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00:01Every year, a new wave of dreamers pack up their lives and head for the sun.
00:05It just reminds me of the Wild West. It's just stunning.
00:08It's definitely very much different from a top-floor flat in Edinburgh.
00:11And we're joining them as their adventures begin across Europe.
00:15This is what we've been waiting for. It's beautiful.
00:18That's the Atlantic Ocean.
00:20This is where the work begins, mister.
00:22Playing the part...
00:24...of chateau owners in France...
00:27We've never done this before. We're making it up as we go along.
00:29...to launching fitness retreats in Bulgaria.
00:32Secret cards!
00:34But will their gamble pay off?
00:37Absolutely bonkers, but it's what we came for, yeah?
00:40Yay!
00:41Or will they fail to hit their target?
00:44Brexit has put the complications into overdrive.
00:48As they carve out...
00:49...their new lives in the sun.
00:52I just still feel like I'm on holiday a little bit.
00:55It's not sunk in yet, but this is my actual home now.
00:58What a lovely place to live.
01:02Today...
01:02So musty.
01:04..the next chapter for a screenwriter from London...
01:07Unexpected costs.
01:09That is the theme of this whole journey.
01:12..brings a drama she wouldn't dare to write.
01:15Water got in.
01:16The crown bit blew away.
01:18Yeah, it's pretty ruined.
01:20Boot camp hosts in Bulgaria battle burnout.
01:23I can't even string sentences together at this point in the season.
01:27..as they struggle to keep pace.
01:30Sometimes I'm the cook, then I'm the chambermaid,
01:33then I'll be the personal trainer.
01:34And Norfolk holiday hosts in France
01:37are dipping into financially deep water.
01:39I can't hear the pump.
01:42Oh, God.
01:43Yeah.
01:43I've got no idea how much a new pool pump costs.
01:58When children fly the nest,
02:00many parents find themselves at a crossroads
02:03debating what the next chapter should look like.
02:05But some don't just turn the page.
02:08They change the backdrop entirely
02:10to start the adventure they've waited years for.
02:13Really nice weather.
02:16Lucky to have this.
02:17I wonder how deep it is.
02:19We'll find out.
02:23For fitness instructor Frankie and her husband Mark,
02:26that adventure was to be found
02:28in the foothills of Bulgaria's Rila Mountains.
02:35I've been working towards it for a long time.
02:37Our lad is buying his first house
02:40and our daughter seems more settled with what she wants to do.
02:44The timer's right.
02:44Yeah, absolutely.
02:47The couple are now eight weeks into their new life
02:50running fitness and hiking holidays
02:52from their six-bed home in the village of Relyovo.
02:56And so far, no regrets.
02:58I think we've always been a little bit risky
03:00with what we've done throughout the years, haven't we?
03:03Calculated risk.
03:03Yeah, yeah.
03:04We both have the same mentality.
03:06You only live once.
03:07Life's too short.
03:08Yeah, we don't want to regret things that we didn't do.
03:10We'd rather regret things that we did.
03:11Yeah.
03:13It's late July
03:15and Frankie and Mark are doing all they can.
03:17Hi, guys.
03:18To end their latest hiking group's holiday on a high.
03:22Just want to present a couple of things.
03:24We've got a little medal.
03:26So I'm just going to present you all with one of these.
03:29There we go, Danielle, darling.
03:31Well done.
03:33In recognition of your masala peak lime,
03:37you also get one of those as well.
03:38Yeah, you have to collect the collection.
03:42There you go, all right.
03:44So well done, girls.
03:45Just a little token.
03:46You've done so well.
03:48So well done.
03:49And thank you for a really good five days.
03:56It smiles all round after a testing week for the hikers.
04:01But already Frankie and Mark seem to be cracking the art
04:04of making the hard work feel worth it.
04:07Overall, we had a relaxed time.
04:10We had the hikes.
04:12We had the lakes.
04:13I met new people.
04:15Really enjoyed the company.
04:17Frankie, Mark was absolutely amazing.
04:20I'm really happy and so proud that I've done three hikes,
04:24but two back-to-back really tough ones.
04:27Really, really enjoyed it.
04:29Really enjoyed the challenge.
04:30It's beyond my expectations.
04:33It's been fabulous.
04:34I would absolutely love to come again.
04:35I want the next medal.
04:38Lovely to meet you as well.
04:40But the guests aren't the only ones who've been pushed to their limits.
04:44See you later.
04:45Ciao.
04:47Eight weeks into their move here,
04:49for Frankie the non-stop routine is taking its toll.
04:55I have a lot of alter egos, but, you know, this is part and parcel of what we do.
05:00Like, sometimes I'm the cook.
05:01Then I'm the chambermaid.
05:04Then I'll be the yoga teacher.
05:06Then I'll be the hiking companion.
05:08Then I'll be the personal trainer.
