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00:01From the glistening waters of the Med to the mountainous Alps,
00:05all across Europe, brave Brits are chasing new beginnings.
00:09Let's get this show on the road, huh?
00:11I mean, just look at this backdrop here.
00:13Essex was nothing like this.
00:15The stakes are high.
00:17This is definitely a gamble. I put everything in.
00:19All my life savings.
00:21We've got a lot riding on this.
00:22Our futures, our children's futures.
00:24We need to make some money.
00:25As they launch B&Bs.
00:27Service.
00:28And pubs in France.
00:30We're very new at this.
00:31Wow.
00:32Good job the wines, Chi.
00:34To wellness retreats and holiday parks in Bulgaria.
00:38It's not big enough.
00:39We measured it.
00:39I don't understand.
00:41It's a journey into the unknown.
00:44Oh.
00:45That's cool.
00:46Boo!
00:47But we're joining them for the ride.
00:50As they tee off their new lives in the sun.
00:55I just walk around with a smile on my face all the time.
00:58Best life ever!
01:00Today, as the season comes to an end for our intrepid Brits,
01:05have Plymouth B&Bers done enough to secure their future in France?
01:09We had to have visas.
01:11We have certain criteria we have to fulfil.
01:13It is difficult and it is a worry.
01:14You know, we could not have our renewal next year.
01:17It's getting smaller.
01:19Okay.
01:20Boot camp hosts in Bulgaria are in a tight spot.
01:24I'd say we're in the realms of breaking fence posts at the moment.
01:29And in France...
01:31Lots to do today.
01:32...a Norwich family's race to be ready for guests that defies belief.
01:37We've not got any furniture.
01:39We need to put the worktop on.
01:42Clean the floor.
01:43Make beds.
01:45Two hours.
01:56For some couples, a new life in the sun is less about escape and more about time.
02:02Time together after years of living busy separate lives.
02:06Isn't it gorgeous?
02:08Yeah, it is.
02:08Yeah.
02:09This is what drew personal trainer Frankie and her husband Mark from Kettering to Bulgaria.
02:15Oh, it's a swan!
02:17Oh, it's a swan.
02:18It's massive.
02:20Have they always had black feet joke in part?
02:23In England, we were both busy with our own jobs.
02:26You'd be coming in, I'd be leaving the house.
02:30Very rarely would eat together.
02:32After 25 years together, they've recently made the Rila Mountains their home.
02:38They now run fitness boot camps and hiking holidays from their six bed home in Relyovo.
02:47It's been really nice just to actually, simple things that we don't do in England,
02:52have a coffee together.
02:54Even go out for dinner.
02:56I think our quality of life is so much better here.
03:01After a summer in business together full time...
03:04It's actually nice to sit down for a little bit.
03:07..they've been finding a rhythm on the job.
03:09Hello, Boris.
03:11..and with each other.
03:13In England, we had roles, but I think here it changes.
03:17I think here we probably share roles more alike.
03:20Yeah, I think we work more as a team. We're more united here.
03:24It is nice that we can do more things, I guess, together.
03:30It's September and Frankie and Mark are seizing the chance
03:34to improve their house in between retreats.
03:38Right, I think I'm just going to move all of those to there.
03:42Create a little bit of a wall.
03:44With only a week to go until their next group checks in,
03:47they're midway through building an ensuite for their bedroom.
03:52This morning we are preparing for the arrival of the digger,
03:57which should be at about 12 o'clock,
04:00which I think is about 20 minutes.
04:03The digger is needed to make a trench for the soil pipe
04:07from their new facilities.
04:09We've got water now, so we just need to sort out waste, really.
04:12And then we essentially have a functioning toilet.
04:14It's just a case of putting the toilet in then.
04:16Which is the easy bit.
04:21The hardest thing is going to be locating the water pipes
04:24and not damaging the water pipes.
04:26I know roughly where it is, so I'm going to just...
04:30We're going to take it slow, take it real slow.
04:32Before the digger arrives, Mark and builder Lubo
04:36must figure out exactly where the trench should go.
04:39And with Mark's Bulgarian stopping short
04:41of the intricacies of underground plumbing...
04:44Here.
04:48..the pair decide to communicate through the medium of mime.
04:53This stuck?
04:55Mmm, no.
05:00OK.
05:01Uh-huh.
05:01Door.
05:02OK.
05:03Here?
05:07This.
05:08OK. Ah, OK, OK, OK.
05:11This new, yeah?
05:1350 centimetres?
05:14Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:15New.
05:15New, OK.
05:17One metre, one centimetre.
05:19So we need one centimetre full for every metre.
05:23And rather impressively, they get there in the end.
05:29Lubo's finished for the morning.
05:30It's probably a bit warm now,
05:32so he's going to go for a break for a couple of hours.
