- 5 hours ago
A New Life In The Sun - Season 11 Episode 17
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00:00Making a fresh start under blue skies is a dream chased by thousands of Brits.
00:06This is freedom.
00:08Pick your vista, any one you like.
00:10Pursuing bucket list experiences...
00:14Yay!
00:16...and newfound freedoms.
00:18We could walk around butt naked if we wanted to.
00:20While Brexit has made it a battle...
00:22I've applied for two visas. I've been denied two visas.
00:26Many are still giving it a go.
00:28I wanted to know what else life had to offer.
00:31I like the idea of just spending every day together, don't we?
00:34We do.
00:35From launching bike tours in Spain...
00:38This is my office here. I couldn't ask for more.
00:40...to glamping sites in Italy.
00:42Build it and they will come. We hope.
00:46But will it be a smooth ride?
00:50Or their ideas come crashing down?
00:53Oh, my God!
00:55As they begin their new lives in the sun.
00:58It's an adventure.
00:59Loving life.
01:00Today in Spain...
01:02It doesn't often rain in Spain, but when it does, it really rains.
01:06Biblical problems for two publicans on the Costa del Sol.
01:10With the smallest bucket we have, trying to unblock the terrace.
01:15We should be here till next year doing that.
01:17A Bristol couple feel the weight of pressure.
01:20Have you got a chiropractor in the village?
01:22Yeah.
01:23As they push to launch motorcycle tours in one of Spain's stunning national parks.
01:28We've got a lot riding on this.
01:29Our futures, our children's futures.
01:31And in Bulgaria...
01:33We've been working on this seriously for two years.
01:36But in the sort of mind, it's been about ten years.
01:40Is the end in sight for a Dumfries couple's new holiday let?
01:44The guests that were coming tomorrow, she's fallen over and broken her ankle.
01:49Surrounded by some of Spain's most dramatic landscapes,
02:01from the dizzying heights of the Picos de Europa National Park
02:05to lush rolling hills,
02:07Cantabria is an adventure wonderland for those seeking the wild heart of Spain.
02:14In search of a better life for their family,
02:16Greg and Daisy from Bristol decided to swap city life
02:20for the Cantabrian countryside.
02:22That's it. Use your hands as well.
02:24To raise their children, Ben and Lucy.
02:28The kids love Spanish life.
02:29Their Spanish is absolutely fluent.
02:31Better than ours will ever be.
02:34And they're really happy here.
02:36You know, it's really safe.
02:37It's... Yeah, we're outside a lot.
02:39It's great. It's a really nice life for them.
02:41You know, we're up here in the mountains,
02:43but we're still only 45 minutes from the beach.
02:45And it's just a good place to bring a family up.
02:47Yeah.
02:49Isn't it nice?
02:50Which one did you get?
02:51An angler.
02:52Greg is a software engineer and Daisy a biologist.
02:56But outside of office hours, Greg is a massive petrol head.
03:01Now he wants to turn a passion for motorbikes into his profession.
03:06So the business is going to be, first and foremost,
03:09it's going to be doing motorcycle tours.
03:11The biking out here is just, just phenomenal.
03:14You can lose yourself for days at a time.
03:17For 180,000 euros, Greg and Daisy bought a four-bedroom farmhouse
03:23and an adjoining ruin in the small medieval town of Potes.
03:29Since buying the house, they spent an extra 20,000 euros
03:32converting an old garage into a one-bed rental apartment.
03:36We've got a lot riding on this.
03:39Our futures, our children's futures.
03:42The kids are so happy here and, you know, we love it here
03:45and we've got lots of friends here.
03:46And if this idea doesn't work, then we're going to have to...
03:49No, it's going to work. The idea is going to work.
03:51It's March and Greg and Daisy have been gearing up
03:57for their first ever booking.
03:59Their apartment is guest ready
04:01and their bikes are all serviced and ready to go.
04:04But there's been a small hitch.
04:07We were very excited because we were going to have
04:09our first official paying guests.
04:12But unfortunately, we've had our first official cancellation.
04:16Which is a bit sad, but these guys are rescheduling.
04:19You know, it's not lost trade.
04:21It's just post plans.
04:24The couple know that good facilities
04:26can make or break a holiday rental business.
04:29So as well as finishing their apartment to a high standard,
04:32they've just finished work on a children's play area.
04:36Now Greg has another plan to bring in more group bookings.
04:40The little outdoor senador, it's called.
04:43It's like a little covered area where people can come and relax
04:46and enjoy some time after a day of riding.
04:48Yeah, get a barbecue in there and a pizza oven one day
04:51and things like that.
04:52I think it'll be, it's a great spot.
04:54But funds for new facilities are tight.
04:56So Greg has called in free help in the shape of lifelong friend, Jared.
05:02Our task is to get the framework for the roof.
