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A New Life in the Sun - Season 11 - Episode 17
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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!
00:15And 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?
00:33We 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.
00:57Something.
00:58It's an adventure.
00:59Loving life.
01:00Today in Spain...
01:02It doesn't often rain in Spain, but when it does, it really rains.
01:06Biblical problems for two publicans on the Costa del Sol.
01:11With the smallest bucket we have, trying to unblock the terraces.
01:15We should be here till next year doing that.
01:16A Bristol couple feel the weight of pressure...
01:19Have you got a chiropractor in the village?
01:22Yeah.
01:22..as they push to launch motorcycle tours in one of Spain's stunning national parks.
01:27We've got a lot riding on this.
01:29Our futures, our children's futures.
01:31And in Bulgaria...
01:33We've been working on this seriously for two years.
01:36But in the sort of mind, it's been about ten years.
01:39Is the end in sight for a Dumfries couple's new holiday let?
01:44The guests that were coming tomorrow, she's fallen over and broken her ankle.
01:57Surrounded by some of Spain's most dramatic landscapes,
02:01from the dizzying heights of the Picos de Europa National Park
02:05to lush rolling hills,
02:07Cantabria is an adventure wonderland for those seeking the wild heart of Spain.
02:13In search of a better life for their family,
02:16Greg and Daisy from Bristol decided to swap city life
02:20for the Cantabrian countryside.
02:22That's it, use your hands as well.
02:24To raise their children, Ben and Lucy.
02:27The kids love Spanish life.
02:29Their Spanish is absolutely fluent, better than ours will ever be.
02:34And they're really happy here.
02:35You know, it's really safe.
02:37It's... Yeah, we're outside a lot.
02:39It's great. It's a really nice life for them.
02:41And, you know, we're up here in the mountains,
02:42but we're still only 45 minutes from the beach.
02:45And it's just a good place to bring a family up.
02:47Yeah.
02:48Isn't it nice?
02:50Which one did you get?
02:51An angler.
02:52Greg is a software engineer and Daisy a biologist.
02:56But outside of office hours, Greg is a massive petrol head.
03:01Now he wants to turn a passion for motorbikes into his profession.
03:05So the business is going to be...
03:08First and foremost, it's going to be doing motorcycle tours.
03:11The biking out here is just phenomenal.
03:14You can lose yourself for days at a time.
03:17For 180,000 euros, Greg and Daisy bought a four-bedroom farmhouse
03:23and an adjoining ruin in the small medieval town of Potess.
03:28Since buying the house, they spent an extra 20,000 euros
03:32converting an old garage into a one-bed rental apartment.
03:37We've got a lot riding on this.
03:39Our futures, our children's futures.
03:41The kids are so happy here and, you know, we love it here
03:45and we've got lots of friends here.
03:46And if this idea doesn't work, then we're going to have to...
03:48No, it's going to work.
03:50The idea is going to work.
03:54It's March and Greg and Daisy have been gearing up
03:57for their first ever booking.
03:59Their apartment is guest ready
04:01and their bikes are all serviced and ready to go.
04:04But there's been a small hitch.
04:07We were very excited
04:09because we were going to have our first official paying guests.
04:13But unfortunately, we've had our first official cancellation,
04:16which is a bit sad.
04:18But these guys are rescheduling.
04:20You know, it's not lost trade.
04:21It's just postponed.
04:24The couple know that good facilities
04:26can make or break a holiday rental business.
04:29So as well as finishing their apartment to a high standard,
04:32they've just finished work on a children's play area.
04:37Now Greg has another plan to bring in more group bookings.
04:41The little outdoor senador, it's called.
04:43It's like a little covered area
04:44where people can come and relax
04:46and enjoy some time after a day of riding.
04:48Yeah, get a barbecue in there and a pizza oven one day
04:51and things like that.
04:52I think it'll be... It's a great spot.
04:53But funds for new facilities are tight,
04:56so Greg has called in free help
04:58in the shape of lifelong friend Jared.
05:01Our task is to get the framework for the...
05:04Yeah.
05:05It's heavy lifting.
05:06It is heavy lifting.
05:07These weigh probably about a lot.
05:10A lot.
05:11OK.
05:11From software geek to grafter,
05:14Greg is determined to show his old pal his practical side.
05:17I've known Greg for all of our lives.
05:21We grew up together.
05:22And then at some point in his life,
05:23he decided that he wanted to change everything up.
05:26The locals over here call them
05:28Los Locos Angleses, the crazy English.
05:30So I think that's what we all thought
05:32when they said they were moving over.
05:34But then thinking about it,
05:36it's a great move.
05:39Greg never had any skills when we were younger.
05:42Greg was a software engineer.
05:43He knew computers.
05:44He was a geek.
05:46He's a changed man.
05:51We've got one particularly big piece of chestnut
05:54that we need to lift up
05:55and put onto the support wall at the back.
05:58This is not one man on either end.
06:00This is both men on one end
06:01and one side at the top.
06:03You think so?
06:03Yeah.
06:04Well, we can get it onto these shoulders.
06:06Just lift that end up.
06:07No.
06:08No.
06:08Oh, OK.
06:09It must be full of air.
06:11Full of air, yeah.
06:11I think your end is probably full of air.
06:13I've got the heavy end.
06:15Ready, I guess.
06:16One, two, three.
06:19One.
06:20I'll balance it there.
