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00:00Welcome to Florida.
00:02Florida life, nothing quite like it.
00:04Home to theme parks, golden tans, and 400,000 Brits.
00:08I absolutely love it here.
00:10Who've made the Sunshine State their new home.
00:13This is what sold me off. Yeah.
00:15Like, because it's stunning.
00:16Who wouldn't want to live here like this?
00:18They've swapped drizzly winters and gas bills for new careers
00:22and seemingly endless fun in the sun.
00:24Cheers, big ears!
00:26It's our little piece of paradise.
00:28Get it right and life in Florida can be like a dream come true.
00:32Every evening do this with your glass of wine.
00:35But getting here and staying here takes hard work.
00:38I do pinch myself every day.
00:41Grits. We just lost the starboard motor.
00:44And determination. Good job, well done.
00:46These are the Brits who've made their own Escape to Florida.
00:53Today on Escape to Florida,
00:54Martin is working hard to make the best of British pub a success.
00:59So we need to triple the revenue minimum to make it work.
01:02Martin's got an idea to draw the crowds in.
01:05How do you feel about us doing a signature crisp butty?
01:11Oh, boo!
01:13Yeah?
01:13Yeah.
01:14Donna is looking to build her U.S. profile.
01:16I am making money, but I need to make more.
01:19With a TV appearance.
01:21The book stays.
01:22One more time, Gail.
01:23The book's starting to get stressed.
01:26And realtor Denise doesn't miss much.
01:29It's a salt water heated pool.
01:31You know all about the pool?
01:32Because I put it in.
01:33You put it in.
01:34But some things can slip through the net.
01:36I guess they're insured for that.
01:39Hopefully.
01:39I didn't think of that at the time.
01:47In Clermont, Martin and Anne are busy working at the recently opened Best of British pub.
01:57Thank you for coming down.
01:58Set you up for the day, won't it?
02:01Got brown sauce, ketchup, everything you need.
02:04And business is booming.
02:05We've had a really good start.
02:07The first ten days have been beyond my wildest expectations.
02:11Way above.
02:12I think we've probably done more than double what I thought we'd do.
02:16Martin and his wife, Bev, have poured their savings into the pub, so need it to be a success.
02:21We've put about a quarter of a million, a little bit more, into this new location.
02:25I'm hoping to stop spending on it very soon.
02:28Need to stop spending?
02:29I need to start bringing it in.
02:29Yeah.
02:30I need to start bringing it in now.
02:32But this isn't just a busy pub.
02:35It's also home to a shop filled with treats from the UK.
02:41The most important part is the back shelves where we have the British goods for sale.
02:46So crumpets, custard, all those little things that people miss when they're here.
02:50When you've lived here for a time and you just want that little taste of home.
02:53So that's what we try to provide here.
02:55And then classic British bangers for sale.
03:02Cherry baked wells, scones, which are one of the biggest things we do.
03:09And then British bacon.
03:14That's what everybody's looking for out here.
03:17You either love or hate American bacon.
03:20I'm kind of on the fence with it.
03:22The shop takes its name from the person in charge.
03:26We've named Ann's Corner Shop.
03:28I wanted to do it as a little bit of a nod to Ann.
03:30Ann is the matriarch for this place.
03:33Because she looks after it.
03:34She organises stuff.
03:36She tells me off.
03:37She makes sure it's stocked.
03:39So this is the door to the shop.
03:41But it actually isn't the door to the shop.
03:42Because you can't get in here.
03:44You've got to go through the pub.
03:46So hopefully they'll have something to eat and drink on the way at the shop.
03:49So up here for thinking, down there for dancing.
03:53The shop is busy and stock is flying off the shelves.
03:57I'm designing a bird often.
04:03Exciting.
04:04This is my Disney.
04:05This area is absolutely brilliant.
04:08It's known as Little Britain.
04:09All the expats live around here.
04:11They work at Disney.
04:12It's just the perfect place.
04:14They come in, they have a drink, they grab all their goodies.
04:17We've been here 20 years.
04:19And one of the things, or the major thing that I do miss is the English food.
04:23And every time we come here, they stock up on everything.
04:26They've got freezer food.
04:27We buy the pork pies.
04:28We buy the sausages.
04:30We go crazy.
04:32Hi, guys.
04:33Hi, love.
04:33Got all your goodies there?
04:35Yeah, we have.
04:36But this taste of home comes at a price.
04:39Everything is imported, you know?
04:41So something that's a pound at home can quite easily become $7 here.
04:46So if you're going to shop like you're in the UK, you know, you're going to bankrupt yourself within a
04:51month.
04:51Smoky bacon and chicken, they're the ones we always run out of.
04:56It takes a lot to keep the pub going, and the costs add up quickly.
05:00We're paying nearly $12,000 a month for our lease for the place.
05:04Before you start on electricity costs and wages and ingredients, things add up into a huge monthly cost.
05:10So we need to triple the revenue minimum to make it work.
05:15To make the money to cover his bills, Martin is always thinking of new ways to bring in more income.
05:20So are you thinking of today doing an afternoon tea?
05:23Yeah, but later this afternoon.
05:25The plan for today, I've invited some ladies and a couple of gents today to come along and have an
05:33afternoon tea in the shop area, in that room, and hopefully they'll spend a few quid at the end.