05:11Aside from changeovers, the sheer physical demand of constant boot camps and hiking treks is pushing them hard.
05:18And with seven guests arriving tomorrow for a yoga retreat, it's their own stamina being put through its paces.
05:25I think if we did too many back-to-back, I would burn out.
05:30And then that's not good for the guests, because the guests then get the worst of us.
05:34And that's not fair, because ultimately they're coming out for an experience.
05:37And to have two hosts that are burnt out, frazzled, tired, and just want their own space,
05:41they're not going to have a good experience.
05:44I think we'll be ready then, when they go, to actually have, like, a proper break.
05:50Cheers, love. Cheers.
05:55While Frankie and Mark waited for the kids to leave home before they started a new adventure,
06:011,400 miles away in the sleepy village of Marseillet,
06:06Norfolk couple Sam and James are giving their life a glow-up with the kids in tow.
06:13We both had fallen in love with France and the country quite a few years over years of holidaying.
06:20The kids are the age that we really...
06:24We don't want to leave it any longer.
06:26It's now we'll have to wait until we've retired,
06:28so we're just looking forward to having that time with the kids,
06:32which we will be able to have now, and the weather also.
06:37Along with their children, Imogen, Alice and Toby,
06:40Yep, it will be, hopefully.
06:44The couple have recently traded jobs in HR and engineering...
06:48A little bit there.
06:49..for holiday hosting.
06:51They bought this five-bed home with two ready-to-let geets
06:55and already have plans to expand.
06:58The next task is to transform the garage that we have here into the third sheet.
07:04Hopefully we can get that up and running by the end of summer.
07:08But the budget is very, very tight.
07:12The materials are expensive, so we've really got to be careful with that.
07:15That's going to be probably the biggest challenge.
07:21It's late May.
07:23If we put that there as well.
07:25Two months since Sam and James officially became holiday hosts.
07:30Both sheets are full of guests, so noisy renovation work on the third sheet is on hold.
07:36But there's still lots to do.
07:38Find out how this pool is, eh?
07:40Hopefully it's blue, not green.
07:43With some around the corner, the priority is making their pool guest-ready.
07:48But there's a problem.
07:49I can't hear the pump.
07:51Oh, God.
07:52And it looks like a pricey one.
07:56I'm going to have to get a replacement pump.
08:00I've got no idea how much a new pool pump costs.
08:04Probably a lot.
08:05Thousands of Euros?
08:07No.
08:07Hundreds?
08:08Well, we haven't really got hundreds of Euros, really, to be spending on a pool pump, so...
08:13Haven't at all.
08:17With every Euro earmarked for the big renovation,
08:20it's a hit they really don't need.
08:24But without a pump, they have no pool,
08:26so James has no choice but to hunt down the part.
08:31And he's in luck.
08:33Ah, yeah.
08:34This one.
08:35This one.
08:35OK.
08:37They have the pump he needs.
08:39But at what cost?
08:40I don't know what the prices are.
08:43Maybe that's the price.
08:44If that's the price, I'm happier about that.
08:49It's still 250 Euros that I didn't want to spend.
08:53Four...
08:53Nine.
08:54Four, four, nine.
08:56Ah, 449.
08:57Um, OK.
09:00Looks like James may have to test his French out with some good old-fashioned haggling.
09:05Is there a price, um, because I joined the other day to the, the, your card?
09:11The, the, the cut-magazin card?
09:15Of course.
09:16The, the, the cash-pissin card, or magazin...
09:20I don't understand.
09:21Does that mean I get a good price?
09:23Ha, ha, ha, ha!
09:26Ha, ha, ha!
09:28Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
09:30Well, we need to, and you have one here?
09:32Yeah?
09:33Yeah.
09:34We've got to have it.
09:35Well, it was worth a try.
09:37There we go.
09:38We can't afford not to have it.
09:43Back home with the help of son Toby...
09:46Hello, you gonna come and help me?
09:48Yeah.
09:49Come on then.
09:49James is hoping this new pump is the answer to their problems.
09:54I'm gonna replace the pump.
09:56In that box is a new one.
09:58Ah, a new one.
10:00Yeah.
10:01I like new ones.
10:03You like new ones?
10:04Yeah.
10:06So, we're gonna drop the new motor in.
10:08It's all connected up to the pipes.
10:10With an engineering background,
10:12at least James can dodge any expensive labour costs.
10:16Or so he hopes.
10:17Right, you ready?
10:18I'm gonna turn it on.
10:20Whee!
10:22Wow.
10:23Success.
10:24Well done.
10:25Can't even hear that now.
10:27That's incredible.
10:30The fix has cost Sam and James money, but also time.
10:34With each setback, work on the sheet slips further behind schedule.
10:38Once we get into the holiday season,
10:42I'm really gonna be limited as to how much banging and crashing I can do,
10:47because nobody wants building construction whilst they're on holiday.
