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A New Life in the Sun - Season 11 - Episode 20
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00:00Making a fresh start under blue skies is a dream chased by thousands of Brits.
00:05This is freedom. Pick 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.
00:25...many are still giving it a go.
00:27Come on. I 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...
00:38Well, this 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!
00:54Don't move!
00:54As they begin their new lives in the sun.
00:58It's an adventure.
00:59A lovely life.
01:01Today...
01:02Do you want me to lift it?
01:03Don't touch nothing. Don't move.
01:05A couple in France reach new heights.
01:08Do not breathe.
01:10In their mission to create luxury sheet accommodation.
01:14My life insurance has expired as well, which is not helpful.
01:18In Spain, one couple hit a bump in the road.
01:21I got up this morning and I was greeted with the Battle of the Somme.
01:25After a surprise setback derails preparations for their first biking tour guest.
01:31They've had a field day, literally.
01:34Meanwhile, disaster strikes for a couple in the Costa del Sol as their dream to open a show bar goes
01:40up in smoke.
01:41The manifold that we put into this venue is just heartbreaking.
01:57Carved by nature over centuries, the Picos de Europa is the only inhabited national park in Spain.
02:07This mountainous terrain is home to less than 1,400 people, but welcomes around 2 million visitors per year.
02:16Don't go in the river, just go on the little beach.
02:19You want to go down?
02:20Yeah.
02:20Careful, careful.
02:22The stunning surroundings are just one of the reasons Greg, a former software engineer, and his wife Daisy, chose to
02:30leave Bristol and raise their kids here.
02:32It's a very different way of life here.
02:34Yeah, yeah, it's much more relaxed.
02:36The scenery here is just absolutely stunning.
02:38Yeah.
02:38You can come out, you know, any time of the year and there's still something new to see.
02:42Greg and Daisy have been keeping their new life afloat, thanks to Daisy's remote work as a biologist.
02:49Everyone fun, Ben?
02:50Yeah!
02:52But for motorbiking enthusiast Greg, the couple's unique location offers the chance to finally launch a business he's always dreamed
03:01of.
03:02First and foremost, it's going to be doing motorcycle tours.
03:05So we've got five bikes, we do a little bit of off-road, and we're also going to have accommodation
03:10available as well.
03:12I want us to get as much out of this summer as we possibly can.
03:16And we want to have a good number of tours under our belt, both Spanish and English speakers.
03:23And dogs, we're going to take dogs out on motorbikes.
03:28Greg and Daisy have sunk ÂŁ20,000 into converting a garage into guest accommodation.
03:34But until the official channels sign off the apartment, they can't make a penny from it.
03:41There's things that do keep you awake at night, but, you know, we're getting there.
03:45As the Spanish say, poco a poco.
03:52It's July, and while the couple wait for the approval to open for overnight guests, Greg has been working on
03:59broadening the business's offerings.
04:02Same way they went on?
04:04Yeah, I think so. So what I'll do is I'll push this one up, get the kickstand off, and then
04:08I'll drag the wheel over this way.
04:13Today, he, Daisy and the children have made the four-hour drive south to an annual four-day motorbike festival
04:20near the town of Suria.
04:22I'll just slowly wheel it back. Oh, now it goes into gear.
04:27No. That's not going to help.
04:29Forwards.
04:34You got it? Yeah.
04:37But first they need to get them off the trailer.
04:40Glad you didn't get heavier bikes.
04:42Hang on, hang on.
04:44At 150 kilograms each, one wrong move could be a costly mistake.
04:49You push it back up, take its weight.
04:52Can you? Can you?
04:56OK, that's one.
04:59If it proves the right fit, Greg hopes to market this Spanish biking festival to potential clients.
05:07They can fly into Santander. We pick them up, do a bit of riding around the Picos, and then we
05:12do a bit of a road trip down here, and then enjoy the festival.
05:17That could be a really big thing for us. It could be a really nice little package that we could
05:20sell to people.
05:22To promote the event properly, Greg first needs to try it out himself, and crucially, test whether his bikes are
05:29up to task.
05:31Right now, we're just at the start line of the vintage Enduro track.
05:36Dating back to the 1920s, Enduro races were designed to test both the endurance of the bike and the rider
05:43across rough terrain from mountains to deserts.
