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Chateau DIY - Season 11 - Episode 06
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00:01Across France, there are thousands of glorious chateaux.
00:06Many have been forgotten and abandoned.
00:11OK!
00:12Now, they are being brought back to life by adventurous owners...
00:17I'm coming, Brian.
00:18You've got to be 50% mad and 50% brave.
00:22...who are taking on the ambitious challenge...
00:25This is going to take a while.
00:27...of restoring these timeless treasures...
00:30I think I'm going to have to make a big hole.
00:32I thought this would be a doddle.
00:34I've got no idea what I'm doing.
00:35...into incredible new homes...
00:38Wow!
00:39Goodness me!
00:41Impressed!
00:42...and thriving businesses.
00:442022, direct from the chateau.
00:47Oh, this is great!
00:48...there'll be triumphs...
00:50Woohoo! Look at that!
00:52...and setbacks.
00:54You never know when you drill a hole around here,
00:56whether you're going to get something solid or not.
00:59But however tough the going gets...
01:01It's at times like this, I wish I knew what I was doing.
01:04...those who make the move...
01:07...get to live like kings and queens...
01:11...in their very own castle.
01:16Today, a smashing wedding project...
01:20...requires major renovation.
01:24I've just broken the glass.
01:27Two panes of glass I've broken.
01:31...while magic's in the air for this chatelain.
01:34I sadly missed my opportunity to go to wizarding school...
01:37...so I like to mix potions up in my spare time.
01:41And a DIYer...
01:44...takes on a 14th century challenge.
01:47I don't know if they've ever had glass in.
01:49Been there since before Henry VIII was...
01:52...trying to take this part of France.
01:59A stone's throw from the town of Cognac in western France...
02:05...lies the beautiful 19th century Chateau de Brive.
02:12Boasting 25 rooms...
02:17...5 outbuildings...
02:19...and a swimming pool...
02:22...amongst 35 acres of parkland.
02:26It's home to antique dealers Sarah and George...
02:31...and their children Tati and Alexi.
02:35The couple bought the property in 2011...
02:40...for £415,000...
02:42...and now run it as a luxury wedding venue.
02:46We absolutely adore doing weddings.
02:49The smiles and the joy that we give to people...
02:53...you can't beat it really.
02:55We go above and beyond.
02:57So that they feel spoiled.
02:58They feel at home.
02:59They feel that we're one of the family.
03:02And that's lovely.
03:08Just over an hour's drive from Bordeaux...
03:12...the Chateau is a former Cognac distillery.
03:16And four years ago, Sarah and George...
03:19...transformed two of the cellars...
03:21...from unloved dumping grounds...
03:23...into atmospheric wine and Cognac tasting rooms.
03:27There we are.
03:28Oh, wow, Georgie.
03:29Come in.
03:31Oh, my goodness.
03:33Oh, that's so, so fabulous.
03:35That's really nice.
03:36Slightly bugging me is maybe we should go through...
03:39...to the next vaulted cellar and make it three.
03:42Now, with the wedding business booming...
03:45...and daughter Tati, recently trained as a florist...
03:49...they have a new plan.
03:53We're opening up the old butler's bedroom in the cellar...
03:57...which we haven't touched since we've been here 16 years or so...
04:00...to make it into a workshop for Tatiana's florals...
04:04...for all the weddings that we've got coming out this year.
04:07We need to do some painting and see if we can open the window...
04:11...because Tati needs natural light for her flowers.
04:14We've got our first wedding fast approaching in a few days' time.
04:17We really must crack on, get everything done as fast as we can.
04:21Oh, wow, I've forgotten what it was like.
04:26Whilst Tati and Sarah tackle the grime...
04:30Bye-bye, cobwebs.
04:32...George attempts to open up the 200-year-old window.
04:42So far, so good.
04:44So far, so good.
04:51Oh.
04:54Oh.
04:55Oh.
04:56I've just broken the glass.
