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Holiday villa with private pool at Tuscan Paradise. An historic private 4 bedroom (all en-suite)18C farmhouse with private pool in Tuscany overlooking an amazing lake sleeping 8. Additional studio for a further 5 not let independently to ensure complete privacy.

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This was exactly what we were looking for, and all captured on celluloid by the BBC ‘Get a new life’ team. Here we had our ideal property – a house for us to live in, a barn for the chamber music activities, a delightful smaller barn for a pottery studio and of course a house for the holiday rental. Overlooking a beautiful lake it was breathtaking. It was indeed paradise.

The BBC was thrilled; we were thrilled; our agents were thrilled. However trouble was looming on the horizon in the shape of the owner and his son. Months of negotiation followed which finally culminated in a late night signing of the compromesso under fluorescent light in the owner’s kitchen, while his wife pulled on a rope hooked to the ceiling as physiotherapy for a recent operation. All we needed to do now was to transfer some funds from our account in the UK directly into owner’s account. We returned to England ready to pay over our deposit, but the owner’s son had other ideas. If we were prepared to pay what we had agreed, maybe they could squeeze more money out of us, but they hadn’t reckoned on the stubbornness of these Inglesi. It wasn’t difficult for the son to use emotional blackmail on his father to put a stop on our transaction, making the copromesso void.

Once again the search for our Tuscan Paradise was on. ‘Google-eyed’ we spotted another property near Aboca. Although this property was above our budget, it was not out of the realms of possibility with a little negotiation. Our estate agents set up a viewing for the following week. Thank goodness for budget airline prices!

Not to be caught out this time, we met with architects on site and discussed plans. The project looked like it would work, so we signed a compromesso ‘on the spot’ and immediately paid over a large deposit. The location was again wonderful. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, 700 metres above sea level and still with a view of a lake. This time the transaction went smoothly, giving us six months to complete on our sale in England, tackle planning and select builders. A few months passed (things take a little longer in Italy), and another trip to discuss renovation costs and find a large property to rent. The snows came and the airport was closed shortly after our arrival. We managed to hire snow chains but could only view the property from a distance. Anghiari, our favourite medieval hilltop town looked magical dusted with snow. The Estate Agent showed us a wonderful large apartment for rent in Anghiari town (300sqm). We agreed a price with the owner and the deal was done - semplice. The property is large enough to accommodate all of our furniture and musical instruments without the need to pay high storage costs in the UK.

Then, the computo di metrico was finally delivered by our Geometra – with builders prices from Hell…. Robert turned as white as the snow, and for the first time in years he was speechless. We had the feeling we had bitten off more than we could chew…..