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00:01Psst, do you want to know a secret?
00:03Us Brits love the costas.
00:05We are fun!
00:07We are sun worshipers.
00:09Loads of fun.
00:11Cat's out the bag now, Linda.
00:12But it really is.
00:14And with over 300 days of that glorious sunshine a year,
00:18it sure beats the cold and grey of the old UK.
00:21Ah, this is a life.
00:23Living that dream can be blooming hard graft.
00:26Misty!
00:27My left, you're right.
00:29Stress level.
00:30Through the roof.
00:31But at the end of the working day...
00:33Girl power.
00:34Girl power.
00:35Come on, Sam.
00:36Forward.
00:36Booyah!
00:37The quality of life on the costas...
00:42...is priceless.
00:44Cheers.
00:45Peace and love.
00:46Cheers.
00:47That's why there will always be...
00:50Hold your horses.
00:51Easy go on.
00:52Chief rocks in the weather.
00:53Sun sea sand, what more could you ask for?
00:56Bargain-loving Brits in the sun.
01:00Today on the costas...
01:02This is my hat.
01:03It's fun as well to get on.
01:05Feathers fly as Natasha chases towards a dream gig.
01:09We have to do something like this.
01:12Is that the right way?
01:14That way.
01:15Tighty righty lefty loosey.
01:17With paying guests about to arrive, Kirstie needs to finish furnishing her guest house...
01:22Looks about right.
01:24That'll do.
01:24And we snap back in time with photographer Simon...
01:28Three, two, one.
01:29...who's focused on breaking into big time business.
01:32I don't know why I'm trying to talk to you like a child.
01:42Oh!
01:43Are you ready?
01:46There we go.
01:48Good girl.
01:48In the rural Murthian village of Campersole, it's breakfast time for Minnie and her owner, Kirstie.
01:55She inhales food.
01:57Some of my friends have dogs and they can leave the food out all day and they just graze.
02:01Nope.
02:01As soon as you put it down, two minutes later, it's done.
02:04Oh, I'm the same Minnie.
02:06If you're really lucky, she'll be sick in her mouth now when they need it.
02:08It's a thing.
02:09It's real.
02:11There we go.
02:14Delightful.
02:15Kirstie and Minnie split their time between their hometown of Warrington and this villa she rents to holidaymakers.
02:21I bought my place in Spain three years ago.
02:25They were a lot cheaper than at home and much nicer to have a property in the sun than it
02:29is to have it next to IKEA in Warrington.
02:33Because she doesn't have a Spanish visa, Kirstie only spends 90 days out of 180 here.
02:39This is the main living area of my villa.
02:41It's nice and spacious, nice and comfy.
02:44A small little kitchen, which is all that you need, because in Spain you're going to have to eat rather
02:49than sitting in yourself.
02:50As well as getting the place spick and span, Kirstie needs to make it tourist legal.
02:56I do have guests arriving, so I want to get the little jobs done so it's nice and it looks
03:01great.
03:02When she's not living here herself, Kirstie rents the place out to holidaymakers.
03:06I've got some new plants that I bought that I need to put into pots, which I can do outside.
03:12And I have a new table that I need to put together.
03:16Because I rent the villa out, the Spanish authorities require you to have a tourist licence.
03:21And part of the requirements for the tourist licence, they have some really funny stipulations.
03:26You have to have a table inside with enough chairs to seat all the people that the villa sleeps.
03:31A table outside with enough seats.
03:33You have to have first aid box, fire extinguishers.
03:39The rooms have to be a specific size and you have to provide recycling facilities for your guests.
03:46So just little things like that you have to take account of.
03:49And they come and check every year to make sure that you're adhering to everything and that you can keep
03:53the tourist licence.
03:54For Kirstie, keeping that licence is crucial.
03:57Any money she makes from guests goes towards time spent enjoying Spain.
04:02I love the weather, the food, mainly the food.
04:05I love being able to go out and eat something different every night.
04:08I love tapas, I like going out to different restaurants.
04:11This is the main bedroom.
04:13Nice and big, got a fan for when it does get particularly hot.
04:16When I'm staying at the villa, this is where I sleep obviously, the comfiest room, and so does little Minnie.
04:22In fact, she's just going to show you her little mouse house there.
04:25It's a cat bed.
04:27Minnie's needs and trips to Spain don't come cheap.
04:30And keeping that tourist licence isn't going to be easy.
04:33Better get cracking, Kirstie.
04:35First job, planting two new plants.
04:39I'm not a fan of getting soil down my nails.
04:42So, the old gardening, they look a bit severe, don't they, rather than gardening gloves like them off to go
04:48and kill somebody.
04:48But I'm not, they're just going to do some gardening.
04:55Perfecto!
04:56When we visit Spain, it's all about creating those picture-perfect memories.
05:01Bet it on, show us your best poses.
05:06You're cracking up!
05:08Give us a flex, Dave.