06:21You got it?
06:22Yeah.
06:23OK.
06:24Right, stand by.
06:25OK, yeah, stick your end on then.
06:28Yes!
06:31Have you got a chiropractor in the village?
06:33Yeah.
06:34With the first horizontal beam in place,
06:37Greg and Jared move on to the vertical supports.
06:41Oh, yeah.
06:43Beauty.
06:43And the pressure is on
06:45to create a terrace worthy of the setting.
06:51And so this little L shape here
06:53is going to be a little bench.
06:55I want to have a table here
06:56so you can sit outside in the sun,
06:59enjoy the view.
07:01You come out here once
07:02and you look around.
07:03You look and you can see why you do it.
07:06It's fantastic.
07:08Personally, I don't know if I'd be brave enough to do it.
07:10I mean, to take that leap
07:12to, you know,
07:14to completely change your lifestyle,
07:16I think it's commendable.
07:18Yeah, I'm immensely proud of you, Greg.
07:21Oh.
07:21Yeah.
07:22Thanks for that, Mark.
07:22Genuinely.
07:24Since Greg is a software engineer
07:26and not a builder,
07:28every task is trial and error.
07:30And it'll take more than bravery
07:32to push this job over the finish line.
07:43Spain's Costa del Sol
07:44attracts millions of visitors each year.
07:47And more of them come from the UK
07:49than anywhere else in the world.
07:51Brits can't get enough
07:53of nearly 100 miles of golden beaches
07:55drenched in year-round sun.
07:58It's just a brilliant place.
08:00It really, it really is.
08:02And it's home now.
08:03You know, the culture, the weather,
08:05the food.
08:06Yeah.
08:06It's all just perfect for us.
08:10Wonderful to like.
08:12For publican Adam
08:13and his Spanish wife, Ali...
08:15So beautiful.
08:16...endless sunshine and sea views
08:18were an easy sell
08:20when they chose to swap Lancaster
08:22for Benel Madena
08:23to open a cocktail bar in 2022.
08:26We looked at our lifestyle
08:28over the last two and a half years
08:30of being open.
08:31And we've decided that 2025
08:33is going to be a big year
08:35of change for us, haven't we?
08:36Yeah.
08:38The couple's bar
08:39has been a runaway success.
08:42Four more tables and we're full.
08:44Monday lunch.
08:45The last few months
08:46has just been an absolute whirlwind for us.
08:48It's just been sensational, hasn't it?
08:50More than we could ever have imagined.
08:51But this year,
08:53they're gambling everything
08:54they've achieved since moving here.
08:56They've decided to invest
08:58in a second bar
08:59in the heart of town,
09:00which they want to transform
09:01into a music venue.
09:03To do it properly,
09:04it costs money.
09:06And a lot of money.
09:08But I will keep on saying it,
09:09we're confident,
09:10we're positive,
09:12and, you know,
09:13any problems that arise,
09:15we'll get around them.
09:19It's December
09:20and the couple just paid
09:2120,000 euros
09:22to lease this former show bar.
09:26Yeah, I've been doing the same bit now
09:28for about two hours.
09:29It's all the edges,
09:30all taking off,
09:32everything,
09:34all the imperfections
09:35of the feeling.
09:36All I hear is excuses
09:37and I just want results.
09:39A line I've used
09:40with many of my staff
09:41over the years.
09:43But when we do some work,
09:44I'll deport you.
09:46You'll do what?
09:47We deport you.
09:48You're going to deport me?
09:49Yeah.
09:51So watch out.
09:52They're planning a top-to-bottom
09:54refurbishment
09:55and want to open
09:56in three months.
09:58I've been out to check
09:59on the boys now
10:00and it's coming up
10:02really quickly now
10:02so this should be done
10:03in the next hour.
10:06But the building
10:07is in a sorry state
10:08so they've enlisted
10:09the help of their son,
10:11Brogan,
10:12friend Ed
10:12and barman Niko.
10:14We've got one CX
10:15coming up at what time?
10:1712 o'clock
10:17and then another one at 2?
10:19Yeah.
10:19Getting used to
10:20Alex's management.
10:21Yeah.
10:22While the lads
10:23crack on outside,
10:24Adam is prepping
10:25for a new tiled floor inside.
10:28Yeah,
10:28they're going quite quickly
10:29so I'm going to have to make
10:30sure all this gets hoovered.
10:32At over 100 square metres,
10:35the bar interior
10:35is vast
10:36and every inch of it
10:38needs coating
10:38in a primer
10:39before a single tile
10:41can go down.
10:43I'm also keeping my eye
10:44on the level of primer
10:45over there
10:45and at €50 at all
10:47I've got to make sure
10:48that they stay within budget.
10:53Luckily,
10:53Adam's son Brogan
10:54is a builder by trade
10:56and when it comes
10:57to laying the tiles
10:58there's no scope for error.
11:00Right then.
11:03We ordered 111 square metres
11:05for a 104 square metre floor
11:08so we've got a bit extra
11:09but the shop said
11:10we've only got 106 square metres
11:12somebody's dipped into the pallet
11:14that were reserved for us
11:15and taken a couple of boxes
11:16off and sold them.
11:19The lads have got to be so careful
11:20and I'm the one
11:21who's moving the tiles now
11:22so I've got to be super careful.
11:24If just one pack of tiles go
11:25so we really, literally
11:27just have half a square metre
11:28to play with
11:29so this is going to be
11:30touch and go.
