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Help! We Bought a Village Season 4 Episode 5
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FunTranscript
00:01Buying a home abroad is a big step to take.
00:05This is my piece of heaven now.
00:08But imagine taking that to a whole new level.
00:11I'm down! Amazing.
00:14The ghost villages of Europe are crying out for help.
00:17It's a slot battle of the Somme, innit?
00:20And a strong-willed few have answered their calls.
00:23Our whole world, our whole life and belongings are now in Ichaka.
00:28In this series...
00:29There's a real sense of history and you can feel it.
00:32..we rediscover the settlement's time left behind.
00:36Like ten people living in the whole of Rabatana now,
00:39where once it would have been thriving with schools and shops.
00:43..and meet the intrepid Brits...
00:45Trying to get this board in the hole without falling through.
00:49..who are trying to save them.
00:51It is more tricky than you imagine.
00:55But can they turn these crumbling villages...
00:58This is going to be a big crash.
01:02..into beautiful homes...
01:05This is no longer a ruin. It is now a chateau.
01:08..and successful businesses.
01:10This one are gorgeous.
01:13..or will it all prove to be...
01:15That was a close shave.
01:16..beyond their grasp.
01:18As it stands at the moment, in two years' time, it might collapse.
01:21..as they restore the past to build their future.
01:25The village has come back to life and that's exactly what we set out to do.
01:37Today...
01:38..enter into your home for the next week.
01:42..in France, a pair of village owners come to a big decision.
01:46Wow.
01:47We need to make sacrifices for this restoration.
01:50This is definitely the start of a, er...
01:52..new chapter in our lives.
01:53Yeah, definitely.
01:54While initially...
01:56There were houses that people had just got up from the table and left.
01:59..left behind artefacts tell the story of a village's past.
02:03Drinking wine out of a glass like this, it's just so typical.
02:08And in northern Spain...
02:10It's drained my accounts,
02:11but what I'm getting for the amount of money is, er...
02:15..is phenomenal.
02:16After a five-year wait,
02:18one man hopes this is the year he finally buys his village.
02:22This was dying, really.
02:23And it's a privilege for me to have the chance to carry it on.
02:33Europe's abandoned hamlets can be bottomless money pits,
02:42draining their custodians' hard-earned savings.
02:46In the end, most of our village saviours come to a realisation
02:50that for their settlements to properly thrive,
02:52they need to start to pay for themselves.
02:57Landscape gardeners Paul and Yip from Kent
02:59brought La Boullière in north-west France for £22,000 in 2021.
03:05Breathing new life into their village
03:07has been a labour of love for the couple.
03:10But it's not been easy.
03:13It feels like La Boullière is being dragged,
03:15kicking and screaming, into restoration-hood.
03:18Yeah, by two Englishmen.
03:21It's always bubbling about in the background, isn't it?
03:24Yeah.
03:25You know, what needs to be done,
03:26and just constant plate-spinning.
03:29Yeah.
03:35Paul and Yip own a total of six cottages,
03:38with one renovated and the others in various states of disrepair.
03:43Finances limit the scope of the work the couple are able to accomplish.
03:48Roofs are expensive.
03:50We haven't got that kind of money,
03:51but we also can't get on with anything to do with those houses
03:55until it's made watertight.
03:56Until it's dry, yeah.
03:57You know, we're stuck between a rock and a hard place with this.
04:00We've got the lorry,
04:01but obviously it hasn't brought the money in that we need.
04:04We're well aware that we need at least one, maybe two, rental cottages done.
04:10It's October, and with the converted horse box lorry not bringing in enough rental income,
04:19the couple are taking the drastic step of moving out of their own cottage and renting it to paying guests.
04:25Oh.
04:26Is that the last of it from up there?
04:27That's the last of it.
04:28That's the last of it.
04:29It's all systems go today, isn't it?
04:30It is all systems go.
04:31It's a big day today.
04:32We've got some guests that came and stayed in the horse box,
04:35Annabelle and Nigel.
04:36They had an amazing time, didn't they?
04:38And we kind of gave them a tour of La Bulliere and part of that they ended up coming into our cottage.
04:45And we said then, didn't we, that we were going to rent it out.
04:48And long story short, they're our guinea pigs.
04:51And they're on their Y.
04:52And they're on their Y.
04:53Yes.
04:54Paul and Yip plan to eventually move into one of their other cottages.
04:59Where's these going?
05:00Lorry, aren't they?
05:01Yeah.