05:48And the festival has created their very own version on a three-minute circuit for every kind of rider to
05:55enjoy.
05:56It doesn't matter, you know, what your style of riding is. It doesn't matter what kind of bikes you're used
05:59to.
06:00Yeah, there's not many places you can do there.
06:02I'm going to give it a go. I'm going to check the bikes are up to it.
06:05While Daisy and the children are sampling some of the more family-friendly activities on offer, Greg gets stuck in.
06:21Circuit complete, Greg's overall thoughts on the festival as a business offering are positive.
06:29That's the hardest I've ever pushed these bikes.
06:31I was quite anxious about putting them on that track and trying to keep up with these other guys.
06:35But you know what? They did really well. I was catching air behind a lot of guys, and yeah, it's
06:41great fun. It was awesome.
06:42I think we've sort of proven the fact that, you know, people can come out and visit us.
06:46We can bring our bikes here and have a lot of fun.
06:55The Golden Triangle in the southwest of France is a landscape of hilltop castles, winding rivers and towns that seem
07:03to have stood still for centuries.
07:06Blue skies, perfect clean river, little villages.
07:10Feel on top of the world.
07:13Construction boss Tony and his property expert wife Natasha decided to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Essex for
07:20this slower, more traditional lifestyle.
07:24This is like going back in time.
07:27You know, you sit here every morning and you don't hear a sound other than the birds.
07:31It's good for the soul.
07:34Natasha and Tony bought this part renovated five bedroom house with two sheets after the previous developers ran out of
07:42money, leaving just one of the sheets completed.
07:44Our dream is to create luxury retreat where people can come and recharge to understand the slower pace of life,
07:56to find themselves in a way a little bit and unwind.
08:03Before the couple can tackle work in the main house, they first need to finish the second sheet, converting it
08:10from a one bed into a three in order to up their earning potential to fund the remaining renovations.
08:18We're in for the long haul.
08:19All in.
08:19All in, as Natasha says.
08:21We're taking a gamble, but everything in life is a gamble.
08:24It's going to be certainly worth it.
08:28It's late May, and while they've been busy hosting guests in their finished sheet, they've also been hard at work
08:35renovating the other, and time is now of the essence.
08:39We've got bookings for that at the end of June, I believe, is it?
08:43Yes, yes it is.
08:44We're still scrambling around to finish at the last 12 hours, so yeah, it'll give us a good time to,
08:49you know, do all the final tweaks.
08:52Today's job is putting up a large chandelier on one of the new bedroom's rather high ceilings.
08:58Yeah, I think the main worry and concern is that Rodney holds it correctly.
09:07You promised not to say that.
09:10It is heavy. It's definitely very heavy, so I'm a little bit nervous about it, but I'm sure it will
09:16be fine.
09:16I did have big lunch.
09:21Ready?
09:22As ready as I'll ever be.
09:24Wish me luck.
09:25So while Tony takes to the skies...
09:27I'm trying to do it graciously, but it's hard.
09:30...Natasha puts her muscles to the test.
09:32One sec, one sec, I'm resting it on that, so hold on.
09:35I'll pass it on to you.
09:36Don't worry about lifting. I'm going to lift it.
09:38Okay.
09:39Okay? You just push it away from the tower.
09:46Oh, that's a bit.
09:48Yeah, I've got it. Let go, let go.
09:50Shall I go around?
09:51Let go.
09:57So that's the easy bit.
10:01Now comes the difficult bit.
10:03Chandelier raised, Tony spots a problem.
10:06Do you know what? I'm not quite tall enough.
10:10You can't reach.
10:11You're going to have to get a piece of wood.
10:13I'm going to have to stand on the piece of wood as well.
10:16Okay, one sec, I'll be quick.
10:18Hang in there.
10:22Yeah, that should do.
10:25Does it give you the necessary centimetres?
10:28I'm tip-toe on the wood.
10:30With just enough height to fix it in place.
10:33Do you want me to lift it a bit?
10:35Don't touch that big.
10:36Don't move.
10:38Do not breathe.
10:40My life insurance has expired as well, which is not helpful.
10:44Tony needs to work very carefully
10:46if he wants to avoid damaging this €400 chandelier.
10:51Things you have to do.