05:05Yeah.
05:06Heavy lifting.
05:07It is heavy lifting.
05:08These weigh probably about a lot.
05:10A lot.
05:11OK.
05:12From software geek to grafter,
05:14Greg is determined to show his old pal his practical side.
05:18I've known Greg for all of our lives.
05:21We grew up together.
05:22And then at some point in his life,
05:24he decided that he wanted to change everything up.
05:26The locals over here call them Los Locos Angleses, the crazy English.
05:31So I think that's what we all thought when they said they were moving over.
05:34But then thinking about it, yeah, it's a great move.
05:40Greg never had any skills when we were younger.
05:42Greg was a software engineer.
05:43He knew computers.
05:44He was a geek.
05:46He's a changed man.
05:51We've got one particularly big piece of chestnut
05:54that we need to lift up and put onto the support wall at the back.
05:58This is not one man on either end.
06:00This is both men on one end and one side at the top.
06:03You think so?
06:04Yeah.
06:05Well, we can get it onto these shoulders.
06:06Just lift that end up.
06:07No.
06:08No.
06:09Oh, OK.
06:10It must be full of air.
06:11Full of air, yeah.
06:12Your end is probably full of air.
06:13I've got the heavy end.
06:14Yeah, you've got the heavy end.
06:15I've got the heavy end.
06:16Ready?
06:17I guess.
06:18One, two, three.
06:21I'll balance it there.
06:22You got it?
06:23Yeah.
06:24OK.
06:25Right, stand by.
06:26OK, yeah, stick your end on then.
06:29Yes!
06:31Woo!
06:32Have you got a chiropractor in the village?
06:33Yeah.
06:35With the first horizontal beam in place, Greg and Jared move on to the vertical supports.
06:41Oh, yeah.
06:43Beauty.
06:44And the pressure is on to create a terrace worthy of the setting.
06:51And so this little L shape here is going to be a little bench.
06:55And we'll have a table here so you can sit outside in the sun, enjoy the view.
07:00You come out here once and you look around and you can see why you do it. It's fantastic.
07:08Personally, I don't know if I'd be brave enough to do it. I mean, to take that leap to completely change your lifestyle, I think it's commendable.
07:18Yeah, I'm immensely proud of you, Greg.
07:21Aw.
07:22Yeah.
07:23I am, Mark.
07:24Genuinely.
07:25As Greg is a software engineer and not a builder, every task is trial and error.
07:31And it'll take more than bravery to push this job over the finish line.
07:34Spain's Costa del Sol attracts millions of visitors each year. And more of them come from the UK than anywhere else in the world.
07:51Brits can't get enough of nearly 100 miles of golden beaches drenched in year-round sun.
07:58It's just a brilliant place. It really, it really is.
08:01It's magical.
08:02And it's home now. You know, the culture, the weather, the food.
08:06Yeah.
08:07It's all just perfect for us.
08:10Bono to like.
08:12For publican Adam and his Spanish wife, Ali.
08:15It's so beautiful.
08:16Endless sunshine and sea views were an easy sell when they chose to swap Lancaster for Benal Madena to open a cocktail bar in 2022.
08:26We looked at our lifestyle over the last two and a half years of being open.
08:31We've decided that 2025 is going to be a big year of change for us, haven't we?
08:36Yeah.
08:37The couple's bar has been a runaway success.
08:41Four more tables and we're full. Monday lunch.
08:45The last few months has just been an absolute whirlwind for us.
08:48It's just been sensational, hasn't it? More than we could ever have imagined.
08:52But this year, they're gambling everything they've achieved since moving here.
08:56They've decided to invest in a second bar in the heart of town, which they want to transform into a music venue.
09:03To do it properly, it costs money. And a lot of money.
09:08But I will keep on saying it. We're confident. We're positive. And, you know, any problems that arise, we'll get around them.
09:19It's December and the couple just paid 20,000 euros to lease this former show bar.
09:26Yeah, I've been doing the same bit now for about two hours.
09:29It's all the edges, all taking off, everything, all imperfections of the feeling.
09:36All I hear is excuses and I just want results. A line I've used with many of my staff over the years.
09:42But when me doesn't work, I'll deport you.
09:46You'll do what? We deport you. You're going to deport me?
09:49Yeah. So, watch out.
09:52They're planning a top-to-bottom refurbishment and want to open in three months.
09:57I've been out to check on the boys now, and it's coming up really quickly now, so this should be done in the next hour.
10:06But the building is in a sorry state, so they've enlisted the help of their son Brogan, friend Ed and barman Nico.
10:14We've got one CX coming up at what time? 12 o'clock and then another one at two?
10:19Getting used to all this management. Yeah.
10:22While the lads crack on outside, Adam is prepping for a new tiled floor inside.