05:02OK, come on.
05:04But without the funds to make it habitable, for now they're planning to stay in their existing guest accommodation.
05:11Straight to the horse box, Paul.
05:13How exciting.
05:14It's a little bit unsettling that all of our stuff is distributed between the cottages and the horse box.
05:23And nerve-wracking.
05:24We're quite anxious, aren't we, to see what someone's response is going to be to our home.
05:31But it's the push we need.
05:33We can get quite comfortable in our house.
05:36With unfinished projects.
05:38And all the time we're like that, we're not moving forwards.
05:40The couple need this new venture to be a success.
05:45If they can bring in more money, then they can begin to develop the rest of their village.
05:51With Nigel and Annabel arriving in three hours.
05:55There you go.
05:56Well done.
05:58The pressure is on to deliver a five-star experience for their first ever cottage rental guests.
06:04So we just need to fix this hook for their towel.
06:11What sort of height do we think?
06:13Yeah, that's good.
06:14Yeah, that's good.
06:19So this is a little trick I learnt off of someone years ago.
06:22I've just got an envelope, and you put a bit of masking tape on the back of it, and then pinch the front.
06:30And then you put that underneath, and all the dust will fall into that rather than going on the floor.
06:40Look at this.
06:41All of that would have ended up on my nice clean floor.
06:50Work of art, that, isn't it?
06:53Isn't it?
06:54Next, their fridge needs to be emptied and cleaned.
06:57I'll leave some stuff for them in case they want to use it.
07:01I won't be leaving my chocolate bar, I'll be eating that.
07:04But the empty fridge appears to have sprung a leak.
07:07Oh, where did that water come from?
07:10Oh.
07:12I don't know.
07:13I'm not sure what's going on with the fridge.
07:17But this water doesn't seem to be draining.
07:20It collects in the gully.
07:24That's quite a lot, eh?
07:25I don't know.
07:26That's where it's coming from.
07:28That's the last thing we need is when you're about to have guests come,
07:32and then one of your major appliances breaks down.
07:37In southern Italy, another English village saviour has spent the last ten years establishing a holiday business
07:50to ensure her village pays its way.
07:53Rabatana, in the Basilicata region, suffered mass depopulation in the 20th century,
08:00as the residents emigrated for work.
08:02So far, Martine, a former wine merchant from Norfolk, has transformed four properties, renting them out to holiday makers.
08:12To begin with, the locals weren't convinced that her plans were at all viable.
08:16I think that people are starting to believe in the Rabatana a little bit more.
08:21Now they see that somebody's come in from outside and appreciates it.
08:25I mean, they say revaluazione, I think.
08:28And I am revaluing what has been abandoned for years.
08:33I just need to be positive myself and believe that what I'm doing is, you know, is absolutely the right thing.
08:40It's March, and Martine's current project is the transformation of an abandoned cellar into yet another holiday let.
08:57Inside, the cellar walls have been given a light render, allowing an impression of the historic stonework to remain on show.
09:08This is just perfect for what I wanted to achieve. It's incredible that they managed to do it.
09:13And outside, the terrace has been levelled in preparation for tiling.
09:19This time last week, you couldn't even walk on here. It wasn't straight. It was like...
09:24It was going down into the ditch there.
09:26Now it's completely straight, and it's... I can't believe so much has happened.
09:31Leaving the builders to get on with their work, Martine is keen to explore the history of Rabatana.
09:36She's recently uncovered a treasure trove of items from one of her abandoned properties, including these vintage wine tumblers.
09:46I don't exactly know how old these are, but they're very, very traditional.
09:51Twelve of these is a litre. So, going around the table, everybody's glass would be filled up, and then when it was empty, it would be filled up again and filled up again.
09:58So, you'd know whether you'd had a litre.
10:00So, obviously, this kind of glass isn't a half fillet and swill it round. It's fillet right to the top.
10:09These wine tumblers were popularised by Italian vineyard workers keen for an affordable and sturdy glass, which could withstand the rigours of rural life.
10:18It's just a feeling that nobody's drunk out this glass for about 30 years. It's just incredible. They're quite thick.
10:31Oh, my God. But drinking wine out of a glass like this, it's just so typical.
10:37Wine glasses are not the only items Martine has uncovered left behind by former Rabatana residents.
10:44There were houses that people had just got up from the table and left everything on the table and just gone, either to Germany or to America or to wherever they emigrated to.
