- 22 hours ago
A New Life in the Sun - Season 11 - Episode 12
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00:00Making a fresh start under blue skies is a dream chased by thousands of Brits.
00:05This is freedom.
00:07Pick your vista, anyone you like.
00:10Pursuing bucket list experiences...
00:13Yay!
00:15..and newfound freedoms.
00:17We could walk around butt naked if we wanted to.
00:19While Brexit has made it a battle...
00:22I've applied for two visas. I've been denied two visas.
00:25Many are still giving it a go.
00:27Come on.
00:28I wanted to know what else life had to offer.
00:30I like the idea of just spending every day together, don't we?
00:34We do.
00:35From launching bike tours in Spain...
00:38This is my office here. I couldn't ask for more.
00:40..to glamping sites in Italy.
00:42Build it and they will come, we hope.
00:46But will it be a smooth ride?
00:50Or their ideas come crashing down...
00:53Oh, my God!
00:55..as they begin their new lives in the sun.
00:57It's an adventure.
00:59Love, Eli.
01:01Today...
01:02Mmm!
01:03..an enterprising couple adds some spice to the Spanish mountains
01:07with their new takeaway business.
01:09He's arrived without the lids.
01:11So I've got to make a cardboard cutout of lids.
01:14Fantastic!
01:15..in France, one family finally sees some light at the end of the tunnel...
01:20OK, moment of truth.
01:21Is the door going to shut?
01:22..in transforming an old hotel into guest accommodation.
01:25Good to see the view, finally, cos it's been covered up for so long.
01:30..and the race is on in Spain.
01:32One, two, three, go!
01:35..as one couple clear out a run-down townhouse
01:38ready to host guests for the summer.
01:40We've got an old oven that doesn't work,
01:42and I've forgot to load it up.
01:44That was the one thing we needed gone.
01:45To be fair, you...
01:47Ah, don't be blaming me!
01:48..as one couple clear out a run-down townhouse.
01:50..as one couple clear out a run-down townhouse.
01:51..as one couple clear out a run-down townhouse.
01:53..as one couple clear out a run-down townhouse.
01:55Nestled on the southern slopes of Spain's Sierra Nevada,
01:59the Alpujara are a patchwork of whitewashed villages
02:03and dramatic mountain views.
02:06It may be one of Spain's lesser-known regions,
02:09but there's no shortage of things to do,
02:12from hiking to skiing,
02:13or just kicking back with some traditional tapas.
02:17Oh, grazie.
02:19Che grazie.
02:20Like Sharon and Bongo.
02:22This is a life.
02:24Having moved here two years ago,
02:26it's a stark contrast from their old life back in Edinburgh.
02:30Amazing.
02:31I mean, what more could you want?
02:33Tapas and beer on a sunny afternoon.
02:36The pair met 28 years ago whilst working in hospitality,
02:41with Bongo a self-trained chef
02:43and Sharon working front of house
02:45before retraining as a yoga instructor.
02:48Cooking for 25 years is a very tough thing.
02:51I got out of it in Edinburgh because it was too tiring.
02:54It's a young person's game.
02:55And then we came out here
02:57and I've completely forgotten
02:59how much I love cooking for people.
03:01Sharon and Bongo already rent out an apartment
03:04beneath their home,
03:05but it's not enough to make ends meet.
03:08Giving up on their life in Spain isn't an option,
03:11so they've come up with a new money-making scheme this season,
03:15providing retreats as well as accommodation
03:18in the hope that will solve their money worries.
03:21The whole idea is that we can have a group of people coming out
03:24and we can help them do as little or as much as they want.
03:28So they can just come out and rent the apartment
03:30or they can add on some food from Bongo,
03:32they can add on some yoga or some massage from me.
03:34Or they can just sit by the pool
03:36and get food brought to them all day long.
03:38Either or, you know, it's their choice.
03:41Part of Sharon and Bongo's plan
03:43was to build an outdoor yoga platform.
03:45But with funds drying up, it's been left half-finished.
03:50Now, with summer approaching,
03:52they urgently need an injection of funds
03:55to survive another year.
03:56I think some of the challenges will be
03:59trying to work out how to promote our business,
04:02trying to work out how to get the audience
04:05that we're looking for.
04:07Stop spending as much money on trying to make it
04:09as perfect as we possibly can.
04:10Yeah, we need to actually have money coming in and staying in
04:13as opposed to money coming in and going straight back out again.
04:21It's mid-April at Sharon and Bongo's.
04:24And in order to fund the completion of their yoga platform
04:27and kick-start their retreat business,
04:32Bongo's turning his culinary skills
04:34into a fresh business opportunity.
04:37So we've got a fortnightly takeaway business.
04:40I thought it would just be two or three people,
04:42but we've got 23 served tomorrow.
04:44So, yeah, it's turned out to be quite a popular thing.
04:47Everybody loves a carry, doesn't they?
04:49So I quite like making carries,
04:51so it's a match made in heaven.
04:54Partnering up with shop owners
04:55in the nearby town of Lanharon,
04:58the takeaway meals will be distributed tomorrow afternoon,
05:02ready for their customers to collect.
05:03With his takeaway meals costing up to €15 a head,
05:08Bongo is on track to make over €300 if all goes well today.
05:13I'm going to do spiced veggie sausage rolls,
05:16then we're going to have a veggie
05:17and a beef and pork massaman curry with crispy potatoes.
05:21And for dessert, we're having chilli chocolate brownie,
05:25which is always a crowd pleaser.
05:27And even better news,
05:29as Sharon will be teaching one of her regular yoga classes
05:32in Lanharon tomorrow,
05:34Bongo has found a ready-made client base
05:36to sign up to his latest venture.
05:39No, I usually make enough for any eventuality.
05:43I don't like my customers not having plenty of food.
05:46As you can tell, Shaz is a feeder, eh?
05:49Oh, there she is.
05:50Nothing.
05:51What?
05:52Nothing.
05:53You want to come and taste it, Shaz?
05:54Yeah.
05:57Let's see.
06:01Mmm!
06:02Very good.
06:03Yeah.
06:04A happy wife is a happy husband.
06:07It passes.
06:08It definitely passes.
06:10Right, then.
06:12The growing demand for Bongo's meals
06:15means the limits of their small kitchen are being tested.
