- 10 hours ago
Château DIY Season 11 Episode 30
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00:00Across France, there are thousands of spectacular chateaux.
00:07Many are neglected and run down.
00:11Up and over.
00:13Now, they're being revived by intrepid owners.
00:19It's all a bit Wild West, in my opinion.
00:22Perfect is the goal.
00:24Who are taking huge risks.
00:27That's not very strong.
00:28To restore these precious buildings.
00:33Creating beautiful homes.
00:36Oh, incredible.
00:39And businesses.
00:41Look at this, belly rubs.
00:44There'll be triumphs.
00:46We're in.
00:47We're in.
00:48And tribulations.
00:50This is the bit I was worried about.
00:53But despite the challenges.
00:55It's not sticking.
00:57It's not sticking.
00:59Those who have made the leap.
01:00I'm liking the look of this.
01:03Get to live the dream.
01:04First place.
01:05Thank you very much.
01:06Thank you very much.
01:07As custodians.
01:09Congratulations.
01:10Of their very own magnificent castle.
01:16Today.
01:17Are you ready to screw it up?
01:18Ready to screw it up.
01:20New chateau owners have a crisis of confidence.
01:24Every job, you're wondering why you ever started it in the first place.
01:28The sheer weight of it.
01:29It's dangerous and it's very long.
01:31Another couple are forced to make high-risk manoeuvres.
01:35I don't want it pushing him off the scaffold.
01:38And at this chateau, good soaring temperatures ruin a big day.
01:44We're battling with extreme heat.
01:46It's 39 degrees this weekend.
01:54In Brittany, in northern France, stands the majestic Moulin du Cuenon.
02:02Once abandoned, this former watermill comes with five floors, concrete silos, rusting turbines,
02:12and treacherous trapdoors.
02:15Since early 2024, Donna, a former property developer from Hartlepool,
02:21and Paul, a retired construction manager from Scotland,
02:25have been transforming it into their forever home.
02:29It's been night and day between what we bought and where we sit today.
02:34And I think we're getting to the stages now that you can start to see what the spaces will become
02:38because we've demolished walls and we've added floors where none existed.
02:43We know it's a really good point in that we've got a roof, you know, we've got a terrace.
02:48We've got room shapes now.
02:50It's surprising how much you can achieve in a year.
02:56Located just 12 miles from the coast,
02:59Donna and Paul bought the derelict property and the land opposite
03:03for less than £100,000.
03:08Last time we saw them,
03:10they were building a 4.6 metre wide bedroom balcony.
03:15Do you want a stick of dynamite?
03:16It would help, but it's less controlled than I am, so...
03:20Projecting from the back of the old concrete silos,
03:24Paul and Donna would like the steel balcony to appear to be floating,
03:29but to achieve that kind of delicacy is tough work.
03:34Look, this beam's getting heavier every time I lift it.
03:36I'm in a mansion.
03:39Yay!
03:41And today doesn't look any easier.
03:45We've put in some Joyce RSJs before that can't leave her out from the structure.
03:50We need another one at the front.
03:52It's relatively heavy, so we need to cut that first to length
03:54and then we need to get it up there and then also get that in position.
03:58So the height's obviously a challenge,
04:00but Donna doesn't do scaffold, so she won't be on the outside of the building.
04:06Across the bridge from the property are several more silos and sheds,
04:11but instead of containing grain and flour,
04:14they now hold something much more solid.
04:19We've got a RSJ, a steel beam.
04:21It's six metres long, so we need to cut it to 4.6 metres,
04:25get it across there, get it up one floor, get it out on the balcony,
04:30and then we need to configure a way how we're going to fix it
04:33to the existing beams as well.
04:43Even cut down, the steel beam will weigh around 100 kilos.
04:58One smaller beam.
05:02I just need to get over to the mill now.
05:06Oh, it's a lot lighter than it was.
05:13You need a hand?
05:14Yeah, can you just move the pallet truck out of the way
05:16when I lift the beam?
05:18Cavalry arriving.
05:20You should have done with the cavalry
05:22and all the king's horses and all the king's men over there.
05:24Well, you should have shouted me.
05:26I was too busy cooking your dinner.
05:28Right.
05:33Wait.