10:51We want good reviews and return customers.
10:53So, the sooner we get the sheet done,
10:55the sooner we can start renting it out and getting that extra income,
10:59which is what we really, really need to survive.
11:05Alright.
11:06Coming up...
11:07Oh my God.
11:08A storm rips up plans for a yoga retreat in Portugal.
11:12I'm out here in the middle of the night grappling with a yurt.
11:15How are you gonna fit a third in anyway?
11:16Well, give it a go.
11:17And can Plymouth B&Bers in France magic up a new room in time for a convoy of bikers?
11:23Um, we do need to get the curtains up.
11:25Oh.
11:27Oops.
11:38Since Brexit, moving to France hasn't stopped British dreamers.
11:43It's just raised the bar.
11:45Anyone hoping to launch a business needs a solid plan
11:48and proof they can earn a living from it.
11:51So, the pressure to succeed is greater than ever.
11:55Wanna do it over there look?
11:56Yeah, one of them.
11:58Especially for Plymouth couple Pete and Anna.
12:01I'm eating them.
12:02Oh no, it's just like that.
12:04Whose new B&B in Chalut will decide whether their visa and their dream can continue.
12:12What is at stake?
12:14Everything, really.
12:15Everything.
12:15We sold our house in the UK.
12:17We gave up our good jobs.
12:18No physical or monetary ties with the UK.
12:23Everything we have, we've thrown into the business in France.
12:28But the couple have a solid plan to survive.
12:31They hope to create a niche by combining their love of riding with the B&B business
12:37and start running motorbike tours.
12:41I want people to come over here and see...
12:44How great France is for bikes.
12:46How brilliant France is, especially for motorcyclists.
12:49There are some nice places that...
12:51Well, you've found some brilliant places online and stuff.
12:54So, yeah, we can take them out, can't we?
12:56Yeah.
12:56And just show them around.
12:59It's May, and Pete and Anna's Chambra Dote has been open for a grand total of three weeks.
13:05And they're already receiving rave reviews.
13:09We're getting top marks come in.
13:11And even then, I've been trying to say, no, it won't matter.
13:15We don't care.
13:15Yes, we do.
13:16And it does matter.
13:18And because, of course, we're trying to build our reputation and trying to get it going,
13:23we are now...
13:23Someone said to me that we come up first in Shalhou.
13:26That's when the cyclists came up.
13:28And that's why we want the reviews to be good, because we come up first.
13:34Tomorrow, they're welcoming their first ever group of bikers.
13:37But as they only have two double bedrooms for guests, they have a small problem.
13:42These are the emergency beds.
13:44Yes, we know they're hideous.
13:46All right, do you want to get this one in first?
13:48Yes.
13:49Right, we'll take that one in.
13:50Upstairs is a room Pete and Anna had planned to eventually set up as a twin.
13:55But now, it'll have to be a triple.
13:58Mattresses are really nice, actually.
14:00Oh, that's a light one.
14:01They're all quite new.
14:03We got these from someone who was retiring.
14:06They used to run a pub in a little village near us.
14:08They did us a really good deal.
14:11Which we're quite happy about.
14:13I'm working out how we're going to plan everything.
14:16Two single beds like that aren't a problem, but now we've got an extra one to fit in,
14:20it's going to be a bit of a jiggle, I think.
14:23Spin that round a minute.
14:28See what I mean?
14:29Yeah, how are you going to fit a third in anyway?
14:31Well, give it a go.
14:32I trust you.
14:33What's the worst that can happen?
14:36Oh, yeah, that'd be great. I get it now.
14:40Oh, cool, that'll do.
14:41There you go.
14:42See? Trust me.
14:44Three beds, three lads.
14:45Yeah, that looks all right.
14:47But after doing up the whole house, the pair are now mastering the art of bed assembling and guest room
14:53manoeuvres.
14:54Yeah.
14:55Sort of.
14:56We do need to get the curtains up.
14:58Oh.
15:00Oops.
15:01But Pete and Anna always have a solution, however unconventional.
15:06Because we've got the beds in now, I don't want to make too much mess,
15:09so Anna's going to vacuum whilst I drill and pick up all the dust.
15:13Which side are you doing first?
15:14This end first.
15:14OK.
15:17OK.
15:18In the world of renovations, though, sometimes it's the small jobs...
15:22Oh!
15:23...that have a way of fighting back.
15:25And Pete has a screw loose.
15:27That didn't go as planned, did it?
15:29Oops.
15:30OK.
15:31Plan B.
15:32I haven't got a plan B, but I'm going to find a plan B.
15:36Luckily, it's a simple fix with a bigger roll plug.
15:41You kind of get used to something going wrong and going,
15:44right, OK, now I have to do something different.
15:47I always say, as it no plan survives contact with a French house.
15:51So you've got to be ready to adapt.
15:55That's OK, isn't it?
15:56Yeah.