11:30The pressure is on
11:32to move the tiles
11:33without any breakages.
11:34There we go.
11:35And almost 20 trips later
11:37it's job done.
11:40And not a single box Brogan.
11:42Over to them now.
11:44To speed up the process
11:46Adam has been tasked
11:47with prepping each tile
11:49for Brogan and Ed to lay.
11:52It's the first time
11:53I've ever done any tiling
11:54so you've got to learn
11:55at some point.
11:56About that much.
11:58Can I?
11:58Yeah.
11:58Yeah.
12:06First tile's done.
12:07Down apparently
12:08it was alright.
12:08So now it's a race
12:10against time.
12:12I need to be
12:13quick and efficient.
12:15I can't believe
12:16Adam is doing this.
12:17He's never done this.
12:19Brogan said
12:19I was going to supervise him.
12:21Let's see the end of it.
12:23One of many talents he is.
12:24I taught him everything
12:25that he knows.
12:27I've got that feeling
12:29there's going to be
12:30maybe a few arguments
12:31through all of this
12:33so I'm looking forward
12:34to watching.
12:39Ten minutes in
12:40and it's going down quickly.
12:43So this is great.
12:44It'll be a couple of hours
12:45and we should be done.
12:48But it's a rookie error
12:49to count your tiles
12:50before they're laid.
12:55You broke it.
12:57Is it broken?
12:58Yeah.
13:01But it wasn't made.
13:03One job you had.
13:05One job.
13:06You put it all up.
13:07You put the adhesive
13:07all over the tile.
13:09It just looked like that.
13:10With a hundred square metres
13:12still to go down
13:13there's now
13:14little room for error.
13:17One job he had.
13:18One job.
13:18And that was not
13:19to break a tile.
13:21Six tiles in
13:22first tile's gone.
13:26Coming up.
13:27I've cut them all
13:28at 97
13:29and they're supposed
13:30to be 89.
13:31Snagging setbacks
13:33for a Dumfries couple
13:34in Bulgaria.
13:35Now I feel a bit
13:36deflated actually.
13:37I feel a bit tired
13:38and a bit fed up.
13:40And Adam and Ali
13:41battle a torrent of water
13:42at their new cocktail bar.
13:45The main road
13:46was flooded
13:46as I just came up
13:47in the car.
13:48And this is a big problem.
13:57Tucked away
13:58in the northeast
13:59of Bulgaria
14:00just an hour
14:01from the Black Sea
14:02is Lissi Vrar
14:03a tiny hamlet
14:05that feels a world
14:06away from the hubbub
14:07of modern life.
14:09That's driving.
14:10Another hard day.
14:12It was the slower
14:14pace of life
14:15that drew
14:15welder John
14:16and former
14:17NHS nurse
14:18Tracey
14:18to move here
14:19from Dumfries.
14:21It's not a very
14:23busy place.
14:24It's peaceful,
14:26quiet.
14:27If you're the type
14:28of person
14:28that likes nightlife
14:30then...
14:30Yeah, you know,
14:31if you want nightclubs
14:32and all of that...
14:32The closest
14:33you get to nightlife
14:34here is watching
14:35the bats.
14:38That's not to say
14:39that their days
14:40aren't busy.
14:41To fund their
14:42new life here
14:43they've turned
14:43what was originally
14:44a holiday home
14:45into a collection
14:46of small businesses.
14:48Here we run
14:49a village shop,
14:51a bar,
14:51a cafe,
14:52a campsite
14:53with a pool
14:54with a couple
14:55of B&B rooms
14:57and we're currently
14:59renovating
15:00a two-bedroom apartment
15:01above the shop
15:02for guests.
15:04The house was a bargain
15:05when they bought it
15:06but they've lost count
15:08of how much money
15:08they've sunk
15:09into expanding
15:10their business offering.
15:13We have never
15:14sat down
15:14and added everything
15:16up
15:16and maybe
15:17because of...
15:18Maybe we're scared
15:19to do that.
15:23It's August
15:24and Tracy
15:25and John
15:25are tantalisingly
15:27close to finishing
15:28work on their new
15:29two-bedroom
15:30holiday apartment.
15:31So we've got
15:33the railings
15:34to finish
15:34which is
15:35John's department
15:36and then
15:37inside the apartment
15:39we've got...
15:40I've just got
15:40finishing off touches
15:41to do.
15:42And just in time
15:43because they've got
15:44a booking.
15:46Tomorrow will be
15:47the first time
15:47that people have
15:48stayed in the apartment.
15:49And they're checking
15:50in about three o'clock.
15:52With no time
15:53to waste
15:54John heads
15:54to his workshop
15:55to make a start
15:56on the outstanding
15:57railings.
15:59And these are
16:00going to be tabs
16:01that I weld
16:02onto the side
16:03of the upright
16:03so it bolts
16:04all of the railings
16:05together.
16:06Inside the apartment
16:07Tracy's tackling
16:08the cleaning.
16:10This is it
16:10when you're working
16:11on somewhere.
16:13You're working
16:14on it
16:14you also
16:17make things
16:18dirty.
16:19And this is
16:20one job
16:21she'll be happy
16:21to finally see
16:22the back of.
16:23We've been working
16:24on this seriously
16:25for two years.