05:39With jobs like this,
05:42it's handy to have strong muscles
05:47and a good sense of humour.
05:50Paul likes to use the pallet truck as a scooter, you know,
05:54when it's empty, and he's always full of fun,
05:56and I think that makes the difference.
05:57When you're working hard and most times we work seven days a week,
06:02so if you don't have that, you feel the pain.
06:06But getting a heavy steel beam safely out onto the scaffolding
06:11will be no laughing matter.
06:19Set amongst rolling countryside,
06:22famed for its vineyards in Western France,
06:25stands the breathtaking 19th-century Chateau de Brive.
06:31The former cognac distillery stands in 35 acres,
06:36while inside, it boasts 25 stunning rooms.
06:42It has been home to antiques dealers Sarah and George
06:46and their two children, Tati and Alexei, since 2011,
06:52after the couple bought it for £415,000.
06:57Over the past few years, the family has worked hard
07:01transforming it into a luxury wedding venue.
07:03I love this Chateau for the absolute beauty.
07:08It's got beautiful light, it's got beautiful features,
07:12it was advanced for its time.
07:15You do feel proud.
07:17You're restoring a piece of history, but you're living in it.
07:21It is a dream.
07:23It is hard work, of course it's hard work,
07:25but we wouldn't change it for anything.
07:27No, we wouldn't.
07:30Located just eight miles from the town of Cognac,
07:36the last time we saw them,
07:38they were squeezing major tree surgery...
07:41Oh, my goodness!
07:42Whoa!
07:43Whoa!
07:46..between weekend weddings.
07:49The timing isn't ideal,
07:50but you have to go with the flow.
07:52Oh!
07:54Oh!
07:55Oh!
07:56Oh!
07:56Oh, my God!
08:00Today, the last wedding of the season is on their mind
08:03and they want every moment to be memorable,
08:07including the table plan.
08:10The couple for this wedding, they're really interesting
08:12and they like something a little bit quirky
08:15and a little bit different,
08:16so that's why we're trying to bring something different
08:18into their tablescape.
08:21So, this afternoon, we're going to go to a local antique shop
08:24and try and find pots and baskets
08:27and things you can put flowers in, something different.
08:29Yeah.
08:29So it's not a kind of cookie-cutter wedding, it's...
08:33A bit unique.
08:34Yeah.
08:35A one-off.
08:35It would be lovely.
08:42The antique stealer Jean-Claude is in a small village
08:47just outside Cognac.
08:49Let's see what we can find.
08:50And George has been visiting him for nearly 20 years.
09:23Salut!
09:25Well, we could do the same look, though.
09:26We need about eight items.
09:32But we have...
09:33I mean, for example, we have got things like the bottles at home,
09:36so we could add that in.
09:37I like those.
09:40And it isn't long before George goes into haggle mode
09:44for two copper jugs and a wicker log basket.
10:01Someone's driving a hard bargain.
10:04Anything else, darling?
10:06Having found everything they need,
10:08George goes in to seal the deal
10:10before they head back to the chateau.
10:13George has disappeared into the office with Jean-Claude
10:17and, well, I think he might be having a little glass of wine
10:20to get a better deal.
10:23OK, that was good.
10:24£3.50 the lot.
10:26Two copper distillation jugs,
10:29a big old log basket,
10:31then two comfy pots
10:33and two drip jets.
10:37So, these two.
10:39Yes.
10:40And I've got one there as well.
10:41Yeah.
10:42We had a really great visit to Jean-Claude's brock-hunt.
10:46I was pretty tough with what we bought.
10:48So, right, yeah.
10:49Ah, OK.
10:50On a derechance.
10:51Là-bas, OK.
10:52La house, no.
10:52No, no, no.
10:53No, merci.
10:54Yeah, it should look gorgeous.
10:56But there's less than four weeks to go,
10:59and Sarah and George's brock-hunt theme
11:01is just a small part of a very big day.
11:09Still to come,
11:11new Chatelain face up to reality.
11:14I don't think there has ever been a quick job at the Chateau.
11:17Hee!
11:19And even experienced DIYers meet their match.
11:24See, Sonel.
11:25Nothing small or light, is it?
11:27Nope.
11:36In the lush countryside of the Occitanie region of southwest France
11:41stands the stunning 19th-century Chateau de Picon.