04:59I need a screwdriver.
05:05Oh.
05:07Two panes of glass I've broken.
05:11Well, I think the answer to that is...
05:13...to...
05:15...break the glass...
05:18...we'll have to get some new glass.
05:22That was good.
05:24So now...
05:25That's been open for a long time.
05:28Right.
05:31Yep.
05:33Let there be light.
05:35Yay!
05:37That should be nice.
05:39Is that good?
05:41Yeah, brilliant.
05:43Oh, it really brightens everything up.
05:45It really changes it.
05:46That's so nice.
05:48This is the best tool you can have when you're owning a chateau.
05:55It's a bog brush and, obviously, we use it absolutely everywhere
06:00and it's just perfect.
06:02With the dirt flushed away, George cracks on with the painting,
06:07while Sarah and Tati prepare to recreate an aged effect on the ceiling.
06:13You choose your base colour and then two shades lighter
06:16and two shades darker.
06:18And with a brush, we slap those three colours onto the ceiling
06:21and then we kind of just very roughly mix them all together
06:26and then we tap them out with the woolly,
06:29which creates the mottled effect.
06:35Perfect.
06:36Let's move on.
06:38Oui, oui.
06:38Let's do the next block.
06:41It's a great start,
06:43but with the first wedding of the season just days away,
06:47there is still a huge amount to do.
06:55300 miles eastward in the dramatic Auvergne landscape,
07:01right in the heart of a small village,
07:03is the part 14th century Chateau d'Azerra.
07:09In addition to the remnants of a collapsed tower,
07:13across three floors there is a stone kitchen,
07:16a dining room with historic wall frescoes,
07:21and a great hall which currently serves as a bedroom.
07:27Far from being put off by its disrepair are Cotswold antique dealers,
07:32Catherine and Steve, who snapped up the property in 2022.
07:37There you go.
07:39And split their time between their home and business in the UK
07:43with this challenging restoration in France.
07:48It's very, very romantic.
07:51It's ancient.
07:53It's got some amazing features and it needed saving.
07:57This one was such a mess.
07:58People for six, seven hundred years have been using this space to live in,
08:03and for me it gives, it does give me the chills to think about
08:07what's happened here and what's gone on.
08:10I can relate it to history from England, you know, dating back to the Tudors.
08:16It almost doesn't feel real.
08:22Located two and a half hours from Lyon,
08:25the last time we saw them,
08:28they'd begun the gruelling task of building a working kitchen
08:32in a historic space,
08:34starting with a flagstone floor.
08:37Looks really good.
08:38And Catherine has chosen to create an apothecary-style facade
08:44for the kitchen cabinets.
08:47I'm really pleased with how this is starting to look, that is for sure.
08:55Today, work is ongoing in the kitchen.
08:59I've been doing some prep work on the apothecary drawers.
09:02I've done my first gold leafing, which is challenging.
09:06There are 40 of them to do.
09:09And it's a labour of love in the extreme.
09:13While Catherine continues with the delicate task ahead,
09:20Steve is channelling his inner medieval builder.
09:25Great for the back.
09:29Just got three or four whole slabs now
09:32and then we're just pieces around the edge of the wall.
09:36And that's the floor down.
09:37And there's some rest for the back.
09:39It's not the world's flattest floor,
09:41but I don't like anything to be too flat and square
09:44because there's not much square in the whole building.
09:47So, it suits the building in the long run.
09:53Ooh!
09:55Oh, no!
09:58I enjoy the process of gold leafing in as much as the result is worth the actual work,
10:04but the work itself may be not the most enjoyable.
10:09Right, this is the last bit.
10:11It's going to look amazing.
10:14Don't breathe.
10:18Right, we're there. We are there.
10:20I'm going to say that's good enough for me.
10:23You all right there?
10:25Yeah, absolutely.
10:28Would you like to put your slippers on?
10:30Living my best life.