06:20We don't have pots big enough here,
06:22so I have to do it in batches.
06:24And then we'll mix it all together at the end
06:26and then portion it all up.
06:27This is the biggest order we've had yet.
06:29Yeah, it's a bit chaotic in here, but we'll get there.
06:31I've got all night to do it.
06:34Oh!
06:37Right.
06:38OK.
06:40Calm again.
06:41That's nice.
06:46That's his rules.
06:49But just as everything was going to plan,
06:53Bongo spots a problem guaranteed to add to his workload.
06:59These arrived from a reputable company without the lids.
07:03So I've got to make a cardboard cutout of lids for these tonight.
07:08That's my job.
07:09Fantastic.
07:10I love being a chef.
07:12Here.
07:23The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-west France
07:26is bountiful in both food and drink production,
07:30as well as boasting a vibrant tourism sector.
07:34It's also hugely popular with Brits looking to take life
07:38at a much slower pace.
07:39You can get that this is here, really.
07:42Nice little spot.
07:44Craig and Emma, originally from Hertfordshire,
07:47made the move to the medieval town of Aimee
07:50when they realised that their busy working lives
07:52were impacting their health.
07:55My dream was always to be a carpenter,
07:57and I was quite lucky that I achieved that quite young in life,
08:00and that led on to becoming a site foreman, a site manager,
08:03and then a project manager, running multi-million pound contracts,
08:06which I loved for a long time.
08:08But then I think the stress of it definitely started to tell,
08:12and I was lucky enough, with Emma's support,
08:16for us to get away from that
08:17and not end up spending the rest of our lives stuck in the rat race.
08:24The couple, along with their children, already have a home nearby.
08:29But when a centuries-old hotel went up for sale,
08:33they saw an investment to secure their future.
08:36Yeah, so the building itself is over four floors,
08:38got a basement, which only covers half of the total area,
08:41then you've got the ground floor,
08:42which has pretty much been stripped out
08:44because it was a restaurant about a decade ago.
08:46The first and second floor are in terrible condition.
08:50It was so dilapidated.
08:51I mean, the amount of work that initially we've had to do
08:54just structurally has been unbelievable.
08:56With Craig managing the build,
08:58Emma's remote marketing job is helping to fund their plans
09:02to convert the building into two holiday rental apartments
09:05in the bustling market town.
09:08The hotel's right in the centre,
09:10so it's perfect for holidaymakers and, yeah, a great base.
09:15We will be putting our own touches and stuff on it,
09:18seeing what we can do to make it a bit more special.
09:20And hopefully, it's going to be a reasonable budget.
09:25It's December in Aimee,
09:27and with the majority of the building's structural work now complete,
09:31the internal refit is in full swing.
09:36Today, alongside plasterboarding the stud walls,
09:40Craig and his team are fitting new windows.
09:42The plan is now that we've prepped the opening.
09:45We've even put a couple bits of baton in
09:47just in case the window decides it wants to continue going
09:50so we don't lose it.
09:51So me and Perry now are going to try and put the window in.
09:54And where's it?
09:56That's it.
09:58We're going to go potter first again.
10:01Every single window and door needs replacing
10:04across the three-storey property
10:06at a cost of €21,000,
10:09a huge outlay when you consider
10:11they paid €48,000 for the entire place.
10:15Good to see the view, finally,
10:17because it's been covered up for so long.
10:19When you can look beyond some of the rooftop
10:21into the distance, which is lovely.
10:23It feels like it's really happening.
10:26OK, moment of truth.
10:27Is the door going to shut?
10:35One window.
10:36Very nice.
10:38That's all the windows in on the second floor,
10:40apart from the V-lux we have to put in at some time on the roof.
10:43Next now, after lunch,
10:44is downstairs to put some of the big guys in.
10:46A lot bigger than this, a lot heavier.
10:50Lunch complete,
10:51it's time to crack out the winch.
10:55We've brought well over 100 sheets of plasterboard up with it.
10:59Everything else, brought the RSJs in with it.
11:01€200 has earned its money about ten times over.
11:06Look at that.
11:06Look at that.
11:08See?
11:08I wouldn't get underneath it.
11:10This is amazing.
11:12Well, are we ready, guys?
11:14Yeah.
11:15Weighing in at around 100 kilograms,
11:18it's no lightweight task,
11:20and with just inches to spare,
11:22getting them through the narrow opening requires absolute precision.
11:27OK?
11:30OK.
11:31Right.
11:31Are you two on pulling duty?
11:33Yep.
11:33Hold on.
11:34Hold on.
11:38Not to mention nerves of steel.
12:02And the windows make it upstairs in one piece.
12:07Well done, guys.
12:12Today's been a good day on progress.
12:14We're really nearly there with plasterboarding on the second floor,
12:16which is quite a nice threshold to be getting over.
12:19And we've got the windows in on the second floor.
12:21So they're all in.
12:22That's done.
12:23Not all of the windows have been replaced yet,
12:26but with key areas now watertight,
12:29they can begin adding a new staircase
12:31carpenter Craig has been building in his workshop back home.
12:35Once we're happy that we don't have any more winching to do
12:38from first to second floor
12:40because we're using the hole that is for the staircase,
12:43is our access.
12:45Once that's done, yeah,
12:45we'll get the staircase here and get in.
12:47So no more ladders from first to second floor.
12:50Hopefully, I'd like to say in the next month.
12:56Coming up,
12:57Bongo's got his hands full balancing takeaway orders...
13:00Do not drop.
13:01Do not drop.
13:02..and tackling urgent guest prep.
13:07Hello, Mum.
13:09And one couple struggle to adjust to life in rural Spain.
13:14You can't get the Liberty guys to come to the house at all.
13:17Sometimes they don't even come to the village.
13:26In the heart of southern Spain,
13:28the quiet village of Tovithcon
13:30sits surrounded by dramatic Andalusian landscapes.
13:35While the views are breathtaking,
13:37the lure of city life
13:38has seen many locals drift away
13:40in search of new opportunities.
13:42Do not tempt you with the tapas?
13:44No, I don't like this.
13:45Sardines are lovely.
13:46No, it's got bones in it.
13:48But it's not all been one-way traffic.
