- 6 hours ago
A New Life in the Sun - Season 11 - Episode 14
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00:00Making a fresh start under blue skies is a dream chased by thousands of Brits.
00:05This is freedom.
00:07Pick your vista, anyone you like.
00:10Pursuing bucket list experiences...
00:13Yay!
00:15..and newfound freedoms.
00:17We could walk around butt naked if we wanted to.
00:19While Brexit has made it a battle...
00:22I've applied for two visas. I've been denied two visas.
00:25Many are still giving it a go.
00:27Come on.
00:28I wanted to know what else life had to offer.
00:30I like the idea of just spending every day together, don't we?
00:33We do.
00:35From launching bike tours in Spain...
00:38Well, this is my office here. I couldn't ask for more.
00:40..to glamping sites in Italy.
00:42Build it and they will come, we hope.
00:46But will it be a smooth ride?
00:50Or their ideas come crashing down...
00:54As they begin their new lives in the sun.
00:58It's an adventure.
00:59Loving life.
01:00Today, for a couple in Spain...
01:02I think we've found a replacement for tiles.
01:05..a relaxing yoga retreat is turning out to be anything but...
01:09Very annoying to just throw money down the pan.
01:12..tensions flare...
01:13Are you going to stand there now, Beverley, and tell me where I'm going wrong?
01:16Yep.
01:16..as one couple's Spanish holiday let nears completion...
01:20That looks sloppy to me.
01:22..the nerves are kicking in for a family in France opening a kitchen showroom.
01:27It feels too calm.
01:28It feels like I've missed something.
01:30Something's going to go wrong.
01:31My biggest concern is that no-one's going to turn up.
01:34..and one couple are flexing their muscles...
01:38..as they tee up for a new challenge,
01:40creating a golf course for guests in France.
01:43Hey, you said, what do you want for Christmas?
01:45I'll have a chainsaw.
01:46I wanted diamonds, personally.
01:55The Vienne in Nouvelle-Aquitaine is a powerhouse of agriculture,
02:00growing crops from melons to wheat.
02:04In the heart of these fields is the town of Sivray,
02:07which straddles the Charente River.
02:10Once a medieval stronghold, today it's a popular choice for visitors.
02:15It's so clear, isn't it, today?
02:16It's so clear, isn't it?
02:19It's so clear, isn't it?
02:21It was the perfect place for Telecom's project manager, Mark,
02:25and his wife, Hayley, a hairdresser, to put down roots
02:29when they left their home in Kent ten months ago.
02:32Look at the chateau.
02:34It looks really nice today, doesn't it?
02:35Yeah.
02:36Absolutely stunning.
02:38I think we chose France because it wasn't so far to get back to the UK,
02:43but you've got the nicer lifestyle,
02:45or you've still got the lovely weather.
02:47We wanted somewhere that was rural,
02:50and we wanted the green lifestyle, if you like, the countryside.
02:54It wasn't just about the sunshine,
02:56although that is a major benefit of living in.
03:00The decision to change their lives was born out of crisis
03:03when Mark fell ill after an unexpected reaction to medicine.
03:08I'd ended up in intensive care and nearly died.
03:12So we just sort of re-evaluated where we were after that.
03:16Before you know it, you're searching French property sites
03:19and you're looking at what you can buy.
03:23After months of searching,
03:25Mark and Hayley splashed out €450,000 on this farmhouse
03:30with an existing jeep business and four acres of land.
03:34When we drove in the driveway, this one,
03:36it was like, wow, this is the dream, this is what we want to do.
03:41We've got three jeeps.
03:43They've all got their own little private gardens.
03:46We've got a swimming pool and we've got this meadow.
03:50Last year was our first season.
03:52It was amazing, making people's holidays a really good time,
03:57a nice adventure.
03:59Last year, they had 30 bookings,
04:02but in the competitive jeep market,
04:04they'll need to offer additional services
04:06if they want to up their guest numbers.
04:09So they've decided to use the land to the rear of the property
04:12to create a practice golf course.
04:15Being a king golfer, what we've decided to do
04:19and our big project for this summer
04:20is to create a golf hole over there
04:23and then three tee boxes
04:25so that we can use it as a golf practice area.
04:27And we're going to set up like a little mini golf course
04:29just to add another feature to our jeeps, really.
04:32We've got a busy summer,
04:34but one we're looking forward to.
04:37It's February at Mark and Hayley's.
04:40Do you want to grab a poster?
04:41Mm-hm.
04:42I do.
04:43I'll just put one there on the corner.
04:45To make the most of the quieter season,
04:48Mark and Hayley are working on the tee boxes,
04:50where future golfers will take their shots.
04:53This is one of the first tee boxes.
04:55We've got all the brambles round the back.
04:57We're not going to be able to come down this year,
04:59so the plan is we're going to put a rail fence round the sides
05:03just to frame it, really.
05:06To secure the new fence posts in place,
05:09Mark's using a post rammer,
05:11a tool which does exactly as the name suggests,
05:16while Hayley delivers the rest of the materials.