10:35But with windows missing and walls to repair, this medieval home is far from a royal retreat.
10:49Coming up, it's one small step for a chatelan and one giant leap for a tired staircase.
10:57If I've got it right, as soon as I put this on top, they should fit together perfectly.
11:02While George struggles to dig a hole for himself.
11:06This is what happens when you buy tools in a braconte.
11:17In the rolling hills of the Occitanie region in southwest France
11:22lies the 19th century Chateau de Picon.
11:28With six and a half acres,
11:31it boasts 31 rooms,
11:36several outbuildings,
11:38and a private lake.
11:41Last year, it became home to intellectual property manager Jane.
11:46Good girl.
11:47Her husband Rory, a plumber and actor.
11:50Who's first? Who's first? There you go.
11:52And their menagerie of four-legged friends.
11:56I think the Chateau will never get over how beautiful it is.
12:01When I've been out to do the horses and I'm walking back,
12:04I just think, wow, it's amazing.
12:07I've lived in several tiny bedsits in London and Reading,
12:11and to go from that, you know, a cockroach-infested flat in south London,
12:16to this, it's a big step up in the world.
12:20And you think, I actually live here.
12:25Within two hours of Toulouse,
12:28the animal-loving pair bought the property for £470,000
12:35and planned to open a holiday rentals and events business.
12:41Last time we saw them,
12:43these Chatelang got the keys to their new dream home.
12:47Ta-da-da!
12:48Where a damaged tree was blocking their perfect view.
12:53Do you know what I can see from here?
12:54What?
12:55All the clearing up I've got to do.
13:00Today, they want to overhaul a suite
13:03in the property's two-storey Jeet.
13:07The Jeet has its own entrance, which is great.
13:11It's the ground floor and the first floor of the East Wing.
13:16Once the Jeet's ready, we're hoping to rent it hopefully this year.
13:20So we're sort of on a deadline to get it done
13:22in the next three or four months, ideally.
13:26And then, if we're lucky, we'll get some business this year.
13:31Currently used as a dumping site,
13:34the Jeet's ground floor comprises a dated living area
13:37and an empty shell of a kitchen.
13:40And getting upstairs is a challenge.
13:44So this is the step that I'm hoping to be working on this weekend
13:47because currently it's quite hard to...
13:50Get up.
13:54Upstairs, they plan to overhaul a tired bedroom,
13:58a disused bathroom and a shabby dressing room.
14:03Getting the Jeet finished is absolutely essential.
14:06We've promised as part of our visa application
14:09that we are going to run a hospitality tourism business
14:13and to renew our visas, we have to demonstrate
14:16that we have basically achieved that.
14:27While Jane gets stuck into cleaning the dressing room floor,
14:33Rory is about to tackle some carpentry.
14:38Well, these two bits of wood that I'm straddling at the minute
14:42are the two halves that are going to make up the bottom section
14:46of the bottom step of the back stairs.
14:48And it's made of a railway sleeper.
14:51And I've cut and shaped it to match the old one that came out
14:54that was completely rotten and eaten through.
14:56And so now I just need to effectively join the two together.
15:00So the old one had a bit of wood like that,
15:04hole cuts, that was through, and then a doweling was drilled
15:07and put in through to hold them in position.
15:09So that's what I'm going to try and emulate and recreate.
15:12And hopefully I'll get it right first time.
15:21I'm not a DIY person at all, really.
15:24For Rory, he just goes, OK, I can do that.
15:26I'll find where the screws are, I'll unscrew it,
15:28I'll put it back together again.
15:29He just, he's not afraid of tasks.
15:38So I can put these two bits in there like that.
15:41And hopefully, if I've got it right, as soon as I put this on top,
15:45they should fit together perfectly.
15:47So let's give it a whirl.
15:50And then this will be the bottom step.
15:57Like that.
16:03That will do.
16:06With a staircase to fix,
16:09and a jeet to totally transform,
16:12this is no weekend DIY job.