05:38You better get yourself off them, so we want bread, a lot of cream.
05:42We have no crisps, so you need to get some crisps while you're there as well, because we're out of
05:47crisps.
05:47And it's an hour and what to go over there and get them, and then an hour and something back.
05:52I've never doubted you before.
05:54First time for everything.
05:55I know you can do it.
05:57Let's get to work.
05:59Martin needs to get his skates on because soon it'll be time for tea.
06:0825 miles away in downtown Orlando, born and bred Londoner Denise is pottering in her favourite place, the garden.
06:19These are my impatience that are very impatient, and I have to water every single day in this heat.
06:26Gardening isn't her day job.
06:28Denise works as a realtor, a.k.a. an estate agent.
06:32Can you hear them all saying thank you?
06:35I'm a realtor.
06:36I've been a realtor for about 30 years.
06:38I enjoy working.
06:40I enjoy showing houses.
06:41I don't like doing apartments or condos very much because there are too many stairs.
06:47Tomorrow, Denise has a busy day of viewing, so today is all about family.
06:52I live here with my husband, Bert, who's escaped, gone to the golf course.
06:57My daughter Justine lives in the main house right here, across the pool.
07:02We call it across the pond, not across the pool.
07:05And we live in the back house on the ground level.
07:08Christian's upstairs, my grandson.
07:11Florida has been home to Denise and daughter Justine for a long time.
07:16Moved here at the beginning of 1980, been here ever since.
07:20So, 45 years.
07:22Probably one of the original Brits that came out.
07:25Oh, it's flowering, look at that.
07:27Isn't that pretty?
07:28Yeah.
07:29I could never imagine moving back to the UK.
07:32I have nothing to go back to.
07:33My kids are here, my grandkids are here.
07:36It's lunchtime, and Justine's husband, Raja, is busy in the kitchen.
07:41All morning, I am here making food for lunch.
07:47Just another day in paradise.
07:50Seafood pasta.
07:51It's my favourite meal that Raja cooks.
07:53He did it specially because I asked him to today.
07:55It's really good.
07:56Grub, wine.
07:58Hey, where's the wine, Justine?
07:59Oh, in the car.
08:02While Justine sorts the wine, grandson Chris is on table duty.
08:07I love living with my daughter and grandson and my son-in-law.
08:12I love Raja.
08:14He is the best thing that ever could have happened to our family.
08:16He's wonderful.
08:17Who can say that about their son-in-law?
08:19But I can.
08:21Bon appetit, everybody.
08:22Bon appetit.
08:24Cheers.
08:25Cheers, cheers, cheers.
08:28But everyone's getting ahead of themselves
08:30because Denise's husband is back from the golf course.
08:33Hello, Bert.
08:34I can't believe you're here.
08:35Bert is Denise's second husband.
08:37Oh, okay.
08:38How often does your wife move the furniture around?
08:42Once a week, I walk in the house, and I don't know where the chairs are.
08:46It's the truth.
08:46I'm sorry.
08:47I've always told him I have to change something,
08:51so if I can change furniture, I won't change him.
08:56It works, right?
08:57Sometimes I see the furniture hasn't been moved in a couple of weeks.
09:03I know I might want to start packing my bags.
09:07My first husband was an architect.
09:09We bought houses, did them up, and sold them.
09:12We did that a lot when we first came here.
09:14After he died, I decided I would get my real estate license,
09:17and that's what I've been doing ever since, and I love it.
09:20I absolutely love it.
09:22Both Justine and her son, Chris, have followed Denise into real estate.
09:27None of my friends work with their grandmothers, or mothers for that case,
09:30but I seem to work with both, so it's quite a unique situation.
09:34And tomorrow, Denise is back out buying and selling houses.
09:39I don't think my grandmother would ever give up being a realtor.
09:42I do see some of my friends, their grandparents, they stop working.
09:46That's when you start to see them get old.
09:48With my grandma, she's very sharp.
09:50She still has all the energy in the world,
09:52and I do think it's because she keeps herself very busy.
10:08In the prosperous coastal resort of St Pete Beach,
10:14it's the start of a busy day for Londoner Donna.
10:18Look at the mess.
10:20She moved to Florida four years ago with husband Dan.
10:25Dan, where's your mug?
10:27And their two boys, 19-year-old Oliver and 14-year-old Billy.
10:32Morning.
10:33Morning, mate. You all right?
10:34Yeah.
10:35I can't believe this is the life that we live.
10:38I sometimes have to pinch myself
10:40and really reflect to remember
10:42how Billy's excelling at sports,
10:45how Oliver's excelling at his school,
10:48how Dan has reinvented himself as this realtor.
10:54London Dan.
10:57To qualify as a realtor in Florida,
10:59Dan needs to pass an exam.
11:02It was hard.
11:04No good this time.
11:06But...
11:07I've got a feeling next time.
11:10While Dan is studying hard for his next attempt...
11:13Um...
11:14Sorry.
11:15What are you doing? You working?
11:16I've got work to do, believe it or not.
11:18You're not the only one.
11:20I know.
11:20Think of the dollars that it's going to bring in.
11:22Donna is the family's main earner.
11:26Love you.