13:51Ian, an electrician,
13:52and Bev, who worked in child services,
13:55have said goodbye to their jobs,
13:57family and friends in Lancashire
13:59to start a new life in this village.
14:01We still have a tradition of
14:03whenever you buy a drink,
14:05you're just given free tapas,
14:07just brought out to you.
14:08That's why you like it.
14:09You'd eat anything if it was free of charge.
14:11Well, it does taste better when it's free.
14:13Oh.
14:14Well, any who's,
14:16if you don't want it,
14:19we don't want it going to waste, do we?
14:22I love the lifestyle here.
14:24The culture's dead relaxed.
14:26The people are lovely.
14:27It's the peace and the quiet
14:29and the tranquillity.
14:31It's just given us a new lease of life, hasn't it?
14:33Mm, yeah.
14:35The couple have always dreamt
14:37of living in Spain,
14:38and now with a five-bedroom townhouse
14:41snapped up for just £56,500,
14:45they hope turning it into a home
14:47and guest apartment
14:48will finally bring their vision to life.
14:51We're into our mid to later 50s now,
14:54so if we weren't going to do it now,
14:57it wasn't going to happen.
14:58And then I couldn't live with that.
15:03It's July at Ian and Bev's in Andalusia,
15:06and since moving into their five-bedroom home,
15:10the couple have been hard at work
15:11converting it into two self-contained apartments.
15:17One for themselves
15:18and one for paying guests.
15:20So this is just edging,
15:23finishing off the tiling.
15:27This is one of the major jobs
15:28we were desperate to get done
15:30as soon as we can.
15:31So this is a new bathroom
15:33that will be going in.
15:36As well as a new bathroom,
15:38they want to upgrade the kitchen
15:40in their guest apartment
15:41and install air conditioning
15:43and are relying on savings
15:45to cover the estimated £10,000 cost.
15:50We don't have any form of income at the minute,
15:52and the only form of income
15:53we're going to have is from this holiday let.
15:56So all eyes are really on getting this one done
16:00before the accommodation where we're living.
16:04Ian's just trying to keep on top of everything.
16:07Ian's no stranger to DIY,
16:10having run his own odd jobs business
16:12back in the UK.
16:14But adapting to the way things are done here
16:16has been a steep learning curve.
16:18We're waiting on the delivery of the shower tray
16:21and the bathroom furniture.
16:25And really, I could do with the shower tray in now,
16:28but you can't get delivery guys
16:30to come to the house at all.
16:32Sometimes they don't even come to the village.
16:34Living near the highest point of this village
16:36has its challenges.
16:38There'll be a drop-off point
16:39at the local town in Orgiver.
16:41And we've been there a number of times
16:42and they've said,
16:43there's nothing for you.
16:44And then we've found stuff we've been waiting for
16:45for three or four weeks.
16:47It's sat in the corner.
16:48And the attitude just seems to be like,
16:50eh, it'll turn up.
16:51The whole point of us coming out here,
16:53was to live a more relaxed lifestyle.
16:55So I can't want that and then moan
16:58when everyone around me is relaxed.
17:03But there's very little cause for Ian and Bev
17:06to relax just yet,
17:07as they hope to have their apartment ready for guests
17:10in just two months' time.
17:12We've had one day off.
17:15Yeah, in the month we've had one day off
17:17where we gave ourselves the day off
17:19to go and have a bite to eat and drink.
17:21But every other day we're working
17:22because the work has to be done.
17:24We have to get it done
17:25and we have to get the holiday
17:26let up and running, don't we?
17:28And as they will move on
17:29to renovating their own apartment
17:31downstairs once the guest apartment
17:33is completed,
17:34their workload shows no signs of easing up.
17:37The list seems to get longer.
17:40I had a complaint the other day
17:42that now we've done job after job after job
17:44and I couldn't see the end of the list of jobs.
17:47So once the tiling's finished...
17:49And the bathroom suite goes in...
17:50And the bathroom's done.
17:52The kitchen is not such a major job.
17:54No, the kitchen should be OK.
17:56Then we can get to work on the house we live in
17:57and make it comfortable for us.
17:59Yeah, and I need a log burner in.
18:02We're still in the height of summer.
18:03We've got months...
18:03I know, yeah, but if you get it in the summer
18:05we've been told it's cheaper.
18:07OK.
18:07So that's why the list never ends.
18:16Just 45 minutes up the road at Sharon and Bongo's...
18:20Oh, my goodness.
18:21Do not drop.
18:22Do not drop.
18:24Bongo's packing up his takeaway meals
18:26to deliver to collection points in the nearby town.
18:30Up to one o'clock in the morning.
18:31It's not the making of the food that's time consuming.
18:34It's the making of the cardboard tops.
18:37There we go.
18:39First stop on his route today
18:41is a shop owned by his neighbour and friend Jacob.
18:45Number one.
18:47Woo-hoo!
18:52Because I'm the neighbour,
18:53I eat a lot of his food and it's really good.
18:55He's a really good chap.
18:57Oh, beer everywhere.
18:59And it's the first time I will hand it out
19:03and I will eat something too, of course.
19:05Bongo has chosen several easy drop-off points around town.
19:10With orders taken and pick-up spots confirmed...
19:13OK.
19:14..all that's left is to lay out the meals...
19:17Take care.
19:18Cheers, Jacob. I'll see you later.
19:19..and let his customers know
19:21their takeaways are ready to collect.
19:24All the curries are at Jacob's.
19:27Enjoy, yeah.
19:29It's a busy day.
19:36Across town, Sharon's yoga class is winding down
19:39and right on cue,
19:41Bongo arrives with his final delivery of the day.
19:45That's tea jizzes and that's rubs.
19:47We're all good.
19:48With plenty of hungry yogis ready to refuel,
19:52it doesn't take long for Bongo's meals to disappear.
19:55Look at this.
19:58We've doubled up this time
20:00so we can get some in the freezer
20:01cos we didn't do that last time
20:03and last time it was really good.
20:05I come and do these classes religiously every week.
20:08They're wonderful.
20:09I always feel an inch taller,
20:11which is great when you're only 5'3",
20:13and then we can go home
20:14and stuff ourselves like little piggies
20:17and it's wonderful.
20:23I think a lot of people just want to go home
20:25and have food now.
20:26It's not even lunchtime.