10:28Yeah, they're going quite quickly, so I'm going to have to make sure all this gets hoovered.
10:33At over 100 square metres, the bar interior is vast, and every inch of it needs coating in a primer before a single tile can go down.
10:42I'm also keeping my eye on the level of primer over there, and at €50 at all, I've got to make sure that they stay within budget.
10:53Luckily, Adam's son Brogan is a builder by trade, and when it comes to laying the tiles, there's no scope for error.
11:01Right, then.
11:03We ordered 111 square metres for a 104 square metre floor, so we got a bit extra, but the shop said we've only got 106 square metres.
11:12Somebody's dipped into the pallet that were reserved for us and taken a couple of boxes off and sold them.
11:17The lads have got to be so careful, and I'm the one who's moving the tiles now, so I've got to be super careful.
11:24If just one pack of tiles goes, we really literally just have half a square metre to play with, so this is going to be touch and go.
11:30The pressure is on to move the tiles without any breakages.
11:34There we go.
11:36And almost 20 trips later, it's job done.
11:40I'm not a single box, Brogan. Over to them now.
11:44To speed up the process, Adam has been tasked with prepping each tile for Brogan and Ed to lay.
11:52It's the first time I've ever done any tiling, so you've got to learn at some point.
11:57About that much, can I?
11:58Yeah.
11:59Yeah, and...
12:06First tile's done, down, apparently it was all right, so now it's a race against time.
12:11I need to be quick and efficient.
12:15I can't believe Adam is doing this, he's never done this.
12:19Brogan said that he's going to supervise him, let's see the end of it.
12:23One of many talents he is.
12:25For talking everything that he knows.
12:28I've got that feeling that it's going to be maybe a few arguments through all of this, so I'm looking forward to watching.
12:35Ten minutes in and it's going down quickly.
12:43This is great, it'll be a couple of hours and we should be done.
12:48But it's a rookie error to count your tiles before they're laid.
12:52You broke it?
12:57Is it broken?
12:59Yeah.
13:01I'm glad it wasn't made.
13:04One job he had, one job.
13:07You put the adhesive all over the tile.
13:10With a hundred square metres still to go down, there's now little room for error.
13:16One job he had, one job, and that was not to break a tile.
13:20Six tiles in, first tile's gone.
13:26Coming up...
13:28I've cut them all at 97 and they're supposed to be 89.
13:32Snagging setbacks for a Dumfries couple in Bulgaria.
13:36Now I feel a bit deflated actually.
13:38I feel a bit tired and a bit fed up.
13:40And Adam and Ali battle a torrent of water at their new cocktail bar.
13:45The main road was flooded as I just came up in the car.
13:49And this is a big problem.
13:50Tucked away in the north-east of Bulgaria, just an hour from the Black Sea, is Lissi Vrah,
14:04a tiny hamlet that feels a world away from the hubbub of modern life.
14:09It was the slower pace of life that drew welder John and former NHS nurse Tracy
14:18to move here from Dumfries.
14:22It's not a very busy place.
14:25It's peaceful, quiet.
14:27If you're the type of person that likes nightlife...
14:30Yeah, you know, if you want nightclubs and all of that...
14:33The closest you get to nightlife here is watching the bats.
14:38That's not to say that their days aren't busy.
14:42To fund their new life here, they've turned what was originally a holiday home
14:45into a collection of small businesses.
14:49Here we run a village shop, a bar, a cafe, a campsite, with a pool,
14:55with a couple of B&B rooms.
14:57And we're currently renovating a two-bedroom apartment above the shop for guests.
15:04The house was a bargain when they bought it,
15:06but they've lost count of how much money they've sunk into expanding their business offering.
15:12We have never sat down and added everything up.
15:17And maybe because of...
15:19Maybe we're scared to do that.
15:23It's August, and Tracy and John are tantalisingly close to finishing work
15:28on their new two-bedroom holiday apartment.
15:32So, we've got the railings to finish, which is John's department.
15:37And then, inside the apartment, we've got...
15:40I've just got finishing off touches to do.
15:43And just in time, because they've got a booking.
15:46Tomorrow will be the first time that people have stayed in the apartment.
15:49And they're checking in about three o'clock.
15:52With no time to waste,
15:54John heads to his workshop to make a start on the outstanding railings.
15:59And these are going to be tabs that I weld onto the side of the uprights,
16:04so it bolts all of the railings together.
16:06Inside the apartment, Tracy's tackling the cleaning.
16:10This is it when you're working on somewhere.
16:13You're working on it, you also...
16:16..make things dirty.
16:20And this is one job she'll be happy to finally see the back of.
16:24We've been working on this seriously for two years.
16:27Didn't have the money to do it all in one go,
16:30so we've been sort of earning a bit, coming back.