05:29Each post has two bars across it,
05:32a bottom one and a top one,
05:34so there's quite a few to lift.
05:37Some of them are so heavy as well,
05:41but it's better than going to the gym.
05:44It's free.
05:46Working in unison,
05:48Mark and Hayley make short work of driving in the posts,
05:52and it's on to the crossbars.
05:53The brambles will grow up behind.
05:55We can trim them down at the top.
05:56Yeah.
05:57Just keep them nice and level then.
06:00Hayley said, what do you want for Christmas?
06:01I'll have a chainsaw.
06:03I wanted diamonds, personally.
06:10A few careful trims ensure the bars are all at the same level.
06:14Bring it forward a little bit.
06:16I can't, because it won't attach to anything, babe.
06:18No?
06:18No.
06:19Let's use the other one, then.
06:21Use the one in the floor.
06:22Use the one in the floor.
06:24This one's heavy, though.
06:26I know.
06:28Now, take this one.
06:29This one.
06:30Make up your mind, boy.
06:37Oh, thank you.
06:40With the best bars selected,
06:42in just 90 minutes,
06:44T-Box number one has a fence in place.
06:48My shoulders are going to rake in the morning, that's for sure.
06:51But that's exactly what we wanted to say.
06:54It was good.
06:55Yeah, really pleased.
06:56Good job.
06:57Yeah.
06:58Ready?
06:59Mark and Hayley's golf green is off to a strong start.
07:02But can they complete it in time for the beginning of the season?
07:12Tucked between the Sierra Nevada peaks
07:15and the bustling Andalusian coast,
07:18lies the Alpajara,
07:19a landscape of deep valleys and authentic whitewashed villages.
07:24Looking to soak up this rural mountain life...
07:27Our own olive oil.
07:29Look at that.
07:30..nature lovers Sharon and Bongo
07:32first visited the area on a hiking holiday.
07:36I'm going to leave it on for about half an hour.
07:38Have you put olive oil in yet?
07:39Yeah.
07:39..but couldn't resist the draws of mountain cuisine
07:42and abundant local produce.
07:44One of the main reasons that I actually moved here, I said,
07:47was because I love the tomatoes here.
07:49So yoga teacher Sharon and Chef Bongo
07:52relocated here two years ago.
07:56Every time we came out,
07:57we went home and just missed every single little aspect of it,
08:01from the people to the weather to the lifestyle and the food.
08:05No, it's not for doggies.
08:07Nice try, though, eh?
08:08It's just a no-brainer, really.
08:10We love it here.
08:12Yep.
08:13The couple swapped their flat in Edinburgh
08:15for this three-bedroom cortillo
08:17and have already spent four months
08:19transforming the apartment below it
08:21into a two-bedroom holiday let.
08:24Everything cost a lot more than we thought,
08:26so we were like,
08:26we need to rent this place now.
08:28And then we actually got quite busy for rentals quite quickly,
08:32and so we just focused on that to start off with,
08:35and we've realised that, you know,
08:36we really want to do more than this.
08:38The apartment income helps for now,
08:40but it won't be enough to keep their dream alive.
08:43So this year,
08:44the couple are throwing their energy into a new venture,
08:47hosting yoga retreats and bespoke holiday stays
08:51that make the most of the area's stunning outdoor lifestyle.
08:55We really want to get people to discover the beauty of the alpajara.
08:58It's spectacular.
08:59Yeah.
09:04It's early June at Sharon and Bongo's cortillo in the hills.
09:09The couple started constructing an outdoor yoga platform
09:12that will become the centre of their new business.
09:16And while the flooring is down and new beams up,
09:19there's no shelter,
09:20and the septic tank hasn't been covered.
09:24With their dream of hosting overnight yoga retreats on hold
09:28until the platform is complete,
09:30this week Sharon and Bongo are running a retreat
09:32at a nearby home instead.
09:36So as you're lying here,
09:37I want you to just begin to take some slower, deeper breaths.
09:40From foraging and hiking to meditation,
09:44the retreat schedule this week has been varied,
09:47but one constant throughout has been Chef Bongo's catering,
09:51a vital source of extra income for the couple.
10:02Well, that's a waste of money.
10:04Away from the comforts of his own kitchen,
10:06Bongo has a few hurdles standing in the way of today's lunch service.
10:11It's either on or it's off.
10:14It's not got a temperature thermometer inside it,
10:17it's just 250 or nothing.
10:22Just stand next to it and be very patient.
10:26Mm.
10:29You have to keep turning it on and off
10:31just to get a medium-average temperature
10:34so it doesn't incinerate everything.
10:37Bongo had hoped to round off today's lunch
10:40with a slice of homemade cake,
10:42but with the oven acting up...
10:44It's not on fire, which is bonus.
10:46..it's not looking quite as appetising as he had hoped.
10:50I think we've found a replacement for tiles.
10:52And...
10:55Wow.
10:56That's pretty tough.