15:56We have a curtain rail with curtains.
16:00Curtains up, Pete and Anna now have a third room they can let.
16:05But they've had some bad news, too, about the first guests to sleep in it.
16:12They've now got a problem because they're stuck in Le Mans,
16:15because one of them's got a puncture and can't get anything organised
16:19because it's a Monday and generally France decides,
16:23eh, we'll close Mondays.
16:25We'll see it tomorrow.
16:26We're hoping they can get themselves sorted and back down,
16:28but we think it's going to be tomorrow now.
16:29Yeah, I think it'll be tomorrow.
16:30But that's because there's an extra bit of time now.
16:37Across the continent in Portugal,
16:39another Brit is discovering the path to a new life in the sun
16:43isn't always straightforward.
16:45But for Ronnie McKenzie,
16:47waking up at her new rural retreat near Caldas da Raiinha
16:51still gives her the drive she needs.
16:54It's a very quiet area.
16:56It's very peaceful.
16:57You've got green all around you.
16:59And those views, they wow.
17:04You know, sometimes I wake up in the morning and I just look
17:07and I'm like, it's still incredible.
17:11The London screenwriter hopes to host writing and wellness retreats here,
17:16but her story isn't without its own plot twists.
17:20The property's hidden secrets have swallowed her summer and her savings.
17:26I've had so many setbacks.
17:29What a year.
17:31But I have a vision of how something could be beautiful
17:36and I kind of want to see it through really.
17:39Essentially, it's my decision, my dream, my goal.
17:45So I'm responsible.
17:50It's November and just as Ronnie's villa was starting to come together,
17:54the plot thickens.
17:56With just two days to go until her first retreat,
17:59a recent storm has thrown her plans off course.
18:03This whole plant came down and it blocked, completely blocked the pathway.
18:10So Paola and Mattis have come to,
18:13they've been working on this for like a whole day so far.
18:17Oop!
18:18But fallen trees are the least of her problems.
18:21Ronnie's yurt at the heart of her retreat has taken on serious water damage.
18:26Oh man. You can smell it from here.
18:30You can smell the mustiness of the yurt.
18:33It's completely damaged.
18:34Because it rained non-stop.
18:36Water got in, the crown bit blew away in the wind.
18:40I was hoping that we were going to have our meditation and our yoga sessions in there.
18:43But I don't think people are going to be able to concentrate with the smell of damp and mould.
18:49And yeah, it's pretty ruined in there.
18:53Ronnie's stripped off the ruined outer layer, but inside matters are much worse.
19:00So musty. So musty.
19:04You can see the water's got in.
19:07So this looks like mould.
19:09And I just had electricity put in.
19:12The box is safe.
19:15Which is good.
19:16To save the yurt, she needs a new cover.
19:19More unexpected costs.
19:23You see, I think that is the theme of this whole journey and spray.
19:29But in the short term, she's going to try some cheaper solutions.
19:33This mould and mildew spray is 100% vegan.
19:38So watch out, mould.
19:41We're coming for you.
19:45It's had an effect on the smell, hasn't it, already?
19:49Buoyed by the sweet smell of success, Ronnie's suddenly hopeful she can salvage the yurt in time for her guests.
19:56It might still happen.
19:57If I run into humidifiers and get it all nice and cosy and how it was before but better, I
20:04think the yoghurt could happen.
20:06This spray may have saved the retreat.
20:12Ronnie's enlisted Mateus.
20:1417 metres long.
20:16To help her measure up for a temporary cover.
20:19Fit, metre?
20:211.5.
20:23A short trip to the local fabric store later.
20:27Cut the fabric!
20:28Ronnie has her solution.
20:30They didn't have enough.
20:32So, it's going to be mostly green with a little panel of this.
20:38It's going to be like a skirt around the yurt.
20:40I hope it's better than it sounds because it actually sounds terrible.
20:46Even though night has fallen, Ronnie's not done yet.
20:50Still damp.
20:51I have to get it dried out.
20:53I'm not sure what to do now.
20:55If I could get this over the top, then I could put the humidifier on.
20:58The plastic cover will stop the dehumidifier from absorbing the moisture from the outside air.
21:04Ah, I'm being so brave.
21:06If Ronnie can get it all.
21:11I have to throw it up.
21:13I'm like...
21:15How do I get this?
21:17Oh, it's just coming off, isn't it?
21:19I shouldn't be doing this.
21:24I'm not sure.
21:28But with a bit of perseverance...
21:30It's getting there, isn't it?
21:32Leon, I'm busy.
21:34The cover is in place.
21:36Oh, my God.
21:38I just can't believe it.
21:41I'm out here in the middle of the night.
21:45Dogs are barking and I'm actually quite scared a little bit.
21:48A little bit.
21:51That just looks terrible.
21:55But with the retreat less than two days away, Ronnie can only hope her midnight repairs pay off.