11:27Love you.
11:28She's worked as a beauty editor and journalist for 25 years.
11:32In the UK, I worked for magazines and websites
11:36and I also worked for a big high street brand.
11:39When I came over to America,
11:42I quickly learned that you are your brand
11:45and Americans are very much all about their own self-branding.
11:50So that's something that I'm really working hard on.
11:55Life in Florida is expensive,
11:57so Donna needs to work to keep the family afloat.
12:00I am making money, but I need to make more.
12:03So I need to work hard in order to get the money.
12:09Donna has turned her hand to social media
12:11and even launched a podcast.
12:13She's working to build her brand and her following.
12:17I just want women to feel happier in themselves
12:20and also feel like when they hit menopause
12:23or when they hit their 50s or 60s, it's not the end.
12:26They've got so much more to give.
12:28And in fact, I feel more empowered
12:32and more confident than I ever have now
12:36and I just want women to feel that way too.
12:40Today, it's Donna's confidence that will be tested
12:42when she appears as a guest on a television show.
12:45I'm just deciding what to wear on Bloom.
12:50The first time I went to the studio,
12:52I didn't realise that you sit on really high stools.
12:55So there's a risk that you can see up my dress.
12:59So I had to factor that into my dress decision.
13:03And this is obviously longer and the perfect length.
13:09A regular spot on the show could boost Donna's career.
13:13Bloom's really important to me
13:14because obviously anything that's going to increase my profile in the US is brilliant.
13:20So this is my analytics and these are my followers.
13:25So at the moment on Instagram, I've got just over 26,000.
13:29And 80% of them are in the UK and 12.2% are in the US.
13:34Which is great, obviously, but this is the number that I want to increase.
13:3912.2% in the US.
13:42Expected to reach $105 billion this year.
13:46The US beauty industry is booming and Donna wants in.
13:50All beauty brands, all lifestyle brands want to have the sales in America.
13:57You know, it's such a huge market.
14:00It's got great opportunities for all brands.
14:03So if I can increase my following here,
14:06that is going to make me more attractive to all brands,
14:11UK and global brands, to work with.
14:15While Donna's been on screen before, it's still outside her comfort zone.
14:19I always feel a little bit nervous before I do anything like this
14:23because I think that's healthy and I think that's good
14:25and I think I'd be more worried if I wasn't nervous.
14:33In downtown Orlando,
14:35Realtor Denise has two big appointments on the books for tomorrow.
14:39So today, she's off to the nail salon with daughter Justine
14:42to make sure she's looking her best.
14:45All right, you ready for a pedi?
14:47I'm ready for a pedi.
14:49I'm more than ready for a pedi.
14:51Justine and I are really best of friends.
14:54She's always been very, very easy.
14:56And as we've grown and got older, we've just got closer and closer.
15:01Denise's return to Orlando is a fairly recent one.
15:05She used to live on Florida's Gulf Coast in Tampa.
15:08For the past maybe 15 years, she lived about two hours away.
15:12She didn't come back often and we didn't get over to her as often as I would like.
15:18So I spent a considerable amount of time pestering her to move back here.
15:22And so I finally won and here she is.
15:25I love having my mom here.
15:26Get a pedi. Goodie, goodie.
15:29At the nail salon.
15:32I think I'm doing that one right there.
15:34What number is it?
15:36231.
15:37Okay.
15:37What are you doing?
15:38I don't know because you've got the colors.
15:40Oh.
15:41They can settle in.
15:43Oh, nice.
15:44Perfect.
15:45Feels good.
15:45Hot.
15:46And relax.
15:47We're in Florida and you wear open-toed shoes year round so your feet need to look good.
15:52To do it with my mom on a Saturday.
15:54Without husbands butting in.
15:57It's perfect.
15:57Why would we not do that?
15:58It's perfect.
16:02Justine isn't Denise's only daughter.
16:05She's everything to me now.
16:07You know, I lost my other daughter and she's my only child left.
16:13Jackie died of cancer about four years ago.
16:16She went in March to the doctor, was diagnosed almost immediately.
16:21She died before Christmas.
16:24So it didn't even go eight months.
16:27It was very bad for a little while there but time heals everything.
16:32We can think of her now and smile.
16:36Denise and Justine's careers have often moved side by side.
16:41We've worked together as well for years and years.
16:43We've worked together.
16:45Justine calls me Denise at work.
16:46I do call you Denise, yeah.
16:48One of my first jobs was working for one of my mom's best friends.
16:51Everybody knew my mom in tourism in Orlando at that time.
16:55So I used to call her Denise.
16:56Not like everybody didn't already know she was my mom.
16:58But I felt like it was more professional.
17:02They now both work in real estate.
17:04I work on referrals only now.
17:06I don't go out looking for work.
17:08But after doing it for 30 years, you still get enough business.
17:12Is it 30 years that you've been in real estate now?
17:14I have.
17:14Is it really?
17:15Yeah.
17:18I looked it up on my license the other day.
17:21Wow, that's incredible.
17:23Today, 19% of Americans over 65 remain in the workforce.
17:28And at 78, Denise is part of this growing trend.
17:33Eventually, she'll retire.
17:35But I hope not anytime soon, because as long as she's full of life and she's happy and she's doing
17:41well, then I think it's good that she continues to work.
