Escape to the Chateau DIY (2018–2021): Season 4, Episode 14 - Episode #4.14 - full transcript
I'm Dick Strawbridge,
and along with my wife Angel...
Angel: Hello.
Dick, voice-over:
and our two children,
we've lived
in this magnificent chateau
for the past 5 years.
Angel: Aw. It's lovely.
Dick: It's my little
corner of paradise.
Dick, voice-over:
It's not just our home...
Angel: Aah! Ha ha ha!
Dick: Ha ha ha!
Dick, voice-over:
but our business.
Dick: That's a proper kiss!
Dick, voice-over: And with over
1,000 chateaus in France...
Nigel: Wow!
Debbie: Oh, my God!
Absolutely incredible.
Dick, voice-over: we're not
the only Brits buying
into the French fairytale.
- Do you like it?
- I mean, yes.
It is gorgeous.
Dick, voice-over: we'll follow
more daring owners...
It looks to be
a massive undertaking.
Dick, voice-over:
and familiar faces...
Why?
Dick, voice-over: as they battle
to renovate their homes.
That is disgusting.
Dick, voice-over: And we'll
reveal more
about our own chateau life.
Angel: That is lovely.
Dick, voice-over:
There'll be ups...
Isabelle: Oh! Well done.
This is beautiful.
Dick, voice-over: and downs.
- What are you gonna do?
- It's gonna take all day.
Yeah, but there's
no alternative.
Dick, voice-over: But however
hard the going gets...
No!
Dick, voice-over:
these plucky Brits...
get to live the dream
as custodians...
God bless France!
Dick, voice-over: of their
very own castle.
Today...
Emma: Oh, my wisteria's
gonna go.
Dick: it's all hands on deck...
- Yes!
- Whoo-hoo!
Dick: as one couple take on
a massive garden project.
Paul: You're talking about,
what, an acre of lake.
I mean, it's huge,
absolutely huge.
Dick, voice-over: New chateau
owners turn on the style...
Mariam: I'm just not used
to this kind of thing.
Dick: as they set out
to impress the locals.
Mariam: Smile!
Johnno: I am.
Dick: And one family project
is left in limbo...
Karen: Oh, no! Oh, my God.
That looked it was gonna break.
Dick: as the costs spiral
out of control.
Karen: OK. So here is that wall,
which has just cost--
[Coughs]
£7,000.
Just got to find a way
of paying for it now.
Dick: In Northern France lies
the picturesque
Chateau de Montvason.
Built in the late 1800s,
it has 30 rooms,
its own lake,
and is set in 8.5 acres of land.
It was snapped up
for £278,000 2.5 years ago
by development consultant Emma
and partner Paul,
who used to work
in the car industry.
Paul: Since we've been
restoring the house,
the house seems a lot happier.
Emma: It was kind of neglected
and abandoned for so many years.
Now just kind of like glowing,
so we feel like it's happy,
so we hope it's happy. Ha ha!
Dick: Located close
to the Normandy coast,
Emma and Paul run the place
as a B&B and events venue.
Emma: You like? Ha ha ha.
Dick: And recently hosted
a major event
in the chateau grounds.
Woman: I'm gonna be sad
when we leave.
I literally probably will cry.
I really will!
Dick: Now they're eager to make
even more of their outdoor space
by making it more accessible.
Emma: So we basically started
last year by clearing
the first lake and then
realized there were two.
Dick: The second lake lies
adjacent to the first one,
but it's covered in overgrowth
and is totally dry.
Emma: So what we're going to do
is reconnect them
to make a big circular lake
with an island in the middle,
so it's a big job,
but, yeah, I'm
really, really excited
because it's part of the project
for this whole area
so that we can have a view
of the lake, we can get
a boat back on there,
and really get this garden
back to what it used to be.
Dick: Joining the two lakes
is a huge challenge.
Today, Emma wants to
clear a path down
to the dry lakebed
and has brought in
friend Sam to help.
Emma: OK. So, Sam, I think
what we should do
is we're gonna concentrate
between these two trees.
I'll start with this side,
and if you want to start
with that side,
we will meet in the middle
because that will be fun.
Sam: Sweet.
Dick: Sam's helping out
as Paul suffers
from a debilitating condition
that can sometimes
prevent him from doing
physical work.
Emma: Paul's had to sort of
stop really
with any heavy work because
of his illness.
It just flares up.
Paul: The medical condition
that I have is called
psoriatic arthritis.
Luckily, I've got lots
of friends that have come
out to help.
My friends have been amazing.
Dick: As a competitive
weightlifter,
Sam is making light work
of the undergrowth.
Emma: Whoo!
That is good.
Sam: Yeah!
This is fun for me.
Ha ha ha!
And I'm not training for my
Olympic lifting at the moment,
so this is good to keep
strong and fit.
Emma: Yeah. We've only been
doing it for half an hour, Sam.
Tell me that
in a couple of hours.
Sam: What's the story
of the lake, Emma?
Emma: I think it's been covered
over for about 20 years.
The people we bought it off
had dogs,
so they enclosed the lake,
so that's why
there's a lot to clear,
you know,
but, yeah, it was a boating lake
in the early 20th century.
I guess it was built
as a boating lake.
Sam: Do you have
any photos of it?
Emma: No, but we've got a plan
from the 18th century,
and it shows this circle
of water
with a little island
in the middle,
and I was thinking, "No.
"We've only got
one little thing.
Like, that must be wrong."
Dick: Discoveries in chateaus
and their grounds
never cease to amaze me.
[Blows]
Ha ha ha!
Dick: After an hour
of hard graft,
the girls finally make it
to the lakebed.
Emma: We're in the lake.
Sam: Does it feel good?
Emma: Yeah, it does actually.
Emma: You can see
where the water's gonna be.
Emma: Ahh. That's the island.
The water comes around here
and goes through there
and then around the back
and then joins
the lake at the back,
so it does, like, a circle.
Ooh!
God. So what are we doing?
Oh, my God.
That is really good, isn't it?
Sam: Yeah. Teamwork.
Emma: Two girls, loppers,
and a saw.
Sam: Ha ha ha!
Emma: Really good.
Thank you, honey.
Dick: It's a good start,
but they haven't
even cleared 1/10 of the space,
so the hard work
has only just begun.
Nearly 200 miles south
is the stunning 19th century
Chateau la Perriere.
It has 20 rooms,
an outdoor swimming pool,
and 10 acres of land.
It's been renovated
into a luxury retreat
by interior designer Karen
and husband Paul,
who runs a workplace
design company.
Along with children
Tom and Katie,
they're currently based
in the UK.
Paul: 15 years in, our aim
is still to be here full-time.
We hope over the next 5 years
that as our children
have gotten older
and as our renovations
come more to a completion
that we can then
come and live out here full-time
and actually live the dream
365 days a year rather
than just 30 days a year.
Dick: Located
in the Loire Valley
in Northwest France,
Karen and Paul's latest project
is to convert
an outbuilding
into a wedding venue.