05:35Um, and we've just positioned the pipes
05:38where he wants them to go.
05:40Because if the digger comes and digs the hole
05:42and he's not here, it's down to me to run the pipes.
05:44So I'm happy now we've had a conversation
05:46about where he wants them.
05:48And just as well, because after Lubo has left,
05:51the digger arrives.
05:53Once again, Mark's communication skills are put to the test.
05:58Hold, hold, hold.
06:00What is this for?
06:02Er...
06:02No, no, no, no, no.
06:04This is fine.
06:05You can leave this.
06:07There was a little bit of miscommunication about digging
06:11because he started digging in the wrong place,
06:13but we're sorted now.
06:14He knows what he needs to do.
06:16He's just filling the small hole that he dug
06:18and he's going to crack on.
06:20The trench must reach a precise depth
06:23or the pipe won't have enough of an incline.
06:27I've got an advanced measuring system.
06:31I've got an old stick with a bit of tape round it
06:33just to give me a depth.
06:35So, we're all good.
06:38But there's one spot they didn't measure.
06:41God, it's going to be tight through there.
06:45It's getting smaller.
06:47OK?
06:48You have to!
06:52I don't know what we're going to do if you can't fit through the end.
06:55I would have started the other end and dug back this way,
06:57but what do I know?
07:03Two inches either side.
07:05Either way, it seems Mark may have a few more jobs
07:08to add to the list before the guests arrive next week.
07:12I'd say we're in the realms of breaking fence posts at the moment.
07:17And maybe a few repairs to the terrace.
07:26For many families, the appeal of rural France is the promise of freedom
07:31and time together that can so easily be missed.
07:34Bike ride, Kobe.
07:36You're enjoying it, aren't you?
07:38Yeah.
07:40For Sam and James Milsen, it was the motivation to up sticks from Norfolk
07:45for the gentle charms of Marseillet.
07:50We kind of read about how maybe there was more of a community feel in France
07:55and how people were more focused on their family lives,
07:58which is something maybe that we felt that we'd lost a little bit at home.
08:03But it's rarely that simple.
08:06Alongside family life, Sam and James have taken on a five-bed house,
08:11two working holiday sheets, with a third under construction.
08:17Balancing renovations, bookings and everyday life
08:20makes freedom a carefully managed affair.
08:24We're going to be busy for at least, like, just doing DIY for at least a couple of years.
08:30So I think the real relapsing will happen at some point, but not for a while.
08:42It's August, and work on the third sheet is now well behind schedule.
08:47But James is hoping making a start on the interior walls
08:51will finally make it feel like it's taking shape.
08:55As you can see at the moment, we've put the windows in
08:58and we're now going to start to do the walls.
09:00This side here will be the kitchen area.
09:04We're then going to be in the living room area, which is here.
09:08And then through this little doorway here, we'll be through to the bathroom.
09:14It's been a tough month for the couple.
09:17As well as juggling guests with renovations...
09:20Rolled in the cement.
09:23..a cancelled two-week booking at the height of the season
09:26has dealt them a financial blow they're still trying to plug.
09:31So we've managed to fill nine of the 14 days.
09:36It's better than none, but it was at about two-thirds of the price as well, so...
09:41Quite a hit, really. It is quite a hit, yeah.
09:44..of the money.
09:46Yeah. I was thinking about it this morning, actually thinking,
09:49well, if we haven't got guests in one jeep,
09:51I can really crack on with the jeep,
09:54and I've still got some noisy stuff to do in there.
09:57But not today.
09:58Sam's taking daughter Imogen and son Toby back to the UK for a few days,
10:03and there's lots to do before they head off.
10:05We've got a check-in and check-out to do this morning
10:09and a jeep to clean before our new guests arrive.
10:12But the check-in today will be down to James.
10:16So you'll just have to remember everything today, won't you?
10:19Yeah. Where the towels are and stuff like that.
10:22That's right.
10:23James doesn't necessarily get involved in the linen cupboard side of things.
10:27No. But you know where they are.
10:29It's ten o'clock now.
10:31We've got to leave here by about two-ish.
10:35I know for sure that we'll be probably screaming and shouting
10:39and trying to get out the door,
10:41and we'll be late, because we always are.
10:46Let's go.
10:47With just four hours to complete the changeover,
10:50it's all hands on deck.
10:53So far this season, with James focusing on renovations,
10:57the jeet's largely been Sam's domain.
11:00So before she leaves,
11:02it's time for a crash course in housekeeping.
11:05Oh, what's this room?
11:07Oh, it's where we keep the sheets.
11:09Clean cloths for the jeets.
11:12Clean tea towels. That's all sheets. It's not ours.
11:15Hand towels. They're buff sheets. Normal sheets.