17:44Justine says, stop worrying, Mom, you don't look your age.
17:47So that makes me feel better.
17:49But I do think you shouldn't be going out when you're old and selling houses, because maybe people are a
17:58bit shocked when they get an old lady come.
18:00But she puts me right and keeps saying, you're not an old lady.
18:03Their feet and nails pampered to perfection.
18:07Thank you very much.
18:08That was very fun.
18:09Thank you so much.
18:12Denise is ready to sell some houses.
18:22In Clermont, pub owner Martin is at the wholesalers, stocking up for a classic afternoon tea.
18:32We're lucky where we are today because one of the main suppliers who bring items into the US from the
18:37UK are actually not too far away from us.
18:40We're constantly having to import, refresh the shelves, things go out of stock, things come into stock.
18:45Then with currency fluctuations and shipping cost fluctuations and tariffs, it's actually a really difficult thing to constantly get right,
18:52but it's an important part of what we do.
18:55First on the list, jam, before cream of course, the proper Cornish way.
19:00The British jam, really important for the afternoon tea, and especially the scones.
19:05It's something that you cannot buy in the US.
19:07Literally this one place is clotted cream.
19:11Clotted cream is for our scones, we don't try to use other ingredients, we use the real thing.
19:15There are a few places in Florida who do afternoon teas.
19:19I look at some of the things that they put on afternoon teas, and it's an American version.
19:23Ours is a purely British afternoon tea.
19:25We make our own scones, our own finger sandwiches, our own cakes, and it's just authentic.
19:31Martin heads through to the warehouse.
19:34Willie!
19:35Good morning, mate.
19:37Hey, how you doing?
19:37To take the next item off his afternoon tea supply list.
19:40The most important thing I need to get is the bread today.
19:43How many bread?
19:44How many bread?
19:44I've got a big afternoon tea, so I'm going to need a pallet of it.
19:47A pallet of it.
19:48While he's here, Martin's topping up on the best-selling British classics for the shop.
19:53Two quavers, two monster munch, cheese and onion, prawn cocktail, some monkey bacon, roast chicken, and the tomato ketchup, please,
20:02mate.
20:03All right.
20:04Chris, we're one of the biggest sellers in the shop.
20:06They bring people in and they spend on other things.
20:08You know, crisps are something that the British really focus in on when they come in the pubs.
20:12They are so popular and we struggle buying British crisps over here.
20:16With everything almost packed...
20:19Is there chocolate tea cakes?
20:21Ah, the all-important tea cakes.
20:24People love these things, a real taste of home.
20:26We're ready to go.
20:28The next job is getting it all in the car.
20:31It's like a big game of Jenga every time we come here.
20:35Because crisps take up so much space.
20:39But we'll find a way somehow.
20:42And I can't actually fit these in anywhere.
20:46So we're going around the other side.
20:50There we go.
20:52We're fully loaded.
20:54Ready to get back to the pub.
20:56Willy, thanks as usual. Take care.
21:00With the goods secured, Martin can head back to the pub.
21:05Where manager Anne is delegating jobs.
21:08Starting with server Chris.
21:11We'll put them right down the middle.
21:12So pull those tables together.
21:14We've got some Union Jack flags.
21:16Let's get them on as tablecloths.
21:18All this fine china, see if we can match it up.
21:21We want 16 place settings.
21:23Just want it to look really nice.
21:24Some napkins, the side plates.
21:27Do you want it more English-y or like afternoon tea in the summer?
21:32Strawberries, that kind of thing?
21:34Proper, authentic afternoon tea.
21:36Like what you used to have on the Isle of Wight?
21:38Yeah, yeah.
21:39I don't know, I've never been to the Isle of Wight.
21:41But yeah, we'll go with that one.
21:43Chris and Anne's husband Jimmy are responsible for preparing the tables properly for the afternoon tea.
21:50Pull these together.
21:52We've got to get 16.
21:55Well, 360 is 18.
21:57Afternoon tea in England, it's pomp and circumstance.
22:01You go to carriages or the Ritz or the Savoy, big hats, lots of desserts and fresh cream, real cream.
22:09In America, you have to really make it into a pantomime almost.
22:14Chris and Jimmy on the job and now needs to get the kitchen to start prepping.
22:33It's an early start in Orlando for realtor Denise.
22:38Let's go.
22:39All right.
22:41Oh, I'll drive.
22:42I'm not driving.
22:43I forgot that.
22:43That's why you're taking me, so I can drive.
22:47With daughter Justine behind the wheel, Denise has two property appointments lined up.
22:54I'm getting a bit nervous now that we are going to get there in time.
22:57What time do we are supposed to leave?
22:59It's 11 o'clock.
23:01We've still got 45 minutes to go at least.
23:04A two-hour journey takes them to one of Florida's hottest property markets on the Gulf Coast.
23:12Unfortunately, because I spent 12 years on the Gulf Coast, most of my business is on the Gulf Coast.
23:17So I find myself going backwards and forwards every two or three days.
23:22The first house is a familiar one for Denise.
23:25It was once her home.
23:28We bought that house 15 years ago, and we got it and renovated it all.
23:35She is being met by the house's listing agent, Sarah.
