1
00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:06,760
Hello! ..and our two
children,

2
00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,720
we've lived in this magnificent
chateau for the past five years.

3
00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:12,120
Aw, it's lovely.

4
00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:14,840
It's my little corner of paradise.

5
00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,440
It's not just our home...

6
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,760
Woo!
THEY LAUGH

7
00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:20,960
..but our business.

8
00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:22,400
That's a proper kiss!

9
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,040
And with over 1,000
chateaux in France...

10
00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,560
Wow. My God!

11
00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,240
Absolutely incredible.

12
00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,840
..we're not the only Brits
buying in to the French fairy-tale.

13
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,840
Do you like it? Wow. I mean,
yes. It is gorgeous.

14
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,960
We'll follow more daring owners...

15
00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,400
It looks to be a
massive undertaking.

16
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,720
..and familiar faces...

17
00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:47,720
Why?

18
00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,640
..as they battle to
renovate their homes.

19
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:53,120
That is disgusting.

20
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,040
And we'll reveal more
about our own chateau life.

21
00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:57,800
That is lovely.

22
00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:58,960
There will be ups...

23
00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,480
SHE GASPS
Well done! This is beautiful.

24
00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:03,640
..and downs.

25
00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,360
What are you gonna do?
Not doing it today?

26
00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,160
Well, it's gonna take all day.
Yeah, but there's no alternative.

27
00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,560
But however hard the going gets...

28
00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:11,920
No!

29
00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,360
..these plucky Brits.. Ugh!

30
00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,760
..get to live the dream,
as custodians...

31
00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:17,880
God bless France.

32
00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,120
..of their very own castle.

33
00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:23,840
Today...

34
00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,200
Hey, I got you! I got you!

35
00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,680
..one family continue their
marathon restoration project...

36
00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,000
Do you reckon that's
OK, Philip? Yeah.

37
00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,040
Feels like this bit is really out.

38
00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,480
Happened to me in
my early years, as well.

39
00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,000
..three generations of
new chateau owners...

40
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,680
Mummy! Bonjour.

41
00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:43,440
..attempt to win over
the local community.

42
00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,760
It seems to be going all right.

43
00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,840
Get them all a little
bit tipsy. So, it's nice.

44
00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,040
And this couple hope to find
their dream French castle...

45
00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,040
This is so special, this room.

46
00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,320
..six long years after first
starting their search.

47
00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,480
It has the look of a room, Francois,
that would have a secret door.

48
00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,400
We do have one. Oh, that's awesome!

49
00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,480
When asked their
ideal place to live,

50
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,880
four out of five French people
opt for the countryside.

51
00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,600
More and more Brits
are in full agreement,

52
00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:23,480
and you can buy a chateau here

53
00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,400
for the price of a
regular house in the UK.

54
00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,320
Take the beautiful
Chateau de Seguenville.

55
00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,800
With parts dating back to the
17th century,

56
00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,800
it's believed to once have been home

57
00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:44,280
to one of the
real-life Three Musketeers.

58
00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,640
Today it belongs to engineer
Mark and music teacher Becky,

59
00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:53,560
who bought it for
£645,000 eight months ago

60
00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,880
as a family home for them and their
daughters, Sofia and Charlotte.

61
00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:02,360
When Becky's father
and I drove past here,

62
00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:06,000
it was just that moment where
I just went,

63
00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:07,440
"This, is it."

64
00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,280
Last night, we managed to
actually sit out on the veranda,

65
00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:11,840
and I was saying to Mark,

66
00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:16,280
"It's amazing, isn't it? It's ours.
It's our home. Can we believe it?"

67
00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:24,400
Located 45 miles from the
Pyrenees, in southwest France,

68
00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,280
the family don't yet
live here fulltime.

69
00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,000
Becky plans to make the move
from their home in Abu Dhabi

70
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,480
with the girls next year,

71
00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,600
while Mark will continue
overseeing engineering contracts

72
00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,560
across the Middle East.

73
00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,920
For the, sort of,
next three to five years,

74
00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,200
it's just going to be about
slowly developing the house,

75
00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:48,360
getting it into and maintaining
it very much as a family home.

76
00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,640
While the family travel back
and forth, Becky's dad, George,

77
00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,640
a retired headmaster,
has moved here permanently

78
00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,400
from the Isle of Wight, to look
after the chateau when they're away.

79
00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,040
It is a new sense of life.

80
00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,840
Suddenly energy
returned and a purpose,

81
00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,520
and as long as I can
keep active, I'm happy.

82
00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,880
Well, George, with the
amount of work to do,

83
00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,160
keeping active
shouldn't be a problem.

84
00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,680
Yeah, there's a lot more to
do in here, isn't there?

85
00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,480
These rooms really
haven't been touched

86
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,160
in the best part of 60 years.

87
00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,240
The floor, actually, is very good.

88
00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:24,240
Yeah.

89
00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:31,640
They've also made some interesting
discoveries, like rotating urinals.

90
00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:37,000
If we get these...
Cleaned up. ..cleaned up...

91
00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,640
So, on this side, it's
difficult to see in the paint,

92
00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,080
but I think that might
actually say... 1802?

93
00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,400
..1802, or something like that. Hmm.

94
00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,240
Has somebody written
a history of the pissoir?

95
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:50,360
No.

96
00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:54,200
Before they start on
the inside, though,

97
00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,080
the family wants to
lay the foundations

98
00:04:56,080 --> 00:05:00,480
of making this their forever home
by integrating with the locals,

99
00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,840
so have offered
drinks in their courtyard,

100
00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:05,800
before the village fete,
in a month's time.

101
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,120
The Fete de Voisins is a
really important event,

102
00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:09,560
both for the community,

103
00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,080
because it is effectively
the fete of neighbours.

104
00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,920
The hope is that when we have
the Fete de Voisins next door,

105
00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,280
that we're going to get the
community to come in for

106
00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:21,600
a few drinks beforehand,
to celebrate.

107
00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,200
Dying to chop down some brambles?

108
00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,640
Shall I do it, or
are you going to do it?

109
00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,280
Mark and Becky want to create
the best possible first impression,

110
00:05:30,280 --> 00:05:31,920
so it's down to young...

111
00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,280
Do you want to help pull
those bits of ivy off?