16:33We've really gone at it, so that we wanted a deadline
16:37and we wanted to get it finished.
16:39But in the sort of mind, it's been about ten years.
16:42But the pressure of tomorrow's deadline is getting to John.
16:50Well, the issue is that I've cut them all at 97 and they're supposed to be 89.
16:56Instead of walking back across the garden and measuring it,
17:00I thought I'd do it from memory.
17:01So now I've got to cut 80 millimetres off of all these square bits.
17:07With 43 years' experience as a welder,
17:12John makes short shrift of the correction.
17:14And is soon back on calls.
17:18But in the end, Tracey and John's final push is all for nothing.
17:25We've had a bit of bad news.
17:29Yeah.
17:31The guests that were coming tomorrow,
17:33she's fallen over and broken her ankle.
17:36So that they've cancelled.
17:38As their business model usually depends on campers driving by
17:42and deciding to stop, instead of pre-booking,
17:45a cancellation is a new problem.
17:48Now I feel a bit deflated, actually.
17:51I feel a bit tired and a bit fed up.
17:53People change their plans.
17:56And there's nothing we can do about that.
17:58What it will do, it'll give us a chance to finish off everything
18:02without being under pressure.
18:04No, we're still under pressure.
18:06As it's August, Tracey and John have missed most of the tourist season already.
18:12We've been working on this for so long
18:15and now it's sort of like a big deflated balloon.
18:18And hopefully when our next booking comes...
18:22We'll be chilled out and ready for them.
18:24Yeah, we'll be chilled out and ready for them.
18:26Yeah.
18:34Back on the Costa del Sol, it's December.
18:36Are you going to use that for cuts late for...
18:40Yeah, we'll just take a little bit of adhesive off the back and reuse it.
18:43The floor of Adam and Ali's new show bar is getting a makeover,
18:47albeit with a little hiccup here and there.
18:50We're going to be able to save this tile
18:52because there are going to be lots of little cuts to do.
18:55So, although it's a broken tile, it's not the end of the world.
18:58If he does it again...
19:00Christmas is cancelled.
19:02Over the next couple of hours, there are no further breakages
19:06and Adam's confidence is growing.
19:09I could be a plasterer as well.
19:12Tiling, I miss.
19:14I could plaster a wall. Look at how smooth that is.
19:18You two are playing catch up with me now.
19:21A week later, the new tiled floor is finished.
19:28But today, Adam and Ali arrived at the bar to a much bigger problem.
19:36It doesn't often rain in Spain, but when it does, it really rains.
19:40And what we found when we brought in this morning to continue the work
19:44is that our back terrace is flooding,
19:45which wouldn't normally be much of a problem,
19:48apart from the fact that it has now reached the level of the step,
19:51the top of the step, before it then starts to come into the bar.
19:55And this is a big problem.
19:57Protecting their new bar and freshly laid floor is the priority.
20:01Adam wants to investigate the drains for blockages,
20:04but he's a tad under-equipped.
20:07I didn't think I'd need Wellington boots in Spain,
20:10so my wellies are still in the UK.
20:11So Ali came prepared and did her.
20:14They were my priority.
20:16Your priority was to bring Wellington boots.
20:18Yeah, because I was wearing them all the time over there.
20:20I know, but listen to the thunder as well. Oh, my God.
20:25I have an atasco in the terrace of my bar
20:29and I need to see if you can tell me
20:32if someone can come to help us.
20:35Ali's on the phone to a drain unblocking company
20:38somewhere in the area.
20:39If I could hear us, it's impossible.
20:41Because of this much rain coming down,
20:43everybody's probably having the same problems.
20:45It's not happening. They're too busy.
20:47They say, I'm not even going to ask you where you are
20:50because we're just so busy.
20:53While Ali works her way through a list of local plumbers,
20:57Adam is hoping his trusty jet washer
20:59might be able to shift any blockage in the patio drain.
21:03But with heavy rain still falling, it's a lost cause.
21:08The problem is, it's that deep now.
21:12I don't know where the drain goes down,
21:14but I don't know where it goes off.
21:16And to try and unblock that as well.
21:18I'm not a drain unblocker.
21:20Again, I don't really know.
21:22Thankfully, Ali's had a breakthrough with a local plumber.
21:24Is somebody coming?
21:26There's somebody coming?
21:27Yeah.
21:28Woo-hoo!
21:29Yeah, now it's during the morning and as the boat...
21:33No, during the morning.
21:34We need it as soon as possible because it's about to come in.
21:37I tried.
21:39We've been trying now for a little bit.
21:41So, yeah, let's just hope they can get here as quickly as possible
21:44and get this unblocked before we end up asking Brogan
21:48to silicon in the door to make us watertight,
21:50which is not what we want to do.
21:51And while they wait for the plumber,
21:55Ali's decided to take matters into her own hands.