10:58With lunch served,
10:59Bongo heads back indoors to see to his second attempt.
11:03Er, yeah.
11:03As I predicted, we have a cinder cake.
11:08Look at that. Isn't it delicious?
11:13Even the paper's nearly caught fire.
11:16So annoying.
11:17Two cakes.
11:18We're just not wasting money.
11:19As a chef, it's very, very...
11:22Very annoying to just throw money down the pan.
11:25But, hey-ho, I don't know.
11:28Ah, I'd better clean up all the burnt mess.
11:35Although Bongo's cake may be off the menu today,
11:38the guests are more than happy with their lunch
11:40and are already looking forward to coming back.
11:43I've never done anything like this before at all,
11:46but I would definitely do it again if I can really benefit from it.
11:49Yes, it's been caked.
11:50I'm really glad I came and I think I'll have to come back.
11:54While the couple will take a hit on their profits for the venue hire,
11:59the week has earned Sharon and Bongo €700
12:02and proved a great stepping stone
12:04as they prepare to host future retreats at their own home.
12:08I'm ready for bed, but we still have dinner to do
12:10and then maybe a little glass of cava as well to celebrate.
12:15We've got some in the fridge, so a little glass of cava
12:18and then I think, yeah, early night and long sleep tomorrow.
12:26Coming up, teamwork makes the dream work in Spain
12:30for one couple adding the finishing touches to their holiday let.
12:34I've been his apprentice.
12:35Yeah, I'm coming along well, young Beverly.
12:37I'm not young, milder than you.
12:39While a family in France faces a setback launching their kitchen showroom.
12:44We've got the corners for the island, but they've turned up slightly damaged.
12:59Surrounded by rugged mountains and sweeping countryside views,
13:03the village of Torvizcon is the picture of rural Spanish charm.
13:08Let's see what we can find.
13:10And on market day...
13:12Get some plums.
13:13Yeah, plums for me, what about nectarines for you?
13:16Its quiet streets come alive with the colours and flavours of Andalusian life.
13:21Buena.
13:23What's the word for plums?
13:25It's the one I don't remember.
13:26It's a longer word, isn't it?
13:28I'm sure it begins with C.
13:29I thought it began with N.
13:30That doesn't help either of us, does it?
13:33Muchas gracias.
13:34Gracias.
13:35It's a stark contrast from the life Ian and Bev left behind in Lancashire.
13:40Drove round the headland, saw the village, fell in love with the valley,
13:45and we knew it wouldn't be anywhere else in Spain then.
13:48What's not to enjoy?
13:49Yeah.
13:50You make all of these yourself with your hands?
13:53Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:54They are really, really pretty, really nice.
13:57The idea of walking round the market for me in the UK is a no-no.
14:01In fact, I don't do it and I've never done it.
14:03No, yeah.
14:03Here, I can't wait for market though.
14:06Let's go.
14:06Hasta luego.
14:07Hasta luego.
14:08For a cost of 56,000 euros, they're the proud owners of a five-bedroom house
14:14tucked away at the top of the hill.
14:16And they've spent the last two months tirelessly converting it into two apartments,
14:22one to be used as a holiday let.
14:25The plan is to try and get the holiday let up and running so we've got a level of income
14:30coming in because at the minute we have zero income, we're living on savings.
14:35But I'd have hated to be saying what if, what if.
14:39We wouldn't be sitting here.
14:40I'm glad we took a chance.
14:41Yeah, me too.
14:42Are you?
14:43Yeah, absolutely.
14:45It's now early September in Torvithcon.
14:49With their guest apartment almost ready to launch, Ian and Bev are waiting on their licence
14:54before they can welcome paying guests.
14:57But before opening their doors to the public, they're keen to put the place through its paces.
15:03My parents are coming over the back end of this month, so we're going to let them stay here as
15:09test guests
15:10and then hopefully get some positive feedback off them.
15:13I'm sure they won't hold back.
15:18Before their guests can stay, Ian and Bev need to add some finishing touches to the apartment.
15:27And today that means giving an old kitchen table a brand new lease of life.
15:32Hold that there for me, please.
15:34I've been his apprentice.
15:35Yeah, Bev's been my apprentice this week, haven't you?
15:37Yeah.
15:38I've had to work really, really hard.
15:42You're coming along well, young Beverly.
15:44I'm not young.
15:45We're older than you.
15:48I love upcycling stuff, so that's certainly what we've done where we can.
15:53We've upcycled.
15:55That looks okay, doesn't it?
15:56Yeah.
15:57And that'll do full width, so one, two, three, four, five, six.
16:0124.
16:02It'll be 24.
16:03How many come in a pack?
16:0425.
16:05To who?
16:06That was good, wasn't it?
16:07You've got room for one mistake.
16:09One spare.
16:10Well, what do you mean mistake?
16:12Just in case.
16:14After eight weeks of non-stop work, it's a welcome relief to finally see things coming together.
16:22These are all the nice bits to do now, like the bits, the decorative bits, isn't it?