So far, they've ripped down
the ceiling
in the coach house...
Tom: Oh, that is degusting.
Dick: and cleared out
the stable block.
Paul: Pleased?
Karen: Yeah, I'm really pleased.
Dick: A month on,
and the whole place
has come on leaps and bounds.
They forked out £2,000
to remove part
of the connecting wall,
but by far, their biggest outlay
has been replacing
the 200-square-meter roof,
and the costs are
continuing to rise.
Karen: We've had a bit
of a bombshell
because last week we got
a call to say,
"By the way, all your beams
in that section
of the roof need replacing,"
so we are now...
13,000 overbudget
on what supposed to be
a £35,000 roof.
Dick: Ouch!
That's a big hit.
The job appears to be
more complicated
as the outbuilding is built
against a cliff.
Karen: We've got this rock face
that goes all the way down
into the stables itself,
and the problem this rock face
presents is the water comes off,
and it's got nowhere to go,
and previously,
water would just run in
underneath the tiles,
and it's been making
the structure of the roof rot,
and so the roofer
has devised a plan.
On this section of the roof,
we're not gonna have any tiles.
It's just this
impermeable material.
This stuff is really,
really strong,
and this material is actually
gonna penetrate
into the rock face itself.
It's then gonna go
over this wall,
down through the gully,
and then up to the pitch,
so now we've got
this great solution,
which means we're gonna have
a dry building,
and it's not gonna rot
all our wood.
Dick: With Paul working back
in the UK to finance it all,
he's yet to see what it
looks like.
Karen: Hello.
Paul: Hello.
Karen: Do you want to know
where I am?
Paul: You are by the top
of the roof by the stables.
Karen: That's exactly
where I am.
- OK. So here is that wall...
- Mm-hmm.
which has just cost you--
[Coughs]
£7,000.
Paul: How can you say that
so easily?
Karen: Because I have said it--
I've said it a few times now
on my way down and in my head.
It helps ease the blow.
Paul: Yeah. That's for you.
Yeah. Lovely.
Karen: What do you think?
Paul: Uh, it looks great.
Karen: It's my new favorite
place to stand now.
I can stand here and go, "Wow.
Look at that roof,
"look at those tiles.
They're amazing."
Just got to find a way
of paying for it now.
Paul: Yeah.
Dick: With the inside
of the building still to do,
let's hope they can get
those costs under control
sooner rather than later.
This is the 17th century
Chateau Domaine de la Salle.
It has 12 bedrooms and sits
in an impressive
52 acres of land.
It was bought for £315,000
by Mariam and husband Johnno,
who moved in 18 months ago.
Mariam: I just feel
really happy here,
and I love that we're building
up something for the future.
Johnno: Well, there's just
an endless amount of stuff
to do,
but it is nice,
even though I complain about it.
Mariam: You complain
about everything anyway,
so this is about as good
as it gets.
Johnno: Yeah. That's true.
Dick: Located near Bordeaux
in Southwestern France,
they've recently transformed
the chateau salon
into a grand reception room
so they can host events.
Now Mariam wants to get
the word out
they're open for business
and has arranged
a special party for the locals
in two days' time.
Mariam: I invited the mayor
and two ladies
who work in the office,
and they said,
"Oh, that's lovely.
Thank you very much,"
but anyway, I saw him
this morning.
He said he can't actually
come unfortunately,
but he said, "It's OK.
I've invited the others,
"in the village,
so you've got so and so coming
and so and so coming,
and I'm not sure yet who else."
I was like, "Oh, that's lovely.
Thank you."
Oh, my God! Ha ha ha!
I don't know how many
salmon sandwiches
we've got to make.
Dick: Mariam has a special theme
for the party
and wants the salon to look
the part.
Mariam: We're sort of arranging
everything in the room
to be as if it were
the late 1930s.
We might cheat a few times
with a few 1940s objects,
so we're trying to put that mood
into the room.
Dick: On hand to help
is 18-year-old son
of a family friend Charlie...
Mariam: You've sorted the radio
out for me?
- Yes.
- Do you want to show it to me?
Because I haven't
seen it working.
Dick: who's a massive fan
of all things vintage.
That is so beautiful.
Ooh! Ooh!
There's a light on. Ooh!
Oh, well done.
How did you do that?
Charlie: Well, you know,
I'm a genius.
Mariam: Ha ha ha!
- It can play music, can it?
- Yeah.
Mariam: Well, I hope it's
vintage music.
[Jazz playing]
Oh, I like it.
Can you dance old stuff
like this?
Charlie: Of course I can.
Mariam: OK. You show me
how to do it.
- OK.
- Right. OK.
Charlie: All right?
Mariam: But isn't my arm
meant to be down, up?
Doesn't matter? OK. Yeah.
Charlie: Left, right,
quick, quick left, right,
quick, quick,
left, right, right.
So if you were slow,
you'd come out like this,
you open the gates.
Mariam: I thought I was doing
left, right.
Charlie: No.
Mariam: OK.
Charlie: Right.
Inside leg.
This leg. Hop.
And then for the next round...
Mariam: Yes?
Charlie: you close the gate...
Mariam: OK.
Charlie: Left, right,
quick, quick.
Left, right.
Mariam: Ha ha ha! I'm lost.
Dick: Practice makes perfect.
Looks like Mariam needs
a few more lessons yet.
Over at Chateau de Montvason,
Emma and Paul are redeveloping
the lakes and their surroundings
to create more usable
outdoor space
for their guests.
They've finished clearing
out their dry lakebed.
Now they're turning their
attention to an old outbuilding,
which overlooks it.
Man: What's the plan?
Emma: Plan.
So, um, you're good to try
and clear the roof
so we get a big light
so we can see stuff?
Man: Yeah. So cut
the ivy back, yeah?
Emma: Yeah. Me and Sam
will start--
we'll start sort of having a
look at what
we can clear in here.
Dick: Emma has brought in
friends Jim and Sam to help out.
Jim: Wish me luck! Going in!
Dick: She believes
the building's been left
untouched for 40 years.
Emma: It's called the vine house
because it used to house
the vine from the chateau.
It was like a greenhouse,
as well.
We thought it'd make
a great al fresco dining area,
so we just thought we'd clear it
and make it a bit rustic
and have a kind of, yeah,
extra area for parties
and have a barbecue
and then have it
overlooking the lovely forest
and the lake.
That's the vision. Ha ha ha!
Dick: It's a nice idea,
but it's not just a matter of
clearing out decades of ivy...
Emma: If there's a bit
that's clumped,
just cut it neat at the end.
- Make sense?
- Here?
Dick: as Emma is a stickler
for detail.
Jim: Dump it?
Emma: No. Jim! Jim!
Look at me. Look at me.
All right. The bit
that's sticking up--
Jim: This bit?
Emma: No! That bit there.
Jim: Now I understand.
Emma: No, no!
Jim: Don't do that then.
Sam: Ha ha ha!
Emma: This bit here.