112
00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:37,040
..and old to tackle
the years of overgrowth

113
00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:38,920
at the front of the chateau.

114
00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:40,800
So, now we've got all the fun part

115
00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,120
of tidying and
clearing away everything

116
00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,880
that we've managed to pull off.

117
00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:49,520
This is when I go flat on my back.

118
00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,880
Right, that's looking a lot better.

119
00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,200
Got to finish up round here,

120
00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,520
and then we're almost
done in this section.

121
00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:06,720
Working at the front of the chateau

122
00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,240
provides a chance to give
out some more invites

123
00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,440
to the courtyard drinks to
some of the passers-by.

124
00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,200
IN FRENCH

125
00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,880
IN ENGLISH: This is exactly the
sort of thing that we wanted

126
00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:43,760
when we came here is, you know,

127
00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,640
to be able to integrate
into the village.

128
00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,080
Engagement like that
is just brilliant.

129
00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,720
We'd better crack on with
getting the place looking tidy.

130
00:06:54,280 --> 00:06:55,680
You better had!

131
00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,240
Becky and Mark are leaving
over the next few days,

132
00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:01,640
and before they do,

133
00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,400
they want to spruce up the
barn doors in the courtyard

134
00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:06,800
where they're hosting
the welcome drinks.

135
00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,440
Let's have a look to see
how this is going to lift.

136
00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,280
OK.

137
00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,760
Do we need some WD40
or something on them?

138
00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:18,600
I'm gonna try and just see whether
I can lift this with a pick axe.

139
00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,640
First, they want to get the
heavy oak door off its hinges

140
00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,160
so they can sand it out of the sun.

141
00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,560
Can you bring the metal bar in?

142
00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,000
Do you want it there?
Yeah, that's right. OK.

143
00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,000
One, two, three.

144
00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,000
OK. Done it.

145
00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,320
OK. Yeah.

146
00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,160
That's it. Fantastic.

147
00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,440
Will it fit in the garage doors?

148
00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:42,960
We'll soon find out.

149
00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:46,480
OK.

150
00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:48,440
OK.

151
00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,920
OK, there we go.

152
00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,320
I don't think this is going to
take more than a couple of hours.

153
00:07:55,320 --> 00:08:00,040
But with the rest of the courtyard
doors to sand, it's not a small job.

154
00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,200
I go tomorrow morning and
come back on Thursday morning,

155
00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:07,040
it should be done. Yep. Excellent.

156
00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:12,360
As Mark and Becky are both heading
away, George will be flying solo.

157
00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:13,720
No pressure.

158
00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,640
About 250 miles north, in
the glorious Loire Valley,

159
00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,480
Scotsman Iain and wife Kate

160
00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:29,800
are trying to find a
chateau to call home,

161
00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:31,640
after six years of searching.

162
00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,840
In the early years, when we were
looking, we were looking at,

163
00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,240
"Wow", you know, everything was
just so pretty, and it's just...

164
00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,680
But now, I look at
windows, I look at the roof,

165
00:08:44,680 --> 00:08:47,040
we look at plumbing,
electrics, heating.

166
00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,600
And I think that's where a lot of
the horror stories emanate from,

167
00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,040
with chateau purchases.

168
00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:52,520
You're so right.

169
00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,120
Having sold their family home

170
00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:58,000
and a stake in their business
in Australia, a lot is on the line.

171
00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,320
For their £1.3 million budget,

172
00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,040
they're on the hunt for somewhere
with business potential

173
00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:07,400
that's also large enough
for their extended family.

174
00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,280
Well, we have a healthy budget.

175
00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,280
We feel we will get...there will be
opportunity to buy something

176
00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,560
in that budget that will
meet all of our needs.

177
00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:19,560
And perhaps we may need
to raise it a little bit.

178
00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:23,120
Sure, sure. And I'll probably
continue working until I'm 75,

179
00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:24,520
in some capacity. No.

180
00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:30,000
Packed with pretty
villages and scenery,

181
00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,440
the Loire Valley's
strong tourist appeal

182
00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:37,280
will help their plans to bring
in income from holiday lets.

183
00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,280
Not only that, there are plenty
of chateaux here to choose from.

184
00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:45,000
I'm blown away with
just how impressive it is.

185
00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,720
They're already seen two.

186
00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:48,600
The first was a financial stretch,

187
00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,880
but as an up-and-running business,
appealed to Iain.

188
00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,200
This will be difficult
to surpass. Definitely.

189
00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,080
This has set the bench pretty high.

190
00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,400
The second came in under budget,

191
00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,800
and not only delivered
on character for Kate,

192
00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,480
but got a big thumbs
up from the family.

193
00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:05,760
This is exactly what
we're looking for. Yeah.

194
00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,880
Today, they're heading about 30
miles for the town of Tours,

195
00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:16,240
to the 18th-century
Chateau de Chanteloire.

196
00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,760
Hi. Bonjour. Welcome.

197
00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,080
Agent Celine is here
to hand over the keys

198
00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:24,720
for an unguided private tour.

199
00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,880
With an asking price of £687,000,

200
00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,480
this seven-bedroom chateau
is well below budget.

201
00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:33,080
Fantastic, thank you.

202
00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:38,840
Joining them are daughter Jade,
husband Ryan, and their children.

203
00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,320
They start with the entrance hall.

204
00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:43,120
Oh, wow, look at the floors, Mum.

205
00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,440
It's very authentic. Oh, wow!

206
00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,880
It's a really traditional
hallway. It's really lovely.

207
00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,080
Yeah, I really like this.

208
00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,800
Just, like, instant character
as you walk in, isn't it? Yeah.

209
00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,080
A great first impression.

210
00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,400
There's also income potential here,

211
00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:02,120
with five guest rooms and a large
reception room for hosting events.

212
00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,760
Good to know that they've had
a business running here. Yeah.

213
00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,880
And accommodation. Yeah.
So, perfect.

214
00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:09,680
So far, so good.

215
00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:12,000
Next, into the salon.

216
00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,560
This is a lovely
proportioned room, isn't it?

217
00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:17,520
And it just lets in all the light,
and still has original features.

218
00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:18,640
Wouldn't take much.

219
00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,240
And the original marble fireplace,
as well, which is stunning.

220
00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,600
I know, which is
really important to us.