16:27Yeah, this is far better than ripping out toilets and shower base and last tile.
16:33Yeah.
16:34That's it?
16:35Yeah.
16:35I'm pleased with that.
16:36That's nice.
16:37Yes.
16:39With the tiles drying ready for grouting, Ian and Bev head downstairs to their own apartment,
16:45which will be their next renovation project.
16:50Got its fiddly, that, innit?
16:52Yeah.
16:53Looking to add a little comfort, today they're applying a vinyl sheet to the kitchen window
16:58to shield the view from the street below.
17:01It's important that it's measured right, because otherwise we haven't got another one to go on.
17:04So it's got to go on correctly.
17:06Now this is where you need your danger money.
17:08I don't have to worry about walking across in pyjamas if I've got that frosted dewy.
17:15With one sheet already in situ, the second is cut to size, ready to attach.
17:21Ah, there they are.
17:23Oh no, we're not.
17:25But it's not quite as straightforward as the first.
17:29Plastic keeps sticking back onto the window.
17:31What are you trying to get it on?
17:34Do you want me to pull the bottom bit away?
17:36This might be one of them jobs that'll just become a that'll do.
17:40No, it's not.
17:43It's not straight?
17:44No.
17:45It's fiddly, innit?
17:46Yeah, really, really fiddly.
17:48That's it?
17:49There?
17:50Yeah.
17:50OK.
17:52And adds a bit of colour as well, doesn't it?
17:54Yeah.
17:54Quite nice.
17:55It'll do.
17:56There you go.
17:57That'll do, told you.
17:58It'll be a that'll do job.
18:01It looks good.
18:02I like it.
18:04Do you know what?
18:04From here, it looks like stained glass.
18:06It doesn't look like a little cheap film from...
18:10All right, don't tell everyone.
18:17From the world-renowned vineyards of Bordeaux, to the meandering rivers of the Dordogne and up the peaks of the
18:25Pyrenees, the landscape of Nouvelle Aquitaine in southwest France offers something for everybody, including Craig and Emma from Hertfordshire.
18:35Mmm.
18:36Ah, that's good.
18:38Craig, a former project manager, and Emma, once a marketing director, along with their teenage children, Amelie and Finn, gave
18:46up their lives and jobs back home to put down roots in the 13th century town of Aimee.
18:52Life in France has been fantastic. I'm happy. I think you are.
18:56Yeah, I think it's worked really well. And socially, I think it's been great. We've made loads of great friends.
19:01One thing that we were looking for with moving to France was also focusing on what really matters, quality time
19:08with the children, focusing on what's important in life.
19:12And just generally, it just feels more relaxed.
19:18Although life here may feel more relaxing, Craig and Emma's time here so far has been anything but, as they've
19:26spent the last two and a half years painstakingly transforming the top two floors of this derelict 14th century former
19:34hotel into their family home.
19:36Cheers, guys. Cheers.
19:40Now settled in, the couple have been working around the clock to get their new kitchen design business off the
19:46ground, and raising the funds to convert the ground floor of the hotel into a showroom for clients.
19:54I think it's been pretty much as manic as it was when we were in the UK recently.
19:57Yeah, it's been crazy busy, but we've got everything in place now. The wheels are in motion. It's really important
20:05to have the main showroom to show how serious we are.
20:07I think that's really going to make life a lot more easy.
20:11Yeah. I hope.
20:12It's good.
20:17It's now the end of October, and with their new kitchen business thriving, Craig and Emma are adding the finishing
20:23touches to their new showroom.
20:25I think that way round. That way? Like that?
20:28But the pressure is on to perfect it, as tonight marks an important milestone for their fledgling business.
20:35Today is our grand opening. We've been working flat out what seems like forever to get this ready.
20:40So we're preparing the showroom. We're just about there. The artists came round yesterday and hold our beautiful art up.
20:45The guest list for tonight's event includes friends, family, clients and local businesses. And if all goes to plan, Craig
20:53and Emma are hoping for as many as 50 through the door.
20:56A little bit concerned, though, about the weather. So we've just had an orange warning because we have got 45km
21:05an hour winds out there.
21:08It's causing some problems on the road. Hopefully that won't put people off attending.
21:13And that's not Emma's only worry.
21:16It's school holidays, so quite a lot of our clients and people that have been invited aren't able to make
21:23it so concerning.
21:25It's not just the showroom in the spotlight tonight. The family's own kitchen upstairs will also be on display.
21:33So Finn and Amelie, along with Craig's mum and his right-hand man Julian, have all been roped in to
21:39help with the final preparations.
21:40It's 12.30 now. We're expecting everyone to arrive at 6 o'clock. Caterers arriving at 4 o'clock, bringing
21:49the canapes. We've got the wine merchants from the local vineyards. So it's all hands on deck.
21:57But with the clock ticking...
21:59Oh, Emily.
22:01Craig's already uncovered a problem.
22:04So we've got the corners for the island, but they've turned up slightly damaged, so we're not sure if we
22:09can use them.