05:10What you got, Mark?
05:13That's about it, really.
05:14Oh, thank goodness for that.
05:18When he first moved to Spain, Simon had big plans to swap his life as a removal driver for a
05:23career as a professional photographer.
05:26Where are you going?
05:27The couple had their hands full, wife Becky had her own hair salon, and all their time and money was
05:32spent looking after their two kids, Huntley and baby Raina.
05:36I just pick up two sets just while I finish my hair close.
05:39And we're rewinding to the time amateur photographer Simon took the first step of turning his hobby into a profession.
05:49Today, hopefully, fingers crossed, we can get it done, is this morning. We're going to do a little family portrait.
05:57It'd be nice to update the family album.
06:02You're going to embarrass yourself. Sit down.
06:05Simon started his creative pastime as something to do while he was working away from home.
06:11It was just my hobby. When I come out of the army, I became a continental lorry driver. I ended
06:17up taking my camera with me, going to all these different places. I just wanted to document everything.
06:22And his passion for photography has continued to grow since finding love and settling in Spain.
06:29Three, two, one. When I first moved down here, somebody said to me, I really like that photo. How much
06:36do you want for it?
06:38Three, two, one. Look at me.
06:41And it happened again. And then it kind of clocked on that people were actually liking my stuff. It started
06:46to roll into a business.
06:47And with the family snapped, Simon's got a booking.
06:51Then this afternoon, I'm going to pack up everything and we're going to head off and go and do a
06:57dog shoot.
06:59Children and animals on the same day.
07:02You're asking for trouble, Simon.
07:05Dogs are like children.
07:07They have a mind of their own.
07:10They do what they want when they want to do it.
07:13How do you think Daddy's going to get on?
07:16Hmm?
07:17Worry not. Simon's a man with a plan.
07:21Put a Velcro on their bum and stick them to the floor.
07:24I haven't quite figured that bit out yet. I'll just make it up as I go along.
07:28Making the leap from lorries to lenses is huge.
07:31I need the help.
07:33Do you now.
07:35But if today is a success, it could be the first shoot of many.
07:40I really want this to go well today.
07:44Because it's my future. It's where I want to be. It's what I want to be doing.
07:51Standing between Simon and his new career are Grace, a rescue doberman and schnauzers Cara and Jameson.
07:58How are you?
07:59I hope you've got plenty of Velcro, Simon.
08:02This is rescue dog Grace's first time in front of a camera.
08:06Grace, we've only had for four months.
08:09So she's a bit of an unknown.
08:10She came from the pound in Granada.
08:12And being a doberman, we were a little bit worried, you know, thinking, oh, how are people going to react?
08:16Yes.
08:17So hopefully she won't bite Simon today.
08:20Not the sort of snap Simon's after.
08:26Coming up.
08:27You should be on the back.
08:28Right, take them out.
08:29Are they serious?
08:30Feathers fly as Natasha juggles performances and pizza.
08:33It's your one that's burnt.
08:35Yeah, look.
08:38Oh.
08:38I do love cactuses because you don't have to water them.
08:42And Kirsty's battle to stay in business gets spiky.
08:46Ha.
08:56I don't care where I go.
09:00Early morning on the Oriwella promenade and one hip swinging Essex girl determined to make her dancing dreams come true
09:09is mum of five, 46-year-old Natasha, who moved to Spain in 2004.
09:15The lifestyle here is so much more relaxed.
09:18It's a whole different way of life.
09:20Everybody, they just like to say hello, good morning, everyone's really friendly.
09:26But the relaxed lifestyle is not the dream Natasha's chasing.
09:29I decided to change my life and stop this day agency and carry on with what I do now, which
09:36is an amazing lifestyle of just dancing, basically.
09:41Tonight, Natasha and her dance and business partner, Berta, have their sights set on wowing the cost of crowds and
09:47securing a new paying gig.
09:49So we start in the 1920s and then we work right up to the modern day.
09:55So we've got the different music, the different dance styles and the different costumes.
10:00We incorporate dancing and fire and feathers to create a two hour experience that has not been seen on the
10:08Costa Blanca before.
10:11Hey, well done!
10:14Dancing, fire and feathers.
10:16There's a lot of pressure on the pair to get tonight's show right.
10:20We haven't done that show for I'd say a month or two.
10:22Anything else to worry about?
10:24This is the first time we've danced at this venue.
10:26We could have a mess up with the music, we could have a mess up with the costumes.
10:30Ah yes, costumes.
10:32This is one of our costumes that we wore in the Torrevieca parade.
10:37As you can see, they're pretty big.
10:40So basically, you put your arm through here and they go on the back like that.
10:47And then we have our big feather hats as well, but they're quite huge.
10:52Ah, it's this one.
10:54Natasha has so many glamorous outfits, she needs this warehouse.
10:59OK, let's try this one and see if it fits.
11:02And this one's the one that goes with the feathers, so we'll have a go.