21:58Now...
22:00I'm sorry, I'm watching Ali with the smallest bucket we have
22:05trying to unblock the terrace.
22:07It's just not...
22:09We should be here till next year doing that.
22:11We're going to be underwater by the time.
22:13Ali, you're fighting a losing battle there, sweetheart.
22:18This is really serious now.
22:19We've got probably about an inch...
22:22An inch to go before we're going to go over that next little lip there.
22:26So, let's hope that the guys can get here
22:28or Brogan can come and sort it out.
22:31And right on cue, their son Brogan arrives to help Adam
22:35get to the bottom of the drain blockage.
22:37Brogan's got the manhole cover open.
22:39And the idea now is that we'll just try and unblock it.
22:44I can see what it's trying to do.
22:46It's just depends how far it's blocked all the way down there.
22:49Have you got resistance, bro?
22:51Yeah, something out there.
22:53All the drains are blocked.
22:54I'm trying to put the hose pipe in,
22:58just try and unblock it from the other end.
22:59There's something in there that's blocking it.
23:04It might be blocked completely.
23:08See, it's too solid.
23:09It's not like gritty or anything like that.
23:11It's quite solid.
23:13Something's definitely blocking the pipe in there,
23:14if that's the right pipe.
23:16Yeah.
23:17In the meantime, before the guys get here,
23:18I'm just going to have to keep on emptying it with a bucket.
23:23You could have brought wellies with me.
23:25That's what I said,
23:26but I didn't think I'd need Wellington boots in Spain.
23:29No closer to a fix,
23:30their only option is to fight the wall of flood water by hand
23:34and hope that when the plumber arrives,
23:36he can offer a solution.
23:48Coming up,
23:50a glowing endorsement for Greg and Daisy.
23:53The scenery is sublime.
23:55I've ridden bikes all over the world
23:58and this is some of the best riding I've ever done.
24:01Yeah.
24:02And Tracey and John look to boost their curb appeal.
24:05I really believe once you come through them gates,
24:08the first 20, 30 seconds,
24:10you make up your mind whether you're going to enjoy yourself or not.
24:17Back in Cantabria, Greg and Daisy are making the most of the off-season
24:25to boost their on-site facilities at their mountainside holiday let.
24:30Are we going to get the net on top there?
24:34Are we getting that out there?
24:36With the help of friend Jared,
24:38today they're adding a timber frame roof to a new outside seating area.
24:42Yeah, it's all mine. All mine if you want to move round.
24:50OK.
24:52Go on.
24:54And down.
24:56Halfway there.
24:57Yeah?
24:58Yeah.
25:01But when woodwork isn't your trade, there's never an easy job.
25:07If you get under it there, pass it to me here
25:09and then you get off and come back there and we'll just pass it along.
25:13Yeah?
25:14Yeah.
25:15That all sounds really easy.
25:17And each of the wooden supports weighs nearly 80 kilos.
25:22Have you got it?
25:23It's still on there, still balancing.
25:25It's still on.
25:26Hang on.
25:27Hang on.
25:28OK.
25:29I'm going to have to drop it down.
25:31Hang on.
25:33Now where are you going?
25:34Well, you've now got to go over there.
25:36Well, I can't. You've taken my step down the way.
25:37No, you get off the one you're on and move it.
25:41No rush you're edited.
25:43Right, Timmy.
25:44Have you got it?
25:45Maybe.
25:46Yeah, yeah.
25:47It's all you now.
25:48It's all me. It's all me.
25:49You sure you got it?
25:50Yeah, I got it. Go.
25:52OK.
25:53I'm going to go for a lift.
25:54One, two, three, go.
25:56There we go.
25:57Nice.
25:58Literally using my head.
25:59But after four hours of back-breaking graft, the frame is starting to take shape.
26:08Looks good.
26:09Yeah, no one lost a skull on the way.
26:14They may not have had their first tour guest today.
26:18That's all right. I'm happy with that. Thanks for your help.
26:20No worries.
26:21But with Jared's help, they've got the wooden frame in place for their new sun terrace.
26:27We can cover all of that.
26:28It's all local wood.
26:30And then on top of that, we'll put the underline, that waterproof stuff.
26:34And then we'll put tiles on top to make it look traditional.
26:39It's been productive use of time, so, yeah, we're still ahead of the game.
26:46Like Greg and Daisy, Jared is a keen biker.
26:52Cheers, mate. Thanks for your help.
26:54And the couple are keen to get his opinion on some of their planned motorcycle routes.
26:59So now it's time for the boys to don their leathers and hit a nearby trail.
27:03The Picos de Europa National Park is a perfect example of an Atlantic ecosystem.
27:14Packed with oak and beech groves and impressive rock formations,
27:19it's also home to two of the rarest animals in Spain,
27:23the brown bear and the Iberian wolf.
