- 2 hours ago
Escape to Florida Season 1 Episode 2
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00:00Like, it's stunning.
00:01Who wouldn't want to live here like this?
00:03They've swapped drizzly winters and gas bills for new careers
00:07and seemingly endless fun in the sun.
00:09Cheers, Bigger's!
00:11It's our little piece of paradise.
00:13Get it right, and life in Florida can be like a dream come true.
00:16Every evening, do this with your glass of wine.
00:19But getting here and staying here takes hard work.
00:22I do pinch myself every day.
00:25Grit.
00:25We just lost the starboard motor.
00:27And determination.
00:28Good job.
00:29Well done.
00:30These are the Brits who've made their own Escape to Florida.
00:36Today on Escape to Florida,
00:38Martin is working hard to make the best of British pub a success.
00:42So we need to triple the revenue minimum to make it work.
00:45Martin's got an idea to draw the crowds in.
00:48How do you feel about us doing a signature crisp butty?
00:53Oh, boom!
00:55Yeah?
00:55Yeah.
00:56Donna is looking to build her US profile.
00:58I am making money, but I need to make more.
01:02With a TV appearance.
01:08And realtor Denise doesn't miss much.
01:11It's a saltwater heated pool.
01:13You know all about the pool?
01:14Because I put it in.
01:15You put it in.
01:15But some things can slip through the net.
01:18I guess they're insured for that.
01:19Yeah.
01:20Hopefully.
01:21I didn't think of that tonight.
01:28In Claremont, Martin and Anne are busy working at the recently opened Best of British pub.
01:37Thank you for coming down.
01:39It's set you up for the day, won't it?
01:41Brown sauce, ketchup, everything you need.
01:44And business is booming.
01:46We've had a really good start.
01:47First ten days have been beyond my wildest expectations.
01:51Way above.
01:52I think we've probably done more than double what I thought we'd do.
01:55Martin and his wife, Bev, have poured their savings into the pub, so need it to be a success.
02:00We've put about a quarter of a million, a little bit more, into this new location.
02:04I'm hoping to stop spending on it very soon.
02:07Need to stop spending?
02:08Yeah.
02:09I need to start bringing it in now.
02:11But this isn't just a busy pub.
02:13It's also home to a shop filled with treats from the UK.
02:19The most important part is the back shelves where we have the British goods for sale, so crumpets, custard.
02:25All those little things that people miss when they're here, when you've lived here for a time,
02:29and you just want that little taste of home.
02:31So that's what we've tried to provide here.
02:33And then classic British bangers for sale.
02:39Cherry baked wells.
02:43Scones, which are one of the biggest things we do.
02:46And then British bacon.
02:51That's what everybody's looking for out here.
02:53You either love or hate American bacon.
02:56I'm kind of on the fence with it.
02:58The shop takes its name from the person in charge.
03:02We've named Anne's Corner Shop.
03:04I wanted to do it as a little bit of a nod to Anne.
03:06Anne is the matriarch for this place.
03:09Because she looks after it.
03:10She organises stuff.
03:11She tells me off.
03:13She makes sure it's stocked.
03:14So this is the door to the shop, but it actually isn't the door to the shop, because you can't
03:18get in here.
03:19You've got to go through the pub.
03:21So hopefully they'll have something to eat and drink on their way at the shop.
03:24So up here for thinking down there for dancing.
03:28The shop is busy and stock is flying off the shelves.
03:32I'm designing a bird dock.
03:37This is my Disney.
03:39This area is absolutely brilliant.
03:42It's known as Little Britain.
03:43All the expats live around here.
03:45They work at Disney.
03:46It's just the perfect place.
03:48They come in, they have a drink, they grab all their goodies.
03:50We've been here 20 years.
03:53And one of the things, well, the major thing that I do miss is the English food.
03:56And every time we come here, they stock up on everything.
03:59They've got freezer food.
04:00We buy the pork pies.
04:02We buy the sausages.
04:03We go crazy.
04:05Hi, guys.
04:06Hi, love.
04:06Got all your goodies there?
04:08Yeah, we have.
04:09But this taste of home comes at a price.
04:12Everything is imported, you know?
04:14So something that's a pound at home can quite easily become $7 here.
04:18So if you're going to shop like you're in the UK, you know, you're going to bankrupt yourself within a
04:23month.
04:23Smoking bacon and chicken, they're the ones we always run out of.
04:27It takes a lot to keep the pub going, and the costs add up quickly.
04:32We're paying nearly $12,000 a month for our lease for the place.
04:35Before you start on electricity, costs and wages and ingredients, things add up into a huge monthly cost.
04:42So we need to triple the revenue minimum to make it work.
04:46To make the money to cover his bills, Martin is always thinking of new ways to bring in more income.
04:51So are you thinking of today doing an afternoon tea?
04:54Yeah, but later this afternoon.
04:55The plan for today, I've invited some ladies and a couple of gents today to come along and have an
05:03afternoon tea in the shop area, in that room.
05:06And hopefully they'll spend a few quid at the end.
05:07You better get yourself off then, so on bread, cotton cream.
05:11We have no crisps, so you need to get some crisps while you're there as well, because we're out of
05:16crisps.
05:17And it's an hour and what to go over there and get them, and then an hour and something back.
05:21I've never doubted you before.
05:23First time for everything.
05:28Martin needs to get his skates on, because soon it'll be time for tea.
05:3625 miles away in downtown Orlando, born and bred Londoner Denise is pottering in her favourite place, the garden.
05:47These are my impatients that are very impatient, and I have to water every single day in this heat.