10:53Brace yourself, Natasha. Brace yourself.
10:57Now, what I need you to do very carefully is take the brakes off.
11:02Take the brakes off?
11:03Yeah.
11:04And you're going to move me.
11:07Slowly.
11:08Moving.
11:09Nice and gently, yeah?
11:12Don't forget I'm on it, yeah?
11:13Days and days spent here manoeuvring him up there when he's painting.
11:19Still doesn't trust me.
11:20Stop.
11:21As Tony releases the slack, it's time to see if the screws hold.
11:26How's that?
11:27Beautiful.
11:28Can you do it a bit lower?
11:30Can you lengthen it?
11:32Ideally it needs to be a bit lower, but I can live with that.
11:36Chandelier in place, there's just one thing left to do.
11:39The moment of truth.
11:40Ready?
11:41I'm ready.
11:42Go!
11:43Wahey!
11:44Well done.
11:46It's something like that when it all starts to come together,
11:48when you start hanging lights, turning them on, you know,
11:51all the hard work of the construction and pulling the wires in
11:55and painting and plasterboarding.
11:57It's all worthwhile.
11:58Yes.
11:59Yeah.
12:06Coming up...
12:07It looks really nice.
12:09Don't panic.
12:09The pressure is on as Greg and Daisy's new business faces its first real test.
12:15Yeah, it's the first time people are coming and actually paying us money
12:17to come and stay with us.
12:19Meanwhile, over in Spain...
12:21Too dark.
12:21One couple rolled a dice on their biggest gamble yet.
12:25Full house.
12:26We're ready.
12:27Yeah.
12:27Excited.
12:28And we're good to go.
12:39With golden beaches and year-round sunshine, the Spanish resort of Ben
12:44Almadena is made for slow days, cool drinks and long tapas lunches.
12:50There is food in the front of the menu and the drinks are towards the back.
12:54Yeah.
12:55Since opening their seafront bar here three years ago,
12:58publican Adam and his Spanish wife, Ali, have seen it go from strength to strength.
13:05We've just been literally full every day.
13:10Daytime and night time.
13:12We really couldn't have asked for any more.
13:15With the bar a runaway success, the couple have hatched a master plan
13:19to add a second venue to their portfolio this year.
13:23Table five is for...
13:26..perseco.
13:26It's done.
13:27How are you doing it?
13:28Just doing it now.
13:28Just grab out the two bowls.
13:29OK.
13:31This formerly run-down show bar just a few minutes' walk from the beach,
13:35which they've spent the last few months renovating
13:38into a shiny new entertainment venue to wow the crowds.
13:43We know in Ben Almadena that there is a very high demand for live entertainment.
13:49But there aren't very many live entertainment venues around, are there?
13:52Once it's up and running, Adam and Ali will leave the show bar
13:56in the capable hands of manager Meg's and reclaim their evenings
14:00by running the beach bar in the daytime only.
14:04It will give us that time...
14:08Freedom.
14:08Yeah.
14:08Flexibility.
14:09For us to recover as well.
14:11Yeah.
14:12But at the same time, we're investing, we're growing.
14:18It's early March and the big day is finally here.
14:22Is that too dark?
14:25Tonight, Ben Almadena's newest live music venue will officially launch.
14:30One, two, one, two.
14:33After weeks of promotion and ticket sales, Adam and Ali are hoping
14:37tonight will be the moment that puts their new bar on the map.
14:42I'm going to go to get change at the bar.
14:44Are you fully set up on the bar, guys, yeah?
14:46Yeah.
14:46Yeah, nothing more than he's doing now.
14:48OK.
14:49You see the system I'm putting in place here?
14:51The couple have forked out for a wireless system
14:54to take orders at the new bar, but with it currently offline,
14:58their staff are working the old-fashioned way tonight.
15:01When a cheque comes in, you give me one of the cheques
15:04and the other cheque goes here.
15:05You do it, put it on the tray and the guys take it out.
15:08This one is for all the cheques to be screwed up into.
15:12OK, that's why it's there, you know,
15:13so we don't have bits of paper lying around everywhere.
15:16So we're super excited.
15:18It's a full house.
15:19We've got a full team on with some extra help
15:21from a dizzy donkey as well tonight.