27:27Woo!
27:28For first-time visitor Jared, the ride was exhilarating.
27:36Cow over there. There's a couple of cows there, actually.
27:39The scenery is sublime.
27:42I've ridden bikes all over the world,
27:45and this is some of the best riding I've ever done.
27:48Easily, yeah.
27:49And the scenery is just fantastic.
27:51It's epic, isn't it?
27:52It really is.
27:53Yeah.
27:54The tour has definitely got Jared's backing,
27:57but the real test will be when Greg and Daisy finally host their first paying guests.
28:11Woo-hoo-hoo!
28:12It's late August, and Tracy and John are facing a lull in trade at their campsite.
28:25We normally find that we're much busier earlier in the season than later in the season.
28:31In the middle of the season, everybody seems to be at the sea and laying on the beach.
28:34There has been some passing trade, and their shop and bar are still hubs for village locals,
28:41but John doesn't mind the slow periods.
28:44For us, it's okay, because we've got so much to do,
28:47and if there's a lot of people here, it actually hinders you.
28:51You can't seem to get on and do anything.
28:54We've always got new projects that we're working on all the time.
28:56And the quiet patch has given them some breathing space to finally finish work on their new two-bedroom holiday let.
29:05We're really pleased with it.
29:07I've actually done all the basic work, all the brick work, put the ceiling in, plastering.
29:12What was once a derelict space is a welcoming apartment.
29:21With two double bedrooms,
29:27a new Jack and Jill bathroom joins them.
29:31The lounge features a wood burner for cosiness in the winter,
29:36and the small but well-equipped kitchen is perfect for self-catering stays.
29:42John and Tracy did most of the work themselves, with a little help from some friends.
29:48I think it's turned out really well. Yeah, I'm really pleased.
29:52And it's actually better than we actually anticipated in the beginning.
29:56But after the work was finished, something they could not have anticipated happened.
30:02Unfortunately, our long-time friend Andy found out he was ill.
30:07It was more serious than ill, unfortunately.
30:09Tracy, having her medical history, said that we would like to help him.
30:15Andy is currently receiving treatment for cancer and lives alone.
30:20So Tracy and John decided to offer him a helping hand.
30:23Just become apparent that the obvious thing was, if he rented the apartment, it would be beneficial to both of us.
30:31Tracy and John could charge holidaymakers around £70 per night to stay in the new apartment.
30:37But offering their friend a comfortable place for a lower rate was the right choice.
30:44It's wonderful. It's got beautiful views. It's light and airy and very manageable.
30:52It's just lovely to have two supportive friends who live just across the campsite.
30:59Andy is determined to stay active throughout his treatment.
31:04Oh, here's Andy with the cheese. Wonderful.
31:08And there's no rest for John either. With one project finished, he's starting work on another.
31:14We're digging out the foundation for a new retaining wall.
31:17What we're hoping to do is to make two hard standings for campers.
31:23So when it's wet, campers will be able to get in and out, no problem at all, no wheel spins, nothing.
31:29First John has to level out the ground with his digger.
31:32Really ridiculous thing, but I'm hoping that one day, when I'm digging away, I'll find someone's coins that they buried four or five hundred years ago.
31:47One treasure that was left on site is a collection of old stone.
31:52And with the ground cleared, John wants to use this to create a retaining wall.
31:57These bits of stone were brought here by Halton Carr, but somebody must have sat there with a hammer and chisel and chiselled all these bits of stone to shape.
32:08When they originally do this, they do it with mud. It's all wet. Like you would sand and cement.
32:17But John's not going that far today.
32:19I'll just leave it and if I'm really feeling posh one day, maybe I'll mix up some mud and squidge it in.
32:31The new wall is right by the site entrance, so John's keen for it to make a good first impression.
32:38I really believe once you come through them gates, the first 20, 30 seconds, I think that's the most important.
32:44You make up your mind whether you're going to enjoy yourself or not.
32:49We've had one or two people that have moaned that it's not perfectly level, but it's a really nice, quiet campsite.
32:57Well, it is when I'm not making a noise.
33:01These new solid caravan pitches should bring in more business in the long term, but building them alone won't be easy.
33:08Coming up, Adam and Ali count the cost.
33:18Didn't expect to do this in England.
33:20Of the Spanish storm season.
33:22Hopefully, these more happen ever again.
33:25And teepee or not teepee.
33:28Oh, something's drastically wrong here.
33:31That is the question for Tracey and John.
33:34Well, it's not big enough.
33:35We've got to cut some off the bottom of the poles.
33:38But we measured this.
33:40We measured this.
33:41I don't understand.
33:51Back in Benelmadina, it doesn't rain, it pours.
33:55We didn't expect to do this in England.