11:18Yeah. They will need to be ironed stuff ready.
11:21You will need to do some iron...
11:24Well, this is all ironed, James.
11:26Right.
11:27You will need to do some ironing as well, please.
11:30Don't leave it all for me when I get back.
11:32Yeah.
11:32Right. Good. We're late. Let's go.
11:35We're not that late. We are.
11:38After his introduction to the linen cupboard,
11:40it's time to drop the family at the airport
11:43and get back in time for check-in.
11:50Three hours later, guests Helen and Stuart have arrived with daughter Olivia.
11:56Yeah, welcome. Thank you very much.
11:58Beautiful place.
11:59Yeah, thank you.
12:00It's absolutely gorgeous.
12:01Yeah, not too bad, eh?
12:02Brilliant.
12:02OK.
12:04We'll go round and show you the sheet.
12:07Yep.
12:08So, upstairs, two bedrooms, little bedroom two with the two singles in there,
12:15and then the main bedroom.
12:17Oh, wonderful.
12:18That's brilliant.
12:19Really nice.
12:19And James's hosting skills have gone down well.
12:22He's very knowledgeable, very informative.
12:25And really welcoming, really friendly.
12:28So, yeah, wouldn't ask for anything more.
12:30So, yeah, we're really excited about the week ahead, so it'll be brilliant.
12:34It's been a busy day, but James has proved he can multitask on the fly.
12:40The question now is whether he can keep the renovations on track on his own.
12:45Hopefully, without Toby and less of us around,
12:49I should be able to crack on with the third sheet.
12:53The clock's ticking and we've got to really, really push on now to get it done.
13:02Coming up, Plymouth B&B hosts get ready to receive VIPs.
13:07The couple are super hosts on a certain booking website.
13:11So, yeah, it's going to be very, very valuable, hopefully,
13:13to hear about their experience as well.
13:16And Frankie and Mark make some sacrifices for their guests.
13:20I was hoping it could be done, but there's a hole in the window.
13:23I feel like we're sleeping in a bit of a building site.
13:35France is dotted with little towns dating back centuries,
13:39each with their own particular charm.
13:42But it was the quiet market town of Chaloux, in the heart of the Haute-Vienne,
13:47which persuaded Pete and Anna to give up their beloved Plymouth.
13:52It's not a bad place to come and have a wander around, is it?
13:54It's not, is it?
13:56It was a big wrench.
13:58Huge wrench.
13:59But it was a joint decision.
14:00It was.
14:01And we knew that we could make a better life over here
14:05because the opportunities are better.
14:08They've poured their savings into converting this house into a B&B,
14:13with plans to expand into cycling and motorbike tours.
14:16But this summer, they'll need to make it pay as their income and their visas depend on it.
14:23We came post-Brexit, so we had to have visas.
14:26It is difficult and it is a worry.
14:28You know, we could not have our renewal next year.
14:31We have certain criteria we have to fulfil.
14:33Yes.
14:34Which we hope we will with the business.
14:36Yes, fingers crossed.
14:37It's all an adventure anyway, isn't it?
14:38That's what life should be, is an adventure.
14:43It's June, and Pete and Anna are falling into a routine for keeping the garden, bedrooms and bathrooms guests ready.
14:51Do you know, we thought, let's have black stuff, like a black tap and that.
14:55Yes, it does look nice.
14:57It does feel the watermarks.
15:01After more than two months of hosting, they've learned a thing or two.
15:05When the guests have left, we've stripped the beds off first thing.
15:08Whether we got guests or not, the beds will be made back up.
15:11Because we've had one once where we were having lunch with my mum.
15:15When phones go, bing, you've got a booking for this afternoon.
15:20So make sure we're always sort of ready, more than anything.
15:24They've never had a problem dividing and conquering.
15:27Pete's not worried about doing girl jobs, as it were.
15:32I'll do boy jobs, as it were.
15:34So, yeah, we just get it done.
15:36We're lucky we worked together in the UK.
15:39We met at work in the UK.
15:42Sounds ridiculous, but I was Pete's boss.
15:45But we've always been able to work together.
15:49Today, they're preparing for some very special guests.
15:53Friends from home have booked in.
15:55But Pete and Anna are hoping to get more than just familiar faces from the visit.
16:00The couple that we know are also super hosts on a certain booking website.
16:05So I'm hoping to pick their brains a bit and see what they think about what we're doing and how
16:10we're doing it.
16:11And also, because they're keen motorcyclists, they go so many different places.
16:15We want to pick their brains for them.
16:17We want to pick their brains about the motorcycle tours as well.
16:18So, yeah, it's going to be very, very valuable, hopefully, to, you know, hear about their experience as well.
16:24Oh, yeah.
16:24We're still charging them, mate.