221
00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,400
Whilst it's easy to
have your head turned

222
00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,400
by the grandeur of these places,

223
00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,800
it's vital to look beyond
charming appearances.

224
00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:33,560
That's actually...
That looks like water damage.

225
00:11:33,560 --> 00:11:35,440
I would say, yeah, dry rot.

226
00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,480
It's all the way over.

227
00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,040
Sometimes dry rot goes up,

228
00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:44,040
so it could be something
happening in the footings.

229
00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:45,720
Well spotted, Kate.

230
00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:49,160
Left untreated, dry rot can
result in an expensive battle

231
00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:50,880
to eliminate it.

232
00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:52,680
This needs to be kept in mind

233
00:11:52,680 --> 00:11:55,880
if there are other jobs
that need to be done.

234
00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:57,840
There's nothing here!

235
00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:00,600
You'd literally would have to
get out the whole kitchen,

236
00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,240
which I suppose, if you're starting
from new, is not a bad thing.

237
00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:13,320
Proportions-wise, I suppose you
could maybe knock out walls?

238
00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,640
Yeah, so that's just a plaster wall.

239
00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:19,720
It really is a blank canvas, we
could do whatever we like with it.

240
00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,840
Looks like this one has
the creative juices flowing,

241
00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,640
but I wonder whether perhaps
it's a bigger project

242
00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,120
than they had in mind?

243
00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,760
I couldn't say that
I'm in love with it.

244
00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,160
I could definitely
make it work for us,

245
00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,840
but I'm not in love with
the building at this stage.

246
00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:40,840
Coming up...

247
00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:42,480
Right, here it goes.

248
00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,480
..home alone, Grandpa George
takes the rough with the smooth...

249
00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:50,840
Oh, that's a bummer.

250
00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,600
..and a new chateau dad
faces a mammoth task...

251
00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,600
..building a bedroom
for his daughters.

252
00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,840
It used to be a beam,
and now it's dust.

253
00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,160
It's a bit difficult to imagine
having two children living in here.

254
00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,520
This is the 16 room
Chateau de Gonneville.

255
00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:21,600
Set in a 15-acre wooded estate,

256
00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,680
its owners are British fashion
designer Anna

257
00:13:24,680 --> 00:13:27,880
and her Italian husband, Philipp,
a film-maker,

258
00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:31,680
who moved from Paris with their
daughters Ella and Lily

259
00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:32,960
a few months ago.

260
00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:35,440
I think that
when our second was born,

261
00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:39,200
we just realised that the city life
wasn't really for us,

262
00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,520
as a family any more, and we wanted
to move to the countryside.

263
00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,320
And that's where the idea to buy
a chateau kind of came from.

264
00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,480
The kids completely forgot
about the existence of a television,

265
00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,480
since we are here. So they,
you know,

266
00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,440
they have so many other things
to do.

267
00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,520
Situated near to the Normandy coast,

268
00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:03,200
they bought the chateau
for £900,000 with a huge loan,

269
00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:07,600
on the basis of opening
a BandB in seven months' time.

270
00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,840
But it's been far
from plain sailing.

271
00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,680
Before starting work
on their business, though,

272
00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:21,320
they decided to transform the attic
into family accommodation.

273
00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,720
With money tight, Philipp is trying
to do most of the work himself.

274
00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:30,280
I'm lacking in experience, so it is
sometimes a little bit stressful.

275
00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:36,040
Everything needs precise
measurement, and a lot of patience.

276
00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:37,680
That's just not me.

277
00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,360
As the family is currently living
on the lower floors,

278
00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,840
the pressure's on to get
the bedrooms habitable.

279
00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,880
Today he's replacing the rotten
window frames in the girls' bedroom,

280
00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,200
with the help of carpenter Benoit.

281
00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,720
You think, when you change
the windows,

282
00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,720
you look at the price of the windows
and you think, oh, that's OK.

283
00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,080
That's the wood that we found,
underneath the window.

284
00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:09,480
In all buildings like this,
exposed woodwork, that hasn't been

285
00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:13,880
regularly painted and properly
maintained, can often be a problem.

286
00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,000
Now what we're getting out here
used to be a beam,

287
00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,800
and now it's dust, literally dust.

288
00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:25,000
Right now it's a bit difficult
to imagine having two children

289
00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:26,160
living in here.

290
00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,480
With such a major problem,
Philipp's had no choice

291
00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,040
but to pay to get Benoit in.

292
00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,560
Usually you don't have to replace
the structure of the beams,

293
00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:45,400
when you replace a window,
but that's a chateau, isn't it?

294
00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,840
That window frame is beyond repair,

295
00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,600
so the whole thing needs replacing,
and it's going to cost.

296
00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,400
In theory, this should be the only
windows that have a rotten base.

297
00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,920
So replacing another window
shouldn't take half as much.

298
00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,600
At least, that's what I hope,
because otherwise it's getting

299
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,400
really expensive to
replace all the windows.

300
00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,360
Sorry, matey,
but speaking from experience,

301
00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:17,080
I would brace yourself for a few
more bumps along the way.

302
00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,440
I say it's a win.

303
00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,920
That's really nice, look at this.

304
00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:26,920
Took us four hours.

305
00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:28,640
One window, four hours.

306
00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,680
Taking on a chateau can be
a steep learning curve.

307
00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:39,200
But at least you're still smiling,
Philipp, and it's a good job,

308
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,600
because there's still a long way
to go with that room.

309
00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,520
Just under 400 miles south,
with Becky and Mark away,

310
00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:55,360
Grandpa George is home alone,
sprucing up the courtyard,

311
00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:59,040
ready for the village drinks
in three weeks' time.

312
00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,960
I asked them to tell me
which tasks they'd like me to do.

313
00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,560
They will want me to do it
before they return.

314
00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,960
The courtyard door they took off the
hinges together has been sanded,

315
00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,320
so now he's prepping to tackle
door number two.

316
00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,120
I don't even know if I'm putting
the mask on the right way round.

317
00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:20,520
I'm always assumed that the little
bit, here, comes at the bottom.

318
00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,440
Actually, George,
it's the other way up,

319
00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,520
and you pinch that little piece of
metal over the bridge of your nose.

320
00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:27,920
I asked for a pair of goggles.

321
00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,520
Well, these are, I think, meant
for when you're swimming,

322
00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:32,760
but never mind.