Jim: There?
Emma: Yes!
Jim: Right there?
Emma: Yes, yes.
Jim: Right. Next.
Emma: Not that.
Jim: Whoa!
Emma: OK. Ha ha!
Thank you. That's perfect,
darling.
Jim: What about this?
Emma: No.
Jim: Don't touch it!
Emma: Ha ha ha!
Dick: Now Emma's satisfied,
she's free to help Sam
clear out the rest
of the building.
Paul: I've got you
the last biscuit.
Emma: Thank you!
Interesting here.
Look what we've got.
Paul: Oh, wow!
What are they?
Dick: Looks like
original flagstones to me, Paul.
Paul: That's really cool.
Emma: Innit?
Jimbo, come have a look.
Jim: I'm resting.
Emma: Are you? So?
Jim: OK. If I must.
Emma: It's just nice
it's nice and old.
Jim: Ooh. Flagst--
Emma: What do you think?
Jim: Flagstones.
Emma: These are flagstones,
aren't they?
Paul: Yeah.
Emma: Aren't they gorgeous?
So this is, like, where we
can put the table.
Dick: The floor's a great find,
and now the old vine house
is finally emerging
from the undergrowth,
but there's one thing
left to do.
Emma: Once we get rid of this,
which is just a rubbish tree,
we're gonna see the light
come through to the vine house
really, really fast
by doing this.
Dick: To get rid of the tree,
Jim's set the loppers aside.
Emma: Oh, my wisteria's
gonna go!
Here it goes, Sam!
Sam: Yay!
Emma: Whoo!
Emma: Yes!
Sam: Whoo-hoo!
Emma: Well done!
Mr. Chateau Owner,
please say yes.
Paul: Yes.
Emma: You like it?
- Oh, my God!
- It's fantastic.
Emma: We're gonna have
a table people can sit in
and then maybe do
a bar thing at the back.
- Yeah.
- Rope lights everywhere,
candelabras.
Paul: It's fantastic.
Emma: You like?
Paul: Yeah, I do really like.
Emma: These guys have worked
really, really hard today.
Paul: Oh, gosh, yeah.
Emma: Literally haven't stopped.
Dick: There's still
plenty to do.
With decorating and dressing
and the lake still to sort out,
these guys can't rest
on their laurels.
Jim: Ugh!
Nearly 200 miles away
at Chateau la Perriere,
Paul is now in France
with Karen,
inspecting the expensive
new roof
in the outbuilding they're
turning into a wedding venue.
Karen: So there's the new roof.
Paul: It's a big, old beam,
isn't it?
Makes a change from
what it was last time.
Karen: So, you know...
Dick: The entire roof is now
officially watertight,
but the costs have spiraled
to even greater heights.
Karen: Brakes are now on...
Paul: Way overbudget.
Karen: on spending money
because we're just
way overbudget,
and the original budget
on the roof was 30,000.
It came in at 32,000 euros.
Paul: It was never 32,000.
I never heard that bit.
Karen: And it then went up
to 40,000,
and then it went up to 45,000,
and then we got the final bill,
and it came in at...
53,000 euros.
Paul: Yeah.
Karen: I feel in a way I failed
a bit because I didn't--
Paul: No. That's not true.
I think there's many factors
you have
when you've got a chateau
like this.
We had the right guy,
he's done right job.
When he's talked us around it,
we can see
where we've spent
all of that money...
Karen: Extra money.
Paul: We needed to finish
the project.
It's a business.
What we now need to do
is get it looking fabulous
like the visions
that you've got
and the designs you've done,
and then we've got to
get some bookings.
Karen: There's a lot
of pressure.
I've got to bring
these bookings in,
and actually, um...
yeah, I've
actually got to make this work.
Dick: Chateau life is never
straightforward.
Karen: Are you gonna take
the plastic then?
Dick: Saving money
where they can is crucial,
so Karen and the family
have decided to do
their next project
on their own,
an outside clay pizza oven.
Paul: So we've been talking
to people about how
they want to eat and stuff,
and we thought
it would be good fun
to have it out here
by the pool and just
by the terrace
overlooking the castle.
Karen: They do them at the shop
down the road,
but they're 490 euros.
Paul: And that's
in the reclaim place, as well.
Karen: And that's
in the reclaim place.
Dick: Doing it themselves
is costing just 170 euros,
which is about £150.
They start by building
a dome-shaped
sand castle mold
on he fire brick base.
Karen: Looks good, doesn't it?
Tom: Yeah.
Dick: Preparing the clay
is a messy job.
Karen: The next bit's
the fun bit.
We've got to mix the sand
and the water
and the clay all together,
and apparently the best way
to do it is with your feet.
Paul: 1, 2, 3.
Go on.
Tom: That does not feel nice.
Karen: Push in the clay.
Paul: Just get in there.
Karen: Just get in there.
It's gonna be really disgusting
with the water.
Paul: That's eventually
what you're look for, isn't it?
Come on. Give us a hug.
Tom: Heh.
Paul: No.
Dick: With everything mixed,
they have to carefully mold
the clay around the sand castle,
which has been covered
in newspaper.
Paul: Is it gonna be
that thick seriously?
Karen: Yeah.
Smooth out the edges
because otherwise,
it won't stand.
Dick: Once all the clay
is in place...
Karen: Right, Tom.
Dick: It'll take at least
a day to dry.
Paul: Slop it on top.
Karen: Slop it on top.
Yay!
I think it's looking great!
Really, really starting
to take shape.
Dick: It looks promising.
At least one of their plans
is coming along nicely.
It's the day of Mariam
and Johnno's 1930s party
and the launch of their chateau
as an events venue.
Johnno: Look at that.
Magnificent.
Dick: And there's still
plenty to do
before their guests arrive.
Mariam: I forgot we had to
collect all the little
petit fours that I've
ordered for dessert
so I didn't have
to make dessert.
It was meant to be collected
between 11:00 and 12:00
on a Sunday,
and it's 12:00,
it's 5 past 12:00 now.
Dick: With Johnno sent out
to pick them up,
Mariam can start getting ready
and is still unsure
who's turning up.
Mariam: I wanted the numbers
to be about 12.
I don't know what they could be,
but I suppose they could be--
let's be positive and say they
could be not more than 20.
I'm not the slightest bit
worried about it,
but Johnno seems to be
very worried.
I don't know why he's worried
because I'm catering,
so it's no problem at all,
and he's so much more social
than me.
He's the nice guy.
Everybody always loves Johnno.
Nobody ever likes me. Ha ha ha!
Makeup? Not yet. Sorry.
OK. Done.
Dick: Johnno is now back
from the baker's.
Mariam: Oh, don't they
look lovely?
Dick: And while Mariam's
confident about the pastries,
she's less so about her look
for the evening.
Mariam: I've not put
curlers in before like this,
so that will be interesting.
Charlie: Would you like to try
a victory roll?
I mean, I've never
done them before,
but like that.
Mariam: Yes. That's exactly
what I was going to do.