22:02I want this yurt dried out.
22:04It's too beautiful to let go to Rack and Ruin.
22:08Yeah, that's why I'm kind of like here in the middle of the night.
22:11Grappling with a yurt.
22:13I think Portugal's changing me.
22:14It's making me into a country girl.
22:17Sometimes you've just got to get your hands dirty.
22:23Coming up, money worries intensify for Sam and James.
22:27It's a huge chunk of our August income, which is a real kind of blow for us because we need
22:33the money.
22:35And what's prompted Mark's revealing confession?
22:38I like running around the house naked.
22:40TMI.
22:41People will think it's a different type of boot camp.
22:56It's August in Bulgaria.
22:59Good. Breathe in. Come to centre. Reach up.
23:03And Frankie and Mark are nearing the end of their last back-to-back retreat.
23:07Take our awareness to our breath.
23:10After five days of intensive yoga...
23:13Get ready for some breakfast, then. Get the kettle on.
23:16The guests are feeling energised.
23:19Do you want a cup of tea?
23:20Yes, please.
23:23Which is more than can be said for their hosts.
23:26I'm tired now. I do feel quite tired.
23:30I can't even string sentences together at this point in the season.
23:33Because it's just... It's full on, really, isn't it?
23:36It is, yeah.
23:36But I think I've learnt this year, doing three quite close together is the most I could ever do.
23:46But the couple have kept their wariness away from the guests, who've all had a lovely time.
23:52Frankie's energy is just amazing.
23:54She just, you know, it's the glue that brings it all together and drives them.
23:58You know, all the food, the hospitality, it's fantastic.
24:00This is quite a hot plate.
24:03Frankie and Mark have such great hospitality.
24:05Really good hosts.
24:06Couldn't do enough for you.
24:08And we've had a good giggle.
24:11Thank you so much, my love.
24:14Soon, despite hitting village rush hour,
24:18the last guests of the summer season are on their way.
24:22See you later.
24:23Bye!
24:25And with no more retreats till September, the couple can look forward to a well-earned rest.
24:32I have all this space to myself.
24:35I don't have to share my bathroom with anybody, including you.
24:38I don't have to share my space with anyone.
24:40So, yeah, that would be nice.
24:42And I'll get a bit of peace.
24:44But not for long, as three weeks later, Mark's making a start on a long overdue project promised to his
24:51missus.
24:53Their own ensuite bathroom.
24:56Lubo, the builder, has put this new structure up for us, and we're going to have toilet at that end,
25:01we're going to have a nice shower enclosure here, and a little sink on the wall on that side, with
25:06the door into the bedroom on that side.
25:08I've got to tile the floor.
25:10I've got to tile the floor.
25:10I've got to put some panelling on the walls, stuff like that, build the shower enclosure.
25:16And while Lubo gets to work, Mark has a job of his own.
25:21We've had some of our winter wood delivered.
25:24But the problem I've got is that the digger needs to get through this gap here to dig for the
25:28trench tomorrow.
25:30The new bathroom must be connected to the septic tank, so a soil pipe has to be buried alongside the
25:37house and all the wood is in the way.
25:39This is one of those jobs would be ideal to incorporate into a boot camp.
25:45And when Lubo heads off for lunch, Mark and Frankie can't resist a peek at their new ensuite.
25:52Oh, wow.
25:54That is looking good.
25:55If you have vision and see past the pile of bricks.
25:59So this is like, for me, exciting to actually have my own toilet and bathroom and shower when I've got
26:06to share it with you, so...
26:08I promised you an ensuite.
26:10Yeah.
26:1115 years ago.
26:14And you say I'm impatient. I'm definitely not impatient.
26:19It is definitely going to be a lot more convenient just having access to our own bathroom.
26:24Because we normally would use that bathroom there, wouldn't we?
26:26And we'd have to share that with another two guests.
26:29And it's nice because it means that bedroom there have now got their own bathroom.
26:32I'd just be glad not to have to get dressed to go to the toilet in the middle of the
26:35night.
26:35I like running around the house naked.
26:37TMI.
26:38People will think it's a different type of boot camp.
26:44Sounds like it can't come soon enough.
26:46So it's back to the wood pile.
26:48But now Mark has help.
26:50Right, so Mark. Yeah.
26:52What am I doing?
26:53We're going to clear this little corner here.
26:54And then we're going to start moving that over so that he can get in this way, okay?
26:59So just start tossing it that way for now.
27:02It's bloody warm here.
27:04Not only do they need to get the space cleared before the digger comes tomorrow, there's not long before the
27:10next boot camp begins.
27:13We've got eight days.
27:15The place is looking a bit like a building site, which I guess it is at the minute, even though
27:18the ensuite is really only affecting our bedroom.
27:21But we've got pressure there because we need to go back into our bedroom before the boot camp guests arrive
27:27because we've got no space for us.