11:47Set in seven acres,
11:49this charming home boasts 31 elegant rooms,
11:55a large glass orangerie,
11:58and breathtaking views.
12:01Today, it's owned by newlyweds Jane,
12:05an intellectual property manager,
12:07and Rory, a part-time plumber and actor.
12:11Good boy.
12:11Being here with Jane has been a really nice way
12:17to settle into our married life.
12:19It's in a joyous environment
12:21that we're turning into our dream home together.
12:25We do have the odd moment of a clash,
12:28but we're always terribly optimistic.
12:31It's a lot less stressful than the daily grind, I think.
12:36And it's very nice to be with Jane doing it.
12:39Heh.
12:40Just an hour and a half from Doulouse,
12:43the pair bought the property
12:45for £470,000 in 2024.
12:51Since then, they've been busy
12:53renovating the Chateau's two-storey gite.
12:58With one bedroom complete,
13:01last time we saw them,
13:02they had just started work on its kitchen.
13:06This is the bit I was worried about.
13:08And now the plumbing and appliances are in,
13:11the couple have turned their attention to decorating.
13:15I've got a tile around the edge of this window.
13:18So I've got this aluminium angle metal that I've got,
13:22and I think it'll do quite nicely,
13:24just to slide on over the top,
13:26so that'll just sit on top of the tile like that
13:29as the window edge.
13:31That should tidy it up neatly, I think.
13:38Meanwhile, Jane's got her eye on the pantry cupboard's shelving.
13:42Lining paper, it doesn't fare terribly well over the years.
13:47I can see why people do it,
13:48but it's not as good as having a nicely painted,
13:52nicely varnished piece of wood.
13:54Slowly but surely, I've been taught the technique.
13:58And, yeah, it comes off in one piece if you just do it slowly.
14:04That's brilliant.
14:04Look at that beautiful wood underneath.
14:08I was thinking of painting it,
14:10but now I'm not so sure,
14:11because the grain is actually really nice.
14:13So it might just be sanded and varnished.
14:15What do you think, Rory?
14:16Just sand and varnish?
14:18Or you could colour wash it.
14:20Yeah, that's a good idea.
14:21Colour wash it and then varnish it,
14:23so that if you want it, a lighter colour in there.
14:26Mm.
14:27And then you get to preserve the wood grain.
14:30Colour wash would be nice.
14:35I've got a few in this corner now,
14:37so we're working our way up.
14:39When you get a nice long run of tiles
14:41that you don't have to cut,
14:42then you start getting results quick,
14:44and that's the most satisfying part.
14:52They've got a lot of adhesive still left
14:55where we took the sticky back plastic off.
14:59But aesthetically, I think this is the way to go.
15:02Two on down, three to go.
15:05Yeah, I'm actually struggling to get the adhesive in now
15:09because I'm up underneath this unit
15:11and this unit does have to come back down
15:14for me to finish the tiling,
15:15but it's quite tricksy.
15:19It looks brilliant.
15:20Thank you, darling.
15:23Well, I'm really pleased with what we've got done.
15:26I've run out of metal strip to actually finish it.
15:28But what I've got so far
15:29has got the aluminium pieces in place,
15:32and so I'm really happy with that
15:34and really pleased with how it looks.
15:35And so I just need to clean up some of my mess.
15:38It's been a good day,
15:40but they'll need to pick up the pace
15:42if they want the gite finished in time
15:44for their first guests.
15:51Back near Cognac at Sarah and George's.
15:57It's the day before the last wedding of the season
16:00and the temperature's rising.
16:02We're battling with extreme heat.
16:05It's 39 degrees this weekend.
16:07Yeah.
16:08So it's very, very hot.
16:10There's always things, you know,
16:11behind the scenes that we have to manage,
16:13but the heat is a big problem.
16:15And then that's...
16:17One, two, three metres.
16:21To try and keep things cool,
16:23they're pinpointing where the shade will be
16:26during tomorrow's ceremony.
16:28Well, we're in the shade still now,
16:30and it moves this way,
16:31so it should be perfect.
16:31Perfect. And Eleanor will set up the seats
16:33perfectly for tomorrow.
16:37Perfect.
16:38That works.
