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A New Life in the Sun - Season 11 - Episode 23
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00:01Every year, a new wave of dreamers pack up their lives and head for the sun.
00:05It just reminds me of the Wild West. It's just stunning.
00:08It's definitely very much different from a top-floor flat in Edinburgh.
00:11And we're joining them as their adventures begin across Europe.
00:15This is what we've been waiting for. It's beautiful.
00:18That's the Atlantic Ocean.
00:20This is where the work begins, mister.
00:22Playing the part of chateau owners in France.
00:27We've never done this before. We're making it up as we go along.
00:29To launching fitness retreats in Bulgaria.
00:32Secret cards!
00:34But will their gamble pay off?
00:37Absolutely bonkers, but it's what we came for, yeah?
00:41Or will they fail to hit their target?
00:44Brexit has put the complications into overdrive.
00:48As they carve out, their new lives in the sun.
00:52I just feel like I'm on holiday a little bit.
00:55It's not sunk in yet, but this is my actual home now.
00:58What a lovely place to live.
01:01Today...
01:01I can't think at the minute, actually.
01:03The pressure ramps up for a couple striving to get their French chateau on the map.
01:09I'm hoping that we get ourselves out there a little bit more.
01:13Some people don't even know the chateau exists.
01:16In Northern Italy...
01:18Every hurdle that I've had to jump has been because these rules are new.
01:25There's a major setback for an actor turned new B&B host.
01:29Not being here to welcome my first guests is really frustrating.
01:34And it's make or break...
01:36Now.
01:37I'm gonna breathe.
01:39..for a couple launching wellness retreats in Bulgaria.
01:42We've thrown everything into it, really.
01:45Financially, emotionally, mentally.
01:59Set in the foothills of the Balkan mountains, the Gabrovo province in central Bulgaria has a rare kind of magic.
02:07A mix of natural beauty, open space and a pace of life that feels just right.
02:13I've got strawberry, coconut. What's coconut? Coco.
02:17When Essex-born Nino...
02:20I like the cheesecake.
02:22..and his Bulgarian wife Valentina...
02:25Strawberries with banana.
02:27..were looking for a relaxing and tranquil location to raise their young family...
02:32Look, she's got two ice creams.
02:34Greedy.
02:35..Valentina's home country ticked all the boxes.
02:39Having lived in England all my life,
02:41I can say that I do prefer the Bulgarian lifestyle.
02:46The quality of life is much, much better here.
02:49There's a lot more natural food.
02:50The weather's great.
02:51You have the four seasons here, pretty much.
02:54It's lovely.
02:54We've got everything here.
02:57In 2022, the couple bought a three-bedroom home in the village of Slovakovo.
03:02A year later, Nino retired from his job as a project manager for the London Underground.
03:11And Valentina, who's a qualified homeopath in the UK, spotted an opportunity to launch meditation and wellness retreats in this
03:20beautiful region.
03:24On the retreat with the team, everybody's meditating.
03:28I do some sound healing, we do some meditation, some energy work.
03:33We do tar cards, feeding, all for the wellbeing, really.
03:40While Valentina has the itinerary planned out, she's not yet been able to host any guests, due to difficulties pinning
03:48down a retreat venue.
03:51But having invested huge chunks of their savings into making the move, pressure's mounting to start earning.
04:00Coming here for us, for our family, it was a big upheaval.
04:03We've thrown everything into it, really.
04:06Financially, emotionally, mentally, it's just been a lot to sort out.
04:10And things work differently here in Bulgaria, you know.
04:13It's not quite the same as trying to do things in London.
04:16Here is a completely new learning curve.
04:20A very steep one, actually.
04:23It's early March, and after finding a former hunting lodge that's now a hotel to partner with.
04:31Valentina and Nino, along with their assistant, Zeprina, have a nervous wait to find out if the property can be
04:39booked for a retreat,
04:40which starts in nine days' time that they've sold seven tickets to.
04:46How are you today?
04:48Recent maintenance work to the hotel's heating system is still ongoing.
04:53Yes.
04:54Yeah, of course.
04:55So it's been uncertain whether they'd be able to provide a warm welcome to their guests.
05:02I haven't heard from my business partner because he's got a lot to do.
05:07And at the moment, I'm thinking, giving him more pressure, I know the situation.
05:10And if something changes, he will call me.
05:12But we check the weather.
05:14Next week, it's about 20 degrees.
05:15So I'm really positive that we'll go ahead.