16:27Didn't have
16:28the money
16:28to do it
16:28all in one go
16:29so we've been
16:30sort of earning
16:31a bit
16:31coming back.
16:33We've really
16:34gone at it
16:35so that we
16:35wanted a deadline
16:36and we wanted
16:37to get it finished.
16:38But in the sort
16:39of mind
16:40it's been
16:40about ten years.
16:46But the pressure
16:47of tomorrow's
16:48deadline
16:48is getting
16:49to John.
16:50Well the issue
16:51is that I've
16:52cut them all
16:52at 97
16:53and they're
16:54supposed to
16:54be 89
16:55instead of
16:56walking back
16:57across the
16:57garden
16:57and measuring
16:58it.
16:59I thought
17:00I'd do it
17:00from memory.
17:01So now
17:02I've got
17:02to cut
17:0380 millimetres
17:04off of all
17:05these square bits.
17:07With 43 years
17:09experience
17:10as a welder
17:11John makes
17:12short shrift
17:12of the
17:13correction
17:15and is
17:16soon back
17:17on calls.
17:20But in the
17:21end
17:21Tracy and
17:22John's
17:22final push
17:23is all
17:24for nothing.
17:27We've had
17:27a bit of
17:28bad news.
17:29Yeah.
17:29The guests
17:30that were
17:31coming tomorrow
17:32she's fallen
17:33over and
17:34broken her
17:34ankle
17:35so that
17:36they've
17:36cancelled.
17:37As their
17:38business model
17:39usually depends
17:40on campers
17:41driving by
17:42and deciding
17:42to stop
17:43instead of
17:44pre-booking
17:44a cancellation
17:46is a new
17:46problem.
17:48Now I feel
17:49a bit deflated
17:50actually.
17:50I feel a bit
17:51tired and a bit
17:52fed up.
17:54People change
17:55their plans
17:55and there's
17:56nothing we can
17:57do about that.
17:58What it will
17:58do is give
17:59us a chance
18:00to finish
18:00off everything
18:01without being
18:02under pressure.
18:03No, we're
18:04still under
18:04pressure.
18:06As it's
18:07August,
18:08Tracy and
18:08John have
18:09missed most
18:09of the
18:09tourist season
18:10already.
18:11We've been
18:12working on
18:13this for so
18:14long and
18:15now it's
18:16sort of like
18:16a big
18:17deflated
18:18balloon and
18:18hopefully
18:19when our
18:20next booking
18:21comes...
18:22We'll be
18:22chilled out and
18:23ready for it.
18:23Yeah, we'll be
18:24chilled out and
18:25ready for them.
18:26Yeah.
18:34Back on the
18:34Costa del Sol
18:35it's December.
18:37Are you going
18:38to use that
18:38for cut slate
18:39for...?
18:39Yeah, just
18:40taking all the
18:41adhesive off the
18:41back and reuse it.
18:42The floor of
18:43Adam and Ali's
18:44new show bar
18:45is getting a
18:46makeover,
18:47albeit with a
18:48little hiccup
18:48here and there.
18:50We're going to
18:51be able to save
18:51this tile because
18:52there are going
18:52to be lots of
18:53little cuts
18:53to do.
18:54So, although
18:55it's a broken
18:55tile, it's
18:56not the end
18:56of the world.
18:57Who does it
18:57again?
19:00Christmas is
19:00cancelled.
19:03Over the next
19:03couple of
19:04hours, there
19:05are no further
19:05breakages and
19:06Adam's confidence
19:07is growing.
19:09I could be a
19:10plasterer as well.
19:14I could plaster a
19:16wall.
19:16Look at how
19:16smooth that is.
19:18You two are
19:19playing catch-up
19:20with me now.
19:24A week later,
19:26a week later, the
19:26new tiled floor
19:27is finished.
19:28But today, Adam
19:30and Ali arrived at
19:31the bar to a much
19:32bigger problem.
19:35It doesn't often
19:36rain in Spain, but
19:38when it does, it
19:39really rains.
19:39And what we've
19:40found when we've
19:40walked in this
19:41morning to continue
19:43the work is that
19:43our back terrace
19:44is flooding, which
19:47wouldn't normally be
19:47much of a problem
19:48apart from the
19:49fact that it's
19:49now reached the
19:50level of the
19:50step, the top of
19:52the step, before it
19:53then starts to come
19:53into the bar.
19:54And this is a big
19:55problem.
19:56Protecting their
19:57new bar and
19:58freshly laid floor
19:59is the priority.
20:01Adam wants to
20:02investigate the
20:02drains for blockages,
20:04but he's a tad
20:05under-equipped.
20:07I didn't think I'd
20:08need Wellington boots
20:09in Spain, so my
20:10wellies are still in
20:11the UK, so Ali
20:12came prepared, did
20:13her?
20:14They were my
20:14priority.
20:15Your priority was
20:16because I was
20:17wearing them all
20:18the time over there.
20:19I know, but listen
20:20to the thunder as
20:21well.
20:22Oh, my God.
20:24Tengo un atasco en
20:26la terraza de mi
20:27bar y necesito a ver
20:30si me podéis decir
20:31si puede venir
20:32alguien a ayudarnos.
20:34Ali's on the phone
20:35to a drain unblocking
20:37company somewhere in
20:38the area.
20:39If I could hear us,
20:40it's impossible.
20:41Because of this
20:42much rain coming
20:42down, everybody's
20:43probably having the
20:43same problems.