20:28But, yeah, Neil was saying
20:29he just wants to go home and have a beer
20:30and sit in his garden and have a curry.
20:33But, yeah, it's good.
20:34It's good feedback.
20:34Everyone's seemed very happy.
20:36Every day, every week,
20:37it feels like it's getting busier,
20:38we're getting more integrated into the community.
20:40It really feels like we belong here.
20:43This is our proper home, yeah.
20:46Everyone's made us feel so welcome,
20:48so part of the community.
20:50It's amazing.
20:52I love it here.
20:54As well as bringing in an income,
20:56Bongo's takeaway meals and Sharon's yoga classes
20:59are also helping the couple build a client base
21:02for their upcoming retreats.
21:04And done.
21:05So, satisfied that they've laid the groundwork,
21:08they head back home ready to recharge
21:10after the morning's work.
21:15Three weeks later,
21:17Sharon and Bongo have been juggling
21:18their fortnightly takeaway business
21:20with Sharon's yoga teaching.
21:22And then back up.
21:25Alongside this,
21:26they've also been renting out
21:27their downstairs apartment,
21:29all in order to build up the funds
21:31to complete their yoga platform
21:33and launch their new retreat business.
21:35And last one.
21:37But with the summer season
21:39just around the corner,
21:41that means all of their advertised facilities
21:43need to be available for guests,
21:45including their pool.
21:49We've just got to clean it now
21:50and get stuck into the sludge
21:52in the bottom of it.
21:53It's quite fresh this morning.
21:56I don't know what's living in it,
21:57but here we are.
21:58Having already paid €600
22:00to have the pump replaced,
22:02Bongo sets to work pressure washing
22:04the layers of grime
22:05that have collected over winter.
22:08If I use a powerful one,
22:09there's a chance
22:09it'll get water under the tiles
22:11and they'll pop off.
22:12If I use the weak one,
22:13it won't,
22:13but it doesn't seem
22:14to be cleaning it very well.
22:19Oh, brilliant.
22:21There you go, eh?
22:22That's what happens
22:23when you use a powerful one.
22:24Sharon and Bongo
22:25are expecting guests later today.
22:28So it's not just
22:29the tiles under pressure.
22:31If the pool isn't ready,
22:32they risk disappointing
22:34their customers.
22:37Another one.
22:48Coming up...
22:49Go round, go round, go round.
22:51It's the moment of truth
22:53as Craig's handmade staircase arrives.
22:56Today's a big day.
22:57It's going to go in.
22:58Hopefully.
22:59Hopefully it fits.
23:01Meanwhile, at Sharon and Bongo's...
23:03Tiles are popping off
23:04all over the place.
23:05As their guests inch closer,
23:08their pool clean up spirals.
23:10There's always a problem
23:11behind a problem
23:12behind a problem.
23:23It's January in the French town
23:25of Aimee,
23:26where Craig and Emma
23:28are turning their abandoned hotel
23:29into modern holiday apartments.
23:32And today,
23:33Craig and his team
23:34have an important arrival on site.
23:36This is the staircase
23:37from the first floor
23:39to the second floor.
23:41I made it in my workshop
23:43at home
23:43and today's a big day.
23:45It's going to go in.
23:46Hopefully.
23:46Hopefully it fits.
23:50Go round.
23:51Go round, go round.
23:51Hiv it, pivot, pivot.
23:52That way.
23:53That way.
23:54That's it.
23:57Negotiating the narrow front door,
23:59the staircase
24:00is next lifted up
24:01to the first floor.
24:07All yours, boys.
24:08We don't have it.
24:09All yours.
24:11That was the easy bit.
24:14With the help of a winch,
24:16the team worked
24:17to lift the staircase
24:18into position.
24:37This staircase
24:38has been made to measure
24:40with millimetre precision.
24:45But getting it
24:46to slot perfectly
24:47into place
24:48is proving
24:49trickier than expected.
24:52It's tight there.
24:53There's going to be
24:53a banner out there.
24:55Can that be cut?
24:56Yes.
24:57All right.
24:58Hang for it.
24:59We'll just cut that bit.
25:00By carefully trimming
25:01the end of the timber footing,
25:03the team are finally able
25:05to ease the upper flight
25:06into position.
25:07Go.
25:09Go.
25:13And thankfully,
25:15the lower flight
25:16is much more
25:17straightforward to install.
25:21Literally,
25:21first time
25:22putting a level
25:23on the staircase.
25:24The bubble is perfect.
25:26It's good.
25:27Absolutely perfect.
25:28It's gone in
25:29really, really well.
25:30The measurements
25:31are within a couple
25:32millimetres.
25:33So that is very,
25:35very good
25:35over a four-metre floor
25:37that we're about
25:38two mil out.
25:38So really,
25:39really pleased.
25:45Four months later
25:46and work at Craig
25:47and Emma's
25:48former hotel
25:48has come a long way.
25:51There's lots
25:52going on right now.
25:54We've done
25:55plasterboarding,
25:56electrical,
25:57plumbing.
25:58Pretty much
25:58the first fix is finished
25:59on the first
25:59and second floor.
26:01There's paint
26:01going on the walls.
26:02We've done tiling.
26:04Staircases are now
26:05all in all the way up
26:06so it's not ladders
26:07to get up and down
26:08which makes a massive
26:09difference.
26:10With so much activity
26:12on site,
26:13the couple's vision
26:14for their two guest
26:15apartments is beginning
26:16to materialise.
26:18OK, so this is
26:19the living room
26:20and kitchen.
26:20So there's going to be
26:21a kitchen
26:22all the way along there,
26:24then dining table here
26:26and then we're going
26:26to have a big
26:27library area
26:28with the television,
26:29sofa and stuff here.
26:30Looking out onto
26:31our veranda
26:32that isn't finished.
26:34OK, this is the
26:35master bedroom
26:36so we've got nice
26:36tall ceilings in here
26:38like we've got
26:38in the living room.
26:39We're going to keep
26:39all the floors
26:40on this floor,
26:42hopefully so.
26:43In a couple weeks' time
26:44we're going to get
26:44a big sander in
26:45and try sanding
26:45all the floors through
26:46and just see how
26:47they come up.
26:48I'm hoping they're
26:48in good enough condition.