Dick: Have fun, Charlie.
Mariam: Ha ha ha!
Get us ready. Ha ha!
Dick: Mariam wants all
the guests to come dressed
in vintage clothes...
[Mariam coughs]
and is eager to look the part.
Mariam: I'm just not used
to this kind of thing.
Charlie:
So it's all trial and error.
Mariam: I think there's
too much spray in. Ha ha ha!
Ah. Ha ha!
I think this is...
Charlie: Do you want--
tell you what.
Mariam: Can I go wash it?
Charlie: Yeah. Go and wash
that side.
Dick: While Mariam goes
for a quick rinse,
Johnno escapes to the garage
as he wants
His pride and join on show
at the front of the chateau.
Johnno: This is an MG TC, which
is actually a post-War car,
but anyway, they made
the same thing before the War,
so there we are.
I think we can safely use it.
[Car starts]
Dick: It looks
in immaculate condition.
They certainly don't make
cars like that anymore.
Back inside, and Charlie is
hoping it's second time lucky.
Charlie: Ha!
Mariam: Oh, that feels
all right.
Ah.
It's very good, I must admit.
Charlie: Thank you.
Mariam: Well, I was going
for the sort of soft, wavy look,
but it's good, isn't it?
Johnno: We know that you're
soft and wavy anyway.
Dick: So it's
mission accomplished.
Here's hoping the guests
put in as much effort.
Over in Normandy...
Jim: All the overgrowth came
to here, didn't it?
Dick: Paul and mate Jim
are surveying the dry lakebed,
which Emma and Sam started
clearing a month ago.
Jim: Because these trees,
everything was covered.
Paul: Couldn't see anything--
we couldn't see
past this little island here.
Jim: No.
Dick: The plan is to get
in experts
to prepare the lakebed
before connecting it
to the one adjacent to it.
Paul: This was originally
the joining part
to the two lakes...
Jim: Right.
Paul: so what the guys
are gonna do, they're
just gonna scrape down,
take all this stuff
out of the way.
Then they'll dig all
the way down, and hopefully--
Jim: How far--how deep
are they gonna go do you think?
Paul: Well, they'll go
till they hit clay.
This lake hasn't been touched
in over 60 years.
Jim: Man, when it's done,
it's gonna be fantastic.
Paul: Yeah. Absolutely.
Dick: Yeah, but, matey,
your biggest problem
is your water supply.
Paul: When this lake
is dredged out,
the guys that are doing
the dredging,
they have a huge water supply,
and they will come and put
hundreds of thousands
of gallons in the lake
to get an initial fill.
You're talking about, what,
an acre of lake.
I mean, in total, I mean,
it's huge, absolutely huge.
Dick: Water features can be
a great asset,
but I just can't see how
Emma and Paul can get
enough water delivered.
We're fortunate enough to have
a pretty epic one,
an 8,000-square-meter moat
fed by a nearby stream.
I must have a problem over here,
and look at the level
of that moat.
But it's not always
plain sailing.
The water level is high.
The water level should be
at the level of those stones,
but we're blocked up.
The moat's not emptying.
Overflow pipes ensure the moat
can't flood the chateau
as long as they're free
of leaves and debris.
Hear the difference
in the noise? Listen.
[Water flowing]
That difference in the noise
is everything escaping,
and with a bit of luck,
the water level will be down
within a day or so.
Paul doesn't have to worry
about water levels just yet,
but once his lakes are joined
and filled,
he's hoping his well can
keep the water topped up.
Paul: Right. So what you're
gonna have to do, Jim,
is screw the pump
to the end of that bit there.
Dick: The 12-volt pump
Paul is experimenting with
is a tad feeble,
and sadly, there just won't be
enough water in the well
to keep the lake topped up.
Paul: Nice and tight. Right.
Now the aim is
to chuck that in the well,
and then there should be
a bendy bit up the top.
Sam: Bendy bit.
Paul: Yeah.
And then connectez vous.
Jim: That on there.
Paul: Right. OK.
So if we've got a powerful
enough pump,
it should push the water up
into the lake,
but we don't know that yet.
- Heh heh.
- Ha ha!
Dick: It'll push some
but just not enough.
The pump needs attaching
to a battery,
and Paul wants to experiment
charging it using green energy.
Jim: Seeing as this is a test,
I'm just gonna wind
them together.
Dick: As well as using
solar panels,
he wants to harness the wind.
Paul: Right. We've got
a 600-watt generator
and these things.
Jim: Wings. Vanes.
Paul: Vanes. Whatever.
- One of those.
- That one?
Dick: Paul's bought
a wind turbine for £150,
and with the help
of Emma's son Jude,
they're assembling it.
Jim: So trying not to lose
the nuts and bolts.
Dick: Putting it together
is one thing,
but wind power in a wooded area
is a flawed concept.
Jim: Can I fix it to
the fencepost just temporarily?
See that fencepost there,
that tall one?
Emma: You know all these
little talks that you guys
go off on to, like, decide
where it's going?
Where is it going?
Paul: It's gonna be going--
it's going
around the corner eventually,
but at this moment in time,
we need to see
whether the thing is
gonna turn, right,
with the wind that we've got.
Emma: But we promise that we're
not going to leave it there?
Paul: We promise that we're not
gonna leave it in your view.
Emma: That's why you said
to have a lie-in
and brought me breakfast in bed.
Jim: But you can check in
in a year's time, all right?
Paul: I've been told by Emma
that it shouldn't be in view
from the house.
That's what I've been told,
and it won't be in view
of the house eventually.
Dick: We'll take your word
for it, Paul.
In the Loire Valley,
Paul and Karen are converting
the coach house and stable block
into a wedding venue.
Tom: That's not the most
accurate way
of measuring something.
Karen: Uh...
Dick: But after a new roof
put them thousands
of pounds overbudget,
Karen is having to be creative
transforming the inside.
Karen: So my design is going
to be a little compromised,
but, um...
it is what it is.
Dick: She's taken it
upon herself
to design and construct
a giant 3-meter high
sliding door.
Karen: The concept of the door
will allow us
to close the gap which
we've opened
between the coach house
and the stable room.
Dick: Having the flexibility
to have two separate spaces
sounds a good idea.
With Paul working back
in the UK,
Karen's getting help
from 15-year-old son Tom.
Tom: There you go.
Karen: I'm really pleased,
really pleased.
Tom: It's good.
Dick: After taking two days
to put it together...
Man: 1, 2, 3.
Karen: Oh, no! Oh, my God!
That looked like
it was gonna break.
Dick: they're finally ready
to hoist it up.
Karen: So what are we doing?
Man: So we are going to...
Dick: To help
with the heavy lifting,
they've drafted in mate Quinton.
Quinton: And we're gonna sort
of pivot on that bottom end.
Now come toward me.
Put your side down now, Karen.
Tom: Oh. I can't move.
Quinton: Karen, I've got it.
Karen: You need to go that way.
Yeah.
Quinton: OK. We're up.