16:27So, no, it'll be very good.
16:28It'll be very good.
16:30Just before four o'clock, their VIP guests arrive.
16:34Hello!
16:36How are you doing?
16:37How are you?
16:38Good, mate.
16:39And Pete and Anna waste no time...
16:42Yeah, come this way.
16:43..in showing off their new home.
16:45And that one there is your room.
16:48Very nice.
16:51I tell you what, this is a lot bigger than the new pictures.
16:55Yeah.
16:55The pictures don't do it, do they?
16:56No.
16:56It's nice, mate.
16:57That's not bad, is it?
16:58I like that.
16:59Watch now, you've got...
17:03After a quick tour...
17:04That's Torridge.
17:06Very good, mate.
17:07..their friends are clearly wowed by the Chambra Dote.
17:11I'm very impressed.
17:12But it's their professional opinion that counts.
17:15And as experienced super hosts,
17:18Colin and Lisa know exactly what to look for beneath the surface.
17:24I just had a brief look through their visitor book
17:27of people who've obviously been in the short space of time
17:30that they've been up and running.
17:33And just reading some of the comments from other people,
17:36it's very clear to see that people are very impressed
17:40with how Pete and Anna are.
17:41They're very happy to help with any sort of things.
17:46They give us good local recommendations.
17:48So, yeah, no, I'm very happy with how they've come across,
17:52not on a friendship basis, but on a business perspective.
17:55They come across very, very well.
17:58But Pete and Anna know they can't ease up.
18:01They now plan to put their energy
18:03into setting up the cycling and motorbike tours
18:06they hope will help secure their future here.
18:09We've just got to sort out things like the insurance
18:11and work out a plan of how we're going to make it work.
18:15In the back of our minds,
18:16it's always about the visas, isn't it?
18:18We have to have certain income and tick certain boxes.
18:21We've got a business.
18:22We've got other parts of the business
18:25that will be branching out and growing from that business.
18:29We're giving it the best shot.
18:30Yeah.
18:36While Pete and Anna motor ahead with business plans in France,
18:401,200 miles east in Bulgaria,
18:43Mark and Frankie's bathroom renovation is stalling.
18:47He's got no more than four inches of clearance.
18:51Work on the ensuite's new sewage pipe has ground to a halt,
18:55with their digger wedged in the tightest of gaps.
19:00It's got to be done.
19:02But this isn't the driver's first rodeo
19:05and with a little wiggling, he's through.
19:11Just not without a little collateral damage.
19:14Easy, easy.
19:16With guests arriving in a few days,
19:18Mark's keen to keep repair jobs to a minimum,
19:21so he calls time on the digger.
19:23I just don't want to risk the brickwork
19:26or what it's sat on top of,
19:28so he's got close enough, we can dig the last bit by hand.
19:31Still, it's a major step towards getting the ensuite finished.
19:35Really happy.
19:36Yeah, we got it done,
19:38despite a few minor communication issues.
19:44It's been a challenging day,
19:46but Mark is slowly getting to grips with a few Balkan nuances.
19:51When they shake their head, that means yes.
19:54And when they nod their head, that means no.
19:56Which is almost impossible to wrap your head around,
20:00being an English person.
20:02And then sometimes if they know you're English,
20:04they'll give you an English yes.
20:07Then you have to ask them,
20:08is that an English yes or a Bulgarian?
20:10No.
20:10It's just confusing.
20:12It's really difficult to get your brain around it.
20:17One week later, the house is nearly back to normal.
20:21The trench is filled in and the exterior of the ensuite is finished.
20:26But inside, it's still very much a shell.
20:31And today they're hosting their final boot camp of the season.
20:37I was hoping it would be done when the guests arrived, but...
20:40I mean, the structure's done.
20:42I mean, there's a hole in the window.
20:44So I feel like we're sleeping in a bit of a building site.
20:46There's a lot of tools.
20:47It feels a bit dusty in there, but it is what it is.
20:50We, you know, we have to stay.
20:52We can't put guests in there, so it's fine.
20:55Once this boot camp is over,
20:57they'll have all the time in the world to get it done.
21:00And they're more than ready for the season to end.
21:03I don't know if we could have done another boot camp,
21:05if we'd done another one.
21:06I think the quality of them would be compromised
21:09because I think we would just be fatigued.
21:13But there's no time for rest just yet.
21:15That's not how we accumulate so many cobwebs.
21:18The rest of the house has to be sparkling clean
21:21for the guests' arrival.
21:23I cleaned the windows earlier on in the season,
21:25but because we haven't had any guests for a month,
21:28they were overdue, really.
21:29So, yeah, I just thought I'd give them a quick blitz.
21:32But there's so many windows in this house,
21:33you can't do it quickly.