05:20However, the following week, despite Valentina manifesting a positive outcome and the best efforts from the hotel manager, the heating
05:29system is still not working.
05:33Determined, though, that their first Bulgarian retreat will go ahead after a frantic search in the region, Valentina and Nino
05:41have found a new hotel in nearby Cenevsi that can accommodate a last-minute booking.
05:49We're not able to be at the lodge because the weather was very cold, a lot of pipe burst, there
05:56was a lot of leaks.
05:57Fingers crossed they're going to sort everything for April because we've got another retreat coming in April.
06:01But from now on, this place is absolutely amazing.
06:05Energy here feels good.
06:07So, yes, I'm actually really, really positive.
06:11It's now a race against time, though, to get set up before Nino arrives back from Sofia Airport with their
06:18first retreat guests.
06:24Fortunately, colleagues Sabrina and Laura are on hand to help.
06:28We're going to take staff now to the conference room.
06:31It's based between the second and the third floor.
06:33Yeah, it's going to be fun.
06:35But as the hotel's conference room is usually booked for business meetings...
06:40So, at the moment, I'm going to cleanse the room, so I'm going to use some frankincense sticks.
06:47Can Valentina get the venue ready in time to make their first-ever retreat a success?
06:591,700 kilometres to the west in Italy's far north, with the Alps on three of its sides, Piedmont is
07:08a region that's effortlessly calm and serene.
07:12Its diverse landscape and opportunities to reconnect with nature being a major draw for actor Stephen Billington.
07:21This whole area of Piedmont, which is really beautiful, now I've got my own little private world.
07:28I came one holiday and absolutely fell in love with the region.
07:34Came twice, absolutely confirmed that this was where I wanted to be.
07:38I kind of moved out, stayed with my friends for a while while I looked for a house, and here
07:43we are.
07:44The rest is history, really.
07:46Choosing to step out of the limelight after 35 years as an actor, and also keen to live closer to
07:53his Italian partner, Stephen found his dream rural retreat on the outskirts of the town of Asti.
08:00I was in London before this.
08:02I owned a tiny one-bedroom flat.
08:05And it's really a really tiny one-bedroom flat.
08:08I sold that and bought all this.
08:13So, yeah, I think it was a good deal.
08:16Tucked away within two acres of woodland, Stephen bought a centuries-old two-bedroom farmhouse, which he plans to renovate.
08:27It's a little eccentric in here, for me.
08:31I mean, I've even got a violet washing machine, for goodness sake.
08:34Eventually, I will get around to painting it in probably kind of lighter, less vibrant colours.
08:40The work is on the back burner until his new B&B business, based in the adjacent property, begins to
08:47turn a profit.
08:48My friends are all going home today.
08:51It's very sad.
08:53And while he's earning some good reviews, so far they've only been from friends staying as trial guests.
09:01I would love to come back here, and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys staying out in the
09:07countryside in Italy.
09:08Such a great time.
09:09It was lovely.
09:11It exceeded all our expectations.
09:13Stephen, I love you.
09:15I love you.
09:15I'm going to miss you.
09:19Since buying the property, Stephen's been battling bureaucracy to secure both a residency permit and a licence to open his
09:27accommodation to paying guests.
09:31I've thrown everything into this, financially and emotionally.
09:36Once I've spent the budget, which is about to kind of come to an end, I don't have any savings.
09:44You know, an actor's equity pension doesn't go very far.
09:51So, yeah, the business has got to work for me.
09:55It's now the end of May, and after a number of successful trial stays, Stephen's prepping his accommodation for future
10:03bookings.
10:04I don't know what these berries are, but they certainly stain the concrete if we squash them.
10:12As he's recently made a major breakthrough that he hopes will soon allow him to start generating an income.
10:20We've made a really big step forward.
10:23We finally got me a CIN code, which means that I can now legally advertise my property as accommodation.
10:34That's super exciting.
10:37Even though his application for an Italian visa is still up in the air, after months of delays, he can
10:44now accept bookings for paying guests.
10:48Every hurdle that I've had to jump has been because these rules are new, because Brexit is new, and they're
10:57still kind of mitigating for that.
10:59But I'm registered as the owner of the business now, so all is well.
11:04We could have guests in here within a couple of weeks.
11:08The following month, after advertising his accommodation online, just as he'd hoped, there's good news.
11:17I've got four bookings so far, which is really great.
11:20I've only had them up four days, so I suppose on average that's a booking a day.