15:22Yeah, we're well prepared.
15:23We are well prepared.
15:24We're ready.
15:25Yeah.
15:25Excited and we're good to go.
15:30With the doors open,
15:33the customers are soon placing orders.
15:35So I'm paying this off, yeah?
15:38Adam and Ali have a full roster of performers ready to go tonight.
15:42We have the wonderful Queen Supreme tribute band here tonight.
15:46Can we give them a big round of applause?
15:48They're in the back.
15:48They're going to be in here.
15:49And as their first act takes to the stage,
15:52Adam is making sure everything behind the bar stays under control.
15:57That's a...
15:58That's a goto.
16:01Goto.
16:02Not easy with 37 tables of thirsty guests.
16:06Is that white wine?
16:07Yes.
16:08And till issues.
16:10It's €12 altogether.
16:12I just can't put in the bill at the moment.
16:13Though the team are working flat out behind the scenes,
16:16on stage everything is running without a hitch.
16:19Good morning.
16:21And it seems their audience are thrilled with the team's efforts.
16:30Ali and Adam are the most amazing hosts.
16:33They have worked so hard to establish themselves in Benham Island.
16:41The proprietors are so welcoming.
16:43They are lush.
16:44And we want to come back out again.
16:46Guys, thanks so much for having us tonight.
16:48Amazing crowd.
16:51As the night draws to a close,
16:54spirits are high.
16:55And Adam and Ali can celebrate their new venture being open at last.
16:59It's been an incredible night.
17:01Yeah.
17:01It really has.
17:01It's just a great feeling.
17:02It is.
17:03We're tired.
17:03No doubt about it.
17:06We've just got to build from here.
17:08Keep on going.
17:09Yeah.
17:09Learn every day.
17:10Yeah, really.
17:12Listen to me.
17:12Listen to your voice.
17:13Yeah.
17:14Mine's going as well.
17:15The phone of a new life in the phone.
17:18Yeah.
17:23In Cantabria, it's late August.
17:26If you could do a little bit of vacuuming.
17:29And Greg and Daisy have finally secured all the permissions they need
17:33to legally host guests in their rental apartment.
17:37It looks really nice.
17:38Don't panic.
17:40Just a bit slapdash.
17:41A bit of slapdash.
17:42And not a moment too soon.
17:44As in less than an hour, their first guests check in.
17:48Yeah, it's a big milestone really.
17:49Yeah, it's the first time people are coming and actually paying us money
17:51as a business to come and stay with us.
17:54So Greg is slightly panicked in the apartment.
17:58We've got glasses.
17:59We've got mugs.
18:00We've got...
18:02Tea bags, coffee, sugar.
18:03Tea bags, coffee, sugar.
18:04So we've got the cafeteria as well.
18:07This room's done.
18:09It's taken the couple eight months to reach this stage.
18:13And with a good review on the line, Greg isn't taking any chances.
18:18Toilet roll.
18:19Is that facing the right way?
18:20That is facing the right way.
18:22OK.
18:22That could be brought down like that.
18:24It's good.
18:25It's fine.
18:26We're good.
18:26Relax.
18:27Do we need, like, an extra blanket?
18:29It's absolutely fine.
18:29No, it's not cold.
18:30They don't need an extra blanket.
18:32It's absolutely fine.
18:34It's all good.
18:34I would be very happy if I would.
18:36You've got prohibitively low standards.
18:39It's true.
18:41OK.
18:42That is true.
18:43Greg's barely put his duster away when guests Helena and Toby arrive.
18:49I think they might be here.
18:50Oh, they're here, are they?
18:50Oh, right.
18:51Fantastic.
18:53Hey, guys.
18:55Helena, how are you doing?
18:57Good.
18:57How are you?
18:58Really pleased to meet you.
18:59Nice to meet you, Toby.
19:01Visiting from the Netherlands, the couple have paid 160 euros for a two-night stay with bike hire for the
19:07day.
19:08Because you were our first guests, if there's anything that you're missing, just let me know straight away.
19:12Yeah.
19:12I'll make sure that you get everything that you need.
19:14It looks better than all the apartments we have so far in Spain.
19:17Oh, really?
19:17Maybe even better than our own apartment.