23:38Hi, Sarah.
23:39How are you?
23:40Good, thank you.
23:41Come on in.
23:42Denise is here to preview the property for clients who are interested in buying.
23:47So I can't wait to hear about your buyers.
23:50They're old buyers.
23:52I've shown the pictures of when we were in it, and they know that it's not actually on the water,
23:57but they know they have access to the water.
23:59So what we really need to know is what changes have been made.
24:03As the tour starts, the memories come flooding back.
24:07And then what do you think about the wall of cabinets?
24:11We had the same wall.
24:12Yeah.
24:12We had the same wall.
24:13I had a shelf up there with all my jars on.
24:15I know every square inch of that house.
24:18So it's really strange.
24:20It's good that I'm looking at it because I've got all the answers.
24:22I don't need to ask any questions.
24:24It looks like the same vanity, but it's probably not the same one.
24:28They just put a similar one in.
24:29Correct.
24:30Yes, the vanity had to be, both vanities were replaced.
24:33Right.
24:33Yeah.
24:33So that is a newer one.
24:35Yep.
24:35I remember it all.
24:38And some parts of the house hold bigger memories than others.
24:42And then, of course, the backyard paradise, right?
24:45That's really the dream.
24:47It's a saltwater heated pool.
24:49The heater is brand new.
24:50I know all about the pool because I put it in.
24:52You put it in.
24:53You put the pool in.
24:53Yes.
24:55How long did you live here?
24:56Five years.
24:57Wow.
24:58Yeah.
24:58And they had to get a crane and lift this pool over.
25:01This is fiberglass.
25:03It's fiberglass.
25:04Worst case scenario, I guess the pool drops on your home.
25:07Yeah.
25:07I guess they're insured for that.
25:09Yeah.
25:10Hopefully.
25:11I didn't think of that at the time.
25:13The viewing at an end.
25:14Thank you so much, Sarah.
25:16So appreciated.
25:17No problem.
25:18It's been my pleasure.
25:19What's Denise's verdict?
25:21This was a very good showing.
25:23I was very impressed with how they had redone the house.
25:26The first appointment is done, but Denise's day isn't.
25:29It's on to the next property.
25:39In Claremont, Martin, the owner of the best of British pub is on his way back with supplies
25:46for an afternoon tea event.
25:49I have a sales background, so I'm constantly trying to think of sometimes outlandish ways
25:54of doing things.
25:55But I also think that being where we are in Orlando lends itself to that, the entertainment
26:02capital of the world.
26:04So things don't seem as crazy out here.
26:06We've got to try it.
26:07We've got to bring people through the door.
26:09Inspired by his shopping trip, he's had an idea.
26:13I just think having a little twist on it and having a crisp butter, which is something
26:16I love and a lot of people love as an afternoon snack when you're growing up.
26:22Wait until I tell Anne.
26:24I don't think she's going to be too impressed, but we'll see what she says.
26:27Back at the pub, Jimmy's showing Chris how to properly set the table.
26:32No, I put them on the plate, and then put the tea cup and saucer on top with a spoon,
26:39and then put a spare one at the side on the right with a knife.
26:43Oh.
26:44The scones.
26:45OK.
26:47Don't put them straight.
26:48It's what I love.
26:51Finally, Martin has arrived back with the supplies.
26:55We have crisps, Jimmy.
26:56Oh.
26:57We have crisps.
26:58While Jimmy unloads the crisps, Martin springs his sandwich idea on Anne.
27:04You know you love my ideas.
27:06So, when I was in England last, everybody's trying to do a different spin on an afternoon
27:11tea, and it might be little dainty cakes and stuff.
27:14How do you feel about us doing a signature crisp butty?
27:21Oh, boom.
27:23Yeah?
27:23Yeah.
27:24At the end of the day, we ain't the Savoy or the Ritz doing it for 90 quid, are we?
27:28No.
27:28It's $30, and it's authentic.
27:30But I think it's a real nice little twist on it.
27:33It is.
27:33It's perfect.
27:33I'm happy with that.
27:34Perfect.
27:36Anne, on board with the bussies, the shop has been transformed.
27:42While in the kitchen, the cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches are taking shape.
27:48Now, there's only the crisp butty flavours to sort out.
27:53OK.
27:53Smokey bacon.
27:54Oh, did you hear that crunch?
27:56Wow.
27:56That sounded so good.
27:57I'm loving this idea already.
27:58I think it's going to work.
28:00So, that's the smokey bacon.
28:02My idea is we're going to make the crisp butties.
28:04We'll probably go for traditional flavours, prawn cocktail, cheese and onion, salt and vinaigret,
28:08etc.
28:08And then me and Anne are going to sit down and taste them, and then, subject to that being
28:12OK, we'll launch on the afternoon tea today.
28:15Centuries of tradition going out the window.
28:17Right.
28:20Oh, yeah.
28:20Oh, yeah.
28:21It tastes brilliant.
28:22I think we've got a winner on our hearts.
28:25With the guests arriving soon, there's no time to waste getting the crisp butties ready.
28:30Get them to Julie, tell her to make as many as she can in the next 20 minutes.
28:35The guests will be arriving.
28:37Okey-cokey.
28:38I'm on it.
28:39But there's a problem.