16:39All the people who are sitting here
16:41will all be in the shade.
16:42Good job done.
16:46Daughter Tati,
16:48who now handles all the wedding flowers,
16:50is trying to keep cool in her cellar workshop
16:53while getting ahead with the decorations.
16:57Tomorrow it will be a little bit rushed
16:59because I'm battling against the heat.
17:00And flowers and heat don't mix.
17:03For now, I'm feeling relatively confident.
17:05Tomorrow might be a different story.
17:07I'll be running around like a headless chicken,
17:09but I'll keep my composure.
17:13Having already bought a stash of pots and jugs,
17:17they're raiding George's antiques barn
17:20to unearth more treasures
17:21for their brocante-themed table plan.
17:27That's what they used to store the cognac in,
17:30and it's very local to us.
17:32Yes.
17:33Anything else colourful?
17:35I think these are nice for the colour.
17:37Yeah, nice pink colour.
17:39Very wedding-y.
17:41You know what they are?
17:42Fly catchers?
17:43Yes.
17:43Or wasp catchers, maybe?
17:44Well, either.
17:45Late 19th century.
17:47Are they?
17:47Yeah.
17:48Yeah, we could put a few of those around.
17:50Yeah.
17:50Very good salvage mission.
17:52This is going to be gorge.
17:54As the brocante table plan involves fresh flowers,
17:58it will be a last-minute build tomorrow.
18:01That's a nice stash.
18:04But for now, there's just one more job to do.
18:08A rehearsal with the happy couple, Verity and Simon.
18:13It only started feeling real, I think,
18:15when we got here this morning.
18:17So now that we've got family and friends here,
18:19everyone mingling from all the different parts of our lives,
18:21we're very excited now.
18:22Yes.
18:22Yeah.
18:23Roll on.
18:24Yeah.
18:27There's also a special guest who needs to practise her cue.
18:31Good girl!
18:33Hazel, the couple's official ring-bearer.
18:38We've ticked a lot of boxes.
18:39I feel that we're ready.
18:40It's just, you know, hot.
18:42It is hot.
18:43Ready for a beer, definitely.
18:45Yeah, and a swim.
18:46In that order?
18:47No, swim first.
18:48Whatever, whatever.
18:49Swim first, then beer.
18:50And then start again tomorrow.
18:53Big day tomorrow.
18:55Wedding day tomorrow?
18:56Yeah, I know.
18:57Sarah and George are looking forward to the last wedding of the season,
19:01but when sweltering heat, fresh flowers and animals are involved,
19:06anything could happen.
19:14240 miles further north,
19:17Donner and Paul are using an electric winch to lift an almost 100 kilo steel joist up to the bedroom.
19:25It's so handy, this winch, isn't it?
19:28It is handy, yeah.
19:29Best thing we've ever bought.
19:32But as the joist is not only heavy, but over four and a half metres long,
19:38it's still not going to be easy.
19:44I'm going to pull the beam up through the first floor and halfway up the second floor,
19:48and then I'm going to jump upstairs and then Donner will lower it down
19:51and we'll pull it onto the first floor just so we can get it near the master bedroom.
19:56For now, though, it's a case of beam me up, Scotty.
20:01Right, up we go.
20:05I'm always a bit nervous when we're moving kind of really heavy objects,
20:09but luckily the mill was built to do that as well,
20:12so obviously we've put in a modern winch,
20:15but it's handy to have all these trap doors in every floor,
20:19so they come in really handy when you're trying to move materials up and down.
20:28Once the beam's upright, it's time for some manual.
20:32A little manoeuvring.
20:33OK.
20:34Yep.
20:38Whoa.
20:42Right.
20:43Come down.
20:45A bit more.
20:51Down.
21:02With the beam safely on the first floor...
21:06Right.
21:06..the couple now need to drag it to the back of the building.
21:13Watch your fingers and ankles.
21:15And toes.
21:16Yes.
21:23Right, if I go this way...
21:25Do six on.
21:35See-saw now.
21:37Nothing small or light, is it?
21:39Nope.
21:45To help, Paul falls back on some ancient engineering.
21:51Do it like the Egyptians.
21:53Heee!
21:55Heee!
21:58But getting the beam into the bedroom turns out to be the simple bit.