21:36Meanwhile, Frankie's taking a more forensic approach.
21:39The floor you could eat off.
21:42I'm just a bit extra.
21:44It's because I always look at people's floors.
21:46I assume everyone else is doing the same.
21:48But it is first impressions as well, isn't it?
21:50But for some of today's guests,
21:53it won't be their first impression.
21:55A real sign of the business working,
21:57two are returning for a second stay.
22:00It's nice to have repeat guests because
22:02at times when I think, what are we doing?
22:04Are we actually doing this right?
22:06Then I feel, if people are coming back,
22:08then I feel like we must be doing something right.
22:1130 minutes later, the boot camp guests have arrived.
22:14Hello!
22:16Welcome! You brought the door!
22:19How are you? I'm good!
22:21And back by popular demand, Frankie's right-hand man, Keith,
22:25the personal trainer tasked with putting everyone through their paces.
22:30Great to be back. I do enjoy coming out of here.
22:33By now, the check-ins are down to a well-honed patter.
22:37This is part of your workout, girls.
22:39It's like carrying your luggage around.
22:43And with five days of yoga, boot camps and hikes ahead of them,
22:47the group is ready for the challenge.
22:50I'm looking forward to the hikes.
22:51I think the hikes are amazing and going up in the mountains and stuff like that
22:55because it's something you'd never see at home.
22:57And they're stunning as well, so I'm looking forward to them.
23:01For Frankie and Mark, the season has been a marathon,
23:04but the finish line is in sight.
23:08Now people are actually in, I relax a bit
23:11because I like to make sure the bedrooms are ready.
23:13You can't hoover once the guests have arrived.
23:16No, I do still hoover when the guests have arrived.
23:22Coming up, heartfelt words mark a special day for Pete and Anna.
23:27I think you both really need to sort of look in the mirror
23:30and pat yourself on the back.
23:32And mission impossible for Sam and James
23:35on the day of their first new Jeep guests.
23:38We had hoped it wouldn't be looking like this
23:41on the morning of the night that they're going to stay.
23:51It's September in southern France,
23:54and Sam and James are coming to the end of their first summer season
23:58running their two Jeets.
24:00OK, thank you very much.
24:02It's a tight turnaround today with guests checking in and out of both holiday lets.
24:08I hope I think you've all been OK.
24:10It's been absolutely lovely.
24:13We don't really want to go home.
24:15Oh, well, that's good.
24:18While bookings have brought in much needed cash,
24:21it's also slowed down renovations on the third sheet.
24:24But there has been some progress.
24:30We've now got the walls up.
24:32We're now all basically set with all of the power.
24:34Lights, cables are all in place.
24:37The walls have been built to create two bedrooms.
24:41And with a small window before his next guests arrive,
24:45James is cutting timber for a new ceiling.
24:47These are going to be joists across,
24:51and then we will put those under brackets between the beams,
24:55and then we'll fix through the boards up into here.
24:59It's good. One done.
25:02Their plan to open the third sheet for summer never quite panned out.
25:07But now there's a new immovable deadline.
25:10Guests will arrive in a matter of weeks.
25:16We've got to get a move on because we're really aiming for autumn,
25:21end of October, November, to have the third sheet.
25:25Judging by the pace of how things have gone in the last six months,
25:32I don't know what we're going to get done in the next two.
25:35All we can do is our best, isn't it?
25:39Two weeks later and the project is gathering momentum.
25:43The ceilings are up and today's job is to plasterboard the walls.
25:47But with a month to make it habitable, speed is of the essence.
25:53It's properly pressured now,
25:57but it's going to be some late nights, basically.
26:01But as has been their theme this year,
26:04juggling family life has a way of adding another layer of challenges.
26:08I've got to take Imogen to Toulouse for a tennis tournament.
26:13Three o'clock.
26:14So you've got five hours to crack on.
26:18With no money for labour, James is flying solo.
26:22These are lovely and light.
26:27And has his work cut out.
26:33All right, that's two sheets. That's enough for now.
26:36The next job is for the novice plasterer to get them onto the walls.
26:40But he's under the spotlight.
26:42Got an audience today.
26:45Yeah, there's no pressure at all.
26:48Doing this I've not done before.
26:50Definitely more like whipped cream now.
27:05Yeah, it's in place. It's up. It's vertical.
27:08How many more to go?
27:10Err, 20... 23.
27:1323.
27:15I'll try.
27:19But as October turns to November,
27:22it's amazing what a bit of determination can do.
27:26Most of the walls are now plasterboarded,
27:28the floors are tiled,
27:30and today Sam is busy assembling the kitchen
27:33while James tackles the painting.
27:35Lots to do today.
27:37So, yeah, I'm just going round at the bag and doing the edges
27:39whilst the other wall dries,
27:41and then I'll put the last coat on that wall
27:43and then we'll be away.