323
00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:36,920
And here we are.

324
00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,760
The goggles are good.

325
00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,840
As there's no-one to help him
take the door to the workshop,

326
00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:45,320
George is doing it in situ.

327
00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:49,400
I think my biggest concern is
when a professional comes along

328
00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,680
and looks at what I'm doing, and
says, "You're doing it all wrong."

329
00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,560
But, never mind,
I'm doing what I think is right.

330
00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:58,800
And off we go!

331
00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,680
Well, that's a bummer.

332
00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:09,880
That's not meant to happen.

333
00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,200
Just don't know what went wrong.

334
00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:16,560
These were a bargain,
in the local shop.

335
00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:17,640
And here we are.

336
00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:23,520
Cut-price sanding disc back
in place, George can get back to it.

337
00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,760
That's actually going quite well.

338
00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:31,840
And it's stuck on.

339
00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:36,600
Right, much better than doing it
by hand, as we were to start with.

340
00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,880
Now to tackle
the awkward lower section.

341
00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:42,560
Right, here goes!

342
00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:54,120
These are not nearly as good as the
more expensive ones, unfortunately.

343
00:18:54,120 --> 00:18:56,880
And this one's just
lost its stickiness.

344
00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:58,320
Come on, stay.

345
00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,160
Perhaps they were cheap
for a reason, George?

346
00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,560
Yes, well, let's try another one.

347
00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:12,800
Oh, dear.

348
00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:14,120
Oh, here we go.

349
00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:27,360
I'm afraid there's only so far
grit and determination can get you.

350
00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:31,720
This point, I think we have reached
the end of the sanding discs.

351
00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,840
So I may end up doing it by hand.

352
00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:36,360
Good luck, George.

353
00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:39,720
I'm sure Becky and Mark
will be impressed

354
00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,320
with your efforts, regardless.

355
00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,480
Back in the Loire Valley,

356
00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,320
Iain and Kate are viewing
Chateau de Chanteloire.

357
00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,120
It's very authentic. Wow!

358
00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:04,520
At £687,000, it's under budget,
but the ground floor reveals some

359
00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,000
costly renovations
would be necessary.

360
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,360
You literally would have to kit
out the whole kitchen.

361
00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:16,480
Now it's time to see the state
of the seven bedrooms upstairs.

362
00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,160
Actually, I quite like these stairs.

363
00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,440
I don't like the wallpaper.

364
00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,440
I think everybody
has their own taste,

365
00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,320
but shiny stripes are not
really my thing.

366
00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,320
I'm loving the floor.

367
00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,640
I do love the floor.
I do like it.

368
00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:35,120
Shall we go into this bedroom?

369
00:20:35,120 --> 00:20:37,880
And have a look. And have a look?

370
00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,520
Wallpaper is a relatively
easy change,

371
00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:44,160
but bedroom two has a more
challenging issue.

372
00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:45,800
Oh, OK.

373
00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,400
Definitely have to take that down.

374
00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:54,360
I think it's to cover up
the bathroom, the entrance.

375
00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:56,240
Oh.

376
00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:57,760
And, it definitely has to go.

377
00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:02,480
Yeah, because it makes the room
look way more smaller than it is.

378
00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,520
Upstairs seems to be
leaving them cold,

379
00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,720
but perhaps that will change
outside, where the

380
00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:14,640
former caretaker's house is ripe for
generating income, as a holiday let.

381
00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:19,600
OK, it's a good size.

382
00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,600
The stone walls are tremendous.
They look really nice. Yeah.

383
00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,400
It's just taking the skin off,
all the way round. Yeah, exactly.

384
00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:26,960
And, it comes back to what it was.

385
00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,000
And you love to demolish things,

386
00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,360
so I think demolishing that will
definitely be a good thing in here.

387
00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:34,440
Yeah.

388
00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,640
As Angel and I have found,
knocking down walls can be fun.

389
00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,040
But, for now,
it's time to hand back the keys...

390
00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,320
A bientot.

391
00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,640
..and reflect on what they've seen.

392
00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,880
The chateau has
a lot of positive attributes.

393
00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,040
However, I think that
the structural integrity

394
00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,840
may require a lot of attention.

395
00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:58,440
I feel like it's a bit
hollow in there.

396
00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,280
It feels like it hasn't been
a home that's been loved.

397
00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,480
It's literally been stripped
of all of that.

398
00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,320
It's quite cold and unloved.

399
00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:12,120
Oh, well, perhaps the next viewing
will give Kate

400
00:22:12,120 --> 00:22:14,520
that homely feeling she's after.

401
00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,640
After saying goodbye to the
rest of the family,

402
00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,240
they're travelling
an hour southeast.

403
00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,880
Chateau des Nouies isn't yet
officially on the market,

404
00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:26,200
but they've had their eyes on it

405
00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,920
since renting a cottage in its
grounds, on previous holidays.

406
00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,560
Now, having contacted the owner,

407
00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:34,120
they're viewing it
ahead of the crowd.

408
00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:37,040
You can be blinded by the romance.

409
00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:39,960
Perhaps I've glamorised it?

410
00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:44,360
And I'm sure that might be changed
today.

411
00:22:44,360 --> 00:22:48,760
Very focused,
in terms of looking at it as buyers.

412
00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:53,440
So, yeah, excited, and nervous, to
see how much work needs to be done.

413
00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,320
Hello, Francois.

414
00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:57,760
How are you? Nice to see you.

415
00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,520
Owner Francois, has been
restoring the 34-room chateau

416
00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,920
to its original splendour,
for the past six years.

417
00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,680
Would you like to come in?
Yes, that would be lovely.

418
00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,480
So, let me open the second door.

419
00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:13,440
It was built as a grand family home,
at the start of the 1700s,

420
00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:17,440
but many of the period features
were added a century later.

421
00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,400
This is the dining room.

422
00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:20,960
This is so special, this room.

423
00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,320
Just look at all the detail
in there.

424
00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:28,320
It's "always drink,
and you will never die."

425
00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,320
Good sentence.
So it's a good promise.

426
00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:31,520
I think I'll try it.

427
00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:35,880
The place is bursting with
the kind of original features

428
00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:37,280
Kate and Iain love.

429
00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,840
Would this be to allow the food to
come through, whilst it's still hot?