16:21Back in cognac country,
16:24with the woolly paint effect ceiling finished,
16:28George and Tati are off on a scavenger hunt.
16:32This morning what we're going to do is get a sink for Tati's floral workshop.
16:37She's got the water already installed, but we need a sink so that she can water the flowers, fill the
16:42vases, etc.
16:44George has spotted an abandoned old butler's sink in the chateau woods that he's hoping to upcycle.
16:53Is that what we're getting?
16:55That's what we're getting, the porcelain sink there.
16:58Don't trip over.
17:00I'll do my best.
17:02Oh, yeah.
17:05Lovely.
17:09Slow, you're going through the jungle.
17:14Cool.
17:18You okay?
17:19Yeah.
17:19Yeah.
17:21Oh, be careful.
17:24Don't break it now, darling.
17:26Let's go.
17:28George's plan is to mount the sink onto a vintage table.
17:36But a little modification is needed first.
17:41That's 14 centimetres.
17:44So the plan with the table is to cut it down a bit so that it's not too high, so
17:50we can put the sink on it, drill a hole for the waste, both of which I've never done before,
17:56so we'll see.
18:02Okay, so far, not too bad.
18:05Good.
18:10Next up, mastering the circular drill.
18:16Anything happening?
18:21Doesn't seem very good, does it?
18:27Are we doing something wrong?
18:30The blade has detached from this bit.
18:36This is what happens when you buy tools in a brocante.
18:41Well, and also when you don't know what you're doing.
18:43So I think it goes like this, so you have to get the grooves and then you twist it.
18:48Okay.
18:49Let's hope it stays this time.
18:55All right, do you want to have a go?
18:56Yes.
19:00Keep going.
19:02Well done.
19:04Look at that.
19:06That is a thick piece of wood.
19:09It's thicker than I thought.
19:11Yeah.
19:12Well done.
19:13Let's hope the hole is in the right place.
19:17Oh, look at that.
19:21Okay.
19:22Off.
19:25So that's going...
19:29..here.
19:30Got the sink.
19:31Oh, thank you.
19:34Perfect.
19:37We've tested it with the water, which is obviously very, very important.
19:42One more job ticked off the list.
19:45Plenty more to go, though.
19:47With just days until the wedding, this flower room is going to need a blooming miracle.
20:00300 miles away in the Auvergne.
20:03It's just so many stages to this project.
20:09While Catherine puts the final touches to her faux kitchen drawer fronts.
20:15All right, what have we got here?
20:18Steve is about to give their medieval chateau some modern weatherproofing.
20:25One of the first jobs we did when we got here was replace all the gaping holes all the way
20:31up the tower with safety glass.
20:34We couldn't do one window around the other side of the tower.
20:40This last piece of glass going in now will give us a watertight building, hopefully.
20:48I don't know if they've ever had glass in, but if they have, certainly not for the last couple of
20:54hundred years.
20:55Been there since before Henry VIII was trying to take this part of France.
21:01Even my carpentry skills can cope with making a wooden box and fitting a piece of glass into it.
21:08It's just four lengths of timber, a couple of screws, and it's a very cheap solution.
21:13It's probably €25 to get that window in.
21:17So, just a question of getting those in position.
21:21So, basically, we'll be putting four pieces around that edge.
21:25So, we've got somewhere to put the glass up to, and then we've got four more pieces to basically sandwich
21:30the glass in place.
21:39Putting these last pieces of trim to hold the glass into place.
21:46And then it should be ready to fit into the opening.
21:5625 euros done.
22:12And we're in.
22:18This is so weird. So weird to see through that window.
22:23Hurrah! Another one off the list.
22:25Yes, indeed. Next!
22:32It's made a big difference to the building feeling more finished, which is ridiculous considering what a wreck it looks.
22:39But each little step makes a difference.
22:43Yeah, I think it's starting to feel like a home.