11:24It feels really positive. It feels like a step towards the life that I imagined for myself out here.
11:32However, as his residency status is still uncertain, the timing couldn't be worse.
11:38Slight tinge of anxiety about whether I'm packing everything that I need.
11:43What do I need for the next three months?
11:48Due to restrictions on the number of days he can spend within the EU without a residency permit, he's being
11:55forced to return to the UK for 90 days.
11:59I really need this to be the last time that I do this big trip.
12:06You know, not being here to welcome my first guests is just, like, really frustrating.
12:12I want to be here, I want to be here to welcome people, to make sure people have a great
12:17stay, and I can't do that.
12:23Coming up...
12:24My mind's full of everything that's going on.
12:26There's a lot to juggle for a chateau owner in France.
12:29I never thought that I would end up having to go to the airport amongst getting everything ready.
12:36And Valentina's shaking things up...
12:39..as her first retreat guests arrive.
12:43You know, just bringing the people from London, so I was going to say hello.
12:56For some, retirement's about slowing down.
13:00But for a bold new generation...
13:03..it can be the start of something entirely new, proving it's never too late to chase a dream.
13:10Just like former air stewardess Sharon.
13:12I'm going to take you into the Madame Pompadour room, which is the piece de resistance.
13:18..who'd always fantasised about living in the French countryside,
13:23not just anywhere, but in a chateau.
13:26And that dream has finally come true,
13:28after taking on Chateau Les Villettes to the north-east of Limoges.
13:34I love everything about the chateau.
13:37The old times of what it used to be like years ago.
13:41I love the grounds that it stands in.
13:44And the weather during the summer is beautiful.
13:48Keen this historic property should be shared,
13:51Sharon's opened a chambre d'hote,
13:53offering luxurious stays in its 12 unique bedrooms
13:57and hosting guests in its grand reception rooms.
14:00When our guests come in here, I sometimes do dinner for two
14:04and they find it very romantic and nice.
14:07While husband David initially had retirement in his sights,
14:12after a career in the packaging industry,
14:15he soon got on board with Sharon's grand plan
14:17to leave Lincolnshire behind to start new lives
14:21and a new business in France.
14:23I was 72 and I thought it was about time to retire
14:29after 57 years running a business.
14:33I should have known.
14:36One of the reasons when we first bought this place,
14:40we walked in and it had such a beautiful feeling, didn't it?
14:44Yeah.
14:45We could share with other people,
14:48holding events, doing weddings, partying.
14:51The hospitality, I like that. That's me.
14:54But this summer is a make-or-break season for them,
14:58as they try to get the chateau officially on the map
15:01as an events venue.
15:03I'm hoping that we get ourselves out there a little bit more,
15:08get people knowing where we are.
15:10Some people don't even know the chateau exists.
15:15It's now the end of May.
15:18I'm just actually going through the bookings now
15:20to see who's staying in what room.
15:23Alongside trying to launch new events,
15:26Sharon's juggling busy days of Chaumbra Dote check-ins and check-outs.
15:30My mind's full of everything that's going on.
15:34Now, if I haven't written it down, then I forget.
15:37As her latest guests, Peter and Anna from the Netherlands, depart...
15:42All right.
15:43Thank you. Good luck.
15:45..her hard work hasn't gone unnoticed.
15:48It was a nice experience to see
15:50and to really feel how it was, basically, in such an old chateau.
15:54Service is good, so we really enjoyed it and appreciated it.
15:57Yes, we're very satisfied.
16:00No sooner have they left, the prep begins for the next guests.
16:05Biscuits, towels, body lotions, everything's fine in here.
16:12Work Sharon's currently tackling solo,
16:15while David continues to focus his energy
16:18on recovering from recent treatment for cancer.
16:22But adding more pressure today is that in an effort to earn more,
16:27she's offered to collect some of the guests
16:29when they land for an extra charge of 20 euros each way.
16:33I never thought that I would end up having to go to the airport
16:38amongst cooking, cleaning, getting everything ready,
16:42and here I am, going to the airport.
16:44I can't believe it, I must be crazy.
16:46I feel like one of them men, you know, them taxi men,
16:49that stand at the airport with a sign.
16:52With five other guests also checking in this afternoon,
16:56Sharon's called on help from new team member Angie
16:59to hold the fort while she's on the airport run.
17:02You smell fantastic once this job has been done.
17:06But she'll need to be back in time for dinner
17:09as all seven guests have made a reservation for an evening meal.