27:45It's all going rather swimmingly
27:47until you realise what else is happening today.
27:51So, today is the day that our friends
27:55who are acting as our test guests
27:58are coming to stay in the sheet.
28:02You heard it right.
28:04This sheet will host its very first guests
28:07in a matter of hours.
28:08We had hoped that it wouldn't be looking like this
28:12on the morning of the night that they're going to stay,
28:15that they might be a little bit more done,
28:17but we've got five and a half hours until they turn up.
28:22We know what we've got to do,
28:23we've just got very little time to do it in.
28:28It's slightly more than a snagging list,
28:30with a kitchen to finish, walls to paint, doors to hang,
28:34and the whole jeep needing furnishing.
28:37What Sam and James need is a miracle.
28:41James is going to sleep well tonight.
28:49Back in Chalu, Pete and Anna's guests are getting ready
28:53to head home after an invaluable trip.
28:56Over the last three days,
28:58Colin and Lisa have been sharing their knowledge
29:00of the local area,
29:02helping their friends shape routes for their future tours.
29:06The guys, they've been riding,
29:08well, they've done many more miles than I've ever done on bikes.
29:12Many, many. They ride regularly to Italy,
29:13to one of the bike factories there.
29:16So, yeah, it was just tips on how they felt routes could be
29:20and what to look for.
29:21And things to suggest. That's it.
29:23And we're going to go back and explore some more ourselves,
29:25aren't we, further down in the Dordoeing?
29:27Yeah, it was really nice.
29:30It was nice to see somewhere different
29:31because we haven't had a chance to go exploring, really.
29:34So stuff like that has been invaluable.
29:36Definitely.
29:37For now, Colin and Lisa are about to hit the road.
29:41But as seasoned holiday hosts,
29:43they're keen to offer some words of encouragement to their friends.
29:47I know you can both recognise what you've done,
29:50but from someone from the outside looking in,
29:55within actually a relatively short space of time,
29:58in a foreign land, foreign language, foreign bureaucracy,
30:04look where you'll be a year today.
30:07I think you both really need to sort of look in the mirror
30:10and pat yourself on the back.
30:11After a year of hard graft,
30:14it's exactly the validation Pete and Anna needed.
30:17My pleasure. It was really nice to see you.
30:19No, it's been really nice.
30:20Take care.
30:21And it couldn't have come on a more meaningful date.
30:29Really?
30:33The year yesterday, we had the offer accepted on the house.
30:36Yes.
30:37And, yeah, where did that year go?
30:38It's quite...
30:40It's quite random because you think,
30:42a year ago? It feels like a lifetime ago.
30:44It does. Very proud of what we've done.
30:46Sometimes you look around and you go,
30:48oh, my God, there's that to do and there's that to do.
30:50We haven't done that and we've got this problem.
30:52And you can get kind of weighed down.
30:54But then other times you look around and go,
30:57we did that.
30:58You know, people say, well, you know, it could go wrong.
31:00It doesn't matter. It could go wrong.
31:02We could end up going back to Britain.
31:04But we got off our backsides in the first place
31:07and went and did it. That's the main thing.
31:09And we can be proud of that just alone, can't we?
31:11Yes, we can.
31:12It's been a whirlwind summer for Pete and Anna.
31:15In six months, they've totally transformed their new home.
31:22Three guest bedrooms.
31:27Two bathrooms.
31:34And a breakfast room.
31:36And after opening their door to guests in April,
31:40embraced their new life as B&B hosts.
31:44One of the highlights for me has just been it working.
31:48Seeing the guests come in, seeing them happy,
31:52giving them a good service,
31:53them the next morning saying they slept really well
31:55and it's magnifique and all the rest of it.
31:58And then you get, on one of the booking sites,
32:00you get like a ten review and you're like,
32:01well, it's all been worth it.
32:03Let's get out on the bikes.
32:06With the busy season behind them,
32:09Autumn will be spent planning routes
32:11for their motorbike and e-bike tours,
32:13ready to launch next year.
32:15Yeah, it's chilly under the trees.
32:18And building the niche they hope will be the ticket to ride
32:22when it comes to securing their visa renewal.
32:25We renew our visas in December.
32:28We have to start that process in October.
32:31Generally, we're hearing good things
32:32with other people going through the process.
32:34We're in a pretty good position.
32:36We've got a business that's viable.
32:37We're going to be branching out.
32:39Yeah, we've got plans for the future.
32:40Next season again for other parts of the business to pick up.
32:43The future's bright, the future's French.
32:47The adventure will continue for Pete and Anna,
32:50though they do have one regret.
32:53I just wish that I had one of those cars that go back in time.
32:56I would have done it sooner.