05:53Gardening isn't her day job. Denise works as a realtor, a.k.a. an estate agent.
05:59Can you hear them all saying thank you?
06:02I'm a realtor. I've been a realtor for about 30 years.
06:05I enjoy working. I enjoy showing houses.
06:08I don't like doing apartments or condos very much, because there's too many stairs.
06:14Tomorrow, Denise has a busy day of viewing, so today is all about family.
06:19I live here with my husband, Bert, who's escaped, gone to the golf course.
06:23My daughter, Justine, lives in the main house right here, across the pool.
06:28We call it across the pond, not across the pool.
06:31And we live in the back house on the ground level.
06:34Christian's upstairs. My grandson.
06:37Florida has been home to Denise and daughter, Justine, for a long time.
06:41I moved here at the beginning of 1980, been here ever since, so 45 years.
06:47Probably one of the original Brits that came out.
06:50Oh, it's flowering. Look at that.
06:52Isn't that pretty?
06:52Yeah.
06:53I could never imagine moving back to the UK.
06:56I have nothing to go back to.
06:57My kids are here. My grandkids are here.
07:01It's lunchtime, and Justine's husband, Raja, is busy in the kitchen.
07:05All morning, I am here making food for lunch.
07:11Just another day in paradise.
07:13Seafood pasta. It's my favourite meal that Raja cooks.
07:16He did it especially because I asked him to today.
07:18It's really good.
07:20Grub, wine.
07:21Hey, where's the wine, Justine?
07:22Oh, in the car.
07:25While Justine sorts the wine, grandson Chris is on table duty.
07:30I love living with my daughter and grandson and my son-in-law.
07:35I love Raja.
07:36He is the best thing that ever could have happened to our family.
07:39He's wonderful.
07:39Who can say that about their son-in-law, but I can.
07:43Bon appétit, everybody.
07:44Bon appétit.
07:46Cheers.
07:47Cheers.
07:47Cheers.
07:50But everyone's getting ahead of themselves because Denise's husband is back from the golf course.
07:55Hello, Bert.
07:56I can't believe you're here.
07:56Bert is Denise's second husband.
07:58Oh, okay.
08:00How often does your wife move the furniture around?
08:03Once a week, I walk in the house, and I don't know where the chairs are.
08:06It's the truth.
08:07I'm sorry.
08:08I've always told him I have to change something.
08:12So if I can change furniture, I won't change him.
08:17It works, right?
08:18Sometimes I see the furniture hasn't been moved in a couple of weeks.
08:23I know I might want to start packing my bag.
08:27My first husband was an architect.
08:29We bought houses, did them up, and sold them.
08:32We did that a lot when we first came here.
08:34After he died, I decided I would get my real estate license, and that's what I've been doing
08:38ever since, and I love it.
08:39Absolutely love it.
08:41Both Justine and her son Chris have followed Denise into real estate.
08:45None of my friends work with their grandmothers, or mothers for that case, but I seem to work
08:50with both, so it's quite a unique situation.
08:53And tomorrow, Denise is back out buying and selling houses.
08:57I don't think my grandmother would ever give up being a realtor.
09:00I do see some of my friends, their grandparents, they stop working.
09:04That's when you start to see them get old.
09:06With my grandma, she's very sharp.
09:08She still has all the energy in the world, and I do think it's because she keeps herself
09:11very busy.
09:25In the prosperous coastal resort of St. Pete Beach, it's the start of a busy day for Londoner
09:34Donna.
09:34Look at the mess.
09:36She moved to Florida four years ago with husband Dan.
09:41Dan, where's your mug?
09:43And their two boys, 19-year-old Oliver and 14-year-old Billy.
09:48Morning.
09:49Morning, mate.
09:49You all right?
09:50Yeah.
09:51I can't believe this is the life that we live.
09:54I sometimes have to pinch myself and really reflect to remember how Billy's excelling at
10:00sports, how Oliver's excelling at his school, how Dan has reinvented himself as this realtor.
10:08London Dan.
10:11To qualify as a realtor in Florida, Dan needs to pass an exam.
10:16It was hard.
10:18No good this time.
10:20But I've got a feeling next time.
10:24While Dan is studying hard for his next attempt...
10:27Um, sorry.
10:29What are you doing?
10:29You working?
10:30I've got work to do, believe it or not.
10:32You're not the only one.
10:33I know.
10:34Think of the dollars that it's going to bring in.
10:36Donna is the family's main earner.
10:39Love you.
10:40Love you.
10:41She's worked as a beauty editor and journalist for 25 years.
10:45In the UK, I worked for magazines and websites, and I also worked for a big high street brand.
10:52When I came over to America, I quickly learned that you are your brand, and Americans are very
11:00much all about their own self-branding.
11:02So that's something that I'm really working hard on.
11:07Life in Florida is expensive, so Donna needs to work to keep the family afloat.
11:12I am making money, but I need to make more, so I need to work hard in order to get
11:18the
11:19money.
11:20Donna has turned her hand to social media and even launched a podcast.
11:24She's working to build her brand and her following.
11:28I just want women to feel happier in themselves and also feel like when they hit menopause or
11:34when they hit their 50s or 60s, it's not the end.
11:37They've got so much more to give, and in fact, I feel more empowered and more confident than
11:45I ever have now, and I just want women to feel that way too.
11:49Today, it's Donna's confidence that will be tested when she appears as a guest on a television
11:54show.
11:54I'm just deciding what to wear on Bloom.
11:59The first time I went to the studio, I didn't realise that you sit on really high stools,
12:05so there's a risk that you can see up my dress.