19:20It's a promising start for Greg and Daisy, but they'll only discover how the apartment has held up once their
19:27guests have stayed the night.
19:32And the following morning...
19:34Do you sleep well?
19:35Amazing.
19:36Good morning.
19:36It was really nice, babe.
19:38It was really nice.
19:39Was it cold or was it?
19:40Really cold.
19:41Helene and Toby have no complaints and are eager to set out on their biking excursion after a quick briefing
19:48from Greg.
19:49And you've got full beam on the handlebars here, kill switches there, indicators on the left here, you've got a
19:56horn.
19:56It's easy.
19:56And there you go.
19:57Yeah.
19:57It's a really nice, easy bike to ride.
20:00As Greg won't be guiding them today, all that's left is to ensure they have the correct equipment.
20:06Helmet-wise, pick your style.
20:09We've got all kinds.
20:10Yeah, we do orange.
20:12Representing our Dutch people.
20:14Yeah, absolutely.
20:15It's the Dutch colours, isn't it?
20:16Yeah.
20:16Hello.
20:17And leave them to it.
20:26How did it go?
20:27Have you been happy?
20:28They did, yeah.
20:29Yeah.
20:29When I spoke to them this morning, they said the apartment was great.
20:33They had a really nice evening relaxing on the balcony.
20:35Great.
20:36And they slept really well.
20:38So, and yeah, and now they're off on the bike.
20:41You know, everything was ready.
20:43Well done.
20:44It is relief, yeah.
20:45Seeing people go out.
20:46Well, it'll be more of a relief when they come back and everything's okay.
20:53The next day, as Helena and Toby prepare to say their goodbyes.
20:58Did you sleep well?
20:59Yeah.
20:59Fantastic.
21:00Hey, good morning.
21:01How are you doing?
21:02Greg's keen to hear their feedback on the two-night stay.
21:05Amazing.
21:05Was it okay?
21:06Was it you had everything you needed?
21:08Yes.
21:08Because you know you guys are our first guests, isn't it?
21:10I actually made a small list of things.
21:12It was really minor.
21:13This is amazing.
21:14No, no, no, this is perfect.
21:15We already thought maybe you could, well, here.
21:17Yeah, yeah.
21:18Send that to me.
21:19This is all good.
21:20This is really good.
21:21Really minor things, but it would make life a bit easier.
21:24A big ball for its side.
21:25Of course.
21:25Of course.
21:26A few small touches aside, the apartment's inaugural guests are leaving happy today.
21:32We weren't completely sure what to expect, also because the apartment hasn't been rented
21:37out before.
21:37I think all our expectations were exceeded, right?
21:40Yeah.
21:40You can see that they really put their heart into the apartment and also the motorcycle rentals.
21:45Hope we see you in the future, yeah?
21:46Yeah.
21:47Cool.
21:47Take care.
21:48See you later.
21:48Bye.
21:49Take care.
21:49Bye now.
21:50As their guests head off to their next stop, Greg and Daisy can take a moment to celebrate.
21:56With their first paying guests leaving a positive review, they hope it's the first of many.
22:02The response was just overwhelmingly great.
22:04There was a few things that we've sort of missed out, like little bits.
22:09So Toby's given me a little list of small things.
22:13Perfect.
22:13But it's, you know, when you're working in there all the time, you don't see the wood
22:19for the trees.
22:20So actually getting a little bit of feedback like that is invaluable, don't you?
22:23It's been a lot of work.
22:25Yeah.
22:25It's finally paid off.
22:26We've done it.
22:26I'm over the moon, actually.
22:28All this hard work is hopefully going to start paying off.
22:36Coming up...
22:37Tony, what is the time?
22:39Will Natasha and Tony's new luxury jeet stand up to scrutiny as guests arrive?
22:45Three o'clock now. Guests arrive in an hour.
22:49Which is a little bit tight.
22:51And the future of Adam and Ali's bar hangs in the balance after a devastating blow.
22:57Oh, my God.
22:59This is just shocking.
23:10It's August in the Dordogne, and eight months since beginning their second jeet renovation,
23:16Natasha and Tony are finally finished.
23:18Their once modest one-bedroom apartment is now a three-bed, boasting two new luxury guest
23:25suites and an adjoining bathroom.
23:27This room didn't exist before.