10:58There were toys in the corner still that were left, and I think quite a lot of people left salt for some reason. I don't know whether that's some sort of luck thing.
11:05Amongst the left behind items are documents, helping to paint an even more vivid picture of the people who once lived here.
11:15It's something to do with the military. I presume it's not wartime. It was 1951 he came out of here, born in 29, so he wouldn't have been involved in the war. But this is probably something to do with national service.
11:31A 1960s payslip is a reminder of Italy's pre-euro currency.
11:34It's impossible for us to fathom, isn't it? But 27,595 lira is probably worth about 50 quid or something. They're really good at their maths, the Italians, because they had to work with the lira.
11:52While the previous residents of the house have passed away, Martine is in contact with the surviving family members, who she hopes may be interested in these mementos of their parents' lives.
12:04I want to look at them, put them properly back into their envelopes that they came out of, and then try and get hold of one of the daughters.
12:11It's the history of their family, so I've definitely got to offer it to them. If they don't want it, then I'm going to do something with it.
12:18Preservation of the past is not always about looking after bricks and mortar. Often, it's safeguarding the evidence of those who came before.
12:27For Martine, both are of equal importance.
12:37Coming up...
12:39Open all the windows, let's get some air in.
12:42..in Galicia, a hibernating village wakes from its slumber.
12:47I haven't been here for 11 months, but I'll dry soon enough.
12:51While in France...
12:53We just need to dust and hoover, and then we're done.
12:57..Paul and Yip make sure everything is spotless for their guests.
13:01What's left to do is try and get Yip out of here, because every time we get close to the door, there's something else that needs doing.
13:08While some of our village saviours are years into the transformation of their settlements, others have waited almost as long just to get the keys to their village.
13:28In north-west Spain lies the former farming community of Openso, which captured the heart of Londoner Marcial in 2019.
13:38I've got no neighbours, I can't hear any motorways, I've got a stream, I've got access to a waterfall.
13:45With problems raising the funds to purchase Openso, it's now five years since Marcial first set eyes on his dream village.
13:54In its prime, Openso cultivated potatoes, maize and wheat, and raised livestock.
14:01Comprising of 31 hectares and a number of properties and outbuildings, the current owners put the village up for sale and retired to a nearby town.
14:19Finally, this year, Martial is in a position to purchase the village.
14:25It's drained my accounts, but what I'm getting for the amount of money is phenomenal.
14:31230,000 euros is about 190,000 pounds.
14:35What do you get for 190,000 pounds in London? Nothing.
14:40It's July 2024, and after a 48-hour journey from London...
14:47Oh, Alice, honestly.
14:50...Marcial and his daughters are glad to finally be back in the village they adore.
14:57Come on, let's get going, girls. Let's just bring everything into the house.
15:02For the fourth year in a row, Openso's current owner, Benny, is allowing the family to stay, even though the final paperwork is yet to be signed.
15:13Open all the windows. Let's get some air in. It does smell a little bit musty.
15:18The main house is the only habitable dwelling in the village.
15:23Go down. Go down, buddy.
15:26Well, let's put them out. Still got a couple of hours of sunshine.
15:29But it's been empty since the family left last summer.
15:32I haven't been here for 11 months, so, um, so it's always a little bit damp.
15:39But I'll dry soon enough.
15:44As 12-year-old Alice and 9-year-old Celestine make themselves at home...
15:49This is mine. And this is also mine. You can go.
15:58...Marcial is full of ideas about how he might begin to breathe new life into Openso.
16:04So, this, uh, this is a working cow shed. What I'd like to do is to put solar panels on the roof and collect the rain.
16:13I need the, uh, I need the energy and the electricity and I need, uh, regular water before I even consider, uh, spending time, effort, energy doing, uh, any building work.
16:27While being self-sufficient will keep bills low, at the main farmhouse, energy efficiency was also an important consideration when the building was first constructed.
16:38Right, this is the kitchen. To show you how thick the walls are, that's about 40, 45 centimetres deep.
16:47There's still another 30 centimetres to the outside walls, yeah?
16:51The thickness of the walls helped keep the interior of the house cool during the heat of the Spanish summer.
16:58And in the wintertime would have provided insulation against the cold and damp of the northern Iberian winter.
17:07The kitchen also retains a historic food preservation device from the village's past.
17:12So, uh, basically, you'd have the whole pig in there and just completely covered in salt.
17:18You leave it probably months, and then you got pork for the rest of the year.
17:22In its heyday, Opensa would have been a home to more than 40 people, a time when community was the lifeblood of the village.