17:14However, an hour later...
17:17Hi, Sharon.
17:18Just wanted to let you know the flight's been delayed.
17:21Sharon's already tight schedule suddenly gets even tighter.
17:26The guests' flight has been delayed by quite a bit.
17:29They'll only be in at 22.7.
17:31So Sharon's asked me to set the table,
17:34then I can start dinner prep.
17:37While Angie's shadowed Sharon before,
17:39she's not yet run a meal service solo.
17:42This is me getting started.
17:44But tonight she may have to rise to the occasion.
17:48It's always a learning process, you know,
17:50with this kind of work.
17:51Every day is different.
17:53It's never quite the same thing.
17:55Unfortunately, I can't remember what she said,
17:57we're cooking tonight.
17:59Which is a bit bad.
18:09Across in central Bulgaria, retreat host Valentina's also under pressure,
18:14but of a very different kind.
18:18I'm just blessing all the energy that is here,
18:22just to go to the space that belongs,
18:25and to enter this room to give us the energy that we needed.
18:29As husband Nino is now on his way back from the airport
18:33with their first set of guests,
18:36it's a race against time for her and her team
18:39to turn their new, but very last-minute venue
18:42from office chic to a calming haven.
18:45Can we move these chairs over there?
18:49So Valentina's reaching for every tool available.
18:53We're going to use the sound as well.
19:00As she believes that chimes and maracas can disrupt
19:04and dissipate stagnant or negative energy.
19:09And as the conference room is gradually transformed...
19:13That's it.
19:14A special, special, that's my circle,
19:17because we've got the portal.
19:19And now we'll see how beautiful it's going to look.
19:22She's feeling confident
19:23ahead of her first guests arriving soon.
19:29I'm very happy how the room gets together.
19:31We've got enough space, it's going to be a cosy.
19:33There's a place to be lie down, there's a place to sit.
19:36So I think, yeah, we're done, so now we're going to go.
19:40Nina should be here in a minute,
19:41so we're going downstairs to have a look.
19:46The five-day retreat, costing 880 euros per person,
19:51is fully catered and includes overnight accommodation.
19:55So en route to reception,
19:57Valentina makes a quick stop to check her guests' hotel rooms.
20:02A bit red, but...
20:03Yeah, what we need.
20:06And we've got a nice view.
20:08So, yeah, kind of all good.
20:10Valentina makes it outside just in time.
20:15So, everybody just arrived actually at the same time.
20:18We've got a lady travelling from Werner,
20:19and we've got, you know, just bringing the people from London,
20:23so I was going to say hello.
20:24Where's Marina?
20:27Where is Marina?
20:29Why are you not going to die right away?
20:31Why did you see her?
20:32How are you?
20:35Some of their guests have previously taken part in online courses
20:40and holistic tutorials with Valentina.
20:48So, after getting everyone checked in...
20:54..to ensure everyone can get acquainted with each other,
20:58they gather for welcome refreshments.
21:01So, girls, thank you very much for coming.
21:03I hope you had a very easy flight.
21:06I'm glad that you're all here.
21:08So, we're going to have an hour break now,
21:10settle in, have a shower, do whatever you want,
21:13and I'm going to see you at 7 o'clock.
21:14Welcome to our lovely retreat.
21:23An hour later...
21:30In a milestone moment for Valentina and Nino's new business
21:35that they once feared they'd never reach,
21:38after more than a year of trying to pin down a venue,
21:41the first group session of the retreat gets underway.
21:45Oh, my little stars, look at them, twinkle, twinkle.
21:58I would like to welcome you
22:01in a fantastic, amazing, absolutely brilliant five days.
22:06It's really nice to see people trying to find themselves in.
22:10I would like to thank you for your trust that you're here
22:13and welcome you all.
22:18Having long dreamt of this moment,
22:20after a positive start,
22:22will the rest of the retreat be a success?
22:29Coming up, as Stephen returns to the UK...
22:32Come on then.
22:33..his new business is dealt another blow.
22:36I'm a bit of a perfectionist,
22:38and I wanted things to be absolutely perfect for my guests,
22:41so I didn't risk it.
22:42While in France, time away from the chateau...
22:45Sharon should be back any minute now.
22:48..gives Sharon food for thought.
22:50I'm hoping to get more staff.
22:52We'll get there.
23:04In Piedmont, it's now early June.