20:45It's not
20:45happening.
20:45They're too
20:46busy.
20:47They say, I'm
20:47not even going
20:48to ask you where
20:49you are, because
20:50we're just so
20:51busy.
20:53While Ali works
20:54her way through a
20:55list of local
20:55plumbers, Adam is
20:57hoping his trusty
20:58jet washer might be
20:59able to shift any
21:00blockage in the
21:01patio drain.
21:04But with heavy rain
21:05still falling, it's
21:06a lost cause.
21:09The problem is, it's
21:11that deep now.
21:11I don't know where
21:12the drain goes down,
21:13but I don't know
21:13where it goes off.
21:15And to try and
21:16unblock that as
21:16well.
21:18I'm not a drain
21:19unblocker.
21:19Again, I don't
21:20really know.
21:21Thankfully, Ali's
21:22had a breakthrough
21:23with a local
21:24plumber.
21:25Is somebody
21:25coming?
21:26There's somebody
21:26coming?
21:27Yeah.
21:27Woo-hoo!
21:28Yeah, now, they
21:29said, during the
21:31morning, we need it
21:34as soon as possible
21:35because it's about
21:36to come in.
21:37I tried.
21:38We've been trying
21:39now for a little
21:40bit.
21:41So, yeah, let's just
21:42hope they can get
21:43here as quickly as
21:43possible and get this
21:45unblocked before we
21:46end up asking Brogan to
21:47silicon in the door to
21:49make us watertight, which
21:50is not what we want to
21:51do.
21:53And while they
21:54wait for the
21:54plumber, Ali's decided
21:56to take matters into
21:57her own hands.
22:01Now, I'm sorry, I'm
22:02watching Ali with the
22:03smallest bucket we have
22:05trying to unblock the
22:06terrace.
22:07It's just not...
22:09We should be here
22:10until next year doing
22:10that.
22:11We're going to be
22:12underwater by the time.
22:13Ali, are you fighting
22:14a losing battle there,
22:15sweetheart?
22:17But this is really
22:19serious now.
22:19We've got probably
22:20about an inch, an inch
22:23to go before we're
22:24going to go over that
22:24next little lip there.
22:26So, let's hope that
22:27the guys can get here
22:27or Brogan can come
22:29and sort it out.
22:31And right on cue,
22:32their son Brogan arrives
22:34to help Adam get to
22:35the bottom of the drain
22:36blockage.
22:37Brogan's got the manhole
22:39cover open and the
22:40idea now is that we're
22:41just trying to unblock
22:43it.
22:44I can see what he's
22:45trying to do is just
22:46depends how far it's
22:47blocked all the way
22:48down there.
22:49Have you got
22:50resistance, bro?
22:51Yeah, something
22:51out there.
22:52All the drains are
22:53blocked.
22:54You're trying to put
22:55the hosepipe in to
22:58try and block it
22:58from the other end.
22:59Something in there
23:00is blocking it.
23:03Might be blocked
23:04completely.
23:08It's too solid.
23:09It's not like gritty
23:09or anything like that.
23:11It's quite solid.
23:12So it's definitely
23:13blocking the pipe in
23:13there.
23:14If that's the right
23:14pipe, in the
23:17meantime, before the
23:18guys get here, I'm
23:19just going to have to
23:19keep on emptying it
23:20with a bucket.
23:23You could have
23:23brought Wellies with
23:24me.
23:24That's what I said,
23:25but I didn't think I'd
23:26need Wellington boots
23:27in space.
23:28No closer to a fix,
23:30their only option is
23:31to fight the wall of
23:32floodwater by hand and
23:34hope that when the
23:35plumber arrives, he can
23:36offer a solution.
23:47coming up, a glowing
23:50endorsement for Greg and
23:52Daisy.
23:52The scenery is sublime.
23:55I've ridden bikes all over
23:56the world and this is some
23:58of the best riding I've ever
24:00done.
24:00And Tracy and John look to
24:02boost their curb appeal.
24:05I really believe once you
24:06come through them gates, the
24:07first 20, 30 seconds, you
24:09make up your mind whether
24:10you're going to enjoy
24:11yourself or not.
24:20Back in Cantabria, Greg and
24:22Daisy are making the most of
24:24the off-season to boost their
24:26on-site facilities at their
24:28mountainside holiday let.
24:30Are we going to get the
24:31net on top though?
24:33Are we getting that out
24:34there?
24:35With the help of friend
24:37Jared, today they're adding
24:38a timber frame roof to a new
24:40outside seating area.
24:46Yeah, it's all mine.
24:48All mine if you want to move
24:49round.
24:50OK.
24:51Oh, no.
24:51Go on.
24:52Yeah.
24:53And down.
24:55Halfway there.
24:56Yeah?
24:57Yeah.
25:00But when woodwork isn't your
25:02trade, there's never an easy
25:04job.
25:06If you get under it there,
25:08pass it to me here, and
25:10then you get off and come
25:11back there and we'll just
25:11pass it along.
25:12Yeah?
25:13Yeah.
25:14That all sounds really
25:15easy.
25:15Yeah.
25:16And each of the wooden
25:17supports weighs nearly 80
25:19kilos.
25:21Have you got it?
25:23It's still on there.
25:24It's still balancing.
25:24It's still on.
25:25Well, actually.
25:26OK.
25:27I'm going to have to drop it
25:28down.
25:29Hang on.