23:31Top floor is added to this new jeet.
23:33So Tony built the walls.
23:35We painted all these beams, walls, put up that beautiful chandelier.
23:40This is the shower room that serves both pet rooms.
23:44Yeah, Tony did quite impressive job.
23:45I know he took a little blood, sweat and tears, but he did it.
23:51And it does look really cool. I love it.
23:54In peak season, the new jeet will bring in 330 euros per night.
24:00Essential income that will help fund the renovations in the main house.
24:04But with two properties comes double the workload.
24:08And today, the couple are preparing for ten guests checking in.
24:12It's our first check-in for some guests using both jeets.
24:17So this jeet is bigger and much bigger in square footage as well.
24:22More cleaning in this one, you know, because we're in rural France
24:26and there's always, you know, a fly or a little cobweb in the corner
24:31that you don't want to miss, really.
24:33So there's a lot of the feather duster.
24:35I'm getting pretty good at the feather duster, actually.
24:39Never thought I'd say that coming from a construction background.
24:42It'd be pleasing to see what the guests think of, you know, our hard work.
24:47I'd like to hear wow. As many as possible.
24:50After a couple of hours, Sam would like to book next year as well.
24:53Yes.
24:54That'd be perfect.
24:56Tony and Natasha need positive reviews to give their new listing a boost.
25:01And aiming for the luxury market means every detail must be on point.
25:07Three o'clock now. Guests arrive in an hour.
25:11Which is a little bit tight and you have to work fast.
25:14But at the same time, quality is important.
25:17You have to do everything properly.
25:20I think I'm getting the hand of it.
25:23So, Tony, what is the time? Do we have time?
25:26We've got about 40 minutes to go until guests arrive.
25:31OK.
25:33All done?
25:33All done. I think we are ready.
25:37All done.
25:38All done.
25:48All done.
25:52All done.
25:57All done.
26:15All done.
26:18All done.
26:20All done.
26:21All done.
26:27All done.
26:47All done.
26:50All done.
26:53All done.
26:53All done.
27:15All done.
27:22All done.
27:43All done.
27:48All done.
27:50All done.
27:57All done.
28:00All done.
28:30All done.
28:42All done.
28:44All done.
29:11All done.
29:14All done.
29:16All done.
29:18All done.
29:44All done.
29:48All done.
29:52All done.
29:53All done.
30:10All done.
30:17All done.
30:20All done.
30:22All done.
30:23All done.
30:24All done.
30:26All done.
30:27All done.
30:27All done.
30:30All done.
30:34All done.
30:36All done.
30:37All done.
30:38All done.
30:39All done.
30:41All done.
30:42All done.
30:42All done.
30:42All done.
30:43my life and the terrace at their beachfront bar is packed is everything right for you
30:51apart from the weather
30:55since the fire we made the decision because we had another an extra team we might as well
31:00open up here in the evening we still gotta pay bills at the flaming flamingo even though it's
31:08not open so you know it was a blessing for us to be able to to have the the dizzy
31:14donkey to
31:14to open up for more hours and to be as financially successful as it was reinstating the evening shift
31:22at the beachfront bar has not only kept their team in work but also ensured the company stays in the
31:28black even though we are doing nights and we are tired but so what we still got a smile on
31:32our faces
31:33and i'm giving people what they want living the dream eh after a busy year of building
31:41then losing their new venture adam and ali remain surprisingly upbeat we started 2025 with all the
31:51the best intentions and it was working really really well wasn't it having a fire as devastating
31:57it is is these are all materialistic things um material can be replaced can be replaced we're
32:05always trying to find those positives and to trying to look forward to how to make it better it's been
32:13a learning experience this year for now adam and ali are back doing what they know best red wine
32:22more red wine why not and as they wait to hear from the insurers they're staying focused on
32:28finishing what they started at the show bar i'm certainly not just you know giving up and going
32:34well that's just you know that that's life and that no yeah that makes it makes us stronger we'll
32:40remain optimistic um and we we want to move on as quickly as we can don't we it's been a
32:47year of ups
32:47and downs but it's only strengthened the couple's bond and they have no doubts that this is exactly
32:53where they're meant to be there's no going back to the uk no i mean back in the uk we
33:00were we were
33:01like ships in the night passing each other now it feels like we're just we're anchored together now
33:06aren't we yes we are yeah we're always together in a good way this is home it is it's always
33:14and forever
33:21coming up okay do you want me to make the bed yes please greg and daisy land their most lucrative
33:27booking yet our first guest renting the apartment and doing it all
33:34and as an important visit unfolds it's a defining moment for natasha and tony's new business