Karen: Can I just say
that door looks gorgeous.
Quinton: Yeah, it does
look sweet, huh?
Karen: It looks really good.
Dick: Quinton now just needs
to screw in the rest
of the rail for the door
to hang on.
Karen: Right. Should we get
this baby up then?
Quinton: OK. On 3, Tom.
1, 2, 3.
Voila!
Dick: And there it is.
Karen: Yay!
Dick: It still needs some
finishing touches,
but at least it's up.
Karen: It is
a massively satisfying
thing to do,
and to get a door that size
would have cost, I'd reckon,
£1,500.
I'm happy! I'm really happy!
Dick: No wonder she's happy.
Karen spent just over £200
and made it herself...
and that's not the only saving
Karen's made on this trip.
Karen: So first things first.
Tom: Taking the sand out, is it?
Karen: Take the sand out.
Dick: There's also
the clay pizza oven.
Karen: So this is
the very first time
Tom is lighting the fire.
Dick: That's if they get
it working.
Karen: I think maybe I need to
push it a bit further
to the back.
-Are we ready?
- Yep.
One pizza. Ha ha ha!
Is it actually gonna cook?
Should we have a peek?
Katie: Yeah! Lovely.
Dick: Karen has endured
a difficult few months,
having to cut costs
and get wedding bookings in
while Paul has been away
working in the UK,
but there's finally a bit
of light
at the end of the tunnel.
Karen: We had a wedding viewing
last week,
and they're delighted.
I got an e-mail to say that
they completely fell
in love with the chateau
and they'd like to proceed
and move ahead to the next stage
of costings and things,
so that's really exciting.
Dick: It's great news.
Wedding planning is
a long-term process,
so any income will come
after you firm up those details.
Karen: A lot of the queries
tend to be
at least a year in advance,
but to be able to see
somebody get married here,
that's something I've always
wanted for the chateau, always.
Dick: Until Karen gets
bookings confirmed,
she'll have to find ne ways
to bring in more money.
Karen: I got the crunchy sand.
Tom: Heh heh heh.
Karen: Definitely a bit of sand.
We need to work a bit harder
on getting that sand out.
Tom: Not too bad.
Karen: It's a good first try,
isn't it?
Katie: Yeah.
Tom: Mm-hmm.
In Southwestern France,
it's 1930s party time
for Mariam and Johnno...
Mariam: Smile.
Johnno: I am.
Dick: as they launch
their events venue
in the grand salon.
Mariam: Ahh. Here we are.
Johnno: Would madam
like a drink?
Mariam: Could I have
some bubbles, please?
[Pop]
Ooh!
Dick: They're hoping to
impress the locals
to generate more business.
Mariam: Thank you.
Johnno: I don't like
this sort of thing
at all, to be honest.
I always find it
a bit nerve-racking.
Mariam: Really?
I'm never nervous.
Johnno: I know because
you're you.
Mariam: Probably should be,
though, shouldn't I?
Johnno: That's what makes
me nervous.
Mariam: Ha ha ha!
Dick: To calm his nerves,
Johnno's making
a vintage cocktail,
which he hopes will be
a party hit.
Johnno: I've never made
it before,
but there's always a first time
for everything.
Dick: It's called the Jack Rose,
and it's made
of apple brandy, grenadine,
and lemon juice.
Johnno: Certainly got a bit
of a nip to it, I'll say.
Hmm.
Monsieur.
Dick: Within minutes,
the guests begin to arrive.
[Mariam speaks French]
Ha ha ha!
Dick: It already seems
the salon is making
a big impression.
Mariam: It's really nice
to see everyone's
reactions to the salon,
and I love the fact
that everybody's made
an effort because,
to be really honest with you,
it's not very French
to do this sort of thing.
It's not very French at all
to be dressing up
to go out for a cocktail.
Dick: With everyone here,
the party can get started.
[Music playing]
[Mariam speaks French]
Johnno: The cocktails are
actually going down
extremely well.
It's rather popular,
I would say.
Dick: It's all going swimmingly,
and Mariam has a surprise
in store
in a bid to keep
wowing the guests.
Mariam: I've got one
of our neighbors
coming to do a little bit
of magic,
so I'm really looking
forward to that.
Magician: Oh!
[Laughter]
Mariam: To me, this is
quite an important evening
because it's just pushing
ourselves that step further
towards having events
and having people book
the place so that they can
have their own events.
Woman: Ohh!
Dick: It's proved a big success,
and it's hopefully gone
a long way
to putting Mariam
and Johnno's chateau on the map.
Johnno: As usual, Mariam's
carried everything
off very well.
Mariam: Oh, stop it already.
It's fun. It's good fun.
Dick: And it looks as though
he party could be a late one.
Mariam: Is there gonna be
some foxtrotting?
Are you going to foxtrot
with me?
Johnno: Oh, maybe. If I have
a couple more of these,
then I'll be all right.
Ahem.
Dick: In Northern France,
Paul, Jim, and Emma's son Jude
are still assembling
a wind turbine.
Paul: Right. Other way round.
Other way round.
Paul: That's it.
Jim: That way?
Paul: Yes. Because otherwise,
the turbine
will turn backwards.
Number one.
Dick: They hope it will
provide power
so a pump can top up
the water once
the new lake is formed
and filled.
Paul: The plan is
for the moment just,
like, prop it against one
of those posts over there
and see what's gonna happen.
Jim: You said it was light.
Dick:
With the turbine assembled,
it's time to test it out.
Paul: Go on, Jimbo.
Jim: Where is it?
Paul: Just about there.
All right. Well, it's not
turning, Jim.
Jim: Hold your horses.
Paul: It's not doing anything.
Jim: Yeah. I know.
We need some wind, dude.
Just stare at it for a while.
It will. It will turn.
Paul: Well, I'm not too sure.
All right. So. OK. So...
Jim: It's turning.
Paul: Yes, but not--
Jim: You're gonna get loads
of power out of that.
Look at it.
Paul: Ha!
Jim: Ha ha!
Dick: they also have
solar panels,
which they decide to
cable up instead.
Paul: Strip those two out
and just connect
positive and negative
and be done with it
and see what happens.
Dick: Woodland's not
a great place for the panels,
but there is enough energy
in the battery
to test the pump.
Paul: On at 12.5. OK.
Jim: Paul.
Paul: Yeah?
Jim: I can hear it.
I think there's probably
water in there now.
Paul: Yeah. There's water
flowing out at this end.
Jim: Yeah.
Paul: OK. We got water.
Jim: Fantastic.
So how long do you think
it would take
to fill the lake with that?
Paul: I don't think it will
ever fill the lake with that,
but this is just to keep
the water flowing into the lake,
so all we need is get
another couple of solar panels
hooked up,
it'll go a lot quicker,
and it's free.
This is what I really like
about it.
You're getting something
for nothing.
Jim: Yeah.
Paul: Effectively.
Jim: Yeah.
Dick: Sadly, more solar panels
won't make the difference.