22:11A half-built kitchen is the last thing they need.
22:14Why is that not now going together?
22:17So it's a scramble for Craig to fix the skirting.
22:21Meanwhile, back upstairs...
22:23Let's have a look.
22:25It's getting close. We're almost there. Just finished...
22:28Just some finishing touches before it's ready.
22:31Watch the space to see the final result.
22:33OK, perfect.
22:35Apprentice Amelie is working on a plan to help boost numbers.
22:38A last-minute social media post.
22:42We need to add some photos.
22:44That's nice.
22:44You can see lots of things going on there.
22:46I like that.
22:48Hopefully, the social media push will ensure a steady flow of visitors.
22:52And with the skirting on the kitchen now fixed, there's just half an hour to go.
22:57But Emma is still nervous about the outcome of the evening.
23:01It's 25 past five, and it feels too calm.
23:06It does.
23:07It feels like I've missed something.
23:08Something's going to go wrong.
23:09Something really crucial.
23:11And now Craig, last minute, is doing the lighting.
23:13Let's just hope he doesn't crack the worktop while he's standing there.
23:17My biggest concern is that no-one's going to turn up.
23:20After over two and a half years of painstaking renovation, a lot hangs on tonight's official opening.
23:27Will Craig and Emma's launch be a success?
23:33Coming up...
23:34How lucky do you feel?
23:36Lucky, I hope, because it's so cold.
23:38It's the moment of truth for Hayley and Mark's new water system.
23:43No!
23:46While Sharon and Bongo are serving up some high-octane fun...
23:50OK, be prepared to be impressed!
23:53..as they make a splash with their latest business offering.
23:57Woo!
24:08In the Vienne in Nouvelle Acadème...
24:11You let him out?
24:12Just let him have a moment.
24:14..it's a bitingly cold February morning at Hayley and Mark's.
24:18New life in the sun.
24:20It's cloudy, it's windy and it's cold.
24:22With help from red setters Summer and Scooby,
24:25the couple are pressing ahead with their projects to build a golf green behind their sheets.
24:30We're going to need to water the tea boxes and the green during the summer.
24:33It gets really hot here.
24:34We need to run a water supply down to where we're going to run the golf course.
24:37Then I've already run a pipe over to the other side and got to pick the water supply over there.
24:42So, um, Hayley's going to be doing a bit of digging.
24:45I should have been a princess.
24:48Princess Fiona.
24:49Yeah, thanks.
24:53I'm going to put a post in the ground first.
24:56Up against the fence, so that I can put the water stopcock on there.
24:59I'm also going to dig a hole in the ground here to isolate the water supply.
25:04Because in the winter it gets really cold and what I don't want to do is a pipe to burst
25:07down the end.
25:09With a suitable hole dug for the post...
25:11Yep, it's about right.
25:13..Mark trims the height, then Hayley coats the post with a preserver,
25:17which will protect it underground from rot once Mark cements it into place.
25:29I nearly messed up.
25:31Why?
25:31I need to put the pipe in so that it can go through.
25:35That would help.
25:37And now I've cemented it in.
25:41It's like making a cake.
25:44I'll let that one set, we're going to do the other one,
25:46and then I'll come back and dig the box out for the stopcock and the connections.
25:50Let's go.
25:52On the other side of the meadow, where the green with the golf hole will be,
25:57Mark needs another outlet for watering,
25:59exactly the same process as the one he's just done.
26:04In the winter, when it freezes, this one can be isolated,
26:08we can leave the taps open and it won't damage it.
26:12What are you doing?
26:13You nearly had me on my bottom.
26:16Mark's already buried a pipe the length of the field,
26:19so today's addition should join up the system
26:22and give running water at either side of the meadow.
26:26I like these quick jobs.
26:28Come on then, Summer.
26:30Back at the first post, the cement has gone off
26:33and Mark can make a new hole for his makeshift inspection hatch,
26:37an old kitchen bin.
26:39That's a good idea, using that bin.
26:43While Hayley uses some leftover paint to help both posts blend into their surroundings.
26:49Once you get your water pipe up and your tap, that should look quite smart.
26:55Job done.
26:59After a thorough warm-through and a spot of lunch...
27:04Hopefully, no leaks.
27:07Mark and Hayley are back to connect the new taps to the main water pipe.
27:11Can you push that a little bit?
27:13To you? Yeah.
27:15You have to be close to the ground.
27:16That's it.
27:19How lucky do you feel?
27:21Lucky, I hope, because it's so cold.
27:24And before long, the new taps are secured to the posts.
27:29That's it.
27:30If it creates a water fountain, I'm giving up for the day.
27:36Right, can you go and turn that a valve on?
27:38Yep.
27:40Come on.
27:42Oh, that sounds promising.
27:44Are you ready?
27:48Get in!
27:50And I can't see any leaks, either.
27:52That's a right result.
27:55I'm going to check the shut-off valve just to make sure.
27:59It's sorted.
28:00How's it going?