33:41a little bit nervous but also be glad once the day is over
33:54in cantabria it's mid-september greg do you want me to make the bed
33:59yes please darling and greg and daisy are preparing to welcome the next guest at their
34:07rental apartment i hate making beds i've got a guy coming this afternoon who is our first
34:14guest renting the apartment and doing a tour tonight's guest has opted for the full package
34:21a day touring the trails with greg plus access to the apartment and grounds but after a midnight
34:27visit from the local wild boar an unwelcome blight has been left on the landscape we didn't hear anything
34:34in the night but i got up this morning and i was greeted with the battle of the somme they've
34:40come
34:40into the garden overnight and it must have been a family and they're just rooting around for worms
34:44they've had a field day literally
34:49months of preparation have led to today's booking and greg is determined not to let their guest down
34:55with alex having just arrived all they can do is hope he's accommodating
35:01how was your ride up it was rather marvelous how was it it's been a good day for actually yeah
35:06yeah
35:06with alex parking up greg breaks the news i need to make a small apology because what's normally a
35:12beautiful garden has just been totally torn up the wild boar got into the garden just searching for
35:17worms and stuff i was going to cut the grass today get all the lines in it looking beautiful and
35:21uh
35:21really went for that yeah they did thankfully alex seems unfazed and having traveled nearly 1 000
35:28miles to get here is keen to see his digs for the night right let me introduce you to hopefully
35:34a nice cool apartment please step in so i would suggest yeah just just relax enjoy yourself have a
35:39cold beer out the fridge leaving their guests to settle in greg is feeling pleased with the initial
35:44reaction thinks he's one of the best that he stayed in recently so that's that's a glowing review he knows
35:49his bikes he's uh he's got some good experience so tomorrow when we go for a ride we can probably
35:54hit some
35:54the more technical trails and uh yeah we'll have a great day of it looking forward to it
36:03the following morning and after a comfortable night's rest in the apartment in it to win it
36:10alex is raring to get onto the bikes and into the peaks with greg
36:14we're all set let's go alex won't be using one of greg's bikes today opting instead for his own wheels
36:21but he'll be relying on his local knowledge to navigate the best trails
36:30after a full eight hour day on the trails for alex it's been an experience to remember
36:40enjoy it that was absolutely great you're very welcome the ride today was just fantastic the views
36:47the environment the trails anyone that is into doing some off-road riding need to just get here
36:56and experience this and greg's the person perfect person to take them out there i really enjoyed
37:01myself it was a terrific day and i will definitely be back as well we've had a wonderful day today
37:07it's
37:07been an ideal sort of business case for us that's exactly what we want to be doing we want to
37:11have
37:11people coming in spending the the night in our accommodation and then taking them out for a ride the
37:16following day and then at the end of the ride they can spend another night here and relax and just
37:21enjoy everything that this beautiful part of the world has to offer
37:30what do you think benny do you like the views it's cool isn't it for greg and daisy getting their
37:37apartment and business to this stage has been a labor of love and one that has taken a little
37:43longer than they first imagined probably the most difficult thing this season is just the the
37:48bureaucracy and the paperwork has set us back a few weeks and possibly we've missed out on some
37:54bookings over the summer but these things take time and that's okay we know now and it's it's all
37:59ready to go for next season the wheels turn slowly um in spain sometimes and you kind of have to
38:05get used to
38:05that yeah i think you know we've learned a huge amount but going forward with we're confident with what we're
38:12offering despite the delayed start to the season the pair have still welcomed a steady stream of
38:17guests to their apartment each one won over by the thoughtfully curated packages on offer you spend
38:24an awful lot of time when you're thinking of these ideas um is it going to work will people actually
38:28like it uh will they like me but you know when you get this feedback from people suddenly realize
38:33actually no it is we're doing the right thing and people enjoy it and it's incredibly rewarding i don't
38:38think we could have asked for a better first year no last one everyone just stay still stay still
38:46though the business is still in its infancy their first dual booking has given the couple confidence
38:52they found not only their niche but an exciting future for their family in this quiet corner of
38:58countryside we've got a nice house that we we we're slowly making our own now and yeah this this