11:05It's a far cry from the business suits Natasha used to wear.
11:09Back in the UK, I was actually an estate agent.
11:11I've done estate agency pretty much all the time I've been here.
11:15Help me please with the...
11:19OK, I think we're in.
11:21But swapping suits for sequins has been life changing.
11:24This year has been an absolutely crazy year for me.
11:27We've literally been doing two and three shows a day,
11:30seven days a week, all through the summer season.
11:32This is my hat.
11:34That's not a hat, it's a purple ostrich.
11:37This is fun as well to get on.
11:39OK.
11:40And there we go.
11:41That's the costume for the opening number at the theatre.
11:44Give us a twirl, Natasha.
11:45We have to do something like this.
11:47Thanks.
11:48Which is quite easy.
11:50Tonight's show is just hours away
11:52and outrageous outfits mean added pressure for Natasha and Berta.
11:57We've got a lot of costume changes tonight
11:59and they're only like two minutes, three minute costume changes.
12:03So that could be an issue, but just keep smiling and hope no one notices.
12:08Fingers crossed nothing goes wrong. It will be fine.
12:15The plan is I'm going to set up the backdrop.
12:18Wannabe pro photographer Simon has got his first paid animal gig.
12:23Get a picture of each individual dog.
12:25It could be the start of a new career.
12:27Maybe get one big grip shot at the end.
12:31Now that's saying all the gear and no idea.
12:34Oh, very high expectations.
12:36Total stardom.
12:38Expecting Hollywood to call at any time there for our three coaches.
12:41Yeah, yeah.
12:41I think they're pulling our leg, but all the same, it's an important shoot for Simon.
12:47That is the dog.
12:49If it goes well, it could mean more bookings and a new way to support his young family.
12:55Now.
12:55There we go.
12:56Sit up.
12:57Sit.
12:57Good girl.
12:59Job one.
13:00Getting the models to behave.
13:04I don't know why I'm trying to talk to you like a child.
13:07It doesn't work like that.
13:09Maybe it does.
13:10They look pretty relaxed.
13:12Yeah, it's going really well.
13:13The dogs have been really, really well played.
13:17Two dogs, no trouble, but three.
13:20That's a good one.
13:22Rescue Doberman Grace is no Kate Moss when it comes to striking a pose.
13:27Actually, treats work well.
13:33You can either try it again, or we'll just try the two rulers.
13:37Get this in your carriage. Come here.
13:40I can think of other things to call in.
13:42All right.
13:43Three, two, one.
13:44Stay.
13:45Stay.
13:45Now's your chance.
13:47Stay.
13:47No.
13:47It's like herding, well, dogs.
13:52Time for the verdict from the client.
13:54A million times better than we expected.
13:57Yes.
13:57Yeah.
13:58Yeah.
13:58Yeah.
13:58Yeah.
13:58Yeah.
13:58Yeah.
14:06Definitely frame them and put them up around the house.
14:10Well, that sounds like a vote of confidence.
14:12And no Velcro required.
14:14The dogs were absolutely brilliant.
14:17They all sat.
14:17They all kind of looked at the camera.
14:20They looked at the camera better than some children look at the camera.
14:23Children and animals on the same day.
14:26You're on a roll, Simon.
14:27I don't want my family to have to struggle with the photography.
14:31I could really push that and be able to give my family the best life possible.
14:37And the chances of that are getting better because Simon has landed another commission
14:41from a business that's rebranding.
14:45Today is important.
14:47It could lead on to more work at the end of the day, more corporate stuff.
14:52This is a real step up.
14:53No offence to the canines.
14:57There we go.
14:57Packed and ready.
15:03Come on.
15:04Good girl.
15:05Back in Campersall, Kirsty and her Chihuahua Mini are in a race to get their rental villa
15:10ready for some paying guests.
15:12So the main reason I need the gloves is because I am potting a cactus and nobody wants to get
15:18spiked.
15:18But the guests are en route and Kirsty's got her work cut out to have the place ready in
15:23time.
15:23I've got another little pretty plant.
15:25I don't know what it's called but I liked it and it looked nice and it was a bargain.
15:29Any cash Kirsty saves or makes from renting this place out is crucial to funding trips
15:34in her motor home around the rest of Spain.
15:36It's my deluxe motor home.
15:38Minnie and I can pull up wherever we want.
15:41We can either stay for free by the beach if we want to or we can go to a campsite
15:46if
15:46we want a few more facilities.
15:47It's just lovely.
15:48The freedom of being able to go where I want is fantastic.
15:51And these trips give Kirsty some Kirsty time away from life in Blighty.
15:56At home I have two parents that are elderly.
16:00My dad thinks he's 60 but he's got Alzheimer's and dementia.
16:02He's not.
16:03He's 86.
16:04So I help my mum out a lot with him and give my mum a lot of support.