28:02It's not leaking.
28:04Yay!
28:05We've got to go and check the other one, though.
28:07OK.
28:08It's the moment of truth as Hayley turns on the tap at the far side of the meadow.
28:17No.
28:20I reckon I could be...
28:21No, it can't be.
28:23Yay!
28:26You have me panicking, then.
28:28That's all right.
28:30Well done.
28:31I'm happy.
28:33I'm happy too, then.
28:35It's a big leap forward for Mark's golf course to be.
28:39With no leaks in the system,
28:42he can now begin creating his green.
28:44But he's still a long way off from hitting a hole in one.
28:48Every bit you do every day is a little kick-off on the old boxes.
28:53Tomorrow's least. Who knows?
28:55But we'll figure that out tonight around a fire.
29:04It's mid-June in the Al Pajara.
29:06And Sharon and Bongo are now back at their own home,
29:10hosting a full house at their rental apartment.
29:13Among today's guests are friends from back home,
29:16who are keen to tap into Sharon and Bongo's local knowledge,
29:20sample the accommodation,
29:21and experience all the region has to offer.
29:24Today we have some returning guests that were here from last year,
29:28and they've brought their friends as well, which is really nice.
29:30We've been doing a few activities with them this week.
29:32We've done a strength class.
29:33We took them up to a little cafe at our friends on Sunday.
29:38We went for a hike with them yesterday,
29:40and then we're taking them on another hike today.
29:42So, yeah, a very busy week.
29:45With Bongo having roped in a guest as sous chef
29:48to make sure no-one goes hungry...
29:50I'm making pizza dough from scratch,
29:51and it's my first time. I've never done it before.
29:54Now comes the fun bit.
29:56Sharon leads a morning yoga session.
29:59The yoga deck is almost finished.
30:00That would have been perfect, obviously,
30:02but unfortunately we don't have the shade on it yet.
30:04So we're using the little room for now.
30:06Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we'll have the shade on,
30:08and then we can actually start doing classes outside as well.
30:11This week's guests have provided Sharon and Bongo
30:14with the perfect opportunity to trial ideas
30:17for their new bespoke holiday business.
30:20Just take some nice deep breaths.
30:22Try to think about your shoulders softening.
30:26Morning stretch complete,
30:28next Sharon and Bongo are taking the group
30:30on a seven-kilometre hike
30:32along the path of the Rio Santo Gorge.
30:35So the walk is a river walk,
30:37and then to the waterfall,
30:39and then hopefully for a swim.
30:41Because it's very hot already.
30:45They're starting things off in the village of Albu Nielaz,
30:49in the Lekrin Valley.
30:50A labyrinth of winding streets and Moorish architecture,
30:54it's a testament to the centuries of Arab rule that shaped the region.
31:00So this is the start.
31:01Basically, we're going to walk through the river now.
31:04So you're going to get your feet wet from now until the end.
31:08Come on.
31:12Known locally as the Long of the Valley,
31:14mountain streams carve through the forest,
31:17forming steep gorges and cascades
31:20that prove difficult for even the most seasoned hikers.
31:24OK, there's a bit of a drop here.
31:27Let's climb up this way.
31:30Danger though going up here,
31:31so we're going to have to be careful.
31:34It's definitely not for the faint of heart.
31:37Pleasure.
31:38But luckily, Sharon and Bongo are familiar with the trail.
31:42We nearly at the waterfall now.
31:45And thankfully for the group...
31:47OK, be prepared to be impressed.
31:50..that our trek was all worth it.
31:54Amazing.
31:56Wow.
31:57Fabulous.
32:05The highlight of the Rio Santo hike...
32:08Oh, it's depressing!
32:11..is the perfect relief from the Spanish summer heat.
32:15That was amazing. Loved it.
32:17Going in!
32:22Woo!
32:24Woo!
32:25Woo!
32:26Waterfalls are always a crowd-pleaser, I think.
32:29It's so cold as it comes out the ground.
32:34Absolutely stunning.
32:35Perfect in a hot day like this.
32:38Sharon and Bongo's plan to showcase the lesser-known side of Spain
32:42has been a big hit with the guests.
32:46Oh, unbelievable.
32:48On your own, we would never have found the walk.
32:50So, yeah, it was ace, really good.
32:53I've been coming to Spain for many years,
32:54and I always just associate Spain with beaches and stuff,
32:58but it's just been amazing being in this region.
33:01I'm glad everyone else is enjoying it,
33:02and we just can come back again.
33:04Ha-ha!
33:06As Sharon and Bongo continue to develop this new bespoke holiday side of the business...
33:12What's happening, Bongo? Are we climbing out, are we?
33:14I'm going to climb it out.
33:16...midway through their trial week,
33:18it looks like they may just have a winning formula on their hands.
33:21The walk was amazing.
33:23This is the kind of thing that we really hope to do more of in the future,
33:25so we really hope that we can get more people coming on holidays like this
33:29and booking on to different activities that we can offer.