12:08So I had to factor that into my dress decision, and this is obviously longer and the perfect
12:16length.
12:17A regular spot on the show could boost Donna's career.
12:21Bloom's really important to me because obviously anything that's going to increase my profile
12:27in the US is brilliant.
12:28So this is my analytics, and these are my followers.
12:33So at the moment on Instagram, I've got just over 26,000, and 80% of them are in the
12:38UK,
12:39and 12.2% are in the US, which is great, obviously, but this is the number that I want
12:45to increase,
12:4612.2% in the US.
12:48Expected to reach $105 billion this year, the US beauty industry is booming, and Donna wants
12:55in.
12:56All beauty brands, all lifestyle brands want to have the sales in America.
13:03You know, it's such a huge market.
13:06It's got great opportunities for all brands.
13:08So if I can increase my following here, that is going to make me more attractive to all
13:16brands, UK and global brands, to work with.
13:20While Donna's been on screen before, it's still outside her comfort zone.
13:24I always feel a little bit nervous before I do anything like this because I think that's
13:29healthy and I think that's good, and I think I'd be more worried if I wasn't nervous.
13:37In downtown Orlando, realtor Denise has two big appointments on the books for tomorrow.
13:43So today, she's off to the nail salon with daughter Justine to make sure she's looking
13:47her best.
13:49All right, you ready for a pedi?
13:51I'm ready for a pedi.
13:52I'm more than ready for a pedi.
13:54Justine and I are really best of friends.
13:57She's always been very, very easy.
13:59And as we've grown and got older, we've just got closer and closer.
14:04Denise's return to Orlando is a fairly recent one.
14:07She used to live on Florida's Gulf Coast in Tampa.
14:11For the past maybe 15 years, she lived about two hours away.
14:15She didn't come back often, and we didn't get over to her as often as I would like.
14:20So I spent a considerable amount of time pestering her to move back here.
14:24And so I finally won, and here she is.
14:26I love having my mom here.
14:28Get a pedi.
14:29Goodie, goodie.
14:31At the nail salon.
14:33I think I'm doing that one right there.
14:36What number is it?
14:37231.
14:38Okay.
14:39What are you doing?
14:39I don't know, because you've got the colors.
14:41Oh.
14:42They can settle in.
14:44Oh, nice.
14:45Perfect.
14:46Feels good.
14:46Hot.
14:47And relax.
14:48We're in Florida, and you wear open-toed shoes year-round, so your feet need to look good.
14:52To do it with my mom on a Saturday.
14:55Without husbands butting in.
14:57It's perfect.
14:57Why would we not do that?
14:58It's perfect.
15:02Justine isn't Denise's only daughter.
15:05She's everything to me now.
15:07I lost my other daughter, and she's my only child left.
15:13Jackie died of cancer about four years ago.
15:15She went in March to the doctor, was diagnosed almost immediately.
15:20She died before Christmas, so it didn't even go eight months.
15:26It was very bad for a little while there, but time heals everything.
15:31We can think of her now and smile.
15:35Denise and Justine's careers have often moved side by side.
15:39We've worked together as well for years and years.
15:41We've worked together.
15:43Justine calls me Denise at work.
15:44I do call you Denise, yeah.
15:46One of my first jumps was working for one of my mom's best friends.
15:49Everybody knew my mom in tourism in Orlando at that time, so I used to call her Denise.
15:53Not like everybody didn't already know she was my mom, but I felt like it was more professional.
15:59They now both work in real estate.
16:01I work on referrals only now.
16:03I don't go out looking for work, but after doing it for 30 years, you still get enough business.
16:08Is it 30 years that you've been in real estate now?
16:10I have, yeah.
16:11Is it really?
16:11Yeah, yeah, yeah.
16:14I looked it up on my license the other day.
16:17Wow, that's incredible.
16:19Today, 19% of Americans over 65 remain in the workforce, and at 78, Denise is part of this growing
16:27trend.
16:28Eventually, she'll retire, but I hope not anytime soon, because as long as she's full of life,
16:35and she's happy, and she's doing well, and I think it's good that she continues to work.
16:39Justine says, stop worrying, Mom, you don't look your age.
16:42So that makes me feel better, but I do think you shouldn't be going out when you're old and selling
16:50houses,
16:51because maybe people are a bit shocked when they get an old lady come.
16:55But she puts me right and keeps saying, you're not an old lady.
16:58Their feet and nails pampered to perfection.
17:01Thank you very much.
17:02That was very fun.
17:03Thank you so much.
17:06Denise is ready to sell some houses.
17:16In Claremont, pub owner Martin is at the wholesalers, stocking up for a classic afternoon tea.
17:25We're lucky where we are today, because one of the main suppliers who bring items into the U.S. from
17:30the U.K. are actually not too far away from us.
17:32We're constantly having to import, refresh the shelves, things go out of stock, things come into stock.
17:37Then with currency fluctuations and shipping cost fluctuations and tariffs, it's actually a really difficult thing to constantly get right,
17:44but it's an important part of what we do.
17:47First on the list, jam.
17:49Before cream, of course, the proper Cornish way.
17:52The British jam, really important for the afternoon tea, and especially the scones.
17:56The scones is something that you cannot buy in the U.S. Literally, this one place is clotted cream.
18:02Clotted cream is for our scones. We don't try to use other ingredients. We use the real thing.
18:06There are a few places in Florida who do afternoon teas.
18:10I look at some of the things that they put on afternoon teas, and it's an American version.
18:14Ours is a purely British afternoon tea.
18:16We make our own scones, our own finger sandwiches, our own cakes, and it's just authentic.