32:57And I would have done it a lot earlier.
32:58Yeah.
32:59We're our own bosses.
33:00We charge our own destiny.
33:00Which is terrifying, but very liberating.
33:03Terrifying, but liberating.
33:04Ooh.
33:05Ooh.
33:10Coming up...
33:11After a gruelling summer pushed to their limits,
33:15have Frankie and Mark emerged stronger?
33:17We're just learning to work together better as a team.
33:20I think so.
33:21We are still busy, but we're busy together.
33:24And can the Milsons pull off a marathon makeover
33:27in the nick of time?
33:28It makes you just come back.
33:30OK.
33:31So they're here.
33:40It's September in Bulgaria,
33:42and Frankie and Mark are hosting their final boot camp of the season.
33:47How are we doing for time?
33:49And they plan to finish on a high.
33:52Looking forward to it.
33:54Excited.
33:55They're heading to the Rila National Park
33:58to take on the challenge of the Maljavica,
34:01a peak rising more than 2,500 metres high.
34:06Look out for big rocks to trip over,
34:10loose shingle and lots of tree roots as well,
34:13so just keep your eyes open and be careful.
34:21While the entire group is made up of fitness fanatics,
34:25it's tough going.
34:27Take on some liquids.
34:28Even Keith is feeling the pain.
34:31Have you changed from a light blue T-shirt
34:32to a dark blue T-shirt?
34:34Halfway up without me noticing.
34:40It's quite challenging.
34:41It's quite different terrain, so it's not easy.
34:45The altitude, obviously, is quite hard,
34:47but everyone's toughed up and done it,
34:49so it's really good.
34:50Four hours in, the group reach one of the Olenski lakes.
34:58Well done, guys.
35:00Well done.
35:01Everyone did really well.
35:02Massive, mega.
35:04I think some people weren't expecting to get up here,
35:06so, yeah.
35:07Real achievement.
35:08It was really hard.
35:10It was really hard, yeah.
35:12You know, you sort of think you've got a reasonable level of fitness,
35:15but it's just completely different with being so high up.
35:19Mark was brilliant.
35:20He's the type of guy you want in this sort of situation.
35:24Helped us and really coached us along,
35:26and yeah, he's fantastic.
35:29And the guests' trust in Mark's mountain leadership skills
35:33is just one of the reasons the couple have been earning top reviews all season.
35:39And two days later, as the final boot camp comes to an end,
35:43there may be a few more glowing ones to add.
35:46We've had a really good few days,
35:48and I think everyone's had a really good time.
35:50The group has really gelled well,
35:51and now it's departure day,
35:53and even though I'm glad for a break,
35:55I feel a bit sad.
35:56And the guests are just as sad to be leaving.
36:00Absolutely loved this week.
36:02It's been amazing.
36:04Frankie and Mark have been the best hosts.
36:07It's like going to a five-star hotel.
36:09I'd definitely give the accommodation,
36:10and the whole experience five out of five for me.
36:14We're already talking about coming back next September.
36:16The week's been really good, hasn't we?
36:18We've had lots of adventures too, haven't we?
36:20Stuff we wouldn't do normally.
36:22Bye, guys!
36:24And after waving off the guests...
36:26Bye!
36:29Frankie and Mark's first summer season
36:32as full-time residents of Bulgaria has come to an end.
36:37I'm pleased it's the last boot camp of the year
36:40because we can get on with some jobs,
36:43some life admin,
36:46and settling in for the winter as well
36:48because that will be quite different for us this year.
36:50But it might be their last winter to themselves.
36:54We're thinking of probably next year
36:57offering shorter breaks like weekends for people,
37:01especially during the off-season.
37:03It's a good way for us to continue earning an income,
37:06but also the flights can be very, very affordable
37:10for a Friday to Monday break out of season.
37:14But first, recovery time.
37:17After a summer that's tested their stamina,
37:20Frankie and Mark have headed to the coast for a well-earned break.
37:26Leaving behind secure salaries and familiar routine in Kettering
37:31to chase a dream was a brave leap.
37:33And at times, the relentless pace of retreat life pushed them to the edge.
37:39But no pain, no gain.
37:41And after all the sweat, Frankie and Mark have built something real.
37:46Very pleased with how the summer went with regards to boot camp.
37:50We had really good feedback from everybody.
37:52It's been hard, but it has been rewarding.
37:56Yet perhaps the biggest challenge for this couple
37:58was learning how to train as partners in business as well as life.
38:04Turns out they're quite the team.
38:07We complement each other very well.
38:10I think we're just learning to work together better as a team.
38:13I think so.
38:14And especially when we've gone from being like parsonships in the night,
38:18the balance here for us as a couple is so much better out here.
38:23We are still busy, but we're busy together.
38:27And together they're clear on where they belong.