You need to go back to
the drawing board on this one.
Another part of the lake
redevelopment
is the old vine house, which
they cleared out last month.
Today, Emma wants to finish
dressing it up.
Emma: I have been dreaming
about getting to this point,
where the vine house
is nearly finished.
I've got some candles
and chandeliers
and bits and bobs,
so this is the fun bit
after the hard work.
Dick: To bring a bit
of the outside in,
Emma's filling glass globes
with plants from the forest.
Emma: And then I'm gonna
hang them,
and so they will catch
the light,
and I'm gonna put candles
in some and plants in others.
Oh, that's kind of cute!
I like that.
It's a forest in a ball.
Dick: A month ago,
this old outbuilding
was tired and overgrown.
Now it's a stylish rustic space
perfect for having events
and hosting dinner parties.
Emma: I love this moment,
don't you?
Paul: Ahh. It's lovely.
Dick: With an impressive view
overlooking
the yet-to-be-filled lake.
Paul: Fantastic. Well done, you.
Emma: From what it was before...
Paul: Oh, yeah.
Emma: It's just
transformed itself.
Paul: I mean, a big thank you
to Jim and Sam, as well.
- Yeah.
- Because it wouldn't have
got done without them.
Emma: I know.
Paul: It's fantastic.
Emma: I'm looking forward
to out first dinner here.
Paul: Yeah.
Emma: Well done.
Paul: Cheers!
Dick: One part of their
garden restoration project
is complete,
but the newly uncovered lake
still needs more work
and to be linked up
to the one adjacent to it,
which is going to be
an epic job.
Emma: We're ready to sort of
reconnect it to the first lake
and just restore it
to that round boating lake
that we heard it used to be.
It's gonna look amazing.
I can really see, you know,
the whole picture now,
and it's exactly what
we were thinking, wasn't it?
Paul: Yeah.
Emma: It's great.
Dick: Next time...
[Thud]
Karen: Whoa!
Guess that's in half then.
Dick: Paul and Karen prepare
for a party...
Karen: I feel like I'm having
a hot flash.
Dick: Johnno finds himself
in a hole...
Johnno:
How's your claustrophobia?
Can you get
through the door there?
Man: There aren't too many
fossilized mice,
so it's not that bad.
Dick: we go bargain hunting...
Angel: I mean, the color's
quite nice.
Dick: The color's quite nice!
It's called rust.
Dick, voice-over: and as they
start to work
on their west wing...
Emma: If it doesn't add to it,
you take it away.
Honestly, I'm fine with that.
Dick: things get political
for Emma and Paul.
Emma: So what's your thoughts?
Paul: I'm not keen.
and along with my wife Angel...
Angel: Hello.
Dick, voice-over:
and our two children,
we've lived
in this magnificent chateau
for the past 5 years.
Angel: Aw. It's lovely.
Dick: It's my little
corner of paradise.
Dick, voice-over:
It's not just our home...
Angel: Aah! Ha ha ha!
Dick: Ha ha ha!
Dick, voice-over:
but our business.
Dick: That's a proper kiss!
Dick, voice-over: And with over
1,000 chateaus in France...
Nigel: Wow!
Debbie: Oh, my God!
Absolutely incredible.
Dick, voice-over: we're not
the only Brits buying
into the French fairytale.
- Do you like it?
- I mean, yes.
It is gorgeous.
Dick, voice-over: we'll follow
more daring owners...
It looks to be
a massive undertaking.
Dick, voice-over:
and familiar faces...
Why?
Dick, voice-over: as they battle
to renovate their homes.
That is disgusting.
Dick, voice-over: And we'll
reveal more
about our own chateau life.
Angel: That is lovely.
Dick, voice-over:
There'll be ups...
Isabelle: Oh! Well done.
This is beautiful.
Dick, voice-over: and downs.
- What are you gonna do?
- It's gonna take all day.
Yeah, but there's
no alternative.
Dick, voice-over: But however
hard the going gets...
No!
Dick, voice-over:
these plucky Brits...
get to live the dream
as custodians...
God bless France!
Dick, voice-over: of their
very own castle.
Today...
Emma: Oh, my wisteria's
gonna go.
Dick: it's all hands on deck...
- Yes!
- Whoo-hoo!
Dick: as one couple take on
a massive garden project.
Paul: You're talking about,
what, an acre of lake.
I mean, it's huge,
absolutely huge.
Dick, voice-over: New chateau
owners turn on the style...
Mariam: I'm just not used
to this kind of thing.
Dick: as they set out
to impress the locals.
Mariam: Smile!
Johnno: I am.
Dick: And one family project
is left in limbo...
Karen: Oh, no! Oh, my God.
That looked it was gonna break.
Dick: as the costs spiral
out of control.
Karen: OK. So here is that wall,
which has just cost--
[Coughs]
£7,000.
Just got to find a way
of paying for it now.
Dick: In Northern France lies
the picturesque
Chateau de Montvason.
Built in the late 1800s,
it has 30 rooms,
its own lake,
and is set in 8.5 acres of land.
It was snapped up
for £278,000 2.5 years ago
by development consultant Emma
and partner Paul,
who used to work
in the car industry.
Paul: Since we've been
restoring the house,
the house seems a lot happier.
Emma: It was kind of neglected
and abandoned for so many years.
Now just kind of like glowing,
so we feel like it's happy,
so we hope it's happy. Ha ha!
Dick: Located close
to the Normandy coast,
Emma and Paul run the place
as a B&B and events venue.
Emma: You like? Ha ha ha.
Dick: And recently hosted
a major event
in the chateau grounds.
Woman: I'm gonna be sad
when we leave.
I literally probably will cry.
I really will!
Dick: Now they're eager to make
even more of their outdoor space
by making it more accessible.
Emma: So we basically started
last year by clearing
the first lake and then
realized there were two.
Dick: The second lake lies
adjacent to the first one,
but it's covered in overgrowth
and is totally dry.
Emma: So what we're going to do
is reconnect them
to make a big circular lake
with an island in the middle,
so it's a big job,
but, yeah, I'm
really, really excited
because it's part of the project
for this whole area
so that we can have a view
of the lake, we can get
a boat back on there,
and really get this garden
back to what it used to be.
Dick: Joining the two lakes
is a huge challenge.
Today, Emma wants to
clear a path down
to the dry lakebed
and has brought in
friend Sam to help.
Emma: OK. So, Sam, I think
what we should do
is we're gonna concentrate
between these two trees.
I'll start with this side,
and if you want to start
with that side,
we will meet in the middle
because that will be fun.
Sam: Sweet.
Dick: Sam's helping out
as Paul suffers
from a debilitating condition
that can sometimes
prevent him from doing
physical work.
Emma: Paul's had to sort of
stop really
with any heavy work because
of his illness.
It just flares up.
Paul: The medical condition
that I have is called
psoriatic arthritis.
Luckily, I've got lots
of friends that have come
out to help.
My friends have been amazing.