18:21Martin heads through to the warehouse.
18:24Willie!
18:24Hey! Good morning, mate.
18:26Hey, how you doing?
18:27To take the next item off his afternoon tea supply list.
18:30The most important thing I need to get is the bread today.
18:33How many bread? How many bread?
18:34I've got a big afternoon tea, so I'm going to need a pallet of it.
18:37A pallet of it.
18:38While he's here, Martin's topping up on the best-selling British classics for the shop.
18:42Two quavers, two monster munch, cheese and onion, prawn cocktail, smoky bacon, roast chicken, and the tomato ketchup, please, mate.
18:51All right.
18:52Chris, we're one of the biggest sellers in the shop.
18:54They bring people in, and they spend on other things.
18:57You know, crisps are something that the British really focus in on when they come in the pubs.
19:01They are so popular, and we struggle buying British crisps over here.
19:04With everything almost packed...
19:07Is there chocolate tea cakes?
19:08Ah, the all-important tea cakes.
19:11People love these things.
19:13Real taste of home.
19:14We're ready to go.
19:15The next job is getting it all in the car.
19:18It's like a big game of Jenga every time we come here.
19:22Because crisps take up so much space.
19:26But we'll find a way somehow.
19:29And I can't actually fit these in anywhere.
19:33So we're going to run to the other side.
19:36There we go.
19:38We're fully loaded.
19:41We're ready to get back to the pub.
19:42Willie, thanks as usual.
19:44Take care.
19:46With the goods secured, Martin can head back to the pub.
19:51Where manager Anne is delegating jobs, starting with server Chris.
19:56We'll put them right down the middle.
19:57So pull those tables together.
19:59We've got some Union Jack flags.
20:01Let's get them on as tablecloths.
20:03All this fine china, see if we can match it up.
20:06We want 16-place settings.
20:08Just want it to look really nice.
20:09Some napkins, the side plates.
20:12Do you want it more English-y or like afternoon tea in the summer?
20:17Strawberries, that kind of thing?
20:18Proper, authentic afternoon tea.
20:20Like we used to have on the Isle of Wight?
20:22Yeah, yeah.
20:23I don't know, I've never been to the Isle of Wight.
20:24Yeah, and we'll go with that one.
20:27Chris and Anne's husband, Jimmy,
20:29are responsible for preparing the tables properly for the afternoon tea.
20:34Pull these together.
20:36We've got to get 16.
20:39Well, I think 16 is 18.
20:40Afternoon tea in England, it's pomp and circumstance.
20:44You go to carriages or the Ritz or the Savoy,
20:47big hats, lots of desserts and fresh cream, real cream.
20:52In America, you know, you have to really make it into a pantomime all over the years.
20:56Chris and Jimmy on the job.
20:58Anne now needs to get the kitchen to start prepping.
21:15It's an early start in Orlando for realtor Denise.
21:20Let's go.
21:21All right.
21:22Oh, I'll drive.
21:23I'm not driving.
21:24I forgot that.
21:24That's why you're taking me, so I can drive.
21:28With daughter Justine behind the wheel, Denise has two property appointments lined up.
21:44A two-hour journey takes them to one of Florida's hottest property markets on the Gulf Coast.
21:51Unfortunately, because I spent 12 years on the Gulf Coast,
21:54most of my business is on the Gulf Coast,
21:56so I find myself going backwards and forwards every two or three days.
22:01The first house is a familiar one for Denise.
22:04It was once her home.
22:07We bought that house 15 years ago,
22:10and we gutted and renovated it all.
22:13She is being met by the house's listing agent, Sarah.
22:17Hi, Sarah.
22:18How are you?
22:18Good, thank you.
22:19Come on in.
22:21Denise is here to preview the property for clients who are interested in buying.
22:25So I can't wait to hear about your buyers.
22:28They're old buyers.
22:29I've shown the pictures of when we were in it,
22:31and they know that it's not actually on the water,
22:35but they know they have access to the water.
22:37So what we really need to know is what changes have been made.
22:41As the tour starts, the memories come flooding back.
22:44And then what do you think about the wall of cabinets?
22:47We had the same wall.
22:49Yeah.
22:49We had the same wall.
22:50I had a shelf up there with all my jars on.
22:52I know every square inch of that house,
22:55so it's really strange.
22:56It's good that I'm looking at it,
22:58because I've got all the answers.
22:59I don't need to ask any questions.
23:00It looks like the same vanity,
23:02but it's probably not the same one.
23:04They just put a similar one in.
23:05Correct.
23:05Yes, the vanity had to be...
23:07Both vanities were replaced.
23:08Right.
23:09Yeah, so that is a newer one.
23:11Yep, I remember it all.
23:14And some parts of the house
23:15hold bigger memories than others.
23:18And then, of course, the backyard paradise, right?
23:20That's really the dream.
23:22It's a saltwater heated pool.
23:24The heater is brand new.
23:25I know all about the pool,
23:26because I put it in.
23:27You put it in.
23:27You put the pool in.
23:28Yes.
23:29How long did you live here?
23:31Five years.
23:32Wow.
23:32Yeah.
23:33And I had to get a crane and lift this pool over.
23:36Because this is fiberglass.
23:37It's fiberglass.
23:38Worst case scenario, I guess,
23:40the pool drops on your home,
23:41and I guess they're insured for that.
23:43Yeah.
23:44Hopefully.
23:45I didn't think of that at the time.
23:47The viewing at an end.
23:48Thank you so much, Sarah.
23:50So appreciated.
23:51No problem.
23:51It's been my pleasure.
23:53What's Denise's verdict?
23:55This was a very good showing.