22:03That'll do.
22:04Right.
22:05I think we've got enough angle to get a turn, but it'll be tight.
22:08We're going to have to get there as tight out that way as possible,
22:11otherwise the weight of it's going to go...
22:12Yeah.
22:13Oh, you can be ballast on the end.
22:14...dig a hole down below.
22:16Everything else...
22:17Ballast?
22:17What are you trying to say?
22:21If you can just hook that through the both one,
22:23and then we'll tie the orange one at this one.
22:28Just try that for size there.
22:31If the beam tip's over, the straps may hold it,
22:36but they won't stop Paul from hitting the ground.
22:39The sheer weight of it, it's dangerous and it's very long,
22:42so, yeah, I don't want it pushing him off the scaffold.
22:46Once it goes out there,
22:48it can easily go whichever way it wants to go,
22:52so, yeah, it's a bit dangerous.
22:54Can't put it off any longer.
22:55I can't delay it any more.
22:56We need to try and get the beam out now,
22:57so this is the trickier part of today's activity,
23:02so hopefully we've minimised any risks.
23:07That's it.
23:08Right.
23:09Ready?
23:10Yeah.
23:13Un, deux, trois.
23:18Still to come.
23:19During the wedding ceremony, I'm going to release the dog.
23:22There are missed cues.
23:26It's not my signal, is it?
23:27Go.
23:28Oh, my God, go.
23:30And dodgy decisions.
23:32So you're going to have to take it a bit further to get it...
23:34I know that, yeah.
23:34...away from here.
23:35Careful.
23:36Oh, it's not going to go anywhere else.
23:38You might.
23:45In Western France, at Sarah and George's,
23:49it's the day of the wedding,
23:50and there's a ceremony and party to prepare.
23:54I think they're, yeah, really gorgeous.
23:57Yeah, no, they really are.
23:58Oh, today's wedding day for Verity and Simon.
24:01So exciting.
24:02Lots of getting readies, lots of comings and goings,
24:05and it's incredibly hot.
24:09Incredibly hot.
24:09Incredibly hot, yeah.
24:11During the wedding ceremony, I'm going to release the dog.
24:14That's my job.
24:15And I hope she goes in the right direction.
24:17Isn't she carrying the other rings?
24:19Yeah, she's a ring bearer.
24:20Yeah.
24:21So let's hope she does go in the right direction.
24:24It's a whirl of activity.
24:26And though it's too hot to prepare the table's floral display in advance,
24:32Tati is in full flower mode for the ceremony.
24:38That's the boss.
24:42Oui?
24:42A worried Sarah urgently needs George's help.
24:46Is he?
24:48I'll have a look.
24:55Looking for a dog collar for the dog with flowers on it,
25:00which we've lost, but I'll find it.
25:07Crikey.
25:08Oh, wow, it's huge.
25:09You sure it's that?
25:09Yeah, it is.
25:10It has to be, doesn't it?
25:12Yeah.
25:12Found the collar for the dogs.
25:16Thank goodness.
25:17That's my role.
25:18It's only got one job, really.
25:22Oh, dear Lord.
25:24The emergency is over, just in time.
25:34Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for our beautiful bride.
25:45Good girl.
25:47Oh, that looks beautiful, doesn't it?
25:50And we now bear witness to what their relationship has become.
25:53What do you reckon, sweetheart?
25:55Are you ready for your big moment?
25:56No pressure.
25:57As today, they will affirm this bond publicly and formally.
26:08Let's just hope she goes in the right direction.
26:11Damn.
26:12It's not my signal, is it?
26:14Eleanor.
26:15Oh, God, it is.
26:16Today, the honour and responsibility of looking after the rings has fallen to Hazel.
26:23Hazel, please come forward.
26:25Put the dog mode on.
26:26Go.
26:26Oh, my God, go.
26:28Right, come on, Hazel.
26:29Oh!
26:32Hazel!
26:33Hazel, come on.
26:36Yay!
26:38Yay!
26:39Oh, she's made it.
26:41Oh, lovely.
26:41Just lovely.
26:42What a good dog.
26:43Oh, she's adorable.
26:47Yep, perfect.
26:49Good dog.
26:49I now have the greatest pleasure in pronouncing you husband and wife.