38:31Bulgaria feels like home for me now and really happy.
38:36I was happy in the UK, but here I feel aligned.
38:41I should be here.
38:46I know this might sound a bit cliche, but I do wake up and go to bed very grateful.
38:53I'm glad that we both were in alignment with the decisions we made
38:57because I can't see my life ever going back to how it was back in the UK.
39:09While Frankie and Mark relax into their new life,
39:12Sam and James are too busy pulling off a miracle.
39:16Turning round their half-finished jeet into a home for guests arriving later today.
39:22We're on the final construction bit.
39:25At the moment, the bedrooms are lacking beds and furniture, not to mention doors.
39:31These doors were from the old building that was in here.
39:34So we've managed to sort of salvage the frames and the doors, which is quite nice.
39:39We're just going to knock these together and hopefully they'll go back together.
39:45This is a rushed job now.
39:48Rushed is a bit of an understatement.
39:50Their guests are now just hours away.
39:52And while they may be friends, their opinion really matters.
39:56Because this third jeet is the key to Sam and James' future in France.
40:02They're kind of our new friends since we've been in France.
40:05So we've been getting to know them, which has been really nice.
40:10It will be really good to see their reaction.
40:11It will also be really good to get their feedback,
40:14because they do run their own accommodation and it's really beautiful.
40:18So it will be nice to see if they've got any constructive feedback for us.
40:24Right now, it's a little way off a five-star review,
40:27but the family are pulling out all the stops to make it happen.
40:31We've not got any furniture.
40:33We need to put the worktop on, clean the floors, make beds.
40:38Two hours.
40:40But when it comes to achieving the impossible, the Milsons push on.
40:45So we've got a door frightening and a door.
40:48After a summer of juggling young children, guests and a growing business...
40:53Just careful, hold it up. Like that.
40:55It's teamwork that's carrying them through.
41:02And with guests now due any minute, this family isn't giving up without a fight.
41:08The heaviest bit.
41:12But as the last essential bit of furniture is assembled, time's up.
41:18At least you just turned up.
41:20OK, so they're here.
41:22Right, OK, you can go then.
41:24Go and welcome them.
41:26While Sam distracts guests Kate and Tom...
41:29Hi!
41:30You've entered chaos.
41:33We're just making the last beds and then we'll do the grand unveiling.
41:38We've just got to get the mattress down, just.
41:40James makes a final frantic dash to the finish line.
41:48Right.
41:51And 40 minutes later, against the odds, they've done it.
41:57Here we are.
41:59Wow!
42:02It looks good!
42:04Oh, thanks, Kate!
42:06Surprise!
42:09A dilapidated garage, once little more than storage space, has been transformed into a stylish two-bedroom holiday let.
42:28It looks amazing and they're going to be able to earn all this extra income from another apartment, which is
42:33what you need out here.
42:34It's very easy income for them.
42:36It's great.
42:37Yeah.
42:37They've done a really good job.
42:38Yeah.
42:39Something which they should be really proud of.
42:41It's really good.
42:43After months of long days and late nights, it's the reassurance they deserved.
42:48I look at it now and I think, do you know what? I looked really good.
42:52On what it looked like this morning to how it is now, it looks okay, doesn't it?
43:00And now we can, just for tonight, relax and have a drink and go to bed in like an hour.
43:13Yeah!
43:15Eight months ago, Sam and James arrived with three young children, two sheets to run and an overwhelming renovation project.
43:24I think this season we've done everything that we've set out to achieve.
43:30We've run the current sheet and created a new one.
43:34After a hectic first season as hosts, they're confident the hard part is behind them.
43:40We know that the business works.
43:42We know that it's a good going concern and hopefully the third sheet will be the same.
43:48Next summer, we should really be seeing the rewards from it.
43:52Ice creams in the sun.
43:54We wouldn't be doing this in the UK, would we?
43:56But more than anything, it was a better family life that was the motivation driving them to success.
44:05The kids are massively impressed with how they've coped.
44:10They've left behind all of their friends, everything they know, and they've shown how resilient they are.
44:16They can understand so much French, way more than we can.
44:21Yeah.
44:22And they're already interpreting for us, aren't they?
44:25Yeah.
44:25But one phrase they have learned is,
44:28We're here to stay.
44:32We are here to stay, yeah.
44:33We are here to stay.
44:33We can't afford to go back anyway.
44:36Yeah, that's all that, does it?
44:41If you're planning your own new life in the sun and would like to be featured on our next series,
44:46please get in touch with us at channel4.com forward slash four viewers forward slash take part.
44:54We'll see you next time.
44:56Bye.
44:56Bye.
45:02Bye.
45:06Bye.
45:09Bye.
45:11Bye.
45:12Bye.
45:15Bye.
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