23:56I was very impressed
23:57with how they had redone the house.
24:00The first appointment is done,
24:01but Denise's day isn't.
24:03It's on to the next property.
24:12In Claremont,
24:15Martin, the owner of the best of British pub,
24:17is on his way back with supplies
24:19for an afternoon tea event.
24:21I have a sales background.
24:23I'm constantly trying to think of
24:24sometimes outlandish ways of doing things.
24:27But I also think that
24:29being where we are in Orlando
24:31lends itself to that.
24:33The entertainment capital of the world.
24:35So things don't seem as crazy out here.
24:37We've got to try it.
24:38We've got to bring people through the door.
24:40Inspired by his shopping trip,
24:42he's had an idea.
24:44I just think having a little twist on it
24:46and having a crisp butter,
24:47which is something I love
24:48and a lot of people love
24:49as an afternoon snack
24:50when you're growing up.
24:53Wait until I tell Anne.
24:54I don't think she's going to be too impressed,
24:56but we'll see what she says.
24:58Back at the pub,
24:59Jimmy's showing Chris
25:00how to properly set the table.
25:02No, I put them on the plate
25:04and then put the tea cup
25:06and saucer on top
25:08with a spoon
25:09and then put a spare one
25:11at the side on the right
25:12with a knife.
25:13Oh!
25:13The scones.
25:15OK.
25:16Don't put them straight.
25:17It's one of an angle.
25:20Finally,
25:21Martin has arrived back
25:22with his supplies.
25:24We have crisps, Jimmy.
25:25Oh!
25:26We have crisps.
25:27While Jimmy unloads the crisps,
25:30Martin springs his sandwich idea on Anne.
25:32You know you love my ideas.
25:34So,
25:35when I was in England last,
25:37everybody's trying to do
25:38a different spin
25:39on an afternoon tea
25:40and it might be
25:40little dainty cakes and stuff.
25:42How do you feel
25:43about us doing
25:45a signature
25:47crisp butter?
25:49Oh, boom!
25:51Yeah?
25:51Yeah.
25:51At the end of the day,
25:53we ain't the Savoy
25:53or the Ritz
25:54doing it for 90 quid,
25:55are we?
25:56Yeah.
25:56It's $30
25:56and it's authentic
25:57but I think it's a real
25:59nice little twist on it.
26:00It is.
26:00I'm happy with that.
26:01Perfect.
26:03Anne,
26:04on board with the bussies,
26:05the shop
26:06has been transformed.
26:09While in the kitchen,
26:10the cream cheese
26:11and cucumber sandwiches
26:12are taking shape.
26:14Now there's only
26:15the crisp buttery flavours
26:17to sort out.
26:19OK,
26:19smoky bacon.
26:20Oh,
26:20did you hear that crunch?
26:22That sounds so good.
26:23I'm loving this idea already.
26:24I think it's going to work.
26:26So that's the smoky bacon.
26:28My idea is
26:28we're going to make
26:29the crisp buttery
26:29that will probably go
26:30for a traditional flavour,
26:31prawn cocktail,
26:32cheese and onion,
26:33salt and vinaigret,
26:33et cetera,
26:34and then me and Anne
26:35are going to sit down
26:35and taste them
26:36and then subject to that
26:37being OK,
26:38we'll launch
26:38on the afternoon tea today.
26:40Centuries of tradition
26:41coming out the window.
26:45Oh, yeah.
26:45Oh, yeah.
26:47I think we've got
26:47a winner on our hatch.
26:49With the guests arriving soon,
26:51there's no time to waste
26:52getting the crisp butties ready.
26:55Get them to Julie,
26:56tell her to make
26:57as many as she can
26:58in the next 20 minutes
27:00because guests will be arriving.
27:01Okey-cokey,
27:02I'm on it.
27:03But there's a problem.
27:05They've cut wrong.
27:06Do you mean they've cut wrong?
27:07Cut in triangles?
27:08Yeah, triangles are good.
27:09They're not.
27:10Joe,
27:10on an afternoon tea.
27:11No, they don't.
27:12They've got triangles.
27:13Triangles.
27:14That's why I'm in here
27:15and you're not.
27:16No.
27:17I'll do that.
27:18They're going in fingers
27:19and not going in tracks.
27:21I can't get the stuff.
27:23Anne may have lost
27:24the etiquette debate,
27:25but Martin's got
27:26one last detail to add
27:27before the team
27:28greets their guests.
27:30Is that the front
27:31or the back?
27:32Bonnets?
27:32So my plan is now,
27:33we're going to get this
27:34on social media today.
27:36Again,
27:37we've come back
27:37to trying to be authentic.
27:38So he's just trying
27:39to evoke memories
27:40for people.
27:41came to me
27:41in a moment
27:43of inspiration.
27:44This will really make
27:45me want to come in,
27:46won't it?
27:46We're going to get
27:47everyone seeing
27:48just how
27:50amazing you three
27:52look.
28:00in St. Pete Beach,
28:02beauty editor Donna
28:04is hitting the road.
28:08I'm off to Loom TV
28:10this morning
28:11to record a segment
28:12of the local
28:13lifestyle programme
28:16that is filmed
28:17in Tampa,
28:19which is about
28:20half an hour drive
28:21from our house.
28:22On the show,
28:23the topic
28:23is a personal one
28:25for Donna.