16:07So it's nice to come away and have a bit of a break and not have to think about them.
16:12Kirsty's business relies on good reviews and returning customers.
16:15So her villa needs to be tip-topped.
16:18So I do love cactuses because you don't have to water them and they're nice and easy.
16:22I can leave them for months and nothing happens but they're not the easiest to pot.
16:28Ooh, careful Kirsty.
16:30Steady hand.
16:32Ha!
16:34Oh look at that.
16:35There's always a way.
16:40Spoke or spiked too soon.
16:42To maximise any profit from her villa, Kirsty's far from fast to flash the cash.
16:49All of my plants are bargains.
16:51I'm always on a budget so I'm always conscious of how much I spend.
16:54But they're only a bargain if you can keep them alive.
16:57I'm hoping this is a plant that I can't kill but you never know.
17:03There we go.
17:04I just throw things.
17:07I think I've got a spike.
17:09Throw things in a tub and hope for the best.
17:13Oh, spike.
17:14Cacti revenge.
17:16No, terrible gardener.
17:18I kill things a lot.
17:19I've had the plant in the corner over there for three years.
17:22It's not grown a bit.
17:25There we go.
17:26They look very pretty.
17:27Just ignore the mess that I've made.
17:30Spain has some strict laws that everyone renting a property has to comply with.
17:35They include having a suitable dining table.
17:39I'm hoping it's not in too many parts.
17:42And at the moment, Kirsty's on the wrong side of the law.
17:45No table means no licence.
17:47And no licence means no rental income.
17:50It's in about five million parts.
17:53This was not what I had planned.
17:55There were some which were twice the price of this and this one was half the price.
18:00And now I can see why, because it will take three days to put together.
18:05Let's have a look at the instructions.
18:08Let's do it.
18:10A.
18:11B.
18:14Nice go, quickly.
18:17I'm bored already.
18:19This might take a while.
18:21If only Kirsty had an electric screwdriver.
18:23I think I do have, in my shed, whether the battery's charged or not is a different matter.
18:30Have electric drill.
18:37Is it charged?
18:44The disappointment.
18:46Let's put it on charge.
18:48Kirsty's guests are coming, and the tourist authorities won't be happy.
18:52How long does a screwdriver take to charge?
18:55Charging time, three to five hours.
18:58Good luck.
18:59Excellent.
19:04This is a life.
19:05Stick the bubbles on, mate.
19:08For many of us Brits, living on the costas would be a dream come true.
19:13Here's the living the dream in space.
19:14And there's lots of options when it comes to a dream job.
19:18Hospitality.
19:19Because I'm a very people person.
19:21And what if you're not a very people person?
19:23Dog walking would be a good job in Spain now, because there's so many dogs.
19:27Where would you work, Sarah-Jane?
19:29Bar work, because you get to meet more people.
19:32With your sea legs, I don't think so.
19:35Yeah, best avoid that.
19:37To work on the beach, like a jet ski girl that helps people be on the jet skiers,
19:41or a lifeguard, maybe, or a bartender.
19:45There are so many options.
19:47And one lady chasing her dream of dancing is Natasha.
19:51Chase, do you want pizza?
19:54In her Oriwella Costa villa, estate agent turned dancer Natasha
19:58is juggling domestic duties, while preparing for an important performance.
20:03I've got five kids, and two of them are abroad.
20:08And then here at home, I've got my middle son, who's 19.
20:12And then my youngest son, he is 11.
20:16And my youngest daughter, and she is nine.
20:18What do you want on it, Sienna?
20:20Pepperoni.
20:23Sure.
20:24Put yours in, spread the other one then.
20:27Natasha's dropped the day job to focus on a career as a dancer.
20:30It was a choice of going and working in the office and out with clients all day every day,
20:35or doing the dancing, because I can't work all day and then work all night.
20:39I wasn't seeing the kids, I wasn't seeing my husband, and I was just exhausted.
20:43They do say if you love what you do, then you don't work a day in your life.
20:48It's sizzling.
20:50That's fine.
20:51I'd say I'm busier now than I have ever been, to be honest, because I feel like I don't actually
20:58get a second to stop.
20:59But, to be honest, that's how I like it.
21:01Right, you're going to help me do these feathers?
21:03I've got a funny feeling they should be on the back.
21:06I should have put them on this side, I can't.
21:08They should be on the back.
21:10Right, take them out. Are you serious?
21:11Yeah, sorry.
21:12Should we put them in the same space about the back?
21:14Yeah, about the back.
21:16There's a lot on Natasha's plate, and those feathers are so distracting.
21:20I've got some here, so I'm just going to check the pizzas.
21:24Oh, look, it's your one that's burnt.
21:30Sorry.
21:32Yeah, look.
21:35Oh.
21:36You burnt it. Never mind.
21:38We'll cut it off.
21:41It'll be fine.
21:42Yeah, kids will eat anything.
21:43Chase!