23:08Due to restrictions on lengths of stay in the EU without a visa,
23:12today is B&B owner Stephen's last day in Italy,
23:16before he must return to the UK.
23:19It's always a wrench when I have to go back.
23:22There is and there will always be so much to do here.
23:26I usually get back and the place is completely overgrown.
23:28It's kind of almost like starting again.
23:32Making it harder to leave
23:34is that his first paying guests are arriving next week.
23:38We're going to be quite busy here over the summer while I'm in England.
23:41Four bookings so far.
23:42French couple.
23:44I think a German couple.
23:46And British couple.
23:49And an Italian couple as well.
23:52It means Stephen's had to recruit a local friend
23:55to help run the business over the next three months.
23:59Eglé is my co-host.
24:01So while I'm gone, if there's anything that goes wrong
24:04or if the guests need anything that isn't here,
24:07Eglé will step in.
24:09She will also clean the units in between each guest.
24:15It's wonderful to have a friend who I trust 100%.
24:24I will leave the situation in Eglé's capable hands,
24:30but I just want to be here, you know.
24:34In my home, running my business.
24:38But of course that's not possible.
24:41So, back we go to Blighty.
24:48The following week, the moment Stephen's long dreamt of has finally come.
24:53His first ever paying guests check in to his new accommodation.
24:59However, as he's over a thousand miles away back in the UK...
25:03Come on then.
25:06Good boy.
25:08That's it. Yeah, let's go through to the back.
25:11He's having to watch on from afar
25:13as his new business reaches this important milestone.
25:18Doing it remotely is not what I had in my head at all.
25:24I planned for something quite different, a kind of fuller service.
25:29I want people to feel treated.
25:31I want them to be super comfortable.
25:34I want them to feel the atmosphere of my beautiful, peaceful haven in the woods.
25:40It's really frustrating.
25:44Despite his first booking not running quite how he envisaged,
25:48he has received some positive feedback.
25:52Stephen's house was so beautiful and very well maintained.
25:56It's super peaceful and quiet, which is exactly what I tried to create.
26:01We enjoyed sitting on the balcony with a coffee in the morning
26:04and just listening to the birds and enjoying the breathtaking view all around us.
26:10Five stars.
26:12It's really gratifying.
26:13It means I've done what I set out to do.
26:18With future bookings in the diary for the coming weeks,
26:22Stephen had hoped that while he's in the UK for three months
26:25and staying for some of that time with his friend Lynn in Yorkshire...
26:30Oh, do you know all this cheese, though?
26:32Not a lot.
26:32I would say so, yeah.
26:35..that guest stays would continue to run smoothly in his absence.
26:39I learned how to do this with an avocado from a sandwich shop in New York
26:44when I was over there doing Brits Off Broadway.
26:48But the impact of spells of wet weather in the region
26:51means that after his third booking, his new business has hit a devastating hurdle.
26:57When it rains, and it really rains, like, there's a hill right behind the ground floor unit
27:04and the water flows down the hill and then comes to a stop against the wall
27:10and so then I have ingress of moisture into the unit and I ended up with damp patches.
27:18Combined with a power outage during one of his guest bookings,
27:22which now requires an upgrade to the building's electricity supply,
27:26it's forced Stephen to make a difficult decision.
27:29I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I wanted things to be absolutely perfect for my guests,
27:34so I didn't want to risk it.
27:38Because of the issue with power, I've had to take the units off the B&B platform.
27:43That's not going to change until I go back.
27:46It's frustrating not having the units live right now
27:50because it means I'm not earning.
27:53But I don't have any choice.
27:56Not being able to capitalise on the lucrative summer season is a major blow.
28:02But as Stephen can't return to Italy until autumn,
28:05all efforts to revive his new business will have to wait until then.
28:19Across in France, plans are also running a little off course
28:23as Sharon's held up at the airport collecting guests.
28:27So new staff member Angie's been tasked with preparing the dinner service
28:31for the first time.
28:33I think it's a creamy chicken dish.
28:36I'm not quite sure what the name of it is.
28:38She did mention it to me, but things are quite hectic when it comes to chateaus.
28:43So if you don't write it down, you're not going to remember.
28:48It's all part of the fun.
28:50But not only does Angie not recall the name of what she's cooking,
28:55but she's also missing a key ingredient.
28:58It's not in here.
29:00There's no sign of any chicken in the kitchen.
29:03So she hopes Sharon can help.
29:06No, there's nothing.
29:06It's only the mushrooms and the carrots that are next to the little sink.