430
00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:45,240
In fact, that's why you have
this piece. Yes.

431
00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:48,320
Oh, perfect. I love that. I love
those details. It's basic.

432
00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:51,920
So you think of how many dishes...

433
00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,600
I know, that's awesome.

434
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,280
It has the look of a room, Francois,
that would have a secret door.

435
00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,800
There must be one in here somewhere?
A button somewhere, or something?

436
00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:04,240
You're nosey.

437
00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,520
I won't tell you everything.

438
00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:08,360
You have one upstairs.

439
00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:11,040
Is there? Yes. Oh, now I'm excited.

440
00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,840
But he's not going to tell you
where it is, so.

441
00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:14,840
You're right!

442
00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:20,400
An exciting start,
and plenty more secrets to uncover,

443
00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,760
but it's important Iain and Kate
don't let the romance take over

444
00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,120
when it comes to a final decision.

445
00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,320
Coming up, with their apartment
schedule slipping,

446
00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:34,200
Anna and Philipp cut corners.

447
00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:38,120
Trying to use a leftover, because
these things, they cost a fortune.

448
00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:39,160
Oh, yeah?

449
00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,000
And Becky and Mark get technical.

450
00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:43,560
At what spacing do you want them at?

451
00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:45,600
This is the million dollar question,
darling.

452
00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:49,960
Being an engineer always helps.
Fantastic. Right, time for a GandT.

453
00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:51,400
That's a good idea.

454
00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,280
past the date Anna and Philipp
hoped to have had

455
00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,000
the attic apartment finished,
and winter's

456
00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:06,480
fast approaching.

457
00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,200
I'm just sticking it up here.
I don't know if it needs it up here,

458
00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:13,320
but... Oh. Yeah. Don't look. Huh!

459
00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,000
With their daughters'
bedroom now insulated,

460
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,080
they're pressing on with fitting
a damp-proof membrane.

461
00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:20,480
This is the actual membrane.

462
00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,120
That's the damp-proof membrane.

463
00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:24,800
That prevents moisture to go
into the insulating material.

464
00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:28,040
Do you reckon that's OK, Philipp?

465
00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:30,360
Yeah. Like that? Yeah.

466
00:25:30,360 --> 00:25:32,120
It's a good start for
a complete beginner.

467
00:25:32,120 --> 00:25:36,000
It feels likes this bit is
really out. Yeah. That's all right.

468
00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,920
It happened to me in my
early years as well, so...

469
00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:40,760
A gentle reminder,

470
00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:42,240
that wasn't so long ago, Philipp!

471
00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:51,440
And at £350 for a 70-metre roll,

472
00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,760
this high-tech membrane
is a very good investment.

473
00:25:56,360 --> 00:26:01,040
You could try to use a leftover,

474
00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:05,480
to save some... Cos these things,
they cost a fortune, so...

475
00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:06,760
Oh, yeah? Oh, yeah.

476
00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:10,200
With costs adding up by the day,
the pressure is really on Anna

477
00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,520
and Philipp to get
their apartment ready

478
00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:13,960
as soon as possible,

479
00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,560
so they can move onto the
business side of the renovations.

480
00:26:18,120 --> 00:26:20,440
We've run out of tape... Oh.

481
00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,920
..so I won't be able to
finish that tonight...

482
00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,240
Oh. ..unfortunately. That's a shame.

483
00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:28,440
You see, that's a special tape,
because you can just plaster...

484
00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,200
plaster over the tape. OK.

485
00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:33,440
Uh...

486
00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:35,840
There'll be no
plastering or decorating

487
00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,520
until this job is finished,
so it's a frustrating delay

488
00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:40,880
for them to contend with.

489
00:26:42,120 --> 00:26:45,800
Anna, though, is keen to get a
move on with aesthetics, so is

490
00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:47,240
putting her fashion background

491
00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,080
to good use, designing wallpaper

492
00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:50,440
for the girls' bedroom.

493
00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,960
I wanted to do something kind of fun

494
00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,280
and unique for their room.

495
00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,720
Lily specified that she wanted
to have a pink bedroom,

496
00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:01,240
that's her favourite colour.

497
00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:03,960
I've been looking at kind of
French antique wallpapers

498
00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,440
that have that feeling of
something that's quite aged.

499
00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:10,320
Once she's finished the design,
she'll retouch it digitally,

500
00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:12,800
before sending it to
a printing company.

501
00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,080
First, though, it needs client

502
00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,360
approval - from four-year-old Lily.

503
00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:19,360
What do you think?

504
00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:22,000
I think I want to put this...

505
00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,480
You like that green, do you?

506
00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:25,240
And pink. And the pink. Yeah, I made

507
00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:27,080
it pink. Do you like the pink?

508
00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,480
Is it a good colour? Yes. Yeah?

509
00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:33,320
Painting complete, Anna needs
to piece her design together,

510
00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:36,320
to create seamless wallpaper.

511
00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,440
So, I've now scanned the artwork,

512
00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:42,800
and now I'm gonna put it back
together on the computer.

513
00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:46,080
So, it's just like collaging
it back together, basically.

514
00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,240
They match perfectly,
but they have a white edge.

515
00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,000
So, all of this part that's got
the white has to be filled in.

516
00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,920
I'm just gonna cut out some of
the leaves from other parts of

517
00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:57,280
the artwork, and try to
fill it in like that.

518
00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:00,280
It's quite a lengthy process now,
doing this.

519
00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,320
but there's no other
way to do it really.

520
00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,720
It may be a lot of effort, but
there's nothing more rewarding

521
00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:14,080
than putting your own 21st-century
stamp on these historic buildings.

522
00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,440
Fingers crossed those walls
will be ready for papering soon.

523
00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,560
In South-West France, Becky,

524
00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,480
Mark and the girls are back,

525
00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,640
after having left Grandpa George
in charge of the chateau.

526
00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,640
Well, we're not worried about the
inside really, are we? Not really.

527
00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,320
Now is the day before
the courtyard drinks party

528
00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:39,520
for the local community, and they're
taking a close look at the work

529
00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:42,520
George did to the barn doors,
in their absence.

530
00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:45,200
Now, that looks lovely.

531
00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:47,520
It's all right. It's beautiful wood.