21:49I'm not eating that half on the way.
21:51Oh, not these kids then.
21:54Natasha's promised tonight's venue a dramatic performance.
21:57They wanted a little bit more fire in the first half,
22:00and more feathers in the second half.
22:01We've moved a few songs around, added a few different songs that they wanted.
22:05Added to that, the duo have never performed at tonight's venue.
22:09Mummy, are you nervous about tonight?
22:11A little bit.
22:12Not about the dancing, about not knowing where we're dancing.
22:16Where is it?
22:17A golf course in Murcia.
22:20You're going to get snucked by a golf course.
22:22Good point, Chase.
22:23No, it's not on the golf course, it's in a restaurant.
22:27It was the worst pizza we've ever made, kids.
22:30Worst.
22:31I didn't make it.
22:32No.
22:32Hopefully we'll do better next time.
22:34Hopefully.
22:35Let's hope Natasha's performance tonight is better than her pizzas.
22:39It's really bad, sorry.
22:42Time to get your glam gear together.
22:45I've got to get all the costumes I need for tonight's show into that suitcase.
22:50Good luck.
22:53Coming up.
22:54I'm leaving my house now, see you down there.
22:57No sound system means Natasha's dance show could become a silent disco.
23:02Now I am stressed.
23:03Please do not fall over.
23:04I haven't got my life-saving badge.
23:07And Simon does his best to impress an all-important new client.
23:11It's my sexy pose, this.
23:20It's mid-morning in Marbella.
23:22Your destination is on the right.
23:24And budding professional photographer Simon is arriving for his first big commercial shoot.
23:29Just arrived.
23:30I'm going to speak to the clients now.
23:33See exactly what they want doing.
23:35He needs to impress business owners Russell and Sabrina.
23:40Our shoot today, what we're hoping for is to get some lifestyle photos.
23:44Our brand is Seed Nutrition.
23:46It is natural, raw food.
23:49So we're thinking kind of showing a little bit of branding content that we can use on our social media
23:54platforms.
23:54Success would mean Simon takes a giant step towards starting a full-time photography business.
24:00I have done stuff like this in the past.
24:04It's just basically a portrait shoot with a brand in it.
24:09But has removal man Simon got the skills to deliver the killer snaps?
24:14We'll do a couple more photos here just for that and then we'll move on somewhere else.
24:18After this is where we get really confused because that's when we have no idea where to move or else
24:23even.
24:24Now's your chance Si, show them you've got the creative skill set, darling.
24:28I think the next room is a bedroom isn't it?
24:30Yeah.
24:30We'll go in there and you just lounge, that's it.
24:34Lounge?
24:34I don't know what people do when they work at home.
24:37I'm confident it's not lounging.
24:39I'm hoping that it's going to look natural, not too staged, that it's kind of going to just show us
24:46of who we are in a sense, both as business people, as a couple and also just how our lifestyle
24:54is.
24:55But being on camera is nerve-wracking.
24:58Simon needs to put his subjects at ease.
25:01Can you bring your legs down?
25:04It'll just look quite a little bit weird because you had your laptop just plunked on your knees and it'll
25:09cover you.
25:10Even though you're trying to sell the brand, you're trying to sell...
25:12Oh, that sounds weird.
25:13Don't try to sell yourself.
25:15You're not trying to sell yourself.
25:17Taking photos with a foot in your mouth, now that is a talent, Simon.
25:21Shall we pop outside?
25:24So we thought that we could maybe use this area here.
25:28Of course, it's a nice area, isn't it?
25:30You're not wrong there.
25:31Right, what we'll do, we'll do you doing yoga.
25:34Okay, sounds good.
25:35Yeah.
25:37If we try to bring it central.
25:39Yeah.
25:39Please do, please do not fall over.
25:42I haven't got my life-saving badge.
25:44With the health and safety briefing done, on with the shoot.
25:47It's my sexy pose, this.
25:49We'll call that downward Doberman.
25:51Perfect, there we go.
25:54Next up, a video shoot and Simon selected a picturesque beach.
25:58Ooh, looks lovely.
25:59Might be too much wind.
26:01It might be.
26:02But if Simon can't shoot any usable video,
26:04his bid to kickstart his creative business might have gone with the wind.
26:14Estate agent turned dancer Natasha is getting ready for an ambitious performance.
26:18What do I need?
26:22Headbands.
26:25Right, that's all my shoes, I think.
26:30Gold one.
26:32Blimey, how many costumes does one girl need?
26:3415, 16, I think tonight I've got about 17 costume changes.
26:39Plus shoes, plus feathers, plus one hat, so I've got to get, and wings.
26:45She needs to dress to impress and not forget the vitals, like LED wings.
26:50Make sure these are the right ones, yep.
26:54White ones.
26:56Priority, have to take a mirror because sometimes we get to a venue.
26:58This is a new venue we're at tonight and we've never danced there, so we don't know what to expect.