Dick: As a competitive
weightlifter,
Sam is making light work
of the undergrowth.
Emma: Whoo!
That is good.
Sam: Yeah!
This is fun for me.
Ha ha ha!
And I'm not training for my
Olympic lifting at the moment,
so this is good to keep
strong and fit.
Emma: Yeah. We've only been
doing it for half an hour, Sam.
Tell me that
in a couple of hours.
Sam: What's the story
of the lake, Emma?
Emma: I think it's been covered
over for about 20 years.
The people we bought it off
had dogs,
so they enclosed the lake,
so that's why
there's a lot to clear,
you know,
but, yeah, it was a boating lake
in the early 20th century.
I guess it was built
as a boating lake.
Sam: Do you have
any photos of it?
Emma: No, but we've got a plan
from the 18th century,
and it shows this circle
of water
with a little island
in the middle,
and I was thinking, "No.
"We've only got
one little thing.
Like, that must be wrong."
Dick: Discoveries in chateaus
and their grounds
never cease to amaze me.
[Blows]
Ha ha ha!
Dick: After an hour
of hard graft,
the girls finally make it
to the lakebed.
Emma: We're in the lake.
Sam: Does it feel good?
Emma: Yeah, it does actually.
Emma: You can see
where the water's gonna be.
Emma: Ahh. That's the island.
The water comes around here
and goes through there
and then around the back
and then joins
the lake at the back,
so it does, like, a circle.
Ooh!
God. So what are we doing?
Oh, my God.
That is really good, isn't it?
Sam: Yeah. Teamwork.
Emma: Two girls, loppers,
and a saw.
Sam: Ha ha ha!
Emma: Really good.
Thank you, honey.
Dick: It's a good start,
but they haven't
even cleared 1/10 of the space,
so the hard work
has only just begun.
Nearly 200 miles south
is the stunning 19th century
Chateau la Perriere.
It has 20 rooms,
an outdoor swimming pool,
and 10 acres of land.
It's been renovated
into a luxury retreat
by interior designer Karen
and husband Paul,
who runs a workplace
design company.
Along with children
Tom and Katie,
they're currently based
in the UK.
Paul: 15 years in, our aim
is still to be here full-time.
We hope over the next 5 years
that as our children
have gotten older
and as our renovations
come more to a completion
that we can then
come and live out here full-time
and actually live the dream
365 days a year rather
than just 30 days a year.
Dick: Located
in the Loire Valley
in Northwest France,
Karen and Paul's latest project
is to convert
an outbuilding
into a wedding venue.
So far, they've ripped down
the ceiling
in the coach house...
Tom: Oh, that is degusting.
Dick: and cleared out
the stable block.
Paul: Pleased?
Karen: Yeah, I'm really pleased.
Dick: A month on,
and the whole place
has come on leaps and bounds.
They forked out £2,000
to remove part
of the connecting wall,
but by far, their biggest outlay
has been replacing
the 200-square-meter roof,
and the costs are
continuing to rise.
Karen: We've had a bit
of a bombshell
because last week we got
a call to say,
"By the way, all your beams
in that section
of the roof need replacing,"
so we are now...
13,000 overbudget
on what supposed to be
a £35,000 roof.
Dick: Ouch!
That's a big hit.
The job appears to be
more complicated
as the outbuilding is built
against a cliff.
Karen: We've got this rock face
that goes all the way down
into the stables itself,
and the problem this rock face
presents is the water comes off,
and it's got nowhere to go,
and previously,
water would just run in
underneath the tiles,
and it's been making
the structure of the roof rot,
and so the roofer
has devised a plan.
On this section of the roof,
we're not gonna have any tiles.
It's just this
impermeable material.
This stuff is really,
really strong,
and this material is actually
gonna penetrate
into the rock face itself.
It's then gonna go
over this wall,
down through the gully,
and then up to the pitch,
so now we've got
this great solution,
which means we're gonna have
a dry building,
and it's not gonna rot
all our wood.
Dick: With Paul working back
in the UK to finance it all,
he's yet to see what it
looks like.
Karen: Hello.
Paul: Hello.
Karen: Do you want to know
where I am?
Paul: You are by the top
of the roof by the stables.
Karen: That's exactly
where I am.
- OK. So here is that wall...
- Mm-hmm.
which has just cost you--
[Coughs]
£7,000.
Paul: How can you say that
so easily?
Karen: Because I have said it--
I've said it a few times now
on my way down and in my head.
It helps ease the blow.
Paul: Yeah. That's for you.
Yeah. Lovely.
Karen: What do you think?
Paul: Uh, it looks great.
Karen: It's my new favorite
place to stand now.
I can stand here and go, "Wow.
Look at that roof,
"look at those tiles.
They're amazing."
Just got to find a way
of paying for it now.
Paul: Yeah.
Dick: With the inside
of the building still to do,
let's hope they can get
those costs under control
sooner rather than later.
This is the 17th century
Chateau Domaine de la Salle.
It has 12 bedrooms and sits
in an impressive
52 acres of land.
It was bought for £315,000
by Mariam and husband Johnno,
who moved in 18 months ago.
Mariam: I just feel
really happy here,
and I love that we're building
up something for the future.
Johnno: Well, there's just
an endless amount of stuff
to do,
but it is nice,
even though I complain about it.
Mariam: You complain
about everything anyway,
so this is about as good
as it gets.
Johnno: Yeah. That's true.
Dick: Located near Bordeaux
in Southwestern France,
they've recently transformed
the chateau salon
into a grand reception room
so they can host events.
Now Mariam wants to get
the word out
they're open for business
and has arranged
a special party for the locals
in two days' time.
Mariam: I invited the mayor
and two ladies
who work in the office,
and they said,
"Oh, that's lovely.
Thank you very much,"
but anyway, I saw him
this morning.
He said he can't actually
come unfortunately,
but he said, "It's OK.
I've invited the others,
"in the village,
so you've got so and so coming
and so and so coming,
and I'm not sure yet who else."
I was like, "Oh, that's lovely.
Thank you."
Oh, my God! Ha ha ha!
I don't know how many
salmon sandwiches
we've got to make.
Dick: Mariam has a special theme
for the party
and wants the salon to look
the part.
Mariam: We're sort of arranging
everything in the room
to be as if it were
the late 1930s.
We might cheat a few times
with a few 1940s objects,
so we're trying to put that mood
into the room.
Dick: On hand to help
is 18-year-old son
of a family friend Charlie...
Mariam: You've sorted the radio
out for me?
- Yes.
- Do you want to show it to me?
Because I haven't
seen it working.
Dick: who's a massive fan
of all things vintage.
That is so beautiful.
Ooh! Ooh!
There's a light on. Ooh!
Oh, well done.
How did you do that?
Charlie: Well, you know,
I'm a genius.
Mariam: Ha ha ha!
- It can play music, can it?
- Yeah.
Mariam: Well, I hope it's
vintage music.
[Jazz playing]
Oh, I like it.
Can you dance old stuff
like this?
Charlie: Of course I can.