17:29So, this is where they used to bake, uh, the bread, um, when there was, you know, when there was many families.
17:36Instead of each one of them having their own bread oven, they would share.
17:43Having spent the last three summers here, and getting to know the owners, Marcial is now well-versed in the history of the former residents of Opensa.
17:52So, apparently, before they started housing pigs here, there used to be a, the old aunt used to have her own, this was her accommodation.
18:01And when she, presumably, passed away, they put pigs in.
18:05Yeah, very practical, these Geddesians.
18:10The more time Marcial and his daughters spend at Opensa, the deeper their love grows for this historic place.
18:17But the complexity of the paperwork to finalise the sale of the village to Marcial means they're going to have to wait a little bit longer, until they finally get the keys.
18:28The plan was for me to sign the paperwork on Thursday to complete a purchase.
18:34And, um, I got an email this morning to say that, uh, notario is, um, is finding, uh, the paperwork quite difficult, because there's so many different fields, and some of the deeds are very old.
18:48So, therefore, we won't be able to complete this week, possibly next week, or shortly afterwards.
18:54Having waited five years to purchase Opensa, another week shouldn't prove too much of a burden for Marcial.
19:01Back at the two centuries old French village of La Boulière, where Paul and Yip are preparing to host their first ever guests in their own cottage.
19:16Thankfully, they've solved the problem of the leaking fridge.
19:20Oh, yeah, huge relief. We've saved the day. It was just a blocked drain hole. So it's good to know that that's working now. And our guests are going to have nice cold milk and chilled goods for their holiday.
19:39If their own cottage is to become a permanent guest property, as the only habitable residents in the village, Paul and Yip will need to begin renovating one of La Boulière's other abandoned properties to live in.
19:54We're at the end of the season for this year, but we've already got maybe 10 couples chomping at the bit to rent a cottage. So this is what's pushed the need, really, to get one of these other cottages liveable for us.
20:12You know, it won't be as comfortable as this, but we need to make sacrifices for this restoration. So exciting times, really. You know, Annabel and Nigel were the first, hopefully, of many guests in this cottage.
20:26So, fridge is done. I'm just going to wipe down the rest of the kitchen sides, and then we just need to dust and hoover, and then we're done.
20:39What's left to do is try and get Yip out of here, because every time we get close to the door, there's something else that needs doing.
20:47After three hours, the couple have the place looking ship-shape.
20:50Yes. Everything's now ready.
20:56I'm just in time to greet their returning guests, Annabel and Nigel.
21:02Hello. Hello.
21:04Welcome. How was your journey?
21:06It's lovely to see you again.
21:09Thank you for being our guinea pigs. Come in.
21:13Although Paul and Yip aren't novice hosts, these guests mark a new chapter in their time as village owners.
21:21Enter into your home for the next...
21:25Week. Week.
21:26Yeah.
21:28It's crucial that Annabel and Nigel give them a top-rated online review to help kick-start future buckings.
21:36You're welcome to use anything here.
21:38Some beers in the fridge for you, if you drink beer.
21:41Yeah.
21:42Washing machine and tumble dryer.
21:44Dishwasher.
21:45And then upstairs.
21:46Drawers are empty, so you feel free to use those.
21:50A rail for your clothes.
21:52Hopefully it's comfortable enough for you guys for your week.
21:56Just shout. If you need anything, just shout.
21:58Yeah.
21:59We will.
22:00Come in.
22:01Brilliant.
22:02Cool.
22:04You're welcome.
22:05First impressions are everything, and it appears Nigel at Annabel are impressed with what's on offer.
22:12When you come here, it's just a whole different world, the way of life, and everything's just relaxing.
22:17And then when you just drive over the hill, and you see Yip and Paul, and you feel like you've been friends forever.
22:24And it's just amazing.
22:25Yeah.
22:26And the village is really lucky that it's got found then, really, because they just will bring it back to life.
22:34And we just look forward to having our family and our friends all coming together, renting all the cottages.
22:41And then having the laughter back in the village where it belongs.
22:44Yeah.
22:47It is a relief, isn't it, to have our first guests in the cottage.
22:52It's always a bit nerve-wracking, isn't it?
22:54It is.
22:55Oh, I hope they have a nice time.
22:56I hope they're not cold.
22:57I hope...
22:58But they've got everything they should need.
22:59Yeah.
23:00I'm not wishing their week away, but I'm excited to hear how their week has been.