26:50This stage of the job
26:51is one of those parts
26:52that seems to move
26:53on nice and quickly.
26:53When you get a bit
26:54of plaster on the walls
26:55it just changes everything
26:56but obviously the bank
26:57balance is feeling it.
27:00With money tight,
27:02Craig is using
27:03his carpentry know-how
27:04to get their rooms
27:05ready for guests
27:06on a budget.
27:07My job today
27:08is to finish this panelling.
27:10We're then going
27:11to lay the floor
27:11and then after the floor
27:13has gone down
27:13I'll then put the
27:14skirtings down
27:14which will fill the gap
27:15you can see from the floor
27:17up to the panellings
27:18of there.
27:23By using affordable
27:24MDF
27:25to create period
27:26style panels
27:27Craig and Emma
27:28hope to restore
27:29some of the building's
27:30character
27:31that was lost
27:32during demolition.
27:33You can spend forever
27:34setting these things out.
27:36Sometimes you just
27:36got to get on with it
27:38and the only person
27:39that notices
27:40something's maybe
27:41not quite perfect
27:41will be me.
27:44After three hours
27:45of sawing,
27:46gluing
27:46and nailing
27:47the bedroom panels
27:49are slowly
27:49coming together.
27:51Bit of filler
27:52and some paint
27:53trim and skirting
27:55so still quite a lot
27:56to do
27:56but yeah
27:57I'm pleased
27:58it's good
27:58it's all good.
28:03One year
28:04and two months in
28:05Craig's enthusiasm
28:06for the project
28:07hasn't faded
28:08but with plenty
28:10still to do
28:10and their life savings
28:12at stake
28:12it's no surprise
28:14he's feeling
28:14the strain.
28:16It's nice
28:17to be doing
28:18something interesting
28:19like this
28:19for yourself
28:20it's nice
28:21but at the same time
28:22I'm not earning
28:22any money doing this
28:23so that changes
28:24the dynamics
28:25slightly
28:25but yeah
28:27it's fine.
28:28On a good day
28:28it's good
28:28but on a bad day
28:29yeah
28:30you feel it.
28:37Back over
28:38in the Spanish mountains
28:39Bongo is racing
28:41to get their pool
28:42in action
28:42ready for their
28:43guest's arrival
28:44this afternoon.
28:46Tiles are popping
28:47off all over the place.
28:52Another three.
28:54Ah well.
28:56More work.
28:58With the job
28:58growing in size
29:00thankfully
29:01help is incoming
29:02from Sharon
29:03who's just said
29:04goodbye to her yoga class.
29:06To be honest
29:07I don't think
29:07we're going to get
29:08it full today.
29:09It's a big pool
29:09I think we worked out
29:10it's about 48,000 litres
29:12of water
29:13goes into the pool
29:14maybe the guests
29:15will be able to use it
29:15by the end of the weekend
29:16who knows
29:17but hopefully
29:18fingers crossed.
29:20With the tiles
29:21peeling off
29:22under the pressure washer
29:23Sharon and Bongo's
29:25only option
29:25is to scrub
29:26scrub the entire pool
29:27by hand.
29:28It's lucky I did that
29:29mobility class first.
29:31Nice open shoulders
29:33for doing some scrubbing.
29:35But just as they begin
29:37Bongo spots a problem.
29:40I've got a reservoir of water
29:41behind the tiles.
29:45There's water getting in there.
29:48Sorry I don't know what to do.
29:50There you are.
29:53Oh that's swollen up.
29:55Full of water.
29:57It doesn't look like
29:58it's going further down
29:59than this.
30:00Personally I'd be tempted
30:01just to fill it
30:02put the tiles back in
30:04and then
30:04see what happens
30:06and if we need to do
30:07something about it
30:08for next year
30:09but
30:09I mean it feels
30:10pretty solid there
30:11it's just that little bit there
30:12but we kind of really
30:14need to get this done.
30:16Deciding to take
30:17Sharon's advice
30:18Bongo dries the area
30:19before relaying
30:20the tiles.
30:23These are all
30:24going to pop off
30:24I can feel it.
30:26Everything that you fix
30:27in this country
30:29even though I do love it
30:30so much
30:31there's always
30:32a problem
30:34behind a problem
30:34behind a problem
30:35so
30:37I think I'll stick
30:38to cheffing
30:39I'm much better at it.
30:42With that in mind
30:44Bongo heads
30:44back indoors
30:45leaving the tiles
30:46to set
30:47flatbread time
30:48vegan style
30:49and begins work
30:51preparing their
30:52guest's evening meal.
30:53We have
30:54a guest
30:55who is a
30:56returned customer
30:57who was here
30:59last year
31:00yeah she's bringing
31:01her daughter
31:02to go horse riding
31:03this year
31:04so it's a mad rush
31:05to get all this
31:07done.
31:07Sharon and Bongo
31:08charge an additional
31:1012 to 16 euros
31:11per head
31:12for evening meals
31:13so it pays
31:16to impress
31:16their guests
31:17who've just
31:18arrived.
31:19Hi how are you doing?
31:21Nice to see you again.
31:23Welcome back.
31:25As Raj is travelling
31:26with daughter
31:27Covey today
31:28the duo will have
31:29exclusive use
31:30of the apartment.
31:32Big bed for you
31:33and a big bed
31:33for big bed each
31:34and a big bed for you.
31:35Yay!
31:36Ah!
31:38With the accommodation
31:39a hit
31:40Sharon breaks
31:41the news
31:42about the pool.
31:44So as you can see
31:45it's not quite
31:46swimmable in yet.
31:48Definitely not.
31:49Definitely not, no.
31:50But we're getting there.
31:51We've still got a few days.
31:52I'm hoping the pool
31:53will be ready
31:53for the last day
31:54yes
31:55and yes
31:55I pretty much
31:56will be back.
31:57I've fallen in love
31:57with this area
31:58I've fallen in love
31:58with just everything here.
32:01Thankfully
32:01their guests
32:02seem content for now
32:03but with hopes
32:04of a pool dip
32:05before checkout
32:06Sharon and Bongo
32:08can't hang about.
32:09The big moment.
32:10Drum roll.
32:11The water
32:11is going to go
32:12into the pool.
32:14You ready Sharon?