27:28And it is only a week tomorrow, and a week sounds a long time, but time just seems to go
27:35so quick in Bulgaria.
27:37But getting the bulk of the work done in time is going to need a lot of teamwork.
27:44So just to clarify, you want me to move this stuff here?
27:48Yeah, but I want you to move it down there.
27:50Yeah?
27:51That's better, love.
27:53Oh, shut up.
27:53Put your back into it.
27:55Shut up!
28:06Frankie and Mark aren't the only ones putting their back into it.
28:11Over in France, Sam and James are finally making headway with their Gite renovations.
28:16We've got a couple more now.
28:17James has carved out openings in the garage walls for the new Gite windows, but they're still a little behind
28:24schedule.
28:25The most difficult thing has been trying to fit in around guests because it is such a noisy job.
28:32So we have had to do it through kind of gaps with guests.
28:36Guests are out today at the beach, so we know that we can make a little bit of noise today
28:40as well.
28:41We've got some time.
28:42With a precious window of opportunity while guests are away, the family get rocking, clearing the rubble so James can
28:50make a start on windows of their own.
28:54Hopefully, it will slide in.
28:57The measurements show that it will.
29:00This is the first time I've fitted a window.
29:02It's not rocket science, but you can equally get it wrong.
29:07Rocks moved, James can make a start on prepping the space for the windows.
29:12While Sam cleans up after him.
29:16All the kind of concrete and rock dust has come through and completely covered this garden.
29:24We've got guests arriving in a couple of days, so we're just getting everything ready really, so we're not in
29:30a big rush on the day that they arrive.
29:32Just got to hope that it doesn't all blow back out of those windows, but I think the really dusty
29:38part's finished now.
29:40Well, you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.
29:44The battle with the garden goes on. It's just going everywhere.
29:55But the next day, the dust has settled, and it's the moment of truth for the newbie window fitter.
30:01I think it's going to fit. I've measured it. I've measured it twice.
30:06OK. Oh, look at that.
30:09Does it fit OK?
30:10It fits nicely. It's nice and snug. A little bit of a gap for the sealant. It's great.
30:15Well done.
30:17Give that a tap. That's it.
30:22Perfect.
30:23Now that that's in, we'll try it with the windows and make sure they hook the windows on.
30:30What if they don't fit?
30:31Well, if they don't fit, then Daddy will have to chop bits off or sand bits.
30:36But despite his lack of experience...
30:39Squidge!
30:40..he's rising to the challenge.
30:44There. Good.
30:46Do you want the window handle?
30:48Oh, yes.
30:52There.
30:53Are we finished?
30:55Yeah.
30:56There's the window.
30:57Yay!
30:58Yeah!
31:00Thanks!
31:01Well, getting the window in has been an important milestone, really, isn't it?
31:05It's something that we can really celebrate.
31:11A month on, with both windows finally in, James is making a start on levelling the floor.
31:17But the stop-start slog of working around guests is wearing him thin.
31:23It's not as quick as we had wanted.
31:25Things always take longer.
31:27But we should start to progress quite a bit in the next sort of month, I'd say.
31:32We've just got to push on now.
31:34In peak summer, delays were always likely.
31:38But as Sam's discovering, there's something far worse.
31:41She's just had some worrying news.
31:43One of our guests has cancelled her booking, which is a real kind of blow for us, because it's nine
31:52days away.
31:53It's two weeks in August, so trying to now feel that.
31:59I'm not sure if we'll be able to. Hopefully we will.
32:02But it's a huge chunk of our August income.
32:06Getting that right before bed was just joyful.
32:12It's bad news for the couple.
32:14If no one fills the cancellation, they're staring down the loss of more than 2,000 euros.
32:20Money they simply don't have to spare.
32:23That is the real bummer.
32:25But there's just no point stressing too much about it, because it's not going to change anything.
32:32So just got to hope someone books it, maybe tweak a bit the prices and just make sure that, you
32:37know, it's visible on all the platforms.
32:39And maybe it will get booked.
32:41And if it doesn't, then, you know, there's less ironing for me to do for two weeks.
32:46I'd rather the ironing, to be fair.
32:49We need the money.
32:55Coming up, there's a lot riding on success for Pete and Anna's new venture.
33:01If we make a mess of this, and we have to go back to the UK, we will literally have
33:05nothing.
33:07And Veronica weighs up the costs at her Portuguese retreat.
33:11Oh, it's been financially ruinous.
33:27Back in Shalu, Pete and Anna are awaiting their five road-weary bikers.
33:33We had a message a little while ago, they'd stop for some fuel.
33:36And they were 100k away.
33:37And they were, yeah, 100k, so that's what, 63 miles?
33:41That's a bit precise.
33:42Well, yeah, it's the trucker in me, innit?
33:48They were actually expected yesterday, but a puncture derailed their plans.