26:54You may kiss.
26:55Yeah.
26:57Sarah's dog handling duties are done.
27:01And the new Mr and Mrs can head off for photos and a cocktail celebration with guests.
27:09I love you so much.
27:10You look so beautiful.
27:12Oh, thanks.
27:13The ceremony may be over, but Sarah and George now need to create a stunning display with
27:21their brocante-style table plan.
27:34200 miles further south, Rory has finished tiling and is now hoping to improve the kitchen's ventilation.
27:44We've had a lot of problems with condensation.
27:47We've had a lot of problems with condensation penetrating and rusting up the beading on the corners of the wall.
27:51So I'm just trying to get rid of the old cement that's used to seal up the large extractor fan
27:57that used to be in here.
27:58Once that's out, we can replace it with much more breathable lime plaster.
28:05Lending a hand and his expertise today is Rory's friend, Darren, an experienced builder.
28:13Hello.
28:21So it looks like there's a render on the outside and then under that there's a cement render.
28:25There's a cement render, yeah.
28:30But the different renders aren't the only surprise.
28:34There's a pipe with lagging on it.
28:39God!
28:40So that's where the hot and colds go up.
28:42Is it?
28:43Yeah.
28:44So that was lucky.
28:46Yeah.
28:46They've come outside the original skin of the building and they're going up through a brick layer.
28:52Very peculiar.
28:54Yeah, so we don't want to go any further that way.
28:55No.
29:01I don't think there has ever been a quick job at the Chateau.
29:05Every job you're wondering why you ever started it in the first place.
29:10Still unsure what the internal render is made from, Darren suggests that Jane does a quick experiment.
29:19If it fizzes up with vinegar, then it's lime water rather than cement.
29:26Moment of truth.
29:31Yeah, that's fizzing.
29:33So this is a piece of lime.
29:35Darren's helped us discover that perhaps the render that we feared was a cement render may actually be a lime
29:43render,
29:43in which case the building might not be suffering as much as we first thought it was.
29:49While Darren and Rory use bricks and lime mortar to fill the hole, Jane continues her work on the cupboard.
29:58I'm going to paint the inside of the pantry to match the new colour that I'm doing for the walls
30:02in here and obviously make it all clean and nice.
30:05And then I'm going to paint the door frame.
30:10Tidying up and prettifying a dingy corner.
30:15With the hole nearly filled, Rory spots a potential issue.
30:21The lime may or may not react with the old wires there, so I'm going to put it inside a
30:27sexually hot water pipe.
30:29That'll protect the wires whilst they're in use.
30:32And if the lime decides it wants to try and eat through this, which I doubt it will, it'll take
30:37a long time doing it.
30:39And that should do it.
30:45I'm really pleased.
30:49That's very true.
30:51Well done Darren.
30:52Well done Darren.
30:53Thank you so much.
30:55Would you like a cup of tea?
30:56A cup of tea would be lovely.
30:59Despite a few hiccups, the pipework for a new more powerful extractor is in.
31:06And the pantry cupboards makeover is well on track.
31:09But Rory and Jane still have a lot to do before it'll be ready for guests.
31:21At Moulin du Quénon.
31:24Un, deux, trois.
31:27Donna and Paul now need to get the 4.6 metre steel beam for their new balcony out through the
31:34glass doors,
31:36without tipping it over the side and taking Paul with it.
31:41Rearrange this timber and put it here, just so we can move it off that one.
31:44That one?
31:45Yeah.
31:45Because it's probably not doing much at the moment honey.
31:47Just to give you some space.
31:51I think we'll get that actually.
31:54One, two, three.
31:57One, two, three.
32:00One, two, three.
32:03Right, I'm on the beam.
32:04OK.
32:06So you're going to have to take it a bit further to get it away from here?
32:09I know that, yeah.
32:10OK.
32:11As the beam weighs around 100 kilos, the couple are playing a very delicate and dangerous balancing act.
32:20Wait there hon, I'll come down and lift it out.
32:23OK?
32:23Yeah.
32:23Steady it.
32:29Ready?
32:30Yeah, to me.
32:31OK.
32:32Swing it out.
32:36Right, take that strap off.
32:38Do you not want to use it?
32:39No.
32:41Be careful.