32:16There's water
32:16coming out
32:17of the hose pipe.
32:18That's there.
32:18It's official.
32:20And as you can see
32:21this may take a while.
32:28The pool is crucial
32:30to both their
32:31rental income
32:32and future retreats
32:33and with plenty
32:35of time
32:35and money
32:36already poured in
32:37Sharon and Bongo
32:38can only hope
32:39it holds
32:40as they gear up
32:41to make a splash
32:42this season.
32:44It's a labour
32:45of love pools.
32:47It's very satisfying
32:49looking at it
32:49filling now though.
32:51It's almost
32:52the beginning of summer.
32:54Bring it on!
32:58Coming up
32:59at Craig and Emma's...
33:00You're enjoying the winch
33:01haven't they?
33:02The whole family
33:03pitch in as their
33:04project shifts up a gear.
33:06The house was going
33:06to be an investment.
33:07We're going to have it
33:08rented out as a
33:09holiday home.
33:10But lots of things
33:11have changed.
33:12And in Spain
33:13Bev is taking charge.
33:15I can't bear
33:16sitting in that lounge
33:17any longer.
33:17I would like a sofa
33:18and I would like Ian
33:19to get his credit card out.
33:21So don't forget
33:22to go down to the shop
33:23with your man bag.
33:31In the small
33:32Spanish village
33:33of Tovithcon
33:34it's late July.
33:35Hi Samson.
33:36Good morning.
33:37How are you doing?
33:38I'm all right miss.
33:39How are you?
33:39And Ian and Bev
33:40are still hard at work
33:42renovating their
33:43two apartments.
33:44I'm going to come over
33:45that direction tomorrow.
33:47With renovations
33:48to their guest bathroom
33:49on hold
33:50while they wait
33:51for the shower tray
33:52to arrive
33:52Ian has been
33:54outsourcing help
33:55to dispose of
33:56some old appliances.
33:57The only problem
33:58I've got is
33:59my van really
34:00really struggles
34:01to get out
34:01of that hill.
34:02OK.
34:03The streets
34:03of this small
34:04mountain village
34:05weren't designed
34:06with modern vehicles
34:07in mind.
34:08If you've got
34:08like a sack truck
34:09I'll walk it
34:10to you downhill.
34:11Yeah okay
34:12all right we'll do
34:12it that way then.
34:13OK fantastic.
34:14Thanks for that Samson.
34:15See you tomorrow.
34:16No worries.
34:17Have a great day.
34:18Cheers mate.
34:19Bye bye.
34:21Excellent.
34:22So I'll get rid
34:22of a lot
34:23of rubbish
34:23tomorrow
34:23using Samson
34:25the scrap man
34:25so he's a good
34:27guy in.
34:28Once removed
34:29the couple
34:30can not only
34:31begin work
34:32replacing the
34:32dated kitchens
34:33inside
34:34but also
34:35finally buy
34:36one essential
34:36item of furniture
34:37for their own
34:38home.
34:39Today I would
34:40like to
34:42pick out
34:43a sofa
34:43and I would
34:44like Ian
34:45to get his
34:45credit card out
34:46so don't forget
34:47to go down
34:48to the shop
34:48with your man
34:49bag.
34:51Can't we just
34:51sit on the
34:52little chairs
34:52we've got for
34:53now?
34:53No we
34:53wouldn't need
34:53a seat
34:54I can't
34:54bear sitting
34:55in that
34:55lounge
34:55any longer
34:56it's not
34:56even a
34:56lounge
34:57we're sitting
34:57on sit
34:58up back
34:58chairs
34:58I want
34:59to sit
35:00down
35:00on the
35:00sofa
35:00you just
35:01love getting
35:01that
35:02credit card
35:02out
35:02don't
35:03you?
35:05No no no
35:06under the
35:08terms of
35:08their visa
35:09Ian and
35:09Bev can't
35:10take any
35:11paid work
35:11in Spain
35:14so until
35:15their holiday
35:16let is up
35:16and running
35:17their credit
35:18card is
35:18footing the
35:19bill today
35:24these are
35:25like the
35:26local dogs
35:26that live
35:27up the
35:28road
35:28but every
35:29day they
35:29come to
35:29sail out
35:30and then
35:30they tend
35:30to follow
35:31us around
35:31the village
35:33because
35:34Bev tends
35:34to give
35:35them little
35:35treats
35:37Ian and
35:37Bev are
35:38off to
35:38their local
35:39furniture
35:39shop
35:40a long
35:40standing
35:41family run
35:42business
35:42that served
35:43the village
35:44for generations
35:51and it
35:52doesn't
35:52take long
35:52before
35:53Bev spots
35:54a contender
35:54it's
35:55comfy isn't
35:55it
35:55it's
35:56comfortable
35:56it's
35:57nice and
35:57short
35:57I know
35:58it's your
35:59little legs
35:59you okay
36:00for his
36:02legs
36:06I'm getting
36:07me sofa
36:07today
36:08alright
36:08I'm getting
36:09me
36:10alright
36:10and you
36:11would
36:12I think
36:13it's
36:13290
36:14for three
36:14seats
36:15a 270
36:15for a
36:16two
36:17when you
36:17can snap
36:18up a
36:18new
36:18sofa
36:19for around
36:20250
36:20pounds
36:21it's easy
36:22to get
36:22carried
36:23away
36:24oh yes
36:25oh that's
36:26comfortable
36:26we'll have
36:27that then
36:27this one
36:29oh that's
36:30my TV
36:31chair
36:31sorted
36:32style
36:33and colour
36:34decided
36:34all that's
36:35left for
36:36Ian and
36:36Bev
36:36is to
36:37wait
36:37for
36:37their
36:37new
36:38sofa
36:38and
36:38chair
36:39to be
36:39delivered
36:40so much
36:43excellent
36:43excellent
36:44are we
36:44done
36:44yeah
36:45hasta
36:46luego
36:49the following
36:50morning
36:51and with
36:51their two
36:52new sofas
36:52ordered
36:53local waste
36:54collector
36:54Samson