33:32So this is kind of our trial,
33:34and so far I think it's gone pretty well.
33:37To the bar we go.
33:38Cheers!
33:48Coming up...
33:48Moment of truth, there's the first one going on.
33:51Ian and Bev's guest apartment hits a major milestone.
33:54El Pequeño Escondite.
33:57Oh, the little hideaway in Spanish.
34:00Yes. Excellent.
34:01Much like Craig and Emma, whose showroom launch is underway.
34:05Nice to see you.
34:07But will they be happy with their guest turnout?
34:10I think we might have a bit too much food,
34:12so I think I might be eating little mini burgers with duck and,
34:17I don't know, Sam and him for about the next week.
34:30It's September, over in the small Spanish village of Torvithcon.
34:34Not too high, not too low.
34:36And Ian and Bev have been hard at work sprucing up the outside of their property.
34:41Have we started here?
34:42Yeah.
34:43All in anticipation of the arrival of Ian's parents tomorrow.
34:47Tomorrow will be a bit of a milestone.
34:49Well, it will be a milestone because it will be our first ever guests on our new property.
34:54So it would be good to get some feedback of anything we may have missed
34:58because before it goes live and on the market, paying customers,
35:02we want to make sure we've crossed every T and dotted every I.
35:06It would be nice for somebody else to see it as we see it, hopefully.
35:11Yeah, yeah.
35:11If they want to lift back to the airport, they best be positive, hadn't they, with the feedback?
35:15Before Ian's parents descend, the couple are tackling one important job today,
35:21naming their new home and business.
35:24Are you going to stand there now, Beverly, and tell me where I'm going wrong?
35:27Yep.
35:28Even though you've never mixed this in your life?
35:30I am, but I'm just watching, so I know.
35:31How will you know?
35:35That looks sloppy to me.
35:39No. Perfecto, that.
35:42Trust the tradesmen.
35:44Moment of truth, there's the first one going on.
35:49We'll see how it sits.
35:56With some expert precision watched over by Bev...
36:01How's it looking down there?
36:03Looks lovely.
36:04..their new sign takes pride of place.
36:07El Pequeño Escondite.
36:09Oh, the little hideaway in Spanish.
36:12Yes.
36:13Excellent.
36:15Next up, budding artist Ian turns his attention
36:19to a finishing touch that promises to make their apartment truly one of a kind.
36:24I took up painting this year, I've never painted before,
36:28and Bev bought me some watercolours and I just started painting
36:31and I find that I really enjoy it, especially if I've had a tough day.
36:36I find this really therapeutic,
36:39especially when we've been working on the house all day and things go wrong.
36:43If I come up here and then start doing this,
36:46I forget about what's going on in the day,
36:49or any concerns and worries you have about the property being
36:54profitable enough to keep us here in Spain.
36:58The world around here is not rushing round crazy,
37:01so you fall into that this way of living, like the locals live,
37:05at a nice, sedate pace.
37:08If we were at home, we'd have been flicking the television channels,
37:11but painting now is something that Ian can do for himself.
37:14He would never have done that in England
37:16because he would never have had the time to do it.
37:19With Ian's masterpiece now complete...
37:22..do-do-do-do-do-do...
37:26See? Oh, yeah! It's good!
37:30..it's high praise from Bev.
37:32Oh, it's really good, really good.
37:34..and Ian hasn't kept his artistic talents to himself.
37:38The locals have been getting a glimpse of his work too.
37:41I painted one of the neighbours' houses and they really, really liked it,
37:46and then they told their neighbours,
37:48who told their neighbours, who told their neighbours.
37:50So now each of the neighbours have asked me to paint their houses
37:53and they bring us fruit and veg and little gifts for the house.
37:57So the least I can do is paint their house for them.
38:01Let's see how it looks.
38:02But this one is taking pride of place in the rental.
38:06You OK with that? Oh, yeah, it looks lovely.
38:08It looks OK, doesn't it?
38:1112 weeks on from leaving their old life behind,
38:14Ian and Bev's next chapter is finally ready to begin
38:18and the pair are excited to reveal not only their hard work
38:22but also the reason they made the move here in the first place.
38:26It'd be nice for people we know for us to see what they think of it
38:30because many people back in England will still say to us, why?
38:34And I think when people come and visit us,
38:37I hope that they're blown away by all this like we were.
38:40Yeah.
38:41And then it'll all make sense to them why we decided to leave the UK.
38:44Up sticks and go.
38:46That's what we've always dreamt of, isn't it?
38:48Yeah?
38:48Sink or swim?
38:49Well, it's swim.
38:51Swim, yeah.
38:58Back over in Aimee, with their skirting crisis averted
39:02and the final flourishes in place,
39:05Craig and Emma's new kitchen showroom is at last complete.
39:08OK, guys, Ben.
39:11And not a moment too soon,
39:14as the guests for tonight's launch are already beginning to arrive.
39:18Nice to see you.
39:19No, nice to see you.
39:21What are you doing?
39:22Get yourself a glass of wine.