25:33Now where are you going?
25:34Right.
25:34You've now got to go over
25:35there.
25:35Well, I can't.
25:36You've taken my
25:36snap down.
25:37No, you get off the
25:38one you're on and move
25:39it.
25:41No rush, you're
25:42editing.
25:43Right.
25:43Timmy.
25:44Have you got it?
25:45Maybe.
25:46Yeah.
25:46Yeah.
25:47It's all you now.
25:48It's all me.
25:48It's all me.
25:48You sure you've got it?
25:49Yeah, I got it.
25:49Go.
25:52OK.
25:52I'm going to go for a
25:53lift.
25:53Yeah.
25:53One, two, three, two,
25:54three, go.
25:55There you go.
25:57Nice.
26:01Literally using my head.
26:03But after four hours of
26:04back-breaking graft, the frame
26:06is starting to take shape.
26:08It looks good.
26:09Yeah, no-one lost a skull on
26:12the way.
26:14They may not have had their
26:16first tour guest today.
26:18That's all right.
26:18I'm happy with that.
26:19Thanks for your help.
26:20No worries.
26:21But with Jared's help, they've
26:22got the wooden frame in place
26:24for their new sun terrace.
26:26We can cover all of that.
26:28It's all local wood.
26:29And then on top of that, we'll
26:30put the ondeline, that waterproof
26:33stuff.
26:34And then we'll put tiles on top
26:36to make it look traditional.
26:38It's been productive use of
26:40time, so, yeah.
26:41We're still ahead of the game.
26:46Like Greg and Daisy, Jared is a
26:48keen biker.
26:51Yeah, cheers, mate.
26:52Thanks for your help.
26:53And the couple are keen to get
26:55his opinion on some of their
26:56planned motorcycle routes.
26:58So now it's time for the boys to
27:00don their leathers and hit a
27:02nearby trail.
27:07The Picos de Europa National
27:10Park is a perfect example of an
27:12Atlantic ecosystem.
27:14Packed with oak and beach
27:16groves and impressive rock
27:17formations, it's a perfect
27:19It's also home to two of the
27:20rarest animals in Spain, the
27:23brown bear and the Iberian
27:24wolf.
27:30For first-time visitor Jared,
27:32the ride was exhilarating.
27:35Cow over there.
27:36There's a couple of cows there
27:38actually.
27:39The scenery is sublime.
27:42I've ridden bikes all over the
27:43world, and this is some of the
27:45best riding I've ever done.
27:47Yeah.
27:47And the scenery is just fantastic.
27:51It's epic, isn't it?
27:52It really is.
27:52Yeah.
27:58The tour has definitely got Jared's
28:00backing, but the real test will be
28:02when Greg and Daisy finally host
28:05their first paying guests.
28:18It's late August, and Tracy and John are facing a lull in trade at their campsite.
28:25We normally find that we're much busier earlier in the season than later in the season. In the middle of
28:30the season everybody seems to be at the sea and laying on the beach.
28:34There has been some passing trade, and their shop and bar are still hubs for village locals, but John doesn't
28:42mind the slow periods.
28:44For us it's okay because we've got so much to do, and if there's a lot of people here, it
28:49actually hinders you. You can't seem to get on and do anything. We've always got new products that we're working
28:56on all the time.
28:56And the quiet patch has given them some breathing space to finally finish work on their new two-bedroom holiday
29:04let.
29:05We're really pleased with it. I've actually done all the basic work, all the brick work, put the ceiling in,
29:10plastering.
29:16What was once a derelict space is a welcoming apartment, with two double bedrooms.
29:26A new Jack and Jill bathroom joins them.
29:30The lounge features a wood burner for cosiness in the winter, and the small but well-equipped kitchen is perfect
29:38for self-catering stays.
29:41John and Tracy did most of the work themselves, with a little help from some friends.
29:48I think it's turned out really well. Yeah, I'm really pleased.
29:51And it's actually better than we actually anticipated in the beginning.
29:55But after the work was finished, something they could not have anticipated happened.
30:01Unfortunately, our long-time friend Andy found out he was ill.
30:06It was more serious than ill, unfortunately.
30:09Tracy, having her medical history, said that we would like to help him.
30:15Andy is currently receiving treatment for cancer and lives alone, so Tracy and John decided to offer him a helping
30:22hand.
30:24Just become apparent that the obvious thing was, if he rented the apartment, it would be beneficial to both of
30:31us.
30:32Tracy and John could charge holidaymakers around ÂŁ70 per night to stay in the new apartment.
30:38But offering their friend a comfortable place for a lower rate was the right choice.
30:44It's wonderful. It's got beautiful views. It's light and airy and very manageable.
30:52It's just lovely to have two supportive friends who live just across the campsite.
31:00Andy is determined to stay active throughout his treatment.
31:04Oh, here's Andy with the cheese. Wonderful.
31:07And there's no rest for John either. With one project finished, he's starting work on another.
31:14We're digging out the foundation for a new retaining wall.
31:18What we're hoping to do is to make two hard standings for campers.
31:23So when it's wet, campers will be able to get in and out, no problem at all, no wheels, spins,
31:27nothing.
31:29First John has to level out the ground with his digger.
31:32Really ridiculous thing, but I'm hoping that one day, when I'm digging away, I'll find someone's coins that they buried
31:43four or five hundred years ago.