33:54As they're running a day late, we'll be extra nice to them. Bless them.
33:58When they get here, we're gonna put their bikes in the garage.
34:02Take them out for a meal or something tonight, I think.
34:04That'll be pay in mind, because we've got no money.
34:09The delay did give Pete and Anna more time to finesse their new triple bedroom.
34:15Everyone gets a chocolate and a bottle of water.
34:17It will be better laid out, obviously, with just two single beds,
34:20because we can lay them with their own tables and then work out a lot better.
34:25They're here!
34:27Go straight ahead, mate!
34:30Soon, the roar of engines marks the start of a new dawn.
34:34Put them straight in the garage.
34:35Yeah, right out of the way for you.
34:37And the kind of guests Pete and Anna hope will keep this place humming.
34:43Bonjour, ça va?
34:44As keen bikers, the couple know the drill.
34:48Accommodating the bikes takes priority.
34:51Go on up.
34:52Come on up.
34:52We'll show you bits and bobs.
34:55Breakfast room in there.
34:57Oh, lovely.
34:57Ideal, yeah.
34:58One of the doubles.
34:59This is Torridge.
35:00Right.
35:00And then you've got Tamar.
35:02Very nice, isn't it?
35:05But while two of them have plenty of space...
35:08So the rest of you are upstairs, then?
35:10Three of the lads have drawn the short straws.
35:14Unfortunately, this one's not so posh.
35:16But having spent the last few nights camping, just a mattress is luxury enough.
35:22Yeah, spot up.
35:23There you go.
35:23Fantastic.
35:24How are you doing?
35:2727, 28 hours late.
35:29But they're here.
35:29That's all the main thing.
35:31They're in good spirits.
35:32They've had a nice, really good ride down.
35:34They're quite happy.
35:34The bikes are all parked nicely in the garage.
35:36And they've seen the rooms and seem quite impressed.
35:39So, yeah, all good.
35:41They must be impressed, because two days later they're still here,
35:45despite only booking for one night.
35:49They stayed an extra night, which was nice for them as well,
35:51I think, just to have a chill after their slightly manic days with the puncher.
35:56They said it was all really, really nice.
35:58The beds were really comfortable, apparently, which is nice.
36:00And even the little room, yes, we squeezed three of them in there.
36:03They said, yeah, it was really good.
36:04They're all really happy.
36:06And despite having a full house, the couple found time to sneak away for a major purchase.
36:12A local business is shutting down, and Pete and Anna snapped up their used stock for a future venture.
36:19We've got ten bikes, various sizes.
36:21When we get time, we'll take them out, give them a clean, give them a check.
36:24They'll be ready to go.
36:26At a thousand euros for the lot, it's a bargain.
36:29But it's a big layout, given cycle tours won't start until next year.
36:33The timing's all wrong, but it was a deal we couldn't refuse.
36:37And the thing is, we find over here as well, if you get a chance, just grab it.
36:41Just do it, because you don't know where it's going to lead.
36:45First, the couple want to get their motorbike tours off the ground.
36:48And today, Pete's getting the chance to lead their guests on an epic trip.
36:54To breakfast.
36:56I can't go, unfortunately. I've got to stay, but that's fine.
36:59I don't mind them. Someone's got to do the washing.
37:01Pete's taking them to a nearby cafe, and whilst it isn't your typical French fare,
37:07a full English is hitting the spot for hungry bikers about to hit the road again.
37:12Well, nice. Yeah, very tasty.
37:14You have to wait.
37:15Long way to come for a fryer.
37:21But it's their stay at the B&B that's earning rave reviews.
37:26Absolutely fantastic. Yeah, great house, nice rooms, nice garden, sitting, have a drink.
37:32I'll be coming back more than likely again next year.
37:35Trendy people.
37:36Nice house. It's nice that you had a garage for the bikes.
37:39Recommended. Very recommended.
37:40Yeah, definitely.
37:42Take care, all of you.
37:46It's just the beginning of the busy season for tourists in France,
37:50but Pete's feeling good about their new profession as hosts.
37:55The Chambre Doe looks like it's picking up.
37:57We're getting bookings, people seem to be happy.
37:59We're getting some really good reviews.
38:01Now we can think about the bike tours and the cycle tours,
38:04because now we've bought some cycles as well.
38:08Success isn't just about keeping the B&B afloat.
38:11Pete and Anna's visa depends on them earning roughly 23,000 euros a year.
38:17If their business falls short, their future in France could be in jeopardy.
38:22It's nerve-wracking because it is so important.
38:24Everything we have, we have invested in being here.
38:27If we make a mess of this, we could be stuck and we have to go back to the UK
38:32and we will literally have nothing.
38:40Back in Portugal, despite some overwhelming challenges,
38:45Ronnie's very first wellness retreat is underway.
38:48This is delicious.
38:50And so far, everything is running smoothly.