532
00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,160
It looks lovely, Pa, it really does.
It's fantastic.

533
00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,880
The spruced-up doors have given
the courtyard a much-needed refresh,

534
00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,240
but there's still lots to do
before tomorrow's guests arrive.

535
00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:58,880
Not least, sorting out the drinks.

536
00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,920
So, we've got about 100 in total?
Yes, about 100.

537
00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,480
And we've got no Pimm's? No.

538
00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,320
So, we'll have to do a
gin cup. Oh, joy! OK.

539
00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:10,760
Becky also needs to finish making

540
00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,600
the decorations for the courtyard.

541
00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,640
I've made some bunting.

542
00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:19,680
I've taken some burlap,

543
00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,400
and very basic, but I've sort of

544
00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:24,320
put a hem on it.

545
00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:26,960
So, I'm just threading them through.

546
00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:28,760
I need to find the end again.

547
00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:31,080
And Mark is on hand to help.

548
00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:36,760
You've got about another 40 or so
triangles to thread on.

549
00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:40,520
I might get picky. I might tell
you to take some of them off,

550
00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:42,320
back to front.

551
00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:44,680
Too late now. Erm...
SHE GIGGLES

552
00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:46,960
You should have chosen
a better partner.

553
00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,880
Tomorrow is an important step
towards the family being integrated

554
00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,440
into village life, ahead of their

555
00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:55,960
moving here full-time.

556
00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:58,520
This is a community that sort of

557
00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:03,360
gathers round. So, for us to be able
to be part of that is quite special.

558
00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:05,840
There's quite a few of the
neighbours we haven't met yet.

559
00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:10,840
It's a good challenge for us, for
our French. So, I'm up for that.

560
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:21,080
What spacing do you want them at?
Well, this is the million-dollar

561
00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,120
question, darling. I don't really
know until we put it out between

562
00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:25,880
the courtyard, to a certain extent.

563
00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,600
Well, do you want to come and hold
here, and let's see if I can...?

564
00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:30,240
I'll come and hold it for you.

565
00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,200
Go back, and pull it tight.

566
00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,200
Being an engineer always helps.

567
00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,520
Got to keep your steps up.
Keep going.

568
00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:40,440
SHE LAUGHS

569
00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:43,600
How are we doing? OK.

570
00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:45,880
Are we almost to the end?

571
00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:48,280
I've got 41 pieces, at the minute.

572
00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:52,000
Looks like the bunting
is measuring up.

573
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:56,040
OK. So, I think that's us done
today. So, tomorrow is just...

574
00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:58,720
hang the bunting, hang the lights,

575
00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:02,080
set up the tables, and get the food
out, and drinks out. Yeah. Yeah.

576
00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,720
That's great. Great. OK. Fantastic.

577
00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:06,600
Right, time for a GandT.

578
00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:10,800
With 100 locals to impress
tomorrow, you could practise

579
00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:13,120
your cocktail mixes
while you're at it!

580
00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:20,680
North, in the Loire Valley,

581
00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:22,680
would-be owners Iain and Kate

582
00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:24,360
are viewing a chateau they've

583
00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,920
been keen on for a few years.

584
00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:30,840
So, you would love to see the salon?
Yes, please, thank you.

585
00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,320
Owner Francois
is showing them around,

586
00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,080
before it goes on the market.

587
00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:37,720
Next up is the kitchen, with a large

588
00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:39,440
family space - something

589
00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:41,440
high on Kate's wishlist.

590
00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,560
More family room, really. It is.

591
00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:47,360
This fire always on!

592
00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:50,320
Exactly. Even... Inviting.

593
00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,720
And the room has a
surprising feature.

594
00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:54,760
And here, it's built on a well.

595
00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:56,600
So, we can get water here.

596
00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:59,760
So, do you use the well? Yes.

597
00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:03,080
It provides you water,
as much water as you want,

598
00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:05,040
to grow your plants around here.

599
00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:07,320
The chateau is also on main supply,

600
00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:09,320
but having their own well to water

601
00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:12,440
the large estate could mean
a big saving on bills.

602
00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,080
The kitchen and utility space
next door

603
00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:20,280
once produced meals for
a large household,

604
00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,600
but needs a lot of work
to update it.

605
00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:25,600
OK, a smaller utility room here. OK.

606
00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,520
Like a small shed within the house.

607
00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:32,880
So, you didn't only have,
you know, grand rooms,

608
00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:35,240
but utility rooms for the...

609
00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:38,480
for to cook and to
preserve the food.

610
00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:42,240
It has a fascinating history,
and lots of potential,

611
00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:44,600
but is it what Kate
and Iain had in mind

612
00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:48,080
for hosting family,
or catering for paying guests?

613
00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:52,560
The kitchen... I feel like the
bottom floor, we could live in,

614
00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:56,040
but it is a lot of work.
Yeah. We'd have to be

615
00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,960
quite conscious of money... Yeah,
absolutely. ..for the renovation.

616
00:32:59,960 --> 00:33:03,480
Iain's also keen to see
the state of the roof, as he knows

617
00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,560
it could be a costly repair job.
So, they're heading to the attic

618
00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:09,560
that, in the 1820s,
housed a theatre.

619
00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:12,640
So here, now, you're
on the second floor.

620
00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:15,520
It's, er... It's a lovely big
space. It's a great space, isn't it?

621
00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:19,920
Yeah, it's a square. A large square
room. People would come, you know,

622
00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:23,320
riding horses,
or with sheep and cows,

623
00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:28,840
come here and have a play, before
the play would be showed to Paris.

624
00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:32,240
Fantastic. That's amazing.
The carpentry's rather impressive.

625
00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:34,200
Fantastic carpentry.
Love the beams. Yeah.

626
00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:37,960
17th century? It's 18th century?
Oh, this part is 18th century.

627
00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:41,520
18th century. 18th century.
Phenomenal craftsmanship.

628
00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:44,280
Iain and Kate fell in love with

629
00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:46,320
this place as holiday-makers.

630
00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:48,680
Francois, thank you
very much indeed.

631
00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:51,040
Now they've had a good chance
to assess what's on offer,

632
00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:53,560
it's time to consider
if they're up for

633
00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:56,280
the massive challenge
of taking this on.

634
00:33:56,280 --> 00:33:59,120
I still love it dearly.
It doesn't diminish.