39:05feels like home now doesn't it yeah yeah we love it it's great we're here to stay i think
39:19in the dordogne it's september and with their three-bed sheet now operational today natasha and tony
39:27face a nerve-wracking visit from an inspector to issue their official star rating so big day today
39:33classification yes hopefully we're going to get four stars on this that's what we're hoping for only
39:3910 percent of sheets in france um in five and four star category so it's very prestigious and would put
39:48us on the map even more but there's a reason so few sheets achieve the rating sort of things they
39:55look
39:55for on the four star is right down to things like the right amount of cutlery thickness of the mattress
40:02pillow covers a number of pillows per person towels the list is quite extensive a little bit nervous
40:09but also be glad once the day is over thankfully tony won't have to wait any longer as the inspector
40:17has just arrived bonjour hello good morning mr crowley good morning to earn its stars every rated property
40:28in france must pass an exhaustive list of criteria the dishwasher okay fridge and separate freezer yeah
40:36all right and today matthieu will inspect every corner of their new accommodation against the 210
40:44point checklist i'm not going to count all of them i've seen that you have at least 10 forks and
40:48knife
40:49big and little spoons perfect everything is here
40:55the ensuite bathroom for them all right you provided them with a bathtub
41:00have the sink you even have the shower here you leave them this product we leave we leave the shower
41:06gels the shower gel do you leave them also the shampoo uh shampoo is it worth leaving it like you
41:13do
41:13remember we mentioned it this is three points uh-huh and just next to me you have washing machine
41:21drying one as well uh no not here every point checked every detail scrutinized now comes the moment that
41:30will tell if natasha and tony have done enough there's 210 criteria to check today we're reaching 202 we need
41:40210 so we're just missing some of them to be able to be classified as a four star four six
41:48person
41:48after all that hard work it looks like they've just missed out for each point that you haven't
41:55checked we need to compensate those points with extra optional point like the first one is the
42:01drying machine we are going to get a dryer put in in there all right so you send me a
42:07photo
42:07on my email with the proof of the fact that you added it exactly or the purchase you added this
42:14i will
42:14add it to the system and to the classification and we technically just need to check two points but
42:20it seems there may be a solution to the problem my suggestion provide the shampoo for your guest if
42:27you're provided them with checking three more points this will be enough to be able to have your
42:31accommodation in four star for six person that's fantastic news thank you very much well done
42:37well done that's very efficient
42:42overall like the the quality and the service to provide for the guests and what they have done
42:47here is very very good they should be very proud of what they have done and they have very good
42:51quality accommodation so despite a hair raising moment a couple of bottles of shampoo has saved
42:58their four star rating ecstatic really because there's a lot of hard work went into that yes well done
43:03well done managing one sheet renovating another and starting work on an empty shell was always going
43:13to be a challenge but after a hectic summer natasha and tony are already seeing their efforts begin to pay
43:20off well our first full season has been a real success to the point that we've had rebookings already
43:27it's really good seeing your customers with a smiley face when they leave and saying thank you so
43:34much for this holiday so that's always a good indication hearing back that they don't want to leave
43:40um it was it was more we could have wished for yeah the road ahead may be long but natasha
43:47and tony are
43:48confident they're heading in the right direction now the future's looking good and have no regrets about
43:54the life-changing journey they've begun here it is definitely very very far from our lives in england
44:03we get asked quite a lot actually have you made the right decision was it worth it and i can
44:09hand on
44:09heart say this is one of the best things i've ever done in my lifetime i know it's the old
44:14cliche i wish
44:16have done it sooner next time a couple from lincolnshire prove it's never too late to chase a dream
44:26it was my idea really come on let's go and let's have an adventure in italy will bureaucracy ruin a
44:34former soap star's dream business these new rules only came in in um in march like last month
44:40and there's a shaky start that's it's moving for a pair trying to get their bulgarian retreat business
44:48launched it's a much bigger job than we expected in the first place money money money money
45:12so
45:20you
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