38:53Compared to how I was two days ago, this has been so lovely.
38:58We did yoga nidra last night, which is basically yoga to help you go to sleep.
39:08But the biggest question mark was whether Ronnie's Mongolian yurt
39:13could be salvaged in time for the guests.
39:18Look at the difference. Honestly, it was a real countdown.
39:22One of the key things is we got the rug out.
39:26We opened it all out so the sunshine and the air could do its thing.
39:31I washed the floors with a combination of, like, lemon and vanilla.
39:36We had incense going. You know, and it worked. It worked.
39:41It worked so well that Ronnie was able to use it for an evening meditation session last night.
39:47When they walked in yesterday, when we had all the candles there,
39:51and it was beautiful. It had that magical feeling.
39:54And that's what I wanted. I was like, I just wanted that.
39:57And we got it.
39:59Just two days from nearly being written off entirely, the yurt was a hit.
40:04For me, the yurt feels like it's an essential part of the retreat.
40:09Like, it feels like it's such a special space,
40:13and it's the kind of space that you don't get everywhere.
40:16Even more reason for me to keep it,
40:18because I wouldn't have the budget to replace it.
40:22As for Ronnie's makeshift yurt skirt, pretty much seamless.
40:26I'm really happy with it.
40:28Like, it's green. It goes with the grass.
40:31It's water-resistant.
40:33We'll get through the winter and give me time to work out what to do next.
40:39With space in the yurt limited, Ronnie's doing the yoga sessions inside the house.
40:44And then try to have you breathe in.
40:46So you can breathe in.
40:48And trace the circle.
40:50And later, there'll be a therapeutic drumming session,
40:54led by her friend, Chantelle.
40:56We had back-up places through the property that we could possibly drum it,
41:00but I was really adamant that I wanted to drum in the yurt.
41:03So far, Ronnie's guests couldn't be more impressed.
41:07Veronica's been so nurturing.
41:10Honestly, she's been so thoughtful, so caring,
41:13to be able to be in the Portuguese countryside
41:16and just to have this really beautifully curated experience.
41:20It's better than I could have ever imagined.
41:24With her first retreat off to a great start,
41:27her new business is starting on a high.
41:32The retreat has been amazing.
41:34So many amazing moments, wonderful women.
41:38Seeing them appreciate the house, seeing the house being used,
41:42sharing ideas, doing the yoga, the meditation.
41:45This is the perfect spot for a retreat
41:48and, yeah, it couldn't have gone any better.
41:53It's taken seven months of setbacks, sweat and sheer stubbornness
41:58to turn this leaking money pit into the sparkling sanctuary it is today.
42:06I've had many doubts.
42:08There have been times when I thought,
42:09oh, my God, what have I done?
42:11Have I beaten off too much?
42:13Am I being too ambitious?
42:15What am I doing?
42:18Lessons have been learned, including how far a budget will go.
42:23Oh, it's been financially ruinous.
42:30What can I do? I can't walk away.
42:35I'm not a quitter.
42:37I'm not a quitter.
42:39Never have been.
42:41For right now, I'm still in that mindset of making it the most beautiful house I can make it.
42:50I've had guest day, I've had my first retreat, and they're very positive.
42:55And I think next year, you know, next season, I'll be able to do more retreats.
43:00So I feel like now, I'm kind of, I'm up and running now.
43:09In the meantime, Ronnie's taking a little time out to enjoy her new life with her own family and friends.
43:15And she's closing in, and she's closing in.
43:19I think I just bought it by a fraction of a second.
43:22And when filled with their love and laughter, it's beginning to feel a lot like home.
43:29Oh, this is the place. Absolutely.
43:32This is the place.
43:34And my heart is still very much here.
43:36I've seen the pictures, but actually being here now, it's...
43:41All the little touches.
43:43Oh, my God. All those little rustic touches.
43:45Yeah.
43:47It's been an up and down journey.
43:49It's been incredibly tough.
43:52But, you know, what else am I going to do?
43:55I want to open a retreat in a foreign country.
43:59So, this is it, really.
44:01I've signed up for this.
44:03Still smiling and still grateful to be here.
44:07And, yeah, I feel pretty good.
44:10Cheers!
44:15Next time, as the season comes to an end, have Pete and Anna done enough to secure their future?
44:22We had to have visas.
44:24We have certain criteria we have to fulfil.
44:26It is difficult, and it is a worry.
44:29Frankie and Mark are in a tight spot.
44:32I'd say we're in the realms of breaking fence posts at the moment.
44:37And in France...
44:39Lots to do today.
44:40...Sam and James race to open their B&B to guests.
44:44We've not got any furniture.
44:46We need to put the worktop on.
44:49Clean the floors.
44:50Make beds.
44:52Two hours.
44:53The Dior of the Dior of the Dior.
44:53Look at the house.
44:53On the Dior of the Dior of the Dior.
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