33:58In Spain, the drainage can't keep up with.
34:01Obviously, they don't have rain a lot, do they?
34:03So the drainage can't keep up with what they've got.
34:05Adam and Ali's son Brogan has come to the rescue as they fight to contain a wall of water threatening to flood their new show bar.
34:13Every time you move, the water is on the way, but since Brogan is a builder by trade, he's hoping to find a fix before it's too late.
34:30It's too late.
34:32The plumber is about to arrive very, very soon.
34:36It should be at 12, but 40 to 1, and we're still waiting.
34:44It's better now than later on if we'd open.
34:48So, here we come.
34:50The building of many surprises.
34:51But it looks like Brogan may have made a breakthrough.
34:56He's found a second drain, which he's hoping could offer a solution.
35:01I think I found it.
35:03Dad?
35:05I think I found it.
35:07You found it?
35:08Well, where's that?
35:09Another manhole.
35:10Another manhole?
35:11Another manhole.
35:12You can see the whirlpool now.
35:13It's all going.
35:16There were the guys that arrived, and we're going to get some wallets.
35:20The guy who unblocks drains has gone to go and wet some wellies.
35:24What's the level like on the threshold?
35:27He's going down now.
35:29The professional's just arrived, but he's realised that he's got no wellies,
35:32so he's gone off to a shop to buy some Wellington boots.
35:34In the meantime, Brogan's found another drain in the floor,
35:36and all of a sudden, the water's flowing out.
35:39Looks like disaster averted.
35:42We're all soaking up.
35:43I've just popped home very quickly to go and get fresh clothes for everybody,
35:46and shoes and socks, towels, but it looks like I can see it's going down really quick.
35:51We've got a bit of a whirlpool action going on over the top of this drain,
35:54so I can start to see the top of other drain pipes, so yeah.
35:59And there is more rain due.
36:01The main road was flooded as I just came up in the car,
36:04but it looks like it is going down, so well done, Brogie.
36:07Just as the rain finally stops, plumber Alvaro arrives.
36:12When Adam and Ali bought the bar, the terrace was covered with sand,
36:16and it looks like the old beach terrace is to blame for the blockage.
36:20There is a lot of sand, and I think it's the sand that it was before,
36:25when we're trying to create a beach in here,
36:28and everything has just gone down the drainage.
36:31So hopefully, we have a plumber who is going to disemblock all of it,
36:38and this won't happen ever again.
36:42And it seems the sand was also hiding a collection of lost property.
36:47This professional is found at a tennis ball
36:51and a brush covered in woods.
36:55A box of surprises is this building.
37:00He's now going to look at the other two main drains that we've got
37:03to see if he can get those unblocked,
37:05because we're always going to have this problem
37:07because we can't keep on taking this manhole cover up and down.
37:11But the impending doom of all this water coming over has now stopped.
37:17So hopefully, in the next few minutes,
37:19we'll get an answer where we are.
37:21But while he deals with that,
37:22we can start to crack on with continuing with the refurb.
37:27A bucket of sand later and the pipes are flowing freely.
37:31It's a job well done and a huge relief for Adam and Ali.
37:37The plumber has finished and he's gone, we've paid him.
37:39He is the most expensive plumber in Spain, by the way.
37:42And we've probably just paid for his new Wellington boots in that build.
37:46But it's done.
37:47Terrace is now all of a sudden completely drained and gone,
37:49which is what we wanted.
37:50And now we can crack on with the next job.
37:53I can't wait to see this bar start to take shape.
37:56I'm looking forward to this next stage of the refurb.
37:59So now we've had all the problems outside, that's all been finished,
38:02we can now crack on and make up for lost time.
38:04So it's going to be...
38:05We're going to have to work into the night, I think,
38:07so that we stay on schedule.
38:09We've got a lot of work to do,
38:10so I need to crack the whip on with Brogan a little bit.
38:14In recent years, heavy rainfall and flooding have become common
38:18along the south coast of Spain.
38:20Now Adam and Ali can only hope that with the blockage removed,
38:24this problem doesn't rear its ugly head again.
38:27It's late August at Tracey and John's Bulgarian campsite,
38:36and as the peak tourist season comes to a close,
38:39the couple are making plans for next year.
38:43That's amazing, John, you've done so much.
38:47For the past few days,
38:48John has been building two new hard stands for motorhomes,
38:52complete with retaining walls made from recycled stone.
38:57When we open that gate to let people in,
38:59that is going to be a nice first impression.
39:03Tracey and John are adding to their business all the time.
39:08Because it's just us and a small budget,
39:11we've got to just pace ourselves and, you know,
39:14get the money before we do anything stupid.
39:20Once the new motorhome pitches are finished,
39:23they're hoping to polish off one more project
39:25before the end of the year.
39:27Here.
39:29Lovely.