28:40They're cut wrong.
28:42What do you mean they're cut wrong?
28:43What, triangles?
28:44Yeah, triangles are good.
28:46They're not true on an afternoon tea.
28:47They're not true on an afternoon tea.
28:48No, they don't.
28:48They've got triangles.
28:50Triangles.
28:51That's why I'm in here and you're not.
28:52No.
28:53I'll get them.
28:55They're going in fingers, they're not going in triangles.
28:58Can't get the stuff.
29:00Anne may have lost the etiquette debate, but Martin's got one last detail to add before
29:05the team greets their guests.
29:06Bonnets?
29:07Is that the front or the back?
29:09Bonnets?
29:10So my plan is now, we're going to get this on social media today.
29:14Again, we've come back to trying to be authentic.
29:16So it's just trying to evoke memories for people.
29:18Came to me in a moment of inspiration.
29:21This will really make them want to come in, won't it?
29:24We're going to get everyone seeing just how amazing you three look.
29:39In St Pete Beach, beauty editor Donna is hitting the road.
29:47I'm off to Bloom TV this morning to record a segment.
29:52The local lifestyle program that is filmed in Tampa, which is about half an hour drive
30:00from our house.
30:02On the show, the topic is a personal one for Donna.
30:06I talk about my sobriety because drinking is a big part of everyone's lives.
30:11But when you get to a certain age, and I've since learned this because of my work in the
30:16menopause space that I've been doing, you know, you can't tolerate alcohol like you used to.
30:22And when you have all the symptoms of menopause, they just exacerbate it like anxiety, sleeplessness.
30:29And it's just like a vicious circle.
30:31I feel like so many women don't realise what's going on in their body and how it can impact
30:38every part of your life.
30:43I definitely want to go on Bloom more because it's a great way of me reaching my target audience
30:49because I know those women are watching.
30:53So it's a brilliant opportunity for me.
30:57Hi.
30:58We are in the green room at Bloom TV.
31:02This is behind the scenes access.
31:04So I just wait here until the producer comes to get me and then, yeah, go into the studio.
31:12Donna doesn't have to wait too long.
31:15Hi, Donna.
31:17Hi.
31:17So good to see you.
31:18Hi, Sarah.
31:19And Sarah, the show's producer, doesn't waste any time in getting down to business.
31:24So I'm excited to hear about your sober and menopause journey.
31:27I was watching all the videos that you sent me.
31:29Yeah.
31:29It looks like it's really catching steam on social media.
31:32It really is.
31:33So many women are resonating with my story.
31:36Yeah.
31:37Honesty is really important to me and I really care about what women think of me and what
31:45they think of themselves.
31:46So I want them to trust me and it's just something that's really important to me.
31:50I've always tried to build other women up and feel good within themselves.
31:56That's why when I get messages from my followers and they say, oh, you've made me feel so much
32:05better.
32:07You know, it really touches me.
32:09It really, really does.
32:13What happens if I start crying?
32:15Oh, my goodness.
32:15Because it's quite emotional.
32:16That's okay.
32:17If people want to see that emotion.
32:18Okay.
32:18That honestly resonates with the audience.
32:21People want to feel that.
32:22They want to understand and be able to step into your shoes.
32:25Okay.
32:25I mean, now I've said that I might not cry because now I've said it.
32:28But there's a possibility that I might because I am quite an emotional person, especially
32:34when talking about it.
32:35And that's okay.
32:35I don't think you should feel like you have to minimize that.
32:38Okay.
32:39Briefing over.
32:40We're out.
32:41We're ready for it.
32:42The studio awaits.
32:44You ready to do this?
32:45Yeah, I'm ready.
32:46I'm a little bit nervous talking about something so personal.
32:49Right, right.
32:49But I'm sure I'll be fine.
32:52Yeah.
32:53The previous guest is still being interviewed.
33:16But there are technical problems on set.
33:19Yeah, I don't think it worked.
33:21It just completely dropped out on me.
33:24I mean, I just wasn't getting any cues.
33:26I was plugged in.
33:27All right, you guys just talking to each other.
33:29It's the fourth time we had to do it.
33:31They get permission to run this as is.
33:33This isn't ever happened.
33:35This isn't okay.
33:36Let's put it.
33:39She's going for it.
33:40She's doing it.
33:42The whole mistakes.
33:44The whole time, Gail.
33:45The whole time I'm starting to get stressed.
33:51I'm having a hot flash.
33:53This was meant to be a step forward for Donna and her brand in the US.
33:58But she's still stuck behind the scenes.
34:16In Tampa, realtor Denise is en route to her second house of the day.
34:20And so the people that are selling, they're Brits, right?
34:24They're Brits.
34:25Yes.
34:26This time her role has been reversed.
34:29She's selling the house.
34:33In the past I have sold mainly to Brits.
34:36Brits are very quiet now, so not so many.
34:39I'm rather selling their properties now rather than them buying.
34:43If the viewing is successful, Denise could be in the money.
34:47The listing agent negotiates with the seller.
34:50Traditionally, the seller pays all the commission.
34:53Once that's agreed, the listing agent splits that.
34:58Normally half and half, but it can be different.
35:01Denise's commission for a sale on this $825,000 house would be over $20,000.