27:03That's it.
27:06Somehow I've got to get it all in the case.
27:07Everything has to run as smoothly as a silky two-step because tonight's performance is a cha-cha chance to
27:15impress a new customer.
27:18I just need to put some show makeup on and then, actually I forgot this, and then we can make
27:26a move.
27:27I've got to leave in about 15 minutes, 20 minutes max to get Berta.
27:33We start at 8 o'clock tonight, so we need to be there at 7.
27:38I've got a friend of mine, a singer that I work with.
27:42She's bringing her speakers because we're supposed to use the sound system at the restaurant,
27:48but I'm a little bit concerned that it's not going to be good enough.
27:51So she's going to bring me her speakers and meet me there and set up.
27:55I'm feeling a little bit stressed at the minute, only because of time really.
28:00I'm going to do my hair and then we've got to go.
28:03Time to kiss the kids goodnight and get to the gig.
28:07Love you, see you in the morning.
28:09See you in the morning.
28:11Love you.
28:14Tonight's venue is a well-heeled golf club.
28:16Nearly 200 guests are expected and they're all excited about seeing Natasha and Berta perform.
28:23Express levels are massive.
28:25But there's a problem.
28:26I'm leaving my house now, see you down there.
28:29Now I am stressed.
28:31Natasha's friend promised to bring the sound system, but she's nowhere to be seen.
28:35We need speakers.
28:36No music means no gig and that means unhappy customers and no fee for Natasha or Berta.
28:43Oh look, it's busy already.
28:45Making matters worse.
28:47Why is it not downloading?
28:48Berta can't access tonight's playlist.
28:52You did put a song, didn't you?
28:53The show is hanging in the balance.
28:56I haven't got a charger for this.
28:58I've got 50%.
29:04I'm hating furniture at the moment.
29:07I should have just bought one that was properly made.
29:10Kirsty's race to comply with rental regs is in full flow.
29:15I've just lost a screw.
29:18I didn't.
29:18It's just flown.
29:21Anyway, we'll come back to that one.
29:24Kirsty's battling with nuts, bolts, instructions and an electric screwdriver that's not charged.
29:31What will be really annoying is if I've screwed all these on the wrong way.
29:35Paying guests are on their way.
29:37But at Kirsty's current pace, they won't have a table to use.
29:41Why did I start this in the first place?
29:44And without a table, Kirsty could lose her rental licence.
29:48One piece.
29:50It's progress, but she's feeling the pressure.
29:53Not impressed at all.
29:56Even Minnie's bored of it now.
29:58Ah, it's a dog's life.
30:00I think I've come to an impasse.
30:02I'm not really. I've lost interest, bored.
30:05Yeah, need a gin and tonne.
30:07Need to go and visit my friend who's down the pub, grab a drink and kind of get a bit
30:10of enthusiasm to come and do it later.
30:12And hopefully the electric screwdriver will be charged and save me a lot more time.
30:18Off to the pub then. Are you coming, Minnie?
30:20Come on. Let's go to the pub.
30:21The pub's just a short bike ride away.
30:24Is that going to be comfy? Come on.
30:26But Minnie's not thirsty.
30:28Come on. Come on. Good girl.
30:31There we go. Good girl.
30:32So the bike that I've got at the moment is a fantastic electric bike, which has a throttle as well,
30:38so sometimes I don't even have to pedal.
30:40And I will put Minnie in the basket and we'll go off on adventures.
30:43Now let's hope the bike's charged.
30:45Are we safe? Yes? Good.
30:48Third time lucky.
30:50Fourth time lucky.
30:51Fifth time lucky.
30:53Sixth time lucky.
30:55Did I put the battery in?
30:57Let's try. Come on.
30:59I know you want to.
31:01Yay! You ready?
31:03Shall I put my helmet on?
31:05Right, let's do it.
31:07Minnie is my best friend.
31:09She's a little chihuahua.
31:10I got her as a four-year-old.
31:12She's a rescue.
31:13And she comes everywhere with me.
31:16As long as she's with me, she's quite happy most of the time.
31:19Kirsty's best human friend is Yorkshire last Lucy, who also has a diddy dog.
31:27Kirsty! Hi, babe.
31:29How are you?
31:30I've had better days, I'm not going to lie.
31:33Why?
31:34Ah, the joys of the easy breezy life on the costas.
31:39Coming to Spain is a real decompression.
31:42I don't have to think, I know it sounds selfish,
31:44but I don't have to think about anybody apart from myself and Minnie,
31:47and enjoying myself.
31:49Obviously, I'll ring home and check at home that everything's alright,
31:51and I'll put things in place at home,
31:53so there's support there for my mum and dad.
31:55But it's just nice to come out, relax.
31:58And there's nothing like a nice, relaxing chinwag to de-stress.
32:01Right, Minnie?
32:03Honestly, this dog. Come on, baby girl.
32:05There we go.