29:12It was in the bowl.
29:13Oh, my goodness.
29:14It's in the two plastic bags.
29:16OK. I'll ask Dave if he moved it.
29:19OK.
29:20Sure, will do.
29:22OK.
29:23Bye.
29:24OK, so we're missing the chicken.
29:26Oops.
29:27Sharon said it's in the sink, but it's not in the sink,
29:29so I'm going to quickly ask Dave.
29:30With time pressures looming, Dave fortunately comes to the rescue.
29:36Thanks very much.
29:38Great stuff. I'm good.
29:40Thanks, Dave.
29:42It was at the other sink.
29:44Not the little sink.
29:47I should have checked, I guess.
29:49But anyway, now we know.
29:51So we're just going to chop them into little medallions.
29:55Sharon is amazing because she knows where everything is
29:59and what to do and how to do it.
30:01And she's been training me up to be a right-hand man or right-hand woman.
30:08She's actually so used to doing stuff herself
30:12that she finds it difficult to delegate.
30:15Hopefully, she'll get used to seeing that it's better to delegate sometimes.
30:21Which she's doing today, actually, which is wonderful.
30:26An hour later...
30:27Sharon should be back any minute now.
30:30Sharon's been able to return to the chateau.
30:33Hello. Welcome, welcome. Hi.
30:35And after checking in the latest arrivals who've flown in from the UK...
30:40Oh, wow!
30:42This is amazing!
30:45OK, that's wonderful.
30:47..she's straight into the kitchen to check on dinner.
30:51I've boiled the Jubilee carrots.
30:53They're not perfectly soft yet, so we can just do them in some butter...
30:57OK.
30:58..to finish them off.
31:00And then what else do we need to do?
31:02I can't think at the minute, actually.
31:03I'm just...
31:08The table's set.
31:09The table's set, except for the flowers.
31:11Yes, we need to do the asparagus.
31:14OK.
31:14What is the dinner called? Because I forgot what the name is.
31:17Chicken tarragon.
31:18Tarragon chicken.
31:19Yes.
31:21While it's been a hectic afternoon highlighting just how crucial it is to have staff to help her,
31:27Sharon's as determined as ever to give her guests a five-star experience.
31:33The guests that I went to pick up today, they said they'd been working and everything else, and they feel
31:39as though they hadn't seen each other since January.
31:41So I was thinking as I was driving, and I said, do you have children? They said, yes, but we're
31:45free this weekend.
31:47I said, I'll tell you what, I said, I'll put you in the bridal suite.
31:50So they've gone in there and it was like, wow, we can't believe it.
31:53The room is absolutely amazing. Can't believe how big it is. The views are just insane.
31:59And it's a treat, isn't it? Yeah. It's a real break with a bit of French luxury. Yeah, lovely.
32:04Get to escape the kids for a few days, so making the most of that. Just a few minutes.
32:09But the day has also been a reality check for Sharon about the extent of the guest services she can
32:15offer in the future.
32:17We had a delay at the airport for over an hour and a half, and all I kept thinking is
32:21all the things I could be doing,
32:22but it wasn't worth me coming back.
32:25I'm hoping to get more staff. I mean, I have Angie who is new.
32:29She's great, but she still needs to find everything out. She doesn't know where things are.
32:34Oh, there it is. So it's double the work, really.
32:38But everybody's got to learn, haven't they? We'll get there.
32:46Coming up...
32:47Take your shoes off. It's better to be grounded.
32:50There are life lessons at Valentina and Nino's first retreat.
32:54We can't just sleep, get up from bed and go to work. You have to recharge the body.
32:59And training's also underway.
33:02You just add to cart.
33:03Ahead of a big test for Sharon's new staff.
33:06She's coming up the busy season now. I've been training her as much as I can.
33:10I'm hoping it's going to work out well.
33:21On the edge of the Central Balkan National Park, it's the first evening for Valentina and Nino's retreat.
33:28We are going to do now the cleansing. We are going to cleanse each other because everybody is coming with
33:35their own energy.
33:36As an introduction to what lies ahead during the five-day event,
33:42Valentina is gently guiding her guests through a variety of meditations and relaxation exercises.
33:55Before everyone retires for the night.
34:02The beginning was really good, really nice.
34:05And everybody introduced themselves.
34:09And it's a very sweet group.
34:12Everybody share their names and why they're here, what they want to change and what they want to do.
34:17So that's it.