635
00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:01,960
It's still a frontrunner, for me.
Oh, and me too.

636
00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:05,080
It feels right.
And I know that's not objective,

637
00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:08,520
but I could see everything I want
to achieve and do in this chateau.

638
00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,480
Well, destiny has brought
us together with Francois.

639
00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:14,160
I believe in destiny, and
I feel like, I don't know,

640
00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:16,880
I feel like... Meant to be,
sort of thing. Maybe meant to be.

641
00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:20,200
And the local village has the best
cheese shop in the area, so...

642
00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,520
SHE LAUGHS
..so that also has a...

643
00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:23,880
Exactly. Cheese is good.

644
00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:27,040
Fromage aside, Kate and Iain

645
00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:28,800
do still have more chateaux to see,

646
00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,640
so a final decision
is on hold, for now.

647
00:34:35,240 --> 00:34:36,800
Coming up...

648
00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:38,280
OK, so hats on,

649
00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:41,800
sun cream on, into the courtyard
for bunting. OK.

650
00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:45,440
..preparations for Becky and Mark's
village welcome drinks run late.

651
00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:48,440
We've got half an hour,
and we haven't got the drinks out.

652
00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:50,800
And in Normandy...

653
00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,920
If I make a mistake, I don't
have extra paper to redo it.

654
00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,200
So, I'd better do a good job!

655
00:34:56,200 --> 00:34:58,000
..Anna comes unstuck.

656
00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:09,080
In Normandy,

657
00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:14,640
ten weeks after starting work on
daughters Lily and Ella's bedroom,

658
00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:17,840
the wallpaper Anna's designed
is back from the printers,

659
00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:20,200
at a cost of 180 euros.

660
00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:24,160
That works out to be
just under £160.

661
00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,400
I'm quite proud of it.
I'm quite pleased with it.

662
00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:29,040
And you should be.

663
00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:30,840
First, Anna wants to check

664
00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:33,920
the sections of the
bold repeat pattern align.

665
00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:37,240
Just need to find this last piece.

666
00:35:37,240 --> 00:35:39,920
Ah, I think that's it. OK.

667
00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:43,680
OK, so then I know
that this is the corner.

668
00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:45,600
Double check that this fits.

669
00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:52,560
Like Philipp, Anna is
relatively new to DIY,

670
00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,880
so has been watching online videos
for wallpaper hanging techniques.

671
00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:02,120
If I make a mistake, I don't
have extra paper to redo it.

672
00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:06,760
So...yeah, I better do a good job.

673
00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:09,160
Here goes nothing.

674
00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:17,920
Oh.

675
00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:21,640
Might help if I have it
the right way round. Ah!

676
00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:25,960
If in doubt, it's always a good
idea to mark the top and bottom.

677
00:36:35,240 --> 00:36:36,880
It's almost perfect.

678
00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:41,000
I think it's OK. Yeah.

679
00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:44,480
I think I'm getting the hang of it.

680
00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:48,880
And a little while later,
Anna can survey her handiwork.

681
00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:50,600
I think it looks really nice.

682
00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:53,560
So, yeah, let's just hope
it doesn't fall off the wall

683
00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:55,880
when I wake up tomorrow,
and come and have a look,

684
00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:57,200
and it's all on the ground.

685
00:37:00,920 --> 00:37:04,880
Time to show the girls
their finished feature wall.

686
00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,360
Are you ready?
SHE GASPS

687
00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:10,320
And, woo!

688
00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:19,960
Wow! What do you think?

689
00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:22,360
Do you like it? Yes.

690
00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:23,960
Has Mama done a good job? Yeah.

691
00:37:25,280 --> 00:37:28,800
I think you've done a wonderful job.
Yeah? I'm really, really impressed.

692
00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:29,840
Thank you.

693
00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:30,960
Well done.

694
00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:33,880
The wall is a beautiful
personal touch.

695
00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:38,200
Now to get the rest of the room
finished so the girls can move in.

696
00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:44,240
Almost 400 miles south,

697
00:37:44,240 --> 00:37:47,240
Becky and Mark are also
in a race against time.

698
00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:51,800
It's the day of their
village welcome drinks

699
00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:56,480
and their big chance to win
over the local community.

700
00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:59,240
Get things ready. We want
to get the tables ready,

701
00:37:59,240 --> 00:38:06,160
and then we have to make the
English garden mixed cocktail.

702
00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:08,880
But with four hours
until guests arrive,

703
00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:11,560
for now, there's a
more pressing task.

704
00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:14,480
The bunting...
The bunting we should do now.

705
00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:17,760
It'll take us about 20
minutes to get that erected.

706
00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:20,560
Well, could Becky and I do
the bunting, and you go? No.

707
00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:22,920
It would be better if Mark's
going up and down the ladder.

708
00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:25,280
So let's do that first, and
then we'll work out what...

709
00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:27,720
Then I can happily do all the
tables, and the setting of that.

710
00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:29,280
That's easy. Yeah.

711
00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:33,160
OK, so hats on, sun cream on,
into the courtyard for bunting.

712
00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:35,480
Right, OK.

713
00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:38,720
Engineer Mark has come up
with some precise measurements

714
00:38:38,720 --> 00:38:41,600
to make sure there's an
even length of bunting

715
00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:44,760
strung between all four
corners of the courtyard.

716
00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:47,080
three metres to the left.

717
00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:52,200
Having beautifully placed
the flags at equal distance,

718
00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:56,600
I have a horrible suspicion
it's all going to fall apart,

719
00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:59,840
and it will no longer
be that equal distance.

720
00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:04,160
WHISPERS: But don't say anything,
we'll just see what happens.

721
00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:10,560
It should look quite nice.

722
00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:13,560
HE EXHALES SHARPLY
Find something to hook on to.

723
00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:21,400
Oops. Darling, we're
hooked on the table frame.

724
00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:23,200
Yeah.

725
00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:26,160
Yeah, now, after this, I think
we need to try the drink.

726
00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:28,560
Well, we need to go and get
the ingredients to mix it.

727
00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:32,280
First things first, to check how
the bunting looks now it's up.

728
00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:34,600
And Becky's not convinced.

729
00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:36,960
Now, of course, it doesn't
look that big a contrast

730
00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:39,760
between the walls itself
and the bunting.