28:26I talk about my sobriety
28:27because drinking
28:28is a big part
28:29of everyone's lives,
28:30but when you get
28:31to a certain age,
28:32and I've since
28:33learned this
28:33because of my work
28:34in the menopause space
28:36that I've been doing,
28:38you know,
28:39you can't tolerate
28:40alcohol like you used to
28:41and when you have
28:43all the symptoms
28:44of menopause,
28:44they just exacerbate it
28:46like anxiety,
28:47sleeplessness,
28:48and it's just like
28:49a vicious circle.
28:50I feel like so many
28:51women don't realise
28:53that what's going
28:54on in their body
28:55and how it can impact
28:57every part of your life.
29:01I definitely want
29:02to go on Bloom more
29:03because it's a great way
29:05of me reaching
29:06my target audience
29:07because I know
29:08those women are watching.
29:11So it's a brilliant
29:12opportunity for me.
29:14Hi.
29:15We are in the green room
29:17at Bloom TV.
29:19This is behind
29:20the scenes access.
29:21So I just wait here
29:23until the producer
29:24comes to get me
29:25and then, yeah,
29:28go into the studio.
29:29Donna doesn't have
29:30to wait too long.
29:32Hi, Donna.
29:33Hi.
29:33It's so good to see you.
29:34Hi, Sarah.
29:36And Sarah,
29:37the show's producer,
29:37doesn't waste any time
29:38in getting down to business.
29:40So I'm excited to hear
29:41about your sober
29:42and menopause journey.
29:43I was watching all the videos
29:44that you sent me.
29:45Yeah.
29:45It looks like it's really
29:46catching steam
29:47on social media.
29:48It really is.
29:49So many women
29:50are resonating
29:51with my story.
29:52Honesty
29:53is really important to me
29:55and I really care
29:56about what women
29:58think of me
29:59and what they think
30:01of themselves.
30:01So I want them
30:02to trust me
30:03and it's just something
30:03that's really important
30:04to me.
30:05I've always tried
30:06to build other women
30:07up and feel good
30:09within themselves.
30:10That's why when I get
30:11messages from my followers,
30:17and they say,
30:18oh, you've made me
30:19feel so much better.
30:21You know,
30:22it really touches me.
30:23It really, really does.
30:27What happens
30:27if I start crying?
30:29Oh, my God.
30:29It's quite emotional.
30:30That's okay.
30:31People want to see
30:31that emotion.
30:32That honestly resonates
30:33with the audience.
30:34People want to feel that.
30:35They want to understand
30:36and be able
30:37to step into your shoes.
30:38Okay.
30:39I mean,
30:39now I've said that,
30:40I might not cry
30:40because now I've said it,
30:42but there's a possibility
30:44that I might
30:45because I am quite
30:46an emotional person,
30:46especially when talking about it.
30:47That's okay.
30:48I don't think you should
30:49feel like you have
30:50to minimize that.
30:50Okay.
30:51Briefing over.
30:53We're out.
30:53We're ready for it.
30:54The studio awaits.
30:56You ready to do this?
30:57Yeah, I'm ready.
30:58A little bit nervous
30:59talking about something
31:00so personal.
31:02But I'm sure
31:03I'll be fine.
31:05The previous guest
31:06has still been interviewed.
31:27But there are
31:28technical problems
31:29on set.
31:30Yeah, I don't think
31:31it worked.
31:32It just completely
31:33dropped out.
31:36All right, you guys
31:37just talking to each other.
31:39It's the fourth time
31:40you have to do it.
31:41We get commissioned
31:42to run this as is.
31:43I just don't know
31:44this doesn't fit.
31:45This isn't okay.
31:46Let's put it.
31:49It's good.
31:50It's good.
31:50It's good.
31:52All the mistakes.
31:53What's happening?
31:54What's happening?
31:55What's happening?
31:56You're getting stressed.
32:00I'm having all the flash.
32:02This was meant
32:04to be a step forward
32:04for Donna
32:05and her brand
32:06in the U.S.,
32:07but she's still
32:07stuck behind the scenes.
32:24In Tampa,
32:25realtor Denise
32:26is en route
32:27to her second house
32:28of the day.
32:29And so the people
32:30that are selling
32:31they're Brits, right?
32:32They're Brits, yeah.
32:34This time,
32:35her role has been reversed.
32:36She's selling the house.
32:40In the past,
32:41I have sold mainly
32:42to Brits.
32:43Brits are very quiet now,
32:44so not so many.
32:46I'm rather selling
32:47their properties now
32:48rather than them buying.
32:50If the viewing
32:51is successful,
32:52Denise could be
32:53in the money.
32:54The listing agent
32:55negotiates with the seller.
32:57Traditionally,
32:58the seller pays
32:58all the commission.
33:00Once that's agreed,
33:02the listing agent
33:02splits that.
33:04Normally half and half,
33:05but it can be different.
33:07Denise's commission
33:08for a sale
33:09on this $825,000 house
33:11would be over $20,000.
33:14And my buyers are here.
33:16The potential buyers
33:18and their realtor,
33:19Cookie, have arrived.
33:20Hi, Denise.
33:21How are you?
33:22I'm good.
33:22How are you?
33:23I'll let you come in.
33:25Can we store it
33:25in the kitchen?
33:26Yes.
33:26The buyers are a couple,
33:28Diane and Francis.
33:29I've known Denise
33:30a while.
33:31She's one of the great
33:31agents in the area.
33:33If I see it's her
33:34on the other end,
33:35I love it.
33:36She's very easy
33:37to work with,
33:38very knowledgeable,
33:39great realtor.
33:40As is usual
33:41in the USA,
33:42Cookie will take
33:43her clients around
33:44while Denise waits
33:45on hand
33:46to answer any questions.
33:47And the stove,
33:48I'm sure,
33:49is original,
33:49and I'm sure
33:50the dishwasher
33:50is original.