32:06Is there something, or do you want to go in the bag?
32:09Minnie has a massive attitude,
32:10and sometimes this has got myself and her into trouble.
32:14Go to the bar for a drink.
32:15Another quick run.
32:16One bar to the next.
32:18Right, excuse you.
32:20The next village!
32:21Right, m'lady, please don't shout at the cat.
32:24The cat lives here.
32:25Honestly.
32:26Are you going to sit down?
32:28Oh, oh.
32:30Oh, yeah.
32:30She's not keen.
32:33Right, have we had enough now?
32:35Ooh, so much drama, Minnie.
32:36Oh, there's another one!
32:38And so much for a nice, relaxing drink.
32:40Might be time to take Minnie home.
32:42Here's to our lovely life in Spain.
32:44Cheers.
32:44Love it.
32:45There's also the small matter of the table to finish building.
32:49Pedal it, Kirsty.
32:50Ooh.
32:52Meow.
32:54Meow.
32:56Meow.
32:58Meow.
33:02I think he thinks we call him chicken,
33:04cos if you say chicken, it makes his ears pop up.
33:07Hey!
33:08Dennis, woo!
33:10Yes, this is Dennis.
33:12He's about nine years old now.
33:14When we first came to Spain,
33:15I used to walk dogs at a shelter called Vedama in Oliva.
33:19And he was one of the little dogs there in the cage,
33:23sharing with two others.
33:25And I think he chose us, really.
33:27He was stood at the back of the cage,
33:28just looking with his sad eyes.
33:35As soon as we got him home,
33:36we'd bought him some toys,
33:38and he was running around, up and down, playing.
33:41He was, like, so excited.
33:42He seemed so grateful.
33:50So, we just changed the T for a D,
33:53and he became Dennis.
34:02You're just going to look like you're windswept everywhere,
34:04aren't you?
34:06At the beach,
34:07Snapper Simon's battling the elements
34:09on his first big commercial photo shoot.
34:11Didn't say this was a holiday brochure,
34:13did we when we signed up?
34:15Mother Nature's taken its toll,
34:16and personally,
34:19you're just going to have a load of hair in a picture.
34:21So, too windy.
34:24Army motto,
34:25improvise, adapt and overcome.
34:27We'll just work it out as we go along, really.
34:29There's another forest just over the other side of the road,
34:32and I think, personally,
34:34will be a lot better quality of images.
34:38So, we're going to head over there now.
34:40Very wise.
34:41And your clients seem impressed, Simon.
34:43That forest you coming with, yeah?
34:46And him.
34:47It may be less windy,
34:48but Simon's starting to lose light,
34:50so he can't make any mistakes.
34:52There we go.
34:53What we'll do now is some more...
34:57I was just about to say Yoda,
34:58but it's not Yoda, it's yoga.
34:59Yoga.
35:01Quickly, the photos take you, my Simon.
35:04I'm going to use a lot of these,
35:05kind of, vegetation within the picture.
35:09Oh, this is his army training kicking in.
35:12Oh, ow, ow!
35:13Try not to get pricklies in me.
35:16Pricklies?
35:16What the hell am I, three?
35:17That was all the army lingo does our side.
35:21A man in his natural habitat.
35:23You'll want to talk private pricklies.
35:26Right, we've just finished with Russell now.
35:29We are just about to shoot the last little bit with Sabrina,
35:33and then that'll be it for the day.
35:35Sounds good.
35:36Yeah.
35:38It's the end of the day,
35:39and a chance to find out if Simon's laid-back approach has paid off,
35:42or if his clients are feeling prickly.
35:45I found him to be a very good photographer.
35:47I've got to say, they look absolutely amazing,
35:49and actually, he's made us feel really comfortable.
35:51He's made it easy, like, especially Russell.
35:54He was quite nervous about getting photos taken,
35:57and it's actually felt quite natural.
36:00Things couldn't have turned out better.
36:02Stand down, Simon.
36:03Are you happy with everything?
36:05Yeah, perfect.
36:06I'm always thinking I'm doing quite a good job.
36:08If people keep coming back,
36:10moving full-time into photography,
36:13it's getting closer.
36:15Almost sounds like a plan.
36:17Stay focused, Simon.
36:21Coming up.
36:22I think we're right.
36:23It doesn't look very organised,
36:25but I think we know where everything is.
36:27The build-up to Natasha's big show goes from bad to worse.
36:32Oh, no, my wings.
36:33Really? I'm joking.
36:36Better!
36:36A car!
36:38No.
36:39And it's DIY.
36:40Did I even start this for Kirsty?
36:42What am I doing wrong?
36:51Oh, we could be cooking on gas.
36:57After deliberation, delay, and a traumatic trip to the pub,
37:01Kirsty's finally tackling her flat pack table.
37:04I've got to have a table in the villa
37:11to comply with the tourist certificate.