23:05Yeah.
23:06Afterwards.
23:07This is definitely the start of a, er...
23:09New chapter in our lives.
23:11Yeah, definitely.
23:12It feels like we've re-energised around all this, the whole business, the whole place.
23:17I think so, yeah.
23:18You know, we're on a mission now.
23:19Yeah.
23:20And that's good.
23:21Coming up...
23:26Wow, look at this.
23:29Isn't it fabulous?
23:30In Rabatana, Martine finds the perfect location for her next project.
23:35And I really am just seeing little tables and chairs and flickering candles and a glass of wine.
23:42While in France...
23:44We're gonna smash this today, Paul.
23:46Yep, we are.
23:47Paul and Yip scale new heights to breathe new life into one of their cottages.
23:52It's going really well at the moment.
23:54You know, if we keep going at this pace, we'll get this corner just finished off nicely.
23:59Back in southern Italy, it's March at the once abandoned village of Rabatana, where village saviour Martine has a spring in her step.
24:20I woke up this morning feeling really full of life and energetic and ready to face another week.
24:29Building work continues on the cellar, Martine's latest holiday apartment renovation.
24:34She's keen to have it finished in time for the summer season.
24:37This is going really well.
24:39I'm looking at another ten days.
24:41I don't know what they're looking at, but I'm thinking another ten days and it should be.
24:45I can start putting furniture in there.
24:47Today, builder Titi is laying tiles on the apartment's terrace.
24:52Here's gonna be white and here's gonna be blue.
24:56Always keen to keep Kostan, these tiles have been recycled from elsewhere in the village.
25:03Looking fantastic.
25:04There are old tiles, but this is how she likes.
25:18But Ina likes these tiles, so usually they don't use anyone.
25:23But English like the old things and so we are doing what she asked.
25:29You could play a large chess game down here.
25:32Martine's recycling is not quite finished.
25:37So I think you might need to open it because it's kind of really stiff.
25:42It's really rusty.
25:44She's keen to show Titi an old sink that she'd like to use in the bathroom of the new apartment.
25:50And this one here is old.
25:53I know it's a little bit chipped, but that's all part of the life that it's led, I think.
25:57Do you think we can get it out in one piece?
26:00It's gonna be a little bit hard because there's too much of cement here.
26:05Right.
26:06But I think we can make it.
26:09Cool.
26:11Martine also has big plans for this space and would like Titi's opinion on how much work could be involved.
26:18I'm just seeing it.
26:19It's just ridiculous not as if I've got enough to do.
26:22A little bar, a place to come in the evening, drink some red wine, eat a tagliere, you know, prosciutto crudo and some salami and some olives and stuff.
26:30Yeah.
26:31Should we look inside?
26:33Shall we?
26:34Martine's vision for the wine bar extends into the two vaulted spaces to the rear of the cellar.
26:42Wow.
26:43Look at this.
26:44Isn't it fabulous?
26:45This is very good.
26:47This is really easy.
26:49I could even take this out myself now.
26:51Just to open the archway up so that when you come in you've got the impact of the archway.
26:55And I really am just seeing little tables and chairs and flickering candles and a glass of wine.
27:01While the first archway is in relatively good condition, this is the other half, the second one needs more serious remedial work.
27:13It's sandstone, which means it's always eroding.
27:17Yeah.
27:18We're lucky it's still here because it's always dropping.
27:21A lot of these cantinas, if they've not opened up regularly to let the air in, big shards of this stuff just come off of the walls.
27:31Built in the 17th century, for now, Martine owns only the basement level.
27:36Including this, I think there are five storeys.
27:39Massive courtyard.
27:41It would be a dream to own the whole thing.
27:43It's huge.
27:44Absolutely massive.
27:45But I've just got like the little servants quarters.
27:48For now, Martine will just have to be content transforming the cellar into a wine bar.
27:54But as with everything in Rabatana, Martine is always keen to dream big.
28:00It's great, isn't it?
28:01Yeah.
28:02I think it's going to be really cute.
28:03I didn't realise it was as lovely as this.
28:05I really didn't.
28:06It's going to be very nice.
28:07Yeah, I think so too.
28:09It's nearly two decades since Martine bought her first property in Rabatana.
28:15And with plans in hand to create a wine bar, her passion to breathe new life into this historic village shows no signs of wavering.
28:23And with the new apartment due to be ready by the summer, Martine is feeling positive about the future.
28:30I can't tell you how happy I am.