22:46I am really chuffed with that.
22:48It's just, it's crazy how much difference it's made.
22:52Steve's window has the royal seal of approval, but he's putting his historical hat back on for his next task.
23:00Lime mortaring the 14th century kitchen walls.
23:10Still to come.
23:12So if you get that end, and then I'll do the heavy lifting and wiggling.
23:16It's the moment of truth for Jane and Rory.
23:19This is where I step in the cement.
23:21And Steve takes on some 14th century style DIY.
23:27If you try and get too much in one layer, you can pull it away from the wall.
23:39At Chateau de Brive, just a day away from the first wedding of the season, preparations are in full swing.
23:48Un, deux, trois, parfait.
23:51Tati's workshop's now finally finished.
23:53I can't wait to see her using it.
23:55And she's got masses of things to produce for this fantastic weekend.
23:59With the bride and groom due to arrive soon, and florist Tati busy with a wedding planner India,
24:07Sarah and George have headed out to forage for flowers.
24:16As long a stem as possible.
24:18Yes.
24:19Well, before Tati showed an interest in floristry,
24:24every wedding that we got booked, we had to find them a florist.
24:29So we sent her on two or three courses in the UK,
24:36on wedding flowers, flower arranging, etc.
24:39And she really took a shine to it and loved it.
24:41So we took it further and said,
24:44Well, why don't you become our florist?
24:45She's so happy.
24:47She's really found something that she loves.
24:50And I think, you know, that shines.
24:53Tati?
24:55Here we are, darling. Open the window.
25:00Watch yourself.
25:02They're beautiful, aren't they?
25:04Ta-da!
25:09Just over a week ago, the cellar room was a dark, dank, unused space.
25:19Now, it has been transformed into a stunning floristry workshop.
25:25With a restored 200-year-old window.
25:31A new table-mounted sink.
25:35And vintage shelving.
25:37The mottled paint effect on the ceiling blends perfectly with the aged walls.
25:45It's such a lovely space.
25:48We've managed to create this blank canvas and turn it into my own proper space,
25:54where I can truly blossom.
25:56And it's really exciting to have this.
26:02As Tati begins the floral arrangements, the bridal party arrives.
26:08Felicity, Ollie, along with dog, Albie.
26:12Hello!
26:13Nice to meet you!
26:15It's their very first visit to the chateau.
26:19Make yourself at home here, and then dinner on the terrace over there for later.
26:23First impressions are incredible.
26:25It's absolutely beautiful.
26:27Especially, yeah, we haven't been here before.
26:29So we were holding our breath.
26:31But no, it was even better than we could have imagined.
26:34Yeah.
26:37Yeah, I'm happy with that.
26:38I really hope the bird likes these, because I've got three more to go.
26:43But yeah, that's finished.
26:44Yay!
26:46With more guests arriving, the pressure is now on for Sarah, George and Tati
26:52to give the bride and groom the wedding of their dreams.
26:57Tati's already done a lot of prep today, but she's got a lot to do tomorrow.
27:01And it's a slightly earlier ceremony than we're normally used to,
27:04which makes it a little bit tighter to get everything done in time.
27:09But I'm sure, with a big whip, we'll be all right.
27:22200 miles away, in their Chateau Gite,
27:27while Jane sands the dressing room floor,
27:33Rory is preparing to install his handmade replacement step base.
27:40In lieu of proper damp-proofing plastic,
27:43I'm using this fairly thick bit of plastic that we have,
27:47just as a damp-proof course.
27:49So I don't want any moisture getting into the wood that shouldn't be there.
27:52So hopefully this will stop anything getting in.
28:05The floor's not completely flat,
28:07and when I go over a ridge, it makes, you know, it grinds.
28:12It's a bit scary.
28:13But yeah, I just keep going.
28:21I mean, it looks okay to me, I'll go with that.
28:29Ta-da!
28:30I think I was clear.