37:14There's certain conditions that you have to fulfil, basically,
37:18to be able to get a tourist certificate,
37:20and one of those is having a dining table within the villa
37:24that can seat as many people as sleep here.
37:28With paying guests en route to her Costa crib,
37:31she needs to get it finished.
37:33A power drill every girl's best friend.
37:36Close your ears, Minnie.
37:39Is that the right way?
37:42That way.
37:43Tighty righty, lefty loosey.
37:45Tighty...
37:46Tighty righty.
37:48Lefty loosey.
37:49And again, come on.
37:50You know you want to.
37:52Looks about right. That'll do.
37:55I don't know whether it's the gin
37:56or the electric drill which is making it more enjoyable.
38:00Don't get too giddy, Kirsty.
38:01There's a massive 18 volts of pure power in there.
38:07No.
38:11What am I doing wrong?
38:13Not calling DIY SOS?
38:15Nick Knowles would know what to do.
38:17I'm only up to step three out of 11 and two gins down the line at the pub.
38:22I really don't think tonight's the night to continue using power tools and instructions that I don't really understand.
38:30So we might leave it till tomorrow.
38:31I can't say I blame you.
38:34Kirsty's more Spanish than she realises.
38:36Mañana, mañana.
38:43Oh, my goodness.
38:44Oh, my goodness.
38:45Moments ahead of their ambitious dance show, there's good news for Natasha and Berta.
38:50So, as long as all our levels are fine, which we think they are.
38:53I take a level support.
38:54Natasha's mates arrived with her sound system, and Berta's managed to download the playlist.
38:59Once we get started, do you want me to leave?
39:01We forget about it, yeah.
39:03Yeah.
39:03The show can go on.
39:06So we get the rest of the stuff out.
39:08A little bit stressed until we get everything out and organised because we were a little bit late.
39:13Natasha and Berta have been working together since 2023.
39:17Me and Berta work really, really well together.
39:19We are completely honest and upfront.
39:22We just say it as it is.
39:24Tonight, they're taking a trip through the decades, and that means a lot of performance paraphernalia.
39:30I just like to get to the venue, get all of the costumes out, get everything organised, and then take
39:35a breather, and then start.
39:37But we should be all right.
39:39I just feel like I'm rushing around to get all the costumes out and laid down.
39:43But no, we've got it.
39:44I think we're all right.
39:45It doesn't look very organised, but I think we know where everything is.
39:50I don't know my wings.
39:54Berta!
39:58Really? Joking?
40:01She's forgotten her wings.
40:04They're in my other suitcase.
40:06We have a dance that we do together, where we both have LED wings, and Berta's forgotten her wings.
40:15At least it wasn't me.
40:17Tonight's show might be about to flop rather than fly.
40:20I'll just do that dance on my own, and Berta can have a rest.
40:24And I'll have a break.
40:25You have a break?
40:27I'm doing the one before.
40:30Right, so I'll do that in that.
40:32No problem.
40:33You always do the wings by yourself.
40:35Now, now, girls.
40:36So these are the wings.
40:41But I brought mine, and Berta's forgotten hers, so never mind.
40:44I normally do the dance on my own, but this week we decided that we'll do a new one, and
40:48we'll do it all together.
40:49So we choreographed it together, and now Berta's forgotten the wings, so I'll have to do it on my own.
40:54Oh, well.
40:55Next time.
40:57A successful show could mean more bookings.
41:00No, I'm not nervous.
41:02I'm very excited.
41:03I think I'm excited.
41:04I just want to start now, though.
41:06Let's go, girls.
41:10Everyone says move to Spain, live the dream.
41:12It is a great life, and I am doing exactly what I want to be doing.
41:25I'm going to work, having fun, dancing in beautiful costumes, traveling the world, and getting paid for it.
41:59What more, really, can I ask for?
42:01How about a chance to do more gigs here?
42:04Oh, it was amazing.
42:06It is so much fun.
42:07I've got, like, all the adrenaline going now.
42:09Dancing with Natasha is such a joy, because we have so much fun.
42:14We have that chemistry.
42:15Watching her perform, for me, is amazing.
42:18It's so much fun to perform when the audience are enjoying themselves.
42:23And have they secured another performance?
42:26I'm very, very sure that they'll have us back.
42:29The owners just said to me, what a great show.
42:31I am super proud of both of us.
42:35Next time on The Costas, singer Gaynor's bubbling over with excitement for her new act.
42:44Diane's battling the crowds on Remembrance Day.
42:47Can I relax now? No, not at the minute.
42:50And strap yourselves in.
42:51Daredevil Val rides again.
42:54It's a bit scary.
43:02I'm super proud of the party.
43:03Take care.
43:09There it is.
43:12It's a bit scary.
43:15Then hang out in the sky.
43:15And the rest is the biggest thing that we used to be doing.
43:15Let's see.
43:15There's this guy.
43:15It's this guy.
43:18I'm super proud of you.
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