731
00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:41,200
SHE CHUCKLES

732
00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:44,280
Never mind.

733
00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:47,320
No time to dwell on
it now, because next,

734
00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:50,320
they need to find elderflower
cordial for their drinks.

735
00:39:50,320 --> 00:39:52,920
All right, let's go, girls.

736
00:39:52,920 --> 00:39:55,480
So Mark and the girls
head to the shops,

737
00:39:55,480 --> 00:39:58,240
while Grandpa George and
Becky set about creating

738
00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:00,640
outdoor seating for
the local guests.

739
00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:02,000
Which way are you putting it?

740
00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,480
I don't know, which way do you
think? That way, or the other way?

741
00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:05,920
No, that's fine.

742
00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:09,320
The wheelbarrow has
just fallen on my toe.

743
00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:12,880
I now have a black toe.
SHE LAUGHS

744
00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:15,240
Shall I put it down and lift
up the wheelbarrow for you?

745
00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:17,680
That's awfully sweet of you.
Shall I give it a push?

746
00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:19,240
No. No.

747
00:40:19,240 --> 00:40:21,600
After getting to grips
with the wheelbarrow,

748
00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:25,920
they can start moving
the benches into position.

749
00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:30,440
So, one down. Left down.

750
00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:32,480
Oh, you've put right down. OK.

751
00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:35,880
But all this work is enough to
make anyone hot under the collar.

752
00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:37,880
Mr Savage.

753
00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:39,040
Stop!

754
00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:41,480
You're going to be exhausted.

755
00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:44,760
At least now there's
plenty of places to sit down.

756
00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:52,720
Stop.

757
00:40:58,480 --> 00:41:02,880
Less than an hour before the guests
are due and Mark's finally back.

758
00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:05,320
But it's not exactly
mission accomplished.

759
00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:06,880
No elderflower syrup.

760
00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:13,320
So, we've ended up going
with a lemon citrus approach.

761
00:41:13,320 --> 00:41:16,280
So, hopefully, nobody'll
notice the difference.

762
00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:18,600
Can we get everything ready then?

763
00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:21,200
If people are really coming
at seven, we've got half an hour,

764
00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:24,480
and we haven't got the drinks out.

765
00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:25,840
Well said, George.

766
00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:32,840
And with guests imminent,
it's all hands to the pump.

767
00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,520
Daddy's actually
in charge of the gin,

768
00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:41,040
but he told me to get the spoon.

769
00:41:42,240 --> 00:41:44,480
I know it needs mixing.

770
00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:50,760
It came right down to the wire.

771
00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:51,960
Bonjour.

772
00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:53,720
THEY CHATTER

773
00:41:53,720 --> 00:41:56,640
Bonjour. Bonjour!

774
00:41:57,720 --> 00:42:00,040
Very well.

775
00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:01,920
But Becky and Mark
have their courtyard

776
00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:06,920
and cocktails at the ready to
welcome the local community.

777
00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:08,360
Bonsoir. Bonsoir.

778
00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:10,120
Rebecca. Mila.

779
00:42:13,760 --> 00:42:16,640
It looks like everyone is
enjoying the refreshments...

780
00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:17,640
Mummy!

781
00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:20,720
Another visitor.

782
00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:23,960
..and getting to know each other.

783
00:42:23,960 --> 00:42:25,680
IN FRENCH

784
00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:32,920
Clearly, they've made
a good impression,

785
00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:36,160
both on their French neighbours
and fellow expats.

786
00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:38,480
Bonsoir, monsieur. Bonsoir.

787
00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:42,880
Merci beaucoup. Merci.
Je suis George.

788
00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:46,800
And it's so nice to have
a family back in the chateau.

789
00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:50,520
Mark and Rebecca, lovely
people, and their children,

790
00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:52,160
and George, especially.

791
00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:53,840
THEY SPEAK FRENCH

792
00:42:57,240 --> 00:42:59,520
It seems to be going all right.

793
00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:01,040
Get them all a little bit tipsy.

794
00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:03,360
So, yes. No, it's nice.

795
00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:06,000
And a good turnout. Very happy.

796
00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:07,080
It's going brilliantly.

797
00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:10,400
One of our fears was that perhaps it
would take a long time to integrate.

798
00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:14,800
So, but, for me, without doubt,
this has been brilliant.

799
00:43:14,800 --> 00:43:17,200
With all three
generations of the family

800
00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:19,560
getting into the
swing of local life,

801
00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:22,520
Mark and Becky's hopes of
becoming part of the community

802
00:43:22,520 --> 00:43:24,760
are starting to be realised.

803
00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:28,920
And Becky couldn't be more pleased

804
00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:31,200
with the way their
chateau move is working out.

805
00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:36,560
We've waited a long time
to find the perfect house.

806
00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:40,120
The neighbours have just
been absolutely amazing.

807
00:43:40,120 --> 00:43:42,640
We're absolutely
thrilled to find it.

808
00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:50,880
Next time...

809
00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:53,280
You see this one, Philipp?
This wardrobe here?

810
00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:55,640
..Anna and Philipp have a
furniture fall out...

811
00:43:55,640 --> 00:43:57,320
It could be nice, if we painted it.

812
00:43:57,320 --> 00:44:00,320
That's such a cliche,
painted old furniture.

813
00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:02,800
I don't care. I'm
just gonna do it anyway.

814
00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:06,000
..a new discovery
at Becky and Mark's...

815
00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:09,000
Let's go and see how
deep this well really is.

816
00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:10,400
..causes a stink.

817
00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:13,000
Ugh, it's a bit smelly.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

818
00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:14,240
At our place...

819
00:44:14,240 --> 00:44:16,560
Ah, look, perfect.

820
00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:18,040
..Dorothy gets to work...

821
00:44:18,040 --> 00:44:19,480
That's my girl.

822
00:44:19,480 --> 00:44:23,480
..and Iain and Kate edge
closer to a momentous decision.

823
00:44:23,480 --> 00:44:25,880
We can see us
growing old here... Yay!

824
00:44:25,880 --> 00:44:28,200
..and the family growing with us.

825
00:44:28,200 --> 00:44:31,480
You like it? Yeah,
we love it. It's lovely.

826
00:44:55,480 --> 00:44:57,720
Subtitles by Red Bee Media