39:30There's increasing demand in the area for glamping,
39:33and they want to get in on the act with a teepee.
39:37This is going to offer guests a unique experience, I think.
39:41It'll be lovely. It'll be cosy.
39:42OK.
39:43OK.
39:44I'd love to do it, so if I would, I think other people would.
39:47If the teepee works out OK,
39:49then maybe we could get a few more
39:51and then this could become, like, the teepee area.
39:54Mm.
39:55So, but we'll just...
39:56We'll take one teepee at a time.
39:58One step at a time.
40:00And then we'll go from there.
40:01The teepee needs a solid base,
40:04and rather than using wood, which can rot over time,
40:08John has opted for concrete.
40:10Right, we're putting the poles up.
40:12No particular order.
40:14And today they've rounded up some friends
40:16to help build the tent,
40:18starting with metal poles custom-made by John.
40:21Yay!
40:22There we go.
40:23Well done, guys. Well done.
40:25But now comes the tricky part.
40:28Everybody grab a bit. We're going down there.
40:31That's me down there.
40:32Next, the five-metre-tall canvas needs to be hoisted into place.
40:37If we guide it a bit.
40:39Yeah.
40:40At first, their plan seems to be working.
40:44Oh, something's drastically wrong here.
40:47Something's drastically wrong, John.
40:49The metal poles were specially made by John
40:52to replace wooden ones,
40:54but there's a problem.
40:56We...
40:57It's not big enough.
40:58We've got to cut some off the bottom of the poles.
41:04We measured it.
41:06We measured it.
41:07I don't understand.
41:11So it's down with the poles so they can be cut to size.
41:15And after John has measured once and cut twice
41:18for the second time today,
41:20the giant metal frame is assembled.
41:23OK.
41:24Let's rest.
41:30Ta-da!
41:35That's looking better.
41:37OK.
41:38Too much.
41:39Too much?
41:40Yeah, back a bit, Emma.
41:42Ready?
41:43That's it.
41:44A bit more.
41:46God, I'll never want to put this thing up again.
41:49But it looks like this isn't going to be John's day.
41:53Well, we've got to put the tent up inside out.
41:57So, from what I can see,
41:59it looks like we're still ten centimetres off the correct height.
42:02But we haven't got the top sorted out yet.
42:05No, I think once we've...
42:06And if we can get the top sorted out,
42:08maybe the tent will drop down.
42:11Despite the measurement mix-up, the couple are well chuffed.
42:15To get this done...
42:16Is brilliant.
42:17..in this amount of time, I think, is a fantastic achievement
42:20and I'm really pleased with that.
42:21And we've learnt a lot.
42:22We've learnt a lot.
42:23And other days work and we'll be able to get it...
42:26Yeah.
42:27..how it should be.
42:28Yeah.
42:31Tracey and John's Bulgarian story began with a holiday home
42:35and turned into a thriving
42:37and ever-expanding collection of businesses.
42:41Many Brits who move abroad
42:43find that one business doesn't provide them
42:45with the income they need to get by.
42:48And with a shop, bar, B&B rooms, campsite
42:52and two-bedroom holiday let,
42:54Tracey and John are no exception.
42:58We're always thinking of different things to do.
43:01The teepee, hopefully,
43:02will add another string to our bow in the business.
43:05So now our next challenge with the teepee
43:08is to furnish it and...
43:10And get some bookings.
43:12But some dreams are worth fighting for
43:15and the couple are hoping their hard work
43:17will pay off in the future.
43:19The business is never going to make you rich.
43:24You know, most people wouldn't find it fun
43:26but for John and I, we love it.
43:29This is our fun in life.
43:32Tracey and John moved here for a more relaxed way of life
43:36and while days off are few and far between,
43:39it's clear that they're here to stay.
43:43I love Bulgaria because of the people, the nature.
43:47It's like going back in time to when I was growing up on the Wirral.
43:53And it has the same feeling that it felt back then.
43:58We wanted a lifestyle change and we've achieved that.
44:01Yeah.
44:07Next time...
44:08As fast as I'm ticking this list off, it seems to be growing.
44:11One couple look to turn an abandoned building project
44:14into a dream business.
44:16We're taking a gamble, but everything in life for me is a gamble.
44:21Will Adam and Ali's new bar turn into a money pit?
44:24It needs a lot of money spending on it and they've made the decision
44:27to just go for it and do it properly.
44:31The heat is on.
44:32And bad weather threatens Greg and Daisy's launch.
44:35The weather is absolutely dreadful.
44:37It's probably been raining for about a week
44:39and the trails are muddy and washed out.
44:42So, a little bit nervous, if I'm honest.
44:44So, a little bit nervous, if I'm honest.
45:12I'll see you soon.
45:13I'll see you soon.
45:14Bye.
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