39:26Congratulations.
39:30That's so kind.
39:31I didn't expect any gifts.
39:33Nice to see you.
39:35And the steady flow of attendees is a huge relief for Emma.
39:42It's going really well.
39:44I was really worried that we wouldn't have enough people that would turn up,
39:48but it's a great success.
39:51And early signs suggest the event might already be attracting new business.
39:56People are very interested.
39:58People are saying that they will have clients for us.
40:01They like the product.
40:03So I'm actually surprised how much people did want to talk about the product
40:06rather than just turn up and drink free wine and have free food.
40:09I think we might have a bit too much food,
40:11so I think I might be eating little mini burgers
40:14with duck and, I don't know, salmon in for about the next week.
40:18But that's good.
40:19It's better we had too much of night enough.
40:22With Amelie and Finn on duty serving up their canapes and drinks,
40:26their guests are feeling right at home,
40:28and it's clear Craig and Emma's hard work in the showroom has paid off.
40:33And they've done a beautiful job.
40:34Oh, it looks gorgeous.
40:35Yes.
40:35Yes.
40:36I think if you walked in and saw that,
40:38you would be thinking, OK, I can picture this in my house.
40:41Oh, totally.
40:41We've been here a couple of times before.
40:44Right.
40:44Previously, in the downstairs, the showroom was a construction service.
40:49So somebody's been working with me the last few days and nights.
40:55After a stressful day, the party has gone down a storm,
40:58and with celebrations set to continue into the night,
41:02Craig takes a moment to reflect.
41:05It's starting to calm down a little bit now.
41:07At one point, you couldn't hear yourself thinking it,
41:08because it's not a huge space, but I had a lot of positive feedback.
41:12People seem to love the kitchen,
41:13so I think we've done it right.
41:19It's a lovely, quiet spot.
41:22After two years and seven months of hard work
41:25and £200,000 spent transforming the property,
41:29Craig and Emma's dream is finally a reality.
41:32A new home and a flourishing business that brings something much needed to this up-and-coming town in France.
41:40One of the real positives I've noticed is we've definitely been talking the town.
41:44So, for instance, yesterday I was getting my hair cut, and I was with the barber,
41:49and they're like, wow, I've been past your place, it looks fantastic, everyone's talking about it.
41:53And then this morning I was in the local CAF, and everyone was saying in there how excited they were,
41:58and what a great thing it was for the community.
42:00And everyone seems really positive and really excited, and that's really nice.
42:05Living and working side by side, all under one roof, is a first for the couple.
42:11And while it's been an adjustment, they're slowly finding their feet with their new roles.
42:16We've learnt quite a lot in terms of working together.
42:19You have to have a leader, and ultimately I think that's been Craig,
42:23and that's been quite difficult, because when the boss says something has to be done, you have to do it.
42:30So that's been quite difficult. I've had to kind of bite my tongue a little bit,
42:34and we've got to work together.
42:36We've got our lanes. I think that's been really important.
42:41Emma's very much got her part of the business, and I've got very much my part of the business,
42:45and that's working really well.
42:48But that hasn't been the only lesson.
42:50With their property having stood for seven centuries,
42:54the historical photos and postcards that Emma has gathered along the way
42:58have given them an insight into life here over the years.
43:02We've actually been given some photos of how the hotel would have looked in the 1960s,
43:07and we've actually still got this sign, which is great.
43:11So we're going to have that pride of place on the terrace once it's finished,
43:14we found a business card as well for the hotel and various other things which are quite fun.
43:20And there's so many images of Aimee generally.
43:25So that looks about the position of where the hotel is.
43:28You can see here with the little girls all holding hands.
43:33It's really charming.
43:34It's like a little piece of history, really.
43:38After all their hard work, Craig and Emma can finally enjoy the fruits of their labour,
43:43with a home and showroom to be proud of, and a bright future in France ahead.
43:50Nearly everybody that's come to see us at the showroom has placed an order.
43:55So we've got lots in the pipeline, we've got kitchens winging away as we speak,
44:02and we've got lots of orders for next year.
44:04All signs show that it's going to be positive, it's onwards and upwards.
44:08It's a great foundation for what could be a really successful business.
44:21Next time...
44:22I'm scared of heights.
44:23Sharon and Bongo are putting their guests through their paces.
44:27He looks nervous!
44:29It looks extreme.
44:30..in France, as they try to tee up their new standout feature...
44:34I wouldn't think it goes on there, would it?
44:35I read the instructions.
44:36..it's not all smooth putting for Mark and Hayley.
44:39What sort of these are the positive?
44:41I don't know.
44:42Meanwhile, Ian and Bev reach a major milestone.
44:45I've covered every base I think I can possibly cover.
44:49I've even polished the books.
44:50..as their first guests deliver their verdict.
44:54Honest feedback.
44:55You know me, I don't like.
44:56That's what we're worried about.
44:58LAUGHTER
44:58MUSIC PLAYS
44:59RULU
45:23RULU
45:26ARM
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