35:09And my buyers are here.
35:11The potential buyers and their realtor, Cookie, have arrived.
35:15Hi, Denise.
35:16How are you?
35:17I'm good.
35:17How are you?
35:18I'll let you come in.
35:20Can we start in the kitchen?
35:21Yes.
35:21The buyers are a couple, Diane and Francis.
35:24I've known Denise a while.
35:26She's one of the great agents in the area.
35:29If I see it's her on the other end, I love it.
35:32She's very easy to work with, very knowledgeable, great realtor.
35:36As is usual in the USA, Cookie will take her clients around while Denise waits on hand to answer any
35:42questions.
35:44And the stove I'm sure is original and I'm sure the dishwasher is original.
35:49I don't get nervous anymore.
35:51You know, it goes or it doesn't go.
35:52If it doesn't go today, it'll go the next time.
35:56Friend, did you want to come in and check it out?
35:59Oh, double six, I like that.
36:00Best case is they love it.
36:02Worst case is they don't.
36:04It's very straightforward.
36:06I love the pool.
36:07Look, it gets sun from morning to...
36:09Yep.
36:09And that water's warm.
36:11And I love a house that faces the south and the back.
36:13Yes.
36:14Especially with this.
36:15And being Florida, there's also a floating dock to moor the boat.
36:19Direct access right out there within five minutes you're in the Gulf.
36:23That's the main thing too.
36:25Yep.
36:25Correct.
36:25Yep.
36:26Has the viewing convinced Diana Francis that this is their new home?
36:31We really enjoyed seeing this property.
36:35It has many of the features that we're looking for, especially the size of it.
36:40Okay.
36:41Thank you so much, Cookie.
36:42Really appreciate it.
36:43Thank you so much, Denise.
36:44Thank you so much, Diana.
36:45It was great to meet you.
36:46Thank you, Fran.
36:46We really do appreciate it.
36:49We're always looking.
36:49That's the problem.
36:51You know, we've looked at other properties, so we have to kind of see what we think is
36:56best for us.
36:57Diana Francis decided not to put an offer in.
37:00Bye.
37:00Bye, Denise.
37:02But that won't slow Denise down.
37:06I'm going to work as long as I can.
37:10I love my job so much that keeps me going.
37:13I'm very happy with my life.
37:15Very happy with my family.
37:17Very happy where I am right now.
37:18I've had good and bad parts of my life, but right now I'm really happy.
37:32In Tampa, beauty editor Donna is at the TV studio waiting to go on air.
37:42And now it's her moment to shine.
37:45Hello.
37:46Hi, how are you?
37:47I'm good.
37:48How are you?
37:49We've got pink on.
37:50I know.
37:50I love it.
37:51We're matching, matching.
37:52I love your dress.
37:52It's so pretty.
37:53Aw, thank you.
37:54And you always look gorgeous.
37:56You're so sweet.
37:58Host Gail Guayardo has been the presenter of Bloom for two and a half years.
38:06So do you know what sound, can you hear what I hear now?
38:09So we're doing, I wake up feeling this, wake up.
38:12Oh yeah, where I'm kind of lying down.
38:14Yes.
38:15Sarah said, yeah.
38:16That was quite a powerful one, but yeah.
38:19Sometimes when you first walk up in those situations, because they're on time constraints,
38:24they can be a little bit, right, let's just get on with it.
38:26Gail is easy to talk to.
38:29She made me feel comfortable.
38:32With no more delays, it's showtime.
38:35Yeah.
38:36And three, two, welcome back to Bloom.
38:41From foggy to focused, our next guest decided to ditch drinking alcohol during her perimenopause
38:46journey.
38:47Joining us now to share how quitting alcohol actually really helped.
38:52is award-winning beauty editor Donna Francis.
38:55Donna, it's so great to see you.
38:56Thank you so much for having me.
38:58So very powerful social media posts.
39:00How did people react to it?
39:02Women, you know, they don't realize how much it can impact them during their perimenopause
39:11and menopause.
39:11I was noticing how I just couldn't tolerate it the same way and process it like it used
39:18to when you were younger.
39:19This is not right.
39:20I need to look after myself because it started affecting my mental health.
39:24I'm a beauty editor, so everything should be glossy and perfect.
39:29It's hard, I think, as well.
39:31A lot of women, it's about showing your vulnerability and owning your vulnerability and actually feeling
39:40empowered that you're not perfect.
39:43Because that's what empowers other women as well.
39:45That's what makes them feel seen.
39:48Donna, it's always such a pleasure to see you.
39:49Thank you so much, girl.
39:51Before Donna leaves, she grabs a quick check-in with Sarah, the producer.
39:55Great job, great segment.
39:57Very American.
39:59I love you.
39:59That's a good job.
40:00I love that.
40:01That was a great segment.
40:02Yeah, I really enjoyed it.
40:03Donna did incredible.
40:04She's always great.
40:05We always love having her on.
40:06We'll definitely have Donna back on in the future.
40:09Having an accent is just an extra part.
40:13Sarah's happy with her work, so it's all positive news, but Donna's not so sure.
40:18My gut says it went well, but you never know until you see the edit what it's going to come
40:24across like.
40:25So, hopefully, my gut instinct is right.
