent vibes.

What channel is that on?

BBC1!

They’re not all like that on ETTC to be fair. Usually they’re trying to sell outside space to both parties due to them having unrealistic dreams of starting a small holding or holiday business after 40 years of being an IT manager in London city.

Not showing in London or I’d join you in your rage-fest!

i do like ETC But
I hate the "man cave" stuff. why does a grown man need that.

I want a woman cave. It's the same as a man cave but everything is covered in glitter.

I am always wound up by the couples who are downsizing but need a 6 bed house with numerous bathrooms and 10 acres .
They bleat about every property being a bit too small when there are only 2 of them.
But they simply must have room to entertain and for family to stay which requires them to live in a small mansion.
I just wonder where on earth they find all these people .

I just wonder where on earth they find all these people

Apparently you can apply to be on it

Yes to all of this! And every time I see an average couple in their early thirties I think 'ooh good, somebody I can relate to' and then realise their budget is just shy of a billion bloody pounds, even though they have entirely average jobs. Pah.

Isn’t the programme in full repeat mode from 2006??

Totally agree. It also makes me a bit ragey when they’re shown one beautiful place after another and turn them down for some reason or other when I’m living in a delapidated one bed HA flat and would be grateful for just about anything that was less crumbly and Arctic than this.

I don't think they would be interested in me. I could just about afford a garden shed somewhere beautiful and rural!
I do rather think the programme sends out the message that it is easy to buy a big house and have a picture perfect life which most of us know is v far from the truth .
I guess it has to be viewed as escapist television and taken with a pinch of salt because I notice that v few people ever buy any of the houses viewed.

I always wonder about people who want to 'retire' to a small holding. We have one, it makes us self sufficient in small ways, makes us no money, doesn't pay for itself most of the time and is an awful lot of work after we have finished our day jobs. We do it for the lifestyle it gives us (out in the country , far from others, letting us keep our animals at home). But I am beginning to get arthritis in my hands and I wonder how long I will be able to do the work for. I waitressed for years and I always heard people saying that when they retire they were going to open a restaurant. Like running an restaurant is all about sitting at the bar with your mates all night while keeping an eye on staff and then totting up the money when everyone goes home. It's hard work and an expensive business to stay afloat in.

This couple wanted to live in a traditional village in the Cotswolds but hated houses with beams. Errrrr...

They want all the benefits of living near a village but get a fit of the vapours if they can hear a car a mile away because it's too near the road.

They almost never buy anything anyway. I think they just apply to have a nice day out - the middle class alternative to being on Jeremy Kyle.

I get cross with the retired or close to retirement couples who are moving to the middle of nowhere, nowhere near any major towns, and expect to live happily ever after.
No thought to possible illness, too far for friends and family visiting, no near neighbours etc, in short all the things that are important as you get older.

They're always looking to set up a glamping site, irrespective of the fact that the area is saturated with the bloody places.

I haven't seen today's but I'm thinking generally (re the roads).

Oh captain that is it. Middle class Jeremy Kyle!

Brilliant !

I always shout "BINGO!" when they say they want to be able to keep chickens

A lot of these shows are repeats and i often wonder if the people did move to their ' dream home, ticked all the boxes' place and then regretted it? I agree its also sexist but the couples seem to take it on the chin , when they are not running it down as the huge kitchen that has an aga and a settee in it, is ' too small',. or only has 4 beds instead of 5 or whatever.
i hate all these type of shows.

We’re recently retired and mine wants to keep fucking chickens - chickens, I ask you - so apparently we’re moving to a house with a paddock to facilitate this. Pure madness.

Loving the woman cave idea.

I just watched this as well, gave me the rage too. Mind you they were both incredibly annoying & clearly didn’t have a clue what they wanted.

Angelo I’m in London & watched it.