28:32I'm tired, but I am so happy because I honestly never thought it was going to happen.
28:36This time last year, I was like, I don't know, nobody wants to touch it. Nobody.
28:41And honestly, when it's finished, we are going to have the biggest party.
28:45Everybody that's helped put the big table out on the terrace and we're just going to have a huge lunch.
28:50It's going to be lovely. It really is.
29:03Back in Normandy, it's a stunning October morning at La Boulière.
29:08And after a week's holiday in Paul and Yip's cottage, Nigel and Annabelle are heading back to the UK.
29:14It's been out of this world, really. It was better than we expected.
29:17Waking up to the views, the peace and the quiet, the birds. It's just perfect.
29:23Yip and Paul are so friendly and so welcoming.
29:27We did feel like we were burglars to start with, you know, living their dream.
29:32But we did know that they'd have a good time staying in the horse box,
29:35because we've been there and done that. Definitely come back.
29:38It's a disappointment to go home.
29:44Bonjour. Bonjour.
29:46I hope you enjoyed your stay.
29:48We certainly did, yeah.
29:50Good, good, good.
29:51Good.
29:52Listen, you're ready.
29:54Life journey home.
29:55Yeah.
29:57It's been amazing.
29:59After a successful trial run with the rental of their own home,
30:03Paul and Yip are feeling confident about offering the cottage to guests for the start of the next season.
30:08Well, it's good.
30:09Lots of love.
30:10Lots of love.
30:11Ciao.
30:12Au revoir.
30:13Au revoir.
30:14Au revoir.
30:15Au revoir.
30:16Au revoir.
30:17Bye.
30:18Bye.
30:20It's great to finally be at that stage where we're renting out a cottage.
30:25They've had an amazing week, and they've provisionally booked for a return.
30:30For December.
30:31For December.
30:32So that's good.
30:33And it's blessed, and they've paid more money than was asked.
30:36Yeah.
30:37Game's a tip.
30:39We can get it on booking sites.
30:41On rental sites, and we're away.
30:42And obviously the money side of things, you know, we can just plough that straight back in,
30:46and just keep moving forward.
30:48Definitely a new chapter for Le Boulier, isn't it?
30:50It was a big success, wasn't it?
30:51Great success, yeah.
30:54With a spring in their step and some money in their pocket,
30:57the couple start to tackle a pressing job that's been on their to-do list for the last three years.
31:03So today, we are building up the corner of this end cottage.
31:11The very last corner.
31:14When they first became custodians of Le Boulier, part of this property had collapsed into the road.
31:20Slowly, the couple have rebuilt the wall, stone by stone.
31:24But today, they want to finish the job before the Normandy winter storms set in.
31:30We're going to smash this today, Paul.
31:32Yep, we are.
31:34To hoist the materials up to the roofline, Paul and Yip have hooked up a traditional pulley system,
31:39similar to the one the original craftsman might have used when the village was first built.
31:46Yip's just putting it in our homemade mortar sling.
31:49It's quite ingenious.
31:50It's very good, yeah.
31:52Before, when we've done work on these houses, we've brought stone up one by one, haven't we?
31:57Right, it's heavy, this one.
31:59You ready?
32:00Yep.
32:02OK, I'm off.
32:09As Paul carefully builds up the wall...
32:14It's going really well at the moment.
32:16You know, if we keep going at this pace, we'll get this corner just finished off nicely.
32:20Yip collects more stones to finish the job.
32:28The couple are no strangers to rebuilding stone structures, with the evidence for their craftsmanship on show across La Boulière.
32:35That'll do, I reckon.
32:36And the years they've spent learning on the job is now coming into its own, because after just three hours, they're on the home straight.
32:50OK, last stone.
32:53That's so good.
32:54I'm really, really pleased with that.
32:57Saving a lost village is not a quick process.
33:00Over time, jobs are ticked off, and projects are completed.
33:03And with each of these steps, once lost villages like La Boulière move ever closer to being saved.
33:10And today, for Paul and Yip, even finishing the smallest of jobs leaves them on a high.
33:16Congratulations, Paul.
33:19On with the next job.
33:25Coming up...
33:27We've never not had water in London.
33:31In Spain, the realities of ancient plumbing systems hit home.
33:36If I can't get the pump to work, then there's no running water in the property.
33:41While in Rabatana...
33:42Very exciting times. I'm packing to go to France, and I can't wait.
33:48Martine pays a visit to Paul and Yip.
33:52Here's to our projects.