33:52I don't get nervous
33:53anymore.
33:54You know,
33:55it goes or it doesn't go.
33:56If it doesn't go today,
33:57it'll go the next time.
33:59Friend,
33:59did you want to come in
34:00and check it out?
34:02Oh, double six.
34:03I like that.
34:04Best case is,
34:05they love it.
34:05Worst case is,
34:06they don't.
34:07It's very straightforward.
34:09I love the pool.
34:10Look,
34:10it gets sun from morning
34:11to...
34:11Yeah.
34:12And that water's warm.
34:13And I love a house
34:14that faces the south
34:15and about,
34:15especially with this.
34:17And being Florida,
34:18there's also a floating dock
34:20to moor the boat.
34:21Direct access right out there
34:23within five minutes,
34:24you're in the Gulf.
34:26That's the main thing.
34:26Yeah.
34:27Direct access.
34:27Yep.
34:28Has the viewing convinced
34:30Diana Francis
34:31that this is their new home?
34:33We really enjoyed
34:35seeing this property.
34:37It has many of the features
34:38that we're looking for,
34:40especially the size of it.
34:41Okay.
34:42Thank you so much, Cookie.
34:43I really appreciate it.
34:44Thank you so much, Denise.
34:46It was great to meet you.
34:47Thank you, Fran.
34:47We really do appreciate it.
34:49We're always looking.
34:50That's the problem.
34:52You know,
34:52we've looked at other properties,
34:53so we have to kind of see
34:55what we think is best for us.
34:57Diana Francis decided
34:59not to put an offer in.
35:00Bye.
35:00Bye, Denise.
35:02But that won't slow Denise down.
35:06I'm going to work
35:08as long as I can.
35:09I love my job so much
35:11that keeps me going.
35:12I'm very happy with my life,
35:14very happy with my family,
35:16very happy where I am right now.
35:18I have had good and bad
35:21parts of my life,
35:22but right now,
35:22I'm really happy.
35:31In Tampa,
35:34beauty editor Donna
35:35is at the TV studio
35:37waiting to go on air.
35:40And now it's her moment to shine.
35:43Hello.
35:44Hi, how are you?
35:45I'm good.
35:46How are you?
35:47We've got pink on.
35:47I know, I love it.
35:48We're matching, matching.
35:49I love your dress.
35:50It's so pretty.
35:50Oh, thank you.
35:52And you always look gorgeous.
35:54You're so sweet.
35:56Host Gail Guayardo
35:57has been the presenter
35:58of Bloom for two and a half years.
36:03So do you know what sound?
36:04Can you hear what I hear now?
36:06So we're doing,
36:07I wake up feeling this,
36:08wake up.
36:09Oh, yeah,
36:09where I'm kind of lying down.
36:11Yes, yes, yes.
36:12Sarah said, yeah.
36:13That was quite a powerful one,
36:15but yeah.
36:15Okay.
36:15Sometimes when you first
36:16walk up in those situations
36:18because they're on time constraints,
36:20they can be a little bit,
36:21right, let's just get on with it.
36:22Gail is easy to talk to.
36:25She made me feel comfortable.
36:28With no more delays,
36:29it's showtime.
36:32And three, two.
36:35Welcome back to Bloom.
36:36From foggy to focus,
36:38our next guest decided
36:39to ditch drinking alcohol
36:40during her perimenopause journey.
36:42Joining us now to share
36:44how quitting alcohol
36:45actually really helped
36:46is award-winning beauty editor
36:48Donna Francis.
36:49Donna, it's so great to see you.
36:51Thank you so much for having me.
36:52So very powerful social media post.
36:55How did people react to it?
36:56Women, you know,
36:58they don't realise
37:00how much it can impact them
37:02during their perimenopause and menopause.
37:05I was noticing
37:06how I just couldn't tolerate it
37:08the same way
37:08and process it
37:10like it used to
37:11when you were younger.
37:12This is not right.
37:14I need to look after myself
37:15because it started affecting
37:17my mental health.
37:18I'm a beauty editor,
37:19so everything should be glossy
37:21and perfect.
37:22It's hard, I think, as well.
37:24A lot of women,
37:25it's about showing your vulnerability
37:28and owning your vulnerability
37:30and actually feeling empowered
37:33that you're not perfect
37:34because that's what empowers
37:37other women as well.
37:38That's what makes them feel seen.
37:40Donna, it's always such a pleasure
37:41to thank you so much, Gail.
37:43Before Donna leaves,
37:45she grabs a quick check-in
37:46with Sarah, the producer.
37:47Great job.
37:48Great segment.
37:49Very American.
37:50I love you.
37:51Good job.
37:52I love that.
37:52That was a great segment.
37:53Yeah, I really enjoyed it.
37:54Donna did incredible.
37:56She's always great.
37:57We always love having her on.
37:58We'll definitely have Donna
37:59back on in the future.
38:00Having an accent
38:01is just an extra part.
38:04Sarah's happy with her work,
38:05so it's all positive news.
38:06But Donna's not so sure.
38:09My gut says it went well,
38:10but you never know
38:11until you see the edit
38:13what it's going to come across like.
38:15So hopefully my gut instinct is right.
38:18Once it goes on TV,
38:20I will try and get the boys
38:22to sit down with me and watch it.
38:24They'll probably roll their eyes
38:25behind my back,
38:27but they are proud of me.
38:28I know they are.
38:31Two days later,
38:32the whole family are gathered
38:34to watch the show.
38:35Come on, let's watch this.
38:38Right, everyone,
38:39you've got to watch this.