36:55has arrived
36:56to pick up
36:57their old
36:57appliances
36:58ready to
36:58make some
36:59space
36:59this is
37:00incredibly
37:01heavy
37:02you wouldn't
37:02believe how
37:03heavy this
37:03is
37:04as Ian
37:05and Bev
37:06are located
37:06right at the
37:07top of their
37:08village
37:09it makes
37:11for a
37:11tricky
37:12journey
37:12these
37:13streets
37:13are
37:13incredibly
37:14steep
37:15so
37:16we don't
37:17want
37:17Samson
37:18flying down
37:18the hill
37:19with the
37:19first of
37:20their items
37:21carefully
37:21manoeuvred
37:22down to
37:23the van
37:25one
37:26two
37:26three
37:27go
37:29it's
37:30going
37:30for it
37:30it's
37:31going
37:31push
37:39a short
37:40while later
37:41the pair
37:41have taken
37:42care of
37:42the rest
37:44right
37:45Samson
37:45thanks again
37:46mate
37:46I'll speak
37:47to you
37:47soon
37:47okay
37:51or so
37:52they thought
37:53in what
37:54will be
37:54the holiday
37:54let we've
37:55got an
37:55old oven
37:56that doesn't
37:56work
37:56and I forgot
37:57to load it
37:58up
37:58that was
37:59the one
37:59thing we
37:59needed
37:59gone
38:02to be
38:02fair
38:03you
38:04don't
38:04be
38:04blaming
38:05me
38:05to be
38:06fair
38:06you could
38:07have been
38:07supervising
38:08while I
38:08was doing
38:09the lump
38:09you do
38:10an ex
38:10contracts
38:11manager
38:12you organise
38:13everything
38:13apparently
38:15so that's
38:16not my
38:17job
38:18my job
38:19is just
38:19to pick
38:19sofas
38:20thankfully
38:20after a
38:21quick call
38:22from Ian
38:22hiya
38:23Samson
38:23it's Ian
38:24again
38:24are you
38:24okay
38:24Samson
38:25returns
38:25to take
38:26care
38:26of it
38:31well
38:32now
38:32that's
38:32gone
38:32I can
38:33clean
38:33again
38:34in there
38:34and we
38:34won't
38:35fill it
38:35with junk
38:35well
38:36you're
38:36the
38:36junk
38:36I'm
38:37the
38:38person
38:38involved
38:39in
38:40getting
38:40stuff
38:41out of
38:41the
38:41house
38:42and
38:42remove
38:42the
38:43house
38:43you
38:43tend
38:44to
38:44try
38:45and
38:45fill
38:45rooms
38:46with
38:46stuff
38:46usually
38:47expensive
38:47stuff
38:48oh
38:49come on
38:50that sofa
38:51was a
38:51bargain
38:51yesterday
38:53and the
38:54chair
38:55yeah
38:56there's
38:57still
38:57plenty
38:58to do
38:58before
38:59either
38:59apartment
39:00is
39:00finished
39:00but
39:01now
39:01finally
39:02able
39:02to
39:02move
39:03on
39:03to
39:03refurnishing
39:04the
39:04space
39:04Ian
39:05and
39:05Bev
39:05are
39:05gradually
39:06edging
39:06closer
39:07to
39:07the
39:07finish
39:07line
39:14at
39:15the
39:15old
39:15hotel
39:16in
39:16a
39:16may
39:17it's
39:17now
39:17august
39:18and
39:18almost
39:19all
39:19of
39:19the
39:19windows
39:20have
39:20been
39:20fitted
39:21while
39:22downstairs
39:23remains
39:23a work
39:24in
39:24progress
39:24with
39:25the
39:25staircase
39:26installed
39:26the
39:27first
39:27floor
39:28has
39:28been
39:28transformed
39:29the
39:30entire
39:30back
39:30wall
39:31now
39:31rebuilt
39:32and
39:32plasterboarded
39:33the room
39:34has a
39:34light
39:34and
39:35airy
39:35feel
39:36complemented
39:37by its
39:37original
39:38floorboards
39:39lovingly
39:40restored
39:40by Craig
39:41and Emma
39:41up on
39:42the top
39:43floor
39:43where an
39:44empty
39:44shell
39:45once
39:45stood
39:45warm
39:46and inviting
39:47bedrooms
39:47have been
39:48panelled
39:48and painted
39:49with luxury
39:50en suites
39:51added
39:57with
39:58inside
39:58creeping
39:59closer
39:59to
39:59completion
40:00today
40:01children
40:01Amelie
40:02and
40:02Finn
40:02are
40:03on
40:03site
40:03helping
40:04mum
40:04and
40:04dad
40:04work
40:05the
40:05same
40:05magic
40:06on
40:06the
40:06outside
40:07space
40:08so
40:08we
40:09screwed
40:09down
40:09this
40:09decking
40:10yesterday
40:10Finn's
40:11actually
40:11getting
40:11into it
40:12and enjoying
40:12some
40:13of the
40:13work
40:13he
40:13does
40:13now
40:14which
40:14makes
40:14a
40:14big
40:14difference
40:15I'm
40:15not
40:15sure
40:16about
40:16Amelie
40:16with
40:17her
40:17painting
40:17as
40:17much
40:18but
40:18you
40:19enjoying
40:19the
40:19winch
40:20Amelie
40:20yeah
40:22keep
40:23going
40:24keep
40:24going
40:27the
40:27plan
40:28is
40:28today
40:28to
40:28get
40:29started
40:29building
40:30this
40:31back
40:31wall
40:31for
40:32our
40:32veranda
40:32I think
40:33Em wants
40:34to put
40:34a flower
40:34bed
40:35through
40:35here
40:37so we
40:37can have
40:38a bit
40:38of greenery
40:38so even
40:39if it's
40:39not finished
40:40we can
40:40come and
40:40sit out
40:40here in
40:41the
40:41evening
40:41and enjoy
40:42it
40:42because
40:43at the
40:43moment
40:43obviously
40:43we
40:43wouldn't
40:44sit
40:44out
40:44here
40:44with
40:44no
40:45wall
40:46and
40:47the
40:47reason
40:47Craig's
40:48picturing
40:48family
40:49on the
40:49veranda
40:50not
40:50guests
40:51is because
40:51he and
40:52Emma
40:52have made
40:52a major
40:53decision
40:53about the
40:54project
40:55originally
40:56the house
40:57when we
40:57bought it
40:57was going
40:58to be
40:58an investment
40:58we're going
40:59to have it
40:59rented out
41:00as a
41:00holiday home
41:01but lots
41:02of things
41:03have changed
41:03I've changed