33:55Long restoration.
33:57Yes.
33:58It's July in Galicia, and Martial's family is dealing with the realities of living in a centuries-old ghost village.
34:17At Openso's somewhat rudimentary water system has broken down.
34:21I'm waiting to see if the water starts coming, because the water tank is empty and we need water.
34:36The village's tap water is pumped from a nearby river, but for two days, Openso has had no water.
34:42So Martial has enlisted the help of eldest daughter Alice as he attempts to reset the pump.
34:51I'm trying a little combination of the fuses.
34:54Right.
34:55And then now we're going to give that two or three minutes.
35:03Halfway through their summer holiday, for Hackney-born Alice, the quirks of living in a historic rural village are beginning to wear a bit thin.
35:12It's definitely very different.
35:15It's like, at home we're like in the middle of London.
35:19Like we've never not had water in London.
35:22If I can't get the pump to work, then there's no running water in the property for the sink and the toilet.
35:29Out of ideas, Martial calls current village owner Benny, who offers an immediate solution.
35:41She's got her granddaughters staying with her.
35:44She's inviting us to come over because they've got a swimming pool.
35:48Yeah.
35:50Benny has also promised that her husband, Senen, will come over tomorrow and help Martial fix the issue with the pump.
35:57But for today at least, the family can enjoy water on tap.
36:12It's October and Martial is back in London.
36:16Back a month now and unfortunately I'm right back in the routine.
36:21Rain, work and school runs.
36:24And to add to his holiday blues, he's going to have to wait a little longer to call the village his own.
36:31As delays with the paperwork are still holding up the purchase.
36:36The money's ready.
36:37Benny and her family know that I've done everything I could so I'm not in trouble with them.
36:44It's just Spanish bureaucracy.
36:47It's already been a five year wait for Martial.
36:5122, 25, 35.
36:55So he remains philosophical.
36:58These delays haven't been all bad because things I thought were really important a year or two ago,
37:04don't seem quite so important now.
37:06The priorities have slightly changed.
37:08So the more time I take, the less likely I am to make a mistake.
37:12As long as it happens this winter, I do want to go next summer for it to be done.
37:17Five years is long enough.
37:18Six months later, it's April in Openso.
37:29A little Galician wine.
37:31Very nice.
37:33Got to go local haven't you?
37:35And Martial finally has something to celebrate.
37:38The sale went through three, four weeks ago.
37:41I'm picking up the deeds tomorrow and life is sweet.
37:44After five long years, he can finally embark on his mission to breathe new life back into Openso.
37:54My long term vision for the village would be to return to becoming a working village
37:59with several people being able to earn a living from it.
38:03It could be a bit more modern, specialised farming.
38:06It could be an artistic slant to it.
38:09It could be renewable energy.
38:12It could even do accommodation.
38:15The sky's the limit.
38:19Now that I'm finally the owner of Openso, I feel like a weight's been lifted off my shoulder.
38:24It's definitely exciting.
38:26This was dying really.
38:28And it's a privilege for me to have the chance to carry it on.
38:32I'm really looking forward to the adventures that are going to come.
38:39Chin chin, it's the life.
38:42Bring it on.
38:44Back in Rabatana, where Martine's readying herself for the next stage of her rescue mission.
39:03I was just going to look at my to-do list, which I haven't looked at all day.
39:06Which is a bit of a large problem, isn't it really?
39:11Like all our saviours, she's faced many challenges since taking on her once abandoned village.
39:17So it's a comfort to know others are in the same boat.
39:21Today, she's off to visit two of them.
39:24Very exciting times.
39:26I'm packing to go to France and I can't wait.
39:29I'm going to meet Paul and Yip.
39:31It's just going to be so much fun and I can't wait to see their place.
39:34The enormity of the whole thing that they've taken on, because it's a big project.
39:40While Martine makes her way to France...
39:46At La Boulière, after one of their most challenging periods as village owners,
39:51Paul and Yip are excited to meet a fellow village saviour.
39:56Very exciting day today.
39:58We've got Martine as our guest and she's staying in the horse box.
40:02Sometimes it's really nice to be able to talk to somebody that is going through this whole thing.
40:08You know, the ups and downs of it all and that kind of stuff.
40:12She's a woman that gets things done. We like that.
40:14A couple of hours later, Martine arrives.
40:23And straight away, Paul and Yip take her on a tour.
40:27This is incredible. These stones are massive.
40:32I know. You wait till you see this fireplace. Let's go and have a look.