38:40Our next guest decided
38:42to ditch drinking alcohol
38:43during her hearing menopause drink.
38:45I think for me,
38:47I'm obviously from the UK
38:48and when I moved over to Florida,
38:50it was the same time
38:51that I was in perimenopause.
38:53The verdict is in.
38:55Well done.
38:56And up next,
38:57I'm catching up with the host.
38:59Well done, hon.
39:00I know you've done it before,
39:01something that's so close to you
39:03is having so vulnerable.
39:04It makes you vulnerable as well.
39:05Yeah, it does.
39:06I'm just really proud.
39:07I mean, that's tough getting up there.
39:09Thank you, thank you.
39:10So I think it was a success.
39:13It was good, wasn't it?
39:14Very good.
39:14Yeah, it was good.
39:15But I was pleased.
39:16And you know,
39:17this is why I do it.
39:18I do it for you guys.
39:20Her US profile is on the up.
39:22It's clear this move
39:23was the right call
39:24for Donna and her family.
39:25I'm proud of myself.
39:27If the doors start opening,
39:28if they start opening,
39:29if they don't,
39:30then you know you've tried.
39:31If you don't do it,
39:32you'll always say,
39:35what would have happened
39:36if I would have moved to Florida?
39:39and now I know what happened.
39:41The dream came true
39:43and I've got to keep that dream alive.
39:54in Claremont,
39:57pub owner Martin
39:58has organised
39:59an afternoon tea party.
40:01Come on, girls.
40:02Our ladies are waiting.
40:03Come on.
40:04And the guests have arrived.
40:07Look at Anne.
40:07She's got dressed up for you, Maria.
40:09Ta-da!
40:11Knowing the ladies
40:12that are coming today,
40:13I just want to evoke
40:14a few memories for them,
40:15so I think it'll really work.
40:17Maria,
40:17we're going to bring you all
40:18through to the afternoon tea now.
40:19If you'd like to follow
40:21Chris in his bonnet.
40:22Just like Cody lots.
40:24Chris used to work
40:25on the cruise ships.
40:26He's a great character.
40:27He's perfect
40:28for horsing afternoon teas
40:29and I know the ladies
40:30and gents are going to love him.
40:31Wherever you like.
40:33With the guests comfortable,
40:34service can commence.
40:37There's some tea to start with.
40:40Give it a good stir
40:41before you wait.
40:43Here we go.
40:44Here's the milk.
40:46Come on, my darling.
40:48This is a cheese savoury.
40:51Some egg mayo.
40:53There you go.
40:55Time to find out
40:56how the crisp bussies
40:57are going down.
40:58OK, here we go.
41:00There's plenty more on the way.
41:02So we have some
41:02lovely finger sandwiches.
41:03I've cut the crust off.
41:06Are they a stroke of genius?
41:08You have a British mama.
41:12Can we have a crisp sandwich, please?
41:14Of course.
41:15Just one left.
41:17There's one left,
41:18but I'm going to go
41:19and get more.
41:20We can fight over it.
41:22The crisp sandwich.
41:26It is delicious
41:28and the bread is so thin.
41:30I love it.
41:31And the flavour of the crisps,
41:33delightful.
41:35The crisp sandwiches
41:36have gone down a treat.
41:38Next up,
41:39scones and cakes
41:39take centre stage.
41:43A little afternoon tea.
41:45Dive in here.
41:46We've got more coming.
41:48We've just whipped it up.
41:50It's not just how you eat a scone,
41:51scone, whatever.
41:53It's how you say it.
41:54It's definitely a scone,
41:55not a scone.
41:56And you've got to put your jam first on
41:58before you put your clotted cream on.
41:59And it looks delicious.
42:02The afternoon tea is winding down.
42:04Are the ladies going to dish out
42:06five-star reviews?
42:07They do beautiful teas.
42:10I'm from England.
42:11I've lived here about 40 years.
42:14And I really miss being home
42:16at the afternoon tea,
42:18specifically.
42:19This is my very first tea.
42:21I've seen it enough on
42:22soap operas that I've been watching
42:24and I thought it was great.
42:25I had some food
42:26that I'd never eaten before.
42:27This great little sandwich
42:29was called a crisp.
42:30Oh my God,
42:31it was so good.
42:32I'm definitely asked
42:33to buy this stuff to make it now.
42:34I did enjoy everything.
42:36And the service in it
42:37was awesome.
42:39It looks like
42:40Martin's afternoon tea idea
42:41has hit a sweet spot.
42:44So I'm delighted.
42:45One of the American ladies
42:46who came today
42:46absolutely fell in love
42:48with the crisp butty idea.
42:49She even bought the butty we use.
42:51So for me,
42:51that's a win-win.
42:52That's the idea
42:52of promoting the shop today.
42:54She's going to go away,
42:55hopefully tell her friends
42:56and family.
42:57And that's hopefully
42:58how the word spreads.
42:59So, big win.
43:00Guys, thank you so much
43:01for coming today.
43:02You know we appreciate
43:03each and every one of you.
43:04I think he's going
43:05absolutely brilliantly.
43:06You know,
43:06I always throw ideas
43:08at these guys.
43:09And every single time
43:10they come through,
43:11I'm so proud of them.
43:13With all his savings
43:14tied up in the pub,
43:15Martin needs it to succeed.
43:17And this event
43:18has delivered.
43:19We're getting loads
43:21of bookings in
43:21for afternoon teas as well.
43:22Off the back of it.
43:23Yeah, off the back of it.
43:24No, it's been win-win.
43:25It's been an absolutely
43:26great day.
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