32:43Well, it's not going to go anywhere.
32:44You might.
32:47I'm going nowhere, sweetheart.
32:59It's not going nowhere, that's going anywhere.
33:04I'm going nowhere, no way.
33:04It's going nowhere.
33:04It's going nowhere, I'm going nowhere.
33:05It's going nowhere, we'll go.
33:06It's going nowhere, yeah.
33:12It's going to be close, no.
33:19not taking any chances. Right, I'll put a couple of tacks in it, hold it, plus with
33:27the weldy stuff. Thankfully it's in, I'm just gonna stick a couple of tack welds
33:34in it just to secure it overnight. The small temporary welds will safely hold
33:41the beam until Paul's ready to move on to the next stage.
33:51Got a couple of tack welds in place, it needs a permanent weld but I think it's
33:55enough to actually take the strap off so we can close the doors so yeah I think
34:00it was a good job actually to get that done and it could have gone a lot worse
34:02thankfully it didn't but more importantly I'm happy that I'm still on
34:05the scaffold and not on the heap at the bottom of the scaffold. I think Donna was
34:10relieved as well so yeah so happy that that's done and enough to get the deck
34:17on tomorrow which is good and then it'll look like a balcony then. Now though it's
34:24time for a little bit of TLC. Yeah good look it looks more like a balcony now than it did
34:31this morning.
34:32Tartan. I'm tired here. We can have a little wine on your balcony if you want.
34:38Not yet. For both Donna and Paul. Just gonna have a drink. It's a day they'll never forget.
34:47When you're trying to manhandle something that weighs probably more than both of us put together
34:54and yeah and then it's going out a window yeah I don't think we could have made it more scary
35:00actually.
35:02It was all under control. But thankfully it kind of yeah it went yeah as planned.
35:10As planned yeah it went as planned. Unfortunately the ordeal isn't over.
35:16There's obviously more to do we've got the actual flooring to put down hopefully tomorrow but a very successful day.
35:22There's always more to do. There's always more to do yeah. And the balcony's steel floor is even bigger than
35:30the beam.
35:34Still to come. Moment of truth. Rory's feeling boxed in. I don't even know whether it's this way round or
35:42the other way round.
35:43Teamwork. Four. I've got four. And things reach boiling point at Sarah and George's.
35:50Shall we zoom off because the guests are gonna come in a minute. I know.
35:59Over at Rory and James the Gite kitchen's new extractor fan is in.
36:04But the pipework needs tidying before it's good enough for guests.
36:10I'll make a framework the wood can screw to then it'll just sort of fit around that loosely.
36:22Now I'm gonna drill a few holes put a few screws in to hold it in place.
36:26Then I can do the same again with the other bit of wood and create the L-shaped bracket.
36:31A box in which hopefully will fit perfectly up there if I did my measurements correctly yesterday when I was
36:37very tired.
36:40While Rory crosses his fingers James hoping to solve another damp problem but this time around the window.
36:50This paint is a pigment that penetrates the surface so it shouldn't just immediately flake off it should adhere and
36:58sort of soak in and stabilize everything.
37:04I think he's doing brilliantly.
37:06People think oh a bit of boxing in well that doesn't sound difficult but actually to get everything lined up
37:13and join various things together.
37:14It's difficult it's definitely difficult and he's done really well.
37:17Moment of truth.
37:20Let's I don't even know whether it's this way around or the other way around but I'll try and offer
37:24it up and see what it looks like.
37:33We're sort of looking like that.
37:35Good.
37:36Are you ready to screw it in?
37:39Ready to screw it up.
37:47Yeah, I'm quite pleased so far.
37:49We can sand this down, finesse it a bit and then it's ready to be primed and painted.
37:55Great.
37:56It's nearly there.
37:58Are you ready?
38:01As soon as the boxing's safely up, it's time for the last few bits to be put in place.
38:09Okay.
38:16It's on Jane.
38:17It's on.
38:18Hopefully for good.
38:25It's now looking like a kitchen and it's looking a lot better than I remember.
38:30If we look back on what we've achieved, it has been enormous.
38:35So we're so close now.
38:37Just a few more hours to finish as much as we can.
38:43We're working into the night, burning the candle at both ends.