40:36OK.
40:38Oh, my God.
40:40So the top of it is here.
40:45Oh, my goodness.
40:47That's quite a thing, isn't it, for such a small cottage.
40:50And there's the Norman carvings.
40:52Wow, what a thing.
40:54The scale of La Bulliere's rebuild could be overwhelming, but not for Martine.
41:00Oh, it's gorgeous.
41:04Because as a time-served village saviour, she can only see its potential.
41:10So this is the next house to be done?
41:12We'd like it to be.
41:13It's the most work.
41:14Oh, that fireplace.
41:16It's certainly, you've really got to show up.
41:18The nice big log burner in there.
41:20Yeah. Lovely, isn't it?
41:22Looking forward to that.
41:23I think we'll move into here.
41:24Yeah, probably, yeah.
41:25I'd like to experience living in all of them.
41:27I think that's not a bad idea, because I think it gives your houses kind of a soul.
41:32I try to go round mine, if I can.
41:35How many have you got to go round? You've got one for every day of the week.
41:38Yeah, we have, yes.
41:40And as they work their way down the terrace,
41:43This is personally my favourite house.
41:45This looks like one of my rooms, actually.
41:46Does it?
41:47I love it.
41:48It's just gorgeous.
41:50She's able to empathise with the demands of restoring multiple properties.
41:55It's a bit of a mess from here on in.
41:56Just needs a bit of a dust.
41:58That's all.
42:00Martine understands the couple's struggles.
42:03You just have to try and bash through one at a time.
42:07Yeah.
42:08So that at least you're sustaining one with another.
42:11There's like an adrenaline high.
42:13You can't stop.
42:14It's an addiction.
42:15No.
42:16It is an addiction.
42:17We've both got that kind of streak.
42:18Yeah.
42:19And when you see something come into fruition for it, when it was a mess, there is no better feeling than that.
42:25The sense of abandonment is no surprise to Martine.
42:30It's a real mess in here.
42:31Wow.
42:32This is very Rabatana.
42:33Walking in and finding plastic bottles, wine bottles, shoes, random things that have just been left.
42:40Remnants of previous people's existence.
42:43Exactly.
42:44Yeah.
42:45Just amazing.
42:46Martine checks into her accommodation.
42:49Oh, how sweet.
42:50I love mezzanine.
42:51Gives it more movement to them.
42:52Yes.
42:53And that works really, really well.
42:55So cozy.
42:57And then it's hospitality time.
43:00That's lovely.
43:02Thanks to our projects.
43:04Long restorations.
43:05Long restorations.
43:06Yes.
43:08Long restorations.
43:12We're getting on too well, actually.
43:14We're supposed to be being serious and talking about house renovation and we're just having fun.
43:19Wow.
43:20They're lovely.
43:21Lovely, lovely.
43:22And I think we've got lots of ideas in common.
43:24All three of us going through the same kind of things.
43:28And as they exchange wisdom into the night.
43:32All three are ready to take on the next phase of their projects.
43:37It is good to share these experiences, isn't it?
43:40We're not the only crazy people.
43:42Yeah.
43:43There's a lot of risk.
43:44There's always a problem that comes up that you don't expect.
43:47Yeah.
43:48We need to do more of this.
43:49Yeah.
43:50Absolutely.
43:51Grounding stuff.
43:52Take time to be proud.
43:53Yeah.
43:54And that's a really good mantra to have, I think.
43:57Otherwise, there's something lost in not taking that.
44:00Mm.
44:01Time to stand back and really appreciate the work and the accomplishment.
44:06And the enjoyment.
44:07Yeah.
44:08That it's bought you actually doing it and actually seeing it closed.
44:10Definitely.
44:11You've put your heart and souls in it.
44:12Yeah.
44:13And your passion and you've actually done it yourselves.
44:15And it's, it's, I think hats off to you.
44:18I really do.
44:20Yeah.
44:21It is a wonderful thing.
44:25Next time.
44:26A former soldier and his band of men push forward with their mountain village rescue mission.
44:35It's quite an easy job, wasn't it?
44:37In Sicily, one man joins forces with several saviours to try and revive an ailing ghost town.
44:43This came up as part of the one year scheme.
44:45I'll start renovation on this once I'm closer to finishing the other property.
44:49And we're back with Paul and Yip as their historic hamlet finally begins to reveal her past.
44:55And we've been here three years now.
44:57It's a massive discovery this today.
45:25We'll see you next time.
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