34:19Tomorrow, bright and shine, 7 o'clock in the morning.
34:22And we'll see what the new day is going to give us.
34:24It's going to be amazing.
34:27The following morning, not long after sunrise...
34:31Whoever wants to take your shoes off, it's better to be grounded.
34:34Keen for everyone to reconnect, not just with themselves, but also nature.
34:40Now, I'm going to breathe.
34:43Valentina's taken her first group session of the day outside.
34:47This is we are celebrating now.
34:50Every movement is releasing and this is we celebrate the life.
34:54Hoping via a mixture of movement, breathing exercises and stretching
34:58that it will set everyone up well for a productive day ahead.
35:04We don't realise that we can't just sleep, get up from bed and go to work.
35:09You have to recharge the body.
35:11It's like you're washing it from outside, you have to recharge it inside.
35:14And all the stretch just not only gives you a good figure, it makes you feel well.
35:18You've got the stamina, you've got the energy to do everything that you have to.
35:21So, this morning, I enjoy teaching people that this is your body and you have to look after it.
35:28Even though the hotel was a last minute change of venue, not only is the outside space working well,
35:35but the on-site catering is taking the pressure off Valentina and Nino.
35:42And the mountain location and extra facilities have been well received by their guests.
35:48Here, the air is amazing. And the birds early in the morning at four o'clock.
36:00I love it. It's really nice and sweet. I'm going to try the swimming pool today.
36:05After breakfast, Valentina wastes no time getting the group's next session underway.
36:12We are going to do a meditation in which to find our strength.
36:18Her goal throughout the retreat is that people leave feeling enlightened and empowered.
36:24Limiting belief is belief that is stopping us to proceed to progress
36:28or to do something wonderful in our life.
36:31But it's also not uncommon for what can become deeply personal guided meditations
36:37to bring up strong emotions.
36:40Something Valentina and her assistant, Sabrina, are used to supporting people through.
36:46We all work together. A lot of us start crying.
36:50Don't need explanation sometimes. You just have to feel it.
36:55Having aspired to host retreats like this in Bulgaria,
36:59while it's taken longer to achieve due to venue struggles, Valentina's glad she never gave up on her dream.
37:08I believe everybody had an amazing time.
37:11Took a lot from this experience and I love what I'm doing.
37:15So I don't remember the stress for the past few months or the business or everything we've been through
37:21because I'm very grateful for all the people that have been here, for the place, for everybody who's been with
37:26us
37:26because it's been an amazing experience for all of us.
37:32In the long term, Valentina and Nino still hope to open their own retreat premises.
37:41But until then, having found local hotels to partner with and a successful retreat now under their belts,
37:48they feel confident to plan future events.
37:52Running a business here is definitely viable. It's a completely different culture.
37:56It's been a bit stop, start, stop, start.
37:58When something doesn't work, you learn. It's not like we're not failing.
38:02We're just learning how to do it better and better.
38:04I'm happy. I'm happy with the way it turned out.
38:09With a growing business and their two sons settling into life here as well...
38:16He's very good, isn't he?
38:18..the family feel at home and are continuing to build their future here.
38:23I'm learning Bulgarian. It's a difficult language, but it's getting better
38:27and I'm standing more than I used to, which is good.
38:31When we were talking to the kids, before he doesn't understand what we were talking,
38:35I was like, oh, I know what you're talking about.
38:41It's just lovely, you know, with this room pool.
38:44So quiet with the animals.
38:46Rocky!
38:47The last night we went out to a party with some friends.
38:56The high for me is kind of enjoying Bulgaria more.
38:59It's actually perfect.
39:10Back in France, it's now the end of May,
39:13and chateau owner Sharon is also working hard to carve out her dream business,
39:19having hosted a group of seven from the UK for the last three nights.
39:24What is it?
39:25Useful spots.
39:26Useful spots.
39:27This morning is their final breakfast.
39:30Everything all right for you?
39:32Nothing I've forgotten.
39:35Breakfast is fantastic.
39:37Very, very nice pastries, croissants,
39:39and a chocolate, and a raisin.
39:41Really nice.
39:42Our hostess is absolutely lovely.
39:44She is very accommodating.
39:46Actually, when we got here on Friday night, there was a power cut,
39:48so she set the bar up with candles.
39:50So we all had drinks by candlelight when she arrived,
39:52which is like a beautiful moment.
39:53That's a lot of fun.
39:55It was pitch black.
