Just a dream

AFTER the premature death of her husband John, Jennie Cook yearned for a new life, preferably in the country.

The Malaysian-born cook and former TV chef put her guest house in Bishopthorpe Road, York, on the market and began to dream about wide-open spaces, traffic-free vistas, peace and quiet.

"Ever since John died I became bored with the hustle and bustle of traffic," said Jennie, who lost her husband two years ago. "I kept looking for peace and tranquillity. I had this idea I wanted to grow my own vegetables, have a goat at the end of the garden, keep chickens and have room to paint."

So when Jennie learned BBC TV show Escape To The Country was looking for 'real people' to feature in its next series, she rang the producers with her story.

"I told them my husband had died, my children were grown up and I was becoming apprehensive about running the guest house on my own," said Jennie. "What I fancied was living in the country and perhaps running a small cookery school."

The producers came to interview Jennie at her three-story B&B and agreed to help her realise her dream which was to find the perfect rural property within 20 miles of York.

Weeks later they returned with a laptop featuring details of four potential new homes. Jennie was invited to pick two for viewing and chose a former school house in Carlton, near Selby, and another home at Bielby, also south of York.

Jenny loved the look of the school house and began imagining her new life in its charming, quirky interior. But on the journey to view the property, doubts began to creep in.

"As we drove there all I could see were power stations, which I didn't like. The house was beautiful and the price was really good. I could see myself living there - if I had a partner."

During the process of visiting the other property, for the first time Jennie thought seriously about her 'dream'. Could she really up sticks and move to a new place, all by herself, and make her life over again?

"I am a sociable person and would want to integrate into the village," said Jennie. "I really wanted a new start and I like the idea of village life. I've always envied people on those TV shows where everyone knows each other. I don't know my neighbours very well, I've never even been over for a coffee. I always think people in the country are very friendly and I imagined getting involved in church functions and perhaps run a small cookery school."

Again, Jennie allowed herself to be carried away by her dream - until a friend intervened.

"She said to me: 'Just think what it will be like on that first day in your new home when everyone has left and you are sitting in your country house on your own in a strange village where you don't know anybody'. It was then I realised I couldn't go ahead and do this. I am a people person. At first it would be nice not to hear the traffic, but I am so used to traffic now and it makes me feel like I'm near people."

Then a moment of clarity descended on Jennie. "I realised I couldn't really live in the country all on my own where I didn't know anybody. It was all too daunting."

Jennie is pleased she took part in the show, which goes out on BBC2 this week, because it has made her refocus on what she really wants to do with her home and her life.

She said: "I've still got my guest house on the market and, hopefully, will sell that soon. I've realised I still want to live in York. The journey from a village into York is at least half and hour. I go to London a lot by train and I love shopping and would miss the supermarket. Doing this show has made me realise that my fantasy of living in the country was just a dream."

Escape To The Country, Thursday BBC2, 3.30pm

Updated: 09:50 Saturday, September 24, 2005