40:28Once it goes on TV, I will try and get the boys to sit down with me and watch it.
40:34They'll probably roll their eyes behind my back, but they are proud of me.
40:38I know they are.
40:41Two days later, the whole family are gathered to watch the show.
40:46Come on, let's watch this.
40:49Right, everyone, you've got to watch this.
40:51Our next guest decided to ditch drinking alcohol during her perimenopause journey.
40:56I think, for me, I'm obviously from the UK, and when I moved over to Florida, it was the same
41:02time that I was in perimenopause.
41:05The verdict is in.
41:07Well done.
41:08And up next, I'm catching up with the host of...
41:11Well done, hon.
41:12I know you've done it before.
41:13Something that's so close to you is so vulnerable.
41:16It makes you vulnerable as well.
41:17Yeah, it does.
41:18And I'm just really proud.
41:19I mean, that's tough getting up there.
41:21Well done.
41:23So I think it was a success.
41:25It was good, wasn't it?
41:26Very good.
41:27Yeah.
41:28I was pleased.
41:29And you know, this is why I do it.
41:31I do it for you guys.
41:32Her US profile is on the up.
41:34It's clear this move was the right call for Donna and her family.
41:38I'm proud of myself.
41:40If the doors start opening, if they start opening, if they don't, then you know you've
41:44tried.
41:44If you don't do it, you'll always say, what would have happened if I would have moved to
41:50Florida?
41:50Florida.
41:52And now I know what happened.
41:55The dream came true.
41:57And I've got to keep that dream alive.
42:09In Claremont, pub owner Martin has organised an afternoon tea party.
42:16Come on, girls.
42:17Our ladies are waiting.
42:18Come on.
42:19And the guests have arrived.
42:22Look at Anne.
42:23She's got dressed up for you, Maria.
42:26Knowing the ladies that are coming tonight, I just want to revoke a few memories for them.
42:31So I think it'll really work.
42:32Maria, we're going to bring you all through to the afternoon tea now.
42:36If you'd like to follow Chris in his bonnet.
42:38Just like Cody loves.
42:40Chris used to work on the cruise ships.
42:42He's a great character.
42:43He's perfect for hosting afternoon teas.
42:45And I know the ladies and gents are going to love him.
42:47Where ever you like.
42:49With the guests comfortable, servers can commence.
42:54There's some tea to start with.
42:56Give it a good stir before you pour it.
43:00Here we go.
43:01Here's the milk.
43:04Come on, my darling.
43:05This is the cheese savoury.
43:09Some egg mayo.
43:11There you go.
43:12Time to find out how the crisp butties are going down.
43:16Okay.
43:16Here we go.
43:18There's plenty more on the way.
43:20So we have some lovely finger sandwiches.
43:21I've cut the crust off.
43:24Are they a stroke of genius?
43:26You have a British mama.
43:30Can we have a crisp sandwich, please?
43:32Of course.
43:34Just one left.
43:36There's one left, but I'm going to go and get more.
43:38Are we going to fight over it?
43:40The crisp sandwich.
43:45It is delicious and the bread is so thin.
43:49I love it.
43:50And the flavour of the crisps, delightful.
43:54The crisp sandwiches have gone down a treat.
43:57Next up, scones and cakes take centre stage.
44:01Ooh.
44:03A little afternoon tea.
44:05Dive in here.
44:06We've got more coming.
44:08We've just whipped it up.
44:10It's not just how you eat a scone of scone, whatever.
44:13It's how you say it.
44:14It's definitely a scone, not a scone.
44:17And you've got to put your jam first on
44:18before you put your clotted cream on.
44:20And it looks delicious.
44:22Sunky.
44:23The afternoon tea is winding down.
44:25Are the ladies going to dish out five-star reviews?
44:29They do beautiful teas.
44:31I'm from England.
44:32I've lived here about 40 years.
44:35And I really miss being home at the afternoon tea, specifically.
44:41This is my very first tea.
44:43I've seen it enough on soap operas that I've been watching
44:46and I thought it was great.
44:47I had some food that I'd never eaten before.
44:49This great little sandwich was kind of crisp.
44:52Oh, my God.
44:53It was so good.
44:55I definitely have to buy this stuff to make it now.
44:57I did enjoy everything.
44:59And the service in it was awesome.
45:01It looks like Martin's afternoon tea idea has hit a sweet spot.
45:07I'm delighted.
45:08I'm delighted.
45:08One of the American ladies who came today absolutely fell in love with the Chris Butty idea.
45:12She even bought the butter we used.
45:14So, for me, that's a win-win.
45:15That's the idea of promoting the shop today.
45:18She's going to go away and hopefully tell her friends and family.
45:20And that's hopefully how the word spread.
45:22So, big win.
45:24Guys, thank you so much for coming today.
45:26You know we appreciate each and every one of you.
45:28I think he's going absolutely brilliantly.
45:30You know, I always throw ideas at these guys.
45:33And every single time they come through, I'm so proud of them.
45:37With all his savings tied up in the pub, Martin needs it to succeed.
45:41And this event has delivered.
45:44We're getting loads of bookings in for afternoon teas as well.
45:47Off the back of it.
45:48Off the back of it.
45:49No, it's been win-win.
45:50It's been an absolutely great day.