39:56So they was walking in the drive with their telephones, you know,
39:59with their torches on, and I thought, oh, gosh,
40:02this is not a good first time at the chateau.
40:06In fact, I was, like, beside myself, to be honest,
40:09but I was trying to be calm and be very polite to the customers
40:13when they arrived and, you know, wow, this is great,
40:16we've got candles, but deep down inside, I was like,
40:20oh, God, this has got to come back on.
40:23The power cut is another example of when, as a holiday host
40:27and chateau owner, Sharon can never quite know what's around the corner.
40:32I charged you for just the two cognacs.
40:35Yeah.
40:36That was all you had, wasn't it?
40:37Yeah, yeah.
40:37And the lunch.
40:38So getting new team member Angie fully trained
40:42in every aspect of the business is crucial.
40:45So then that's it, you just add to cart.
40:47OK.
40:48Then you just card.
40:50OK.
40:50This morning's checkout is another learning opportunity.
40:54Just tap.
40:58Which is all of a sudden more important than ever,
41:01as Sharon's needed back in the UK for a family matter
41:04and will have to leave Angie in charge.
41:09Another checkout and they're all happy, which I'm pleased about.
41:12But I was also showing my new lady how to work the cash machine
41:15because when I go away I need her to know how to work out,
41:19how to take cards and things.
41:20So I was showing her that as well.
41:23This is coming up the busy season now.
41:25We're coming from spring to summer.
41:27I've been training her as much as I can amongst doing everything else as well.
41:31So this is going to be a test for her and I'm hoping it's going to work out well.
41:39The following week it's Angie's time to shine.
41:43It's been busy because we've had check-ins every night and check-outs every morning.
41:47So you have to turn over the beds, have the clean done and every night there's been a dinner.
41:52So I've been cooking and breakfast and you know, so it goes on and on and on.
41:58And today's no exception.
42:01We're cooking for six people tonight.
42:04That's a four-course meal, starters, mains, cheese board and a dessert.
42:10If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
42:14While David will help out where he can...
42:17What time are they due in? Four o'clock?
42:20Yeah, around four o'clock, yes.
42:21Oh, I'll get there due to be four of that.
42:23OK, perfect, thank you.
42:26Angie will be doing the lion's share of the work, juggling duties in the kitchen.
42:30There we go, so we look nice and professional.
42:34With also checking the rooms are ready.
42:37I'm going to close that window.
42:39You need to keep the cool air inside.
42:43And welcoming the guests.
42:46Today's arrivals are overnighting en route to a classic car meet-up.
42:51You had a good journey.
42:53Yes, fine, thank you.
42:55That's so nice, that car.
42:57Beautiful.
42:58The guests are equally as in awe with what they see when they check into the chateau.
43:04Bonjour.
43:05Bienvenue.
43:06This is the grand salon.
43:08There's the bar.
43:09Yes.
43:10This is where we will serve dinner for you this evening.
43:13Perfect.
43:14It's already set up and then I'll show you to your room.
43:17I'm sure we'll have a very nice stop here.
43:19I think it's the best choice I have done.
43:24Later that evening, after the final push in the kitchen...
43:27I've tasted it already and it tastes very good.
43:29Working to Sharon's meticulous training, Angie pulls off a successful dinner service for the six guests.
43:40The preparation of the chicken was really prepared with some good taste. Very good.
43:46It's very light and tasty. So we appreciate it very much.
43:52It was very good from the beginning to now.
43:54Quite happy with how everything went today.
43:57It's the first time I've done so many guests for dinner at the same time.
44:02Everything went super, super good.
44:04I think Sharon would be very pleased.
44:07And with staff she can rely on, Sharon's in a stronger position to continue developing the events arm of the
44:13business.
44:14Her ultimate dream for the chateau.
44:17WHISTLE BLOWS
44:21Next time...
44:24Sharon hosts a right royal knees up at the chateau.
44:27The party tonight has been great. It's a typical Sharon party. There's no holds barred.
44:31..in Tuscany...
44:32I think it's too windy, but the guests want to try up here first.
44:36..a couple launch new painting experiences.
44:39The main aim this summer is to grow the business so things just come organically.
44:44And Stephen's also got expansion in his sights.
44:48Very sweet.
44:49As he explores a new idea to boost bookings.
44:54It's a really exciting thing for me because I kind of want to start building partnerships.
45:14The end of this year.
45:16Time to get a new ticket.
45:17To be continued...
45:18The end of this year .
45:28We are in the kitchen.
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