28:31So if you get that end, and then I'll do the heavy lifting and wiggling.
28:37OK?
28:38Mm-hm.
28:42This is where I step in the cement.
28:46So that's...
28:47Right, so we get it nice and low.
28:50I get this sort of in the corner.
28:53And...
28:54There.
28:55You there?
28:56You where you want to be?
28:56Yeah, I think so.
28:59It's tucked in really nicely, actually, isn't it?
29:02Mm-hm.
29:02It's perfect.
29:03I'm really happy with that, actually.
29:04Surprisingly happy.
29:05I was expecting something to go wrong.
29:08That is amazing.
29:09I am so proud of you for doing that.
29:14With the base of the step finished, and the dressing room floor looking much better.
29:22Jane's eager to start work on the bathroom.
29:25We call it the secret bathroom, because the entrance to it is within a mass of wardrobes.
29:32So you walk into the dressing room and you have no idea that there's a bathroom there.
29:37It's the main bathroom for the Jeep project.
29:40So, yeah, we've got to nail this and we've got to get it done.
29:44There's so much work gone into this sink unit.
29:49But it's dark and it looks a bit dated.
29:52So I'm hoping that with some bright colours it's going to look a lot prettier.
30:01I have done painting before, and Rory finds it very, very boring and it makes him cross.
30:05Whereas I find it quite relaxing, so it's good that I can do something helpful.
30:13This is a darker base, so it's going to take more painting to do anything.
30:20But I don't mind having it still showing all the grain through and stuff, so I'm reserving judgement.
30:26With the bathroom barely painted and the staircase still unfinished, Jane and Rory are a long way off building their
30:36dream Jeep.
30:43In central France, at their medieval chateau, Catherine and Steve are gearing up for more grafting in the kitchen.
30:53What's your plan today?
30:54Start mixing some lime mortar up so that we can start dealing with some of the walls,
31:00because the dust just drops out of them the way they are at the moment.
31:05You've got 700 years of history there, and it'd be a shame to spoil it, but obviously...
31:10We don't want it to be in a time warp.
31:12We're not going to be spit-roasting an ox in the fireplace.
31:17I don't know, maybe one day, maybe one day, the fireplace is big enough.
31:26While Catherine cracks on with her faux cabinet drawers,
31:31Steve prepares for the dirty task ahead.
31:37All the walls here are lime mortared right the way back to the 14th century.
31:42And although it's not used in much modern construction, it's recommended for old buildings because it enables the building to
31:50breathe.
31:51Now this section here is from part of the original, which is in good enough condition.
31:57We're going to try and leave it.
32:04One of the tricks seems to be learning when to not try and go too far with it.
32:11If you try and get too much in one layer, you can pull it away from the wall.
32:22With enough drawer fronts completed for one whole panel, Catherine is heading to the kitchen to see how they look.
32:33I love the one that says rosemary.
32:41This is going to stand too proud, but I just want to see if that's a relief after all that
32:49work.
32:50I'm really, really chuffed with the way this is looking.
32:57With the panel put together, it's time for Catherine and Steve to try it out.
33:03Wow, looking great.
33:05And all the dust that's fallen on it is actually helping.
33:09I'm liking the dust, yeah.
33:11Gosh, it's heavy.
33:13What sort of hinges are you going to use?
33:16Wow.
33:17Moment of truth.
33:22I really love it.
33:24It looks so good.
33:26Their modern dishwasher and fridge fronts are no longer visible.
33:34Now, they have a spectacular, handmade creation that makes a fitting finish to match the ancient surroundings of their kitchen.
33:44It does look like you just want to open a drawer.
33:47I'll enjoy people that have never been before coming in trying to find the fridge.
33:51I'm just smiling, that's it.
33:53Thank goodness for that, really.
33:56It's spurring me on to do some more of it.
34:03With more panels to put up, curtains to hang and an island to install,
34:10Catherine and Steve's kitchen won't be finished any time soon.