31:47One treasure that was left on site is a collection of old stone.
31:52And with the ground cleared, John wants to use this to create a retaining wall.
31:58These bits of stone were brought here by Halton Carr, but somebody must have sat there with a hammer and
32:03chisel and chiseled all these bits of stone to shape.
32:07When they originally do this, they do it with mud. It's all wet, like you would sand and cement.
32:16But John's not going that far today.
32:20I'll just leave it and if I'm really feeling posh one day, maybe I'll mix up some mud and squidge
32:30it in.
32:31The new wall is right by the site entrance, so John's keen for it to make a good first impression.
32:38I really believe once you come through them gates, the first 20, 30 seconds, I think that's the most important.
32:45You make up your mind whether you're going to enjoy yourself or not.
32:48We've had one or two people that have moaned that it's not perfectly level, but it's a really nice, quiet
32:55campsite.
32:57Well, it is when I'm not making a noise.
33:01These new solid caravan pitches should bring in more business in the long term, but building them alone won't be
33:08easy.
33:14Coming up, Adam and Ali count the cost.
33:18Didn't expect to do this in England.
33:19Of the Spanish storm season.
33:22Hopefully these moan have been ever again.
33:25And teepee or not teepee.
33:27Oh, something's drastically wrong here.
33:30That is the question for Tracey and John.
33:34It's not big enough.
33:35We've got to cut some off the bottom of the poles.
33:37We measured it.
33:39We measured it.
33:41I don't...
33:41I don't understand.
33:50Back in Benelmadena, it doesn't rain, it pours.
33:55We didn't expect to do this in England.
33:58In Spain, the drainage can't keep up with.
34:01Obviously they don't have rain a lot, do they?
34:03So the drainage can't keep up with what they've got.
34:05Adam and Ali's son Brogan has come to the rescue as they fight to contain a wall of water threatening
34:11to flood their new show bar.
34:15Every time you move, we're water.
34:19A local plumber is on the way, but since Brogan is a builder by trade...
34:25Edifice will be free.
34:27..he's hoping to find a fix before it's too late.
34:31The plumber is about to arrive very, very soon.
34:36Should be at 12, but...
34:40..40 to 1.
34:41We're still waiting.
34:44It's better now than later on if we'd open.
34:47So, here we come.
34:50The building of many surprises.
34:52But it looks like Brogan may have made a breakthrough.
34:57He's found a second drain which he's hoping could offer a solution.
35:01I think we've found it.
35:04Dad?
35:05I think we've found it.
35:07You've got the wall.
35:08Where's that?
35:09Another manhole.
35:09Another manhole?
35:10Another manhole.
35:11You can see the water all now.
35:12It's all going.
35:15The guy who survived and is going to go some wellies.
35:20The guy who unblocks drains has gone to go and wet some wellies?
35:23What's the level like on the threshold?
35:26It's going down.
35:27It's going down now.
35:29The professional's just arrived but he's realised that he's got no wellies
35:32so he's gone off to a shop to buy some wellington boots.
35:34In the meantime, Brogan's found another drain in the floor
35:36and all of a sudden the water's flowing out.
35:39Looks like disaster averted.
35:42We're all soaking up.
35:43I've just popped home very quickly to go and get fresh clothes for everybody
35:45and shoes and socks, towels.
35:49But it looks like I can see it's going down really quick.
35:51I've got a bit of a whirlpool action going on over the top of this drain
35:54so I can start to see the top of other drain pipes so yeah.
35:58And there is more rain due.
36:00The main road was flooded as I just came up in the car.
36:04But it looks like it is going down so well done Brogie.
36:07Just as the rain finally stops, plumber Alvaro arrives.
36:12When Adam and Ali bought the bar, the terrace was covered with sand
36:16and it looks like the old beach terrace is to blame for the blockage.
36:20There is a lot of sand and I think it's the sand that it was before
36:25when we're trying to create a beach in here
36:27and everything has just gone down the drainage.
36:30So hopefully we have a plumber who is going to disemblock all of it
36:38and this won't happen ever again.
36:42And it seems the sand was also hiding a collection of lost property.
36:48This professional is found at a tennis ball
36:50and a brush covered in woods.
36:54A box of surprises is this building.
37:00He's now going to look at the other two main drains that we've got
37:03to see if he can get those unblocked
37:05because we're always going to have this problem
37:07because we can't keep on taking this manhole cover up and down.
37:11But the impending doom of all this water coming over has now stopped.
37:17So hopefully next few minutes we'll get an answer where we are.
37:21But while he deals with that we can start to crack on with continuing with the refurb.
37:26A bucket of sand later and the pipes are flowing freely.
37:31It's a job well done and a huge relief for Adam and Ali.
37:37The plumber has finished and he's gone, we've paid him.
37:39He is the most expensive plumber in Spain by the way.
37:42And we've probably just paid for his new Wellington boots in that bill.
37:46But it's done.
37:47Terrace is now all of a sudden completely drained and gone
37:49which is what we wanted and now we can crack on with the next job.
37:52I can't wait to see this bar start to take shape.
37:56I'm looking forward to this next stage of the refurb.
38:00So now we've had all the problems outside and that's all been finished.
38:02We can now crack on and make up for lost time.
38:04So it's going to be, we're going to have to work into the night I think
38:06so that we stay on schedule.
38:09We've got a lot of work to do so I need to crack the whip on with Brogan a little
38:12bit.