41:04my career
41:05in terms of
41:06I'm taking
41:06I'm taking
41:06the opportunity
41:07to be able
41:07to get
41:09involved
41:09in a
41:09business
41:10that
41:10Craig's
41:11setting up
41:11fitting
41:12and making
41:12kitchens
41:13we're going
41:14to move
41:14into the
41:15house
41:15to live
41:16in
41:16but then
41:17a portion
41:17of it's
41:18going to
41:18be a
41:18showroom
41:19while
41:20carpenter
41:20Craig will
41:21fit the
41:22kitchens
41:22as well
41:23as make
41:23and sell
41:24high-end
41:24furniture
41:25Emma
41:25with her
41:26marketing
41:26background
41:27will look
41:28after the
41:28sales side
41:29of the
41:29business
41:29and the
41:30family
41:31will
41:31effectively
41:31live
41:32upstairs
41:32above the
41:33shop
41:33so this
41:34is my
41:34room
41:35over here
41:39I'm going
41:40to get
41:40a bed
41:40there
41:42and a
41:43desk
41:43here
41:43possibly
41:44another
41:45desk
41:45there
41:45so I'm
41:46really
41:47pleased
41:47that I
41:47got the
41:47room
41:48of the
41:48view
41:48over
41:49here
41:49the
41:50room
41:50that I'm
41:51in
41:51now
41:51is
41:51quite
41:52more
41:52childish
41:53and
41:53girly
41:54but this
41:55room is
41:55going to
41:55be
41:55more
41:56modern
41:56and
41:57more
41:57my new
41:58style
41:59I'm
41:59really
41:59quite
42:00looking
42:00forward
42:00to
42:00it
42:00because
42:01we've
42:01always
42:01lived
42:01outside
42:02in
42:02the
42:02countryside
42:03and this
42:04can be
42:04my first
42:04time
42:04living
42:05in
42:05town
42:05I
42:06enjoy
42:06doing
42:07the
42:07kitchens
42:08I enjoy
42:08doing
42:08the
42:09bedrooms
42:10and so
42:11we thought
42:11we need
42:11an income
42:12so we're
42:13kind of
42:13giving it
42:13a go
42:14so we're
42:14setting up
42:15a SAS
42:15which is
42:16like a
42:16limited
42:16business
42:17in France
42:18and yeah
42:18fingers crossed
42:19it'll work
42:20for us
42:23one month
42:24later
42:25and work
42:25at Craig
42:26and Emma's
42:26has ramped
42:27up a gear
42:30and one
42:31big change
42:31is underway
42:33that was
42:34awkward
42:34and heavy
42:36their kitchen
42:37showroom
42:38downstairs
42:38is still
42:39a work
42:40in progress
42:40but with
42:41the families
42:42move into
42:43their new
42:43home just
42:44around the
42:44corner
42:45today work
42:46begins on
42:47another
42:47so our
42:48kitchen
42:48arrived on
42:49Friday
42:49so this is
42:50to go up
42:50on the
42:51first floor
42:51it's going
42:53to be a
42:53kitchen
42:53for us
42:54but also
42:55hopefully
42:55something that
42:56people can
42:56come and have
42:57a look at
42:58up until
42:59we get
42:59the show
43:00kitchen in
43:00which is
43:01planned for
43:01next year
43:02as Craig
43:03and Emma
43:03plan to
43:04open up
43:04their own
43:05home to
43:05potential
43:06customers
43:06their kitchen
43:07needs to
43:08look every
43:08bit as
43:09polished
43:09as the
43:10pieces
43:10that will
43:11be displayed
43:11downstairs
43:13yeah this
43:14is quite a
43:15moment
43:16months in
43:17the making
43:17this is our
43:18first unit
43:19with a face
43:19on it
43:20we haven't
43:20seen the
43:21front of
43:21any yet
43:23they're hoping
43:24the clean
43:25modern kitchen
43:26units will
43:27contrast nicely
43:28with the
43:28building's
43:28period charm
43:30that is the
43:31big
43:32oh look at
43:32that
43:33come and
43:34look
43:34let's have
43:35a look
43:37that looks
43:38nice
43:38wow
43:40so far
43:41so good
43:42yeah it
43:42looks lovely
43:43now the
43:44boys have
43:44got to
43:45work their
43:45magic
43:45Craig and
43:46his team
43:47make quick
43:48work of
43:48the lower
43:49units
43:49and as
43:50the day
43:50draws to
43:51a close
43:51they're
43:52relieved to
43:53finally see
43:53some real
43:54progress
43:54after a
43:55year and
43:56a half
43:56spent
43:56restoring
43:57this
43:57shell
43:58of a
43:58building
44:00today's
44:00been a
44:01really big
44:02landmark
44:02because
44:03we've
44:03gone from
44:04not even
44:05liveable
44:05to all
44:07the hard
44:07work
44:08and now
44:08we're
44:09getting to
44:09that final
44:09stages
44:10after all
44:11Craig and
44:11the boys
44:12hard work
44:13to have
44:14furniture
44:14in here
44:14and it's
44:15really taken
44:15it to
44:16another
44:16level
44:16it's
44:16transformed
44:17it
44:21next time
44:22this is how
44:22Bev believes
44:23you should
44:23store paint
44:24and paint
44:25brushes
44:25Ian and
44:26Bev find
44:27themselves in
44:27a sticky
44:28situation
44:29look at the
44:30state of that
44:30you're joking
44:31me
44:33Craig and
44:33Emma's launch
44:34edges closer
44:35we had
44:36we had three
44:36kitchens
44:37delivered
44:38everything came
44:38out perfectly
44:39apart from the
44:40top of this
44:41unit
44:41meanwhile for
44:42Sharon and
44:42Bongo
44:43we're just
44:44trying to work
44:44out where
44:45the hatch is
44:46for the
44:46septic tank
44:47building a
44:48zen yoga
44:48space
44:49it looks like
44:50that's not
44:51the right
44:51tile
44:51oh well
44:52that'll be
44:53the next
44:53one then
44:53is fast
44:54turning into
44:55a real
44:55test of
44:56calm
44:56thank you
44:58for
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