34:21Coming up, Rory takes a huge gamble that could make or break the entire staircase.
34:28I'm going to mix some resin and pour it in.
34:31What could possibly go wrong?
34:33And the clock is ticking for Tati's first floral wedding.
34:38The ceremony is looming, so I'm getting a bit nervous.
34:48In the Occitanie region, Rory's been working hard to build the base for the jeep stairs.
34:57Something like that, I think.
35:02That looks pretty good.
35:05Next, he hopes to restore the damaged second step with some resin.
35:10I will be using this sort of plexiglass, plastic fake glass,
35:18and I'm going to be using a hot glue gun to glue it all in position.
35:23Putting these on like that, and over the top to create a mould,
35:29mix some resin and pour it in.
35:32What could possibly go wrong?
35:38That one's on like that.
35:45And now I'll mix up some resin.
35:50Rory is combining the resin with a hardening agent.
35:56I sadly missed my opportunity to go to wizarding school,
35:59so I'd like to mix potions up in my spare time.
36:05I saved all of the dust and powder that came out of the old step,
36:08so now I'm going to put some of the dust in here to change the colour of it,
36:11to act like a pigment.
36:15And also to bulk it up a bit.
36:18Let's try mixing that in.
36:21I know you can get powder filler for epoxy resin,
36:26and so I just thought wood is a powder,
36:31and surely it works as a filler.
36:36I reckon that's probably good to go.
36:46We've got as much resin as I can put in.
36:49Now we just leave it for 24 hours or something like that
36:54until it's gone hard, then I can peel off all the plastic
36:57and see how it looks.
37:02Elsewhere, Jane's busy with a new chandelier,
37:06which she plans to put up in the dressing room.
37:09I wonder if they should have gone on first.
37:11They probably should have.
37:15Oh, hello. Hello.
37:17Perfect timing.
37:20So, we've got a wire,
37:22we've got the main cable through,
37:24and we've got to wire the arms to the main cable.
37:29They're going to take up one each of these.
37:33I see.
37:34One of each is going to have to go in there,
37:35one of each is going to have to go in there.
37:37You can't put two in one.
37:39So they should just bind together nicely.
37:43Rory and I met online, and I think...
37:47Jane made the first move.
37:49Oh, yes. Yeah, that's true.
37:50I was very proactive.
37:51I was intrigued by his profile.
37:54There was a picture of Rory,
37:55he looked a bit like Lawrence of Arabia.
37:59I was technically living in a tent at the time.
38:03I was relatively homeless.
38:08And it was March.
38:11I mean, I was quite the catch at the time.
38:17Are you done?
38:18I think so.
38:19That looks pretty good.
38:20They're protected, aren't they?
38:21Within the touch, they're fine,
38:22because it's all gone in OK.
38:25Yeah.
38:36The next day, it's the moment of truth for Rory's resin experiment.
38:43Well, it's dried, as good as dried.
38:45I mean, the internal parts of it might need a little bit more time
38:49before it's completely solidified.
38:51But it's hard enough that I can take my mould off.
38:54Yeah, that's a bit better.
38:57Yes, this is beautiful pretend wood.
39:10I think that the resin isn't fully dry,
39:12so when I'm sanding it down,
39:13I can see it's sort of gumming up a bit.
39:15But I'm really pleased with the results this far,
39:17and I should still be able to just offer it up into the staircase
39:21to make sure that it still fits.
39:30So that has got to be this way a bit, I think.
39:35But this is effectively the bottom step.
39:39Wonderful.
39:40I'm quite pleased with how that looks.
39:46What do you think?
39:47That bottom step is magnificent.
39:50I think the time that you've taken doing all of it is amazing.
39:55You can see it, the finishing line is visible now, isn't it?
39:58Just about in the distance, yeah.
40:00Yeah, definitely.
40:01The stairs have been a labour of love.