38:12In recent years, heavy rainfall and flooding have become common along the south coast of Spain.
38:20Now Adam and Ali can only hope that with the blockage removed, this problem doesn't rear its ugly head again.
38:32It's late August at Tracy and John's Bulgarian campsite.
38:36And as the peak tourist season comes to a close, the couple are making plans for next year.
38:43That's amazing John, you've done so much.
38:46For the past few days, John has been building two new hard stands for motorhomes, complete with retaining walls made
38:54from recycled stone.
38:57When we open that gate to let people in, that is going to be a nice first impression.
39:03Tracy and John are adding to their business all the time.
39:08Because it's just us and a small budget, we've got to just pace ourselves and, you know, get the money
39:15before we do anything stupid.
39:20Once the new motorhome pitches are finished, they're hoping to polish off one more project before the end of the
39:26year.
39:27Here. Lovely.
39:30There's increasing demand in the area for glamping, and they want to get in on the act with a teepee.
39:37This is going to offer guests a unique experience, I think.
39:41It'll be lovely, it'll be cosy. I'd love to do it, so if I would, I think other people would.
39:46If the teepee works out okay, maybe we could get a few more and then this could become like the
39:53teepee area.
39:54So, but we'll just, we'll take one teepee at a time.
39:58One step at a time.
39:59And then we'll go from there.
40:02The teepee needs a solid base, and rather than using wood, which can rot over time, John has opted for
40:09concrete.
40:10Right, we're putting the poles up, no particular order.
40:14And today, they've rounded up some friends to help build the tent, starting with metal poles custom made by John.
40:22Yay!
40:24Well done guys, well done.
40:25But now comes the tricky part.
40:28Everybody grab a bit, we're going down there.
40:31That's me down there.
40:32Next, the five metre tall canvas needs to be hoisted into place.
40:37If we guide it a bit.
40:39Yeah.
40:40At first, their plan seems to be working.
40:44Oh, something's drastically wrong here.
40:47Something's drastically wrong, John.
40:49The metal poles were specially made by John to replace wooden ones, but there's a problem.
40:56We, it's not big enough.
40:58We've got to cut some off the bottom of the poles.
41:04We measured it.
41:05I don't, we measured it.
41:06I don't, we measured it.
41:07I don't understand.
41:10So it's down with the poles, so they can be cut to size.
41:15And after John has measured once and cut twice, for the second time today, the giant metal frame is assembled.
41:23OK.
41:23Let's rest.
41:29Ta-da!
41:35That's looking better.
41:37OK, too much.
41:38Too much?
41:39Yeah, back a bit, Emma.
41:42Ready?
41:44That's it.
41:44A bit more.
41:45God, I never want to put this thing up again.
41:48But it looks like this isn't going to be John's day.
41:52Well, we've got to put the tent up inside out.
41:57So, from what I can see, it looks like we're still ten centimetres off the correct height.
42:02But we haven't got the top sorted out yet.
42:05And if we can get the top sorted out, maybe the tent will drop down.
42:10Despite the measurement mix-up, the couple are well chuffed.
42:14To get this done...
42:16Is brilliant.
42:17...in this amount of time, I think is a fantastic achievement and I'm really pleased with that.
42:21And we've learnt a lot.
42:22We've learnt a lot.
42:23Another day's work and we'll be able to get it...
42:26Yeah.
42:27...how it should be.
42:28Yeah.
42:31Tracey and John's Bulgarian story began with a holiday home and turned into a thriving and ever-expanding collection of
42:39businesses.
42:41Many Brits who move abroad find that one business doesn't provide them with the income they need to get by.
42:48And with a shop, bar, B&B rooms, campsite and two-bedroom holiday let, Tracey and John are no exception.
42:58We're always thinking of different things to do.
43:00The teepee hopefully will add another string to our bow in the business.
43:05So now our next challenge with the teepee is to furnish it and...
43:09And get some bookings.
43:12But some dreams are worth fighting for and the couple are hoping their hard work will pay off in the
43:18future.
43:19The business is never going to make you rich.
43:23You know, most people wouldn't find it fun.
43:26But for John and I, we love it.
43:29This is our fun in life.
43:32Tracey and John moved here for a more relaxed way of life.
43:36And while days off are few and far between, it's clear that they're here to stay.
43:42I love Bulgaria because of the people, the nature.
43:47It's like going back in time to when I was growing up on the Wirral.
43:52And it has the same feeling that it felt back then.
43:57We wanted a lifestyle change and we've achieved that.
44:01Yeah.
44:07Next time...
44:08As fast as I'm ticking this list off, it seems to be growing.
44:11One couple look to turn an abandoned building project into a dream business.
44:16We're taking a gamble, but everything in life for me is a gamble.
44:21Will Adam and Ali's new bar turn into a money pit?
44:24It needs a lot of money spending on it.
44:26And they've made the decision to just go for it and do it properly.
44:30The heat is on.
44:31And bad weather threatens Greg and Daisy's launch.
44:35The weather is absolutely dreadful.
44:37It's probably been raining for about a week and the trails are muddy and washed out.
44:42So, a little bit nervous, if I'm honest.
44:46We'll see you next time.
44:47And we'll see you next time.
44:50And we'll see you next time.
44:50Bye.
44:57Bye.
45:00Bye.
45:03Bye.
45:05Bye.
45:07Bye.
45:10Bye.
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