38:53The next day, Rory and Jane's work is done.
38:59And what only a few weeks ago was a damp, tired old kitchen, cold, unwelcoming and in desperate need of
39:09attention,
39:12has been transformed into a bright, warm space with classic cabinetry, golden oak worktops, contemporary colours and a large island
39:30for the guests to gather around.
39:34It's amazing being in here and having it as a working kitchen.
39:38We've worked really hard.
39:40It's absolutely lovely.
39:42It's going to be the centre of our jeet.
39:47Shall we sit down?
39:49Yes, let's.
39:54I'm very pleased.
39:55I'm very pleased.
39:55I'm really pleased.
39:56Your tiling, the cupboards, it's just looking really nice.
40:00We didn't know whether we'd be able to get this even in the room, did we?
40:05Mm.
40:06Yeah.
40:07It's completely different from what we inherited.
40:10Yeah.
40:10And it's exactly what I wanted.
40:12And I definitely think this is the nicest this room has looked in at least 50 years.
40:18Yeah, definitely.
40:20So, well done us.
40:22Well done.
40:24Cheers.
40:24Cheers.
40:27But Jane and Rory have plenty more jobs to do before they can welcome their guests to Chateau de Piquon.
40:43Four hours away at Chateau de Brève, it's 39 degrees and the wedding guests are celebrating in the shade.
40:53While George, Tati and Sarah race to create a unique table plan that will show the seating arrangement for the
41:01wedding breakfast.
41:07Setting it up so the mixture of things we've brought in the brachante look nice.
41:14And then, to make it look really good, we're going to use the flowers.
41:19Four.
41:19I've got four.
41:20You get four?
41:21Yeah.
41:21Four.
41:26So far, so good.
41:27Yes, definitely.
41:28It's coming together.
41:32Table, table one, table two, table three, table four.
41:43That's good.
41:45I like that.
41:49Now the pots are prepared, it's time to bring the flowers out of the cool cellar into the open.
41:57My helpers.
42:09Looking good, Tati?
42:11Getting there.
42:11Yeah, that's what I think, it's getting there, yes.
42:14Well, they can come forward, yep.
42:16That's it, I like that.
42:19Just try one, maybe.
42:23Done.
42:24I think really good.
42:25Teamwork.
42:28What do you think, darling?
42:29Absolutely divine.
42:30I think you've done a good job, actually.
42:31Yeah, I think you've done a good job, actually.
42:32Shall we zoom off, because the guests are going to come in a minute?
42:34I know, I know.
42:35Yeah, just hope they enjoy it.
42:37I'm sure they will.
42:38Come on, then.
42:39Really, really tough for that.
42:40So, yeah.
42:41Really unusual, and even more gorgeous than I ever expected.
42:45So, tough.
42:47Their first ever brocante-inspired table plan has been brought to life with an abundance
42:54of fresh blooms and quirky antiques.
43:07We had zero vision for the table plan.
43:10Yeah.
43:10It's more gorgeous than we ever could have imagined.
43:13Yeah.
43:13Everything just looked absolutely picture perfect.
43:15We just loved it so much.
43:18It was beautiful.
43:18And they've all done a very good job.
43:20Very good job.
43:21Made us very happy.
43:23With their main responsibilities over, Sarah and George can breathe a sigh of relief as
43:30the celebrations flow.
43:32It's such a huge thing in their lives.
43:34And sometimes, you know, people can take that for granted.
43:37But it is a huge part of their lives, and it's something that will stay with them forever.
43:42For us to be part of it, it really is very, very special.
43:45It means a lot to us, yeah.
43:46And they've rounded off their wedding season with great aplomb, along with animals and antiques, and on one of the
43:56hottest days of the year.
44:05Next time.
44:06Stop!
44:08Stop!
44:09A 50-kilo balcony hangs in the balance.
44:13We've got a massive jolt there.
44:16There's DIY disharmony.
44:18Jolian is measuring, re-measuring, lasering.
44:21I'm just getting a clue on, bashing it on the wall.
44:23And a daring demolition.
44:26I am having the best time.
44:30Hit it!
44:31Hit it!
44:56Hit it!
45:01Hit it!
45:02Hit it!
45:02...
45:02...
45:02...
45:03...
45:03...
45:04...
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