40:05But with so much still to do,
40:07each day the gite remains unfinished
40:09is a day lost to potential paying guests.
40:20Back in Western France, at Sarah and George's chateau,
40:26Tati has just over three hours to go.
40:30It's wedding day, big day, very, very busy.
40:33Still got lots to do, got to build the arch,
40:36and I'm not too sure about the timings yet,
40:38so just got to get on.
40:41The ceremony is taking place under a wooden pergola on the lawn.
40:46This is the working walk, you march everywhere.
40:49Where Tati quickly needs to weave some floral magic.
40:53I'm going to start filling with foliage
40:56and then slowly build up with the flowers afterwards
40:58to create a lovely, flowy, wild effect.
41:08She has enlisted help from mum.
41:11Well, that's looking nice, Tati.
41:13Thank you. Isn't it?
41:15You on schedule?
41:16A little bit behind.
41:18Still got a bit more to do.
41:20The ceremony is looming, so getting a bit nervous.
41:24Whilst preparations continue,
41:28down in the cellar tasting rooms,
41:31George is making a pre-ceremony tipple for the groomsmen.
41:37What I'm making now is a light cognac cocktail.
41:44So it's basically a ten-year-old cognac with lime, mint,
41:50and then topped up with ginger ale.
41:56The arch has been done as we speak.
41:59It's a bit tight for time,
42:00but I think they'll have it all done.
42:04Cheers, guys. Thanks for being here.
42:17Tati's pergola is finally finished.
42:21I'm happy with that.
42:22It's all come together.
42:24It's flowy, it's natural,
42:26and exactly what I imagined in my head.
42:29It is really nearly time for the ceremony
42:31because I think I've heard the bride's on time.
42:34So, whew, yeah.
42:37With minutes to spare,
42:40the final touches are added
42:42and the guests can head out to take their seats.
42:50And now groom Ollie and bride Felicity
42:55can make their vows.
42:56Aw, she looks stunning.
43:03We gather here today to celebrate the union of these two wonderful individuals.
43:08May the ring bear please present the wedding rings.
43:11Oh.
43:15Ollie, do you take Felicity to be your wife?
43:18I do.
43:23And now, by the power vested in me,
43:26it is my honour and delight
43:27to declare you husband and wife.
43:29You may kiss the bride.
43:36Everything was perfect,
43:38and the beautiful flowers at the beginning of the aisle
43:40and coming round the rose petals,
43:42just everything was beautiful
43:44and it felt so natural,
43:46and it was just what I had imagined.
43:48So, I couldn't have asked about anything,
43:50anything more.
43:57I think this wedding has been absolutely magical.
44:00The couple, they're just so in love.
44:04As a team, it's all gone so well.
44:07Tati has just been exceptional today.
44:09You know, she did have pressure this morning,
44:11because it was getting tight on the timings.
44:14We're really, really proud of her.
44:16I really enjoyed being in my space
44:18and having everything around her.
44:20And it's honestly been so fabulous.
44:23Now, having her own workshop,
44:24she can absolutely flourish,
44:26and who knows where it'll lead,
44:28but it's a really good start.
44:31It's been a fantastic team effort all round.
44:39And with the whole wedding season ahead,
44:42this is just the beginning.
44:49Next time...
44:50One, two, three, lift.
44:52..there are tricky manoeuvres...
44:55No, not on the...
44:56I know, I know!
44:58..a decor dispute...
45:00Hopefully, it'll be all right.
45:01Fingers crossed.
45:02I can feel your eyes rolling.
45:06And for Jane...
45:07Seems to be holding.
45:09..it all falls down.
45:11Oh!
45:13OK, that wasn't stuck.
45:18This is a good order,
45:19it's a good idea.
45:19You can't find the mood.
45:20You can see the mood.
45:23Do you need a mood.
45:41It's a good idea.
45:41It's a great idea.
45:42You know, he's going to get some time.
45:45You can be that because you know,
45:45You
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