Mariam: OK. You show me
how to do it.
- OK.
- Right. OK.
Charlie: All right?
Mariam: But isn't my arm
meant to be down, up?
Doesn't matter? OK. Yeah.
Charlie: Left, right,
quick, quick left, right,
quick, quick,
left, right, right.
So if you were slow,
you'd come out like this,
you open the gates.
Mariam: I thought I was doing
left, right.
Charlie: No.
Mariam: OK.
Charlie: Right.
Inside leg.
This leg. Hop.
And then for the next round...
Mariam: Yes?
Charlie: you close the gate...
Mariam: OK.
Charlie: Left, right,
quick, quick.
Left, right.
Mariam: Ha ha ha! I'm lost.
Dick: Practice makes perfect.
Looks like Mariam needs
a few more lessons yet.
Over at Chateau de Montvason,
Emma and Paul are redeveloping
the lakes and their surroundings
to create more usable
outdoor space
for their guests.
They've finished clearing
out their dry lakebed.
Now they're turning their
attention to an old outbuilding,
which overlooks it.
Man: What's the plan?
Emma: Plan.
So, um, you're good to try
and clear the roof
so we get a big light
so we can see stuff?
Man: Yeah. So cut
the ivy back, yeah?
Emma: Yeah. Me and Sam
will start--
we'll start sort of having a
look at what
we can clear in here.
Dick: Emma has brought in
friends Jim and Sam to help out.
Jim: Wish me luck! Going in!
Dick: She believes
the building's been left
untouched for 40 years.
Emma: It's called the vine house
because it used to house
the vine from the chateau.
It was like a greenhouse,
as well.
We thought it'd make
a great al fresco dining area,
so we just thought we'd clear it
and make it a bit rustic
and have a kind of, yeah,
extra area for parties
and have a barbecue
and then have it
overlooking the lovely forest
and the lake.
That's the vision. Ha ha ha!
Dick: It's a nice idea,
but it's not just a matter of
clearing out decades of ivy...
Emma: If there's a bit
that's clumped,
just cut it neat at the end.
- Make sense?
- Here?
Dick: as Emma is a stickler
for detail.
Jim: Dump it?
Emma: No. Jim! Jim!
Look at me. Look at me.
All right. The bit
that's sticking up--
Jim: This bit?
Emma: No! That bit there.
Jim: Now I understand.
Emma: No, no!
Jim: Don't do that then.
Sam: Ha ha ha!
Emma: This bit here.
Jim: There?
Emma: Yes!
Jim: Right there?
Emma: Yes, yes.
Jim: Right. Next.
Emma: Not that.
Jim: Whoa!
Emma: OK. Ha ha!
Thank you. That's perfect,
darling.
Jim: What about this?
Emma: No.
Jim: Don't touch it!
Emma: Ha ha ha!
Dick: Now Emma's satisfied,
she's free to help Sam
clear out the rest
of the building.
Paul: I've got you
the last biscuit.
Emma: Thank you!
Interesting here.
Look what we've got.
Paul: Oh, wow!
What are they?
Dick: Looks like
original flagstones to me, Paul.
Paul: That's really cool.
Emma: Innit?
Jimbo, come have a look.
Jim: I'm resting.
Emma: Are you? So?
Jim: OK. If I must.
Emma: It's just nice
it's nice and old.
Jim: Ooh. Flagst--
Emma: What do you think?
Jim: Flagstones.
Emma: These are flagstones,
aren't they?
Paul: Yeah.
Emma: Aren't they gorgeous?
So this is, like, where we
can put the table.
Dick: The floor's a great find,
and now the old vine house
is finally emerging
from the undergrowth,
but there's one thing
left to do.
Emma: Once we get rid of this,
which is just a rubbish tree,
we're gonna see the light
come through to the vine house
really, really fast
by doing this.
Dick: To get rid of the tree,
Jim's set the loppers aside.
Emma: Oh, my wisteria's
gonna go!
Here it goes, Sam!
Sam: Yay!
Emma: Whoo!
Emma: Yes!
Sam: Whoo-hoo!
Emma: Well done!
Mr. Chateau Owner,
please say yes.
Paul: Yes.
Emma: You like it?
- Oh, my God!
- It's fantastic.
Emma: We're gonna have
a table people can sit in
and then maybe do
a bar thing at the back.
- Yeah.
- Rope lights everywhere,
candelabras.
Paul: It's fantastic.
Emma: You like?
Paul: Yeah, I do really like.
Emma: These guys have worked
really, really hard today.
Paul: Oh, gosh, yeah.
Emma: Literally haven't stopped.
Dick: There's still
plenty to do.
With decorating and dressing
and the lake still to sort out,
these guys can't rest
on their laurels.
Jim: Ugh!
Nearly 200 miles away
at Chateau la Perriere,
Paul is now in France
with Karen,
inspecting the expensive
new roof
in the outbuilding they're
turning into a wedding venue.
Karen: So there's the new roof.
Paul: It's a big, old beam,
isn't it?
Makes a change from
what it was last time.
Karen: So, you know...
Dick: The entire roof is now
officially watertight,
but the costs have spiraled
to even greater heights.
Karen: Brakes are now on...
Paul: Way overbudget.
Karen: on spending money
because we're just
way overbudget,
and the original budget
on the roof was 30,000.
It came in at 32,000 euros.
Paul: It was never 32,000.
I never heard that bit.
Karen: And it then went up
to 40,000,
and then it went up to 45,000,
and then we got the final bill,
and it came in at...
53,000 euros.
Paul: Yeah.
Karen: I feel in a way I failed
a bit because I didn't--
Paul: No. That's not true.
I think there's many factors
you have
when you've got a chateau
like this.
We had the right guy,
he's done right job.
When he's talked us around it,
we can see
where we've spent
all of that money...
Karen: Extra money.
Paul: We needed to finish
the project.
It's a business.
What we now need to do
is get it looking fabulous
like the visions
that you've got
and the designs you've done,
and then we've got to
get some bookings.
Karen: There's a lot
of pressure.
I've got to bring
these bookings in,
and actually, um...
yeah, I've
actually got to make this work.
Dick: Chateau life is never
straightforward.
Karen: Are you gonna take
the plastic then?
Dick: Saving money
where they can is crucial,
so Karen and the family
have decided to do
their next project
on their own,
an outside clay pizza oven.
Paul: So we've been talking
to people about how
they want to eat and stuff,
and we thought
it would be good fun
to have it out here
by the pool and just
by the terrace
overlooking the castle.
Karen: They do them at the shop
down the road,
but they're 490 euros.
Paul: And that's
in the reclaim place, as well.
Karen: And that's
in the reclaim place.
Dick: Doing it themselves
is costing just 170 euros,
which is about £150.
They start by building
a dome-shaped
sand castle mold
on he fire brick base.
Karen: Looks good, doesn't it?
Tom: Yeah.
Dick: Preparing the clay
is a messy job.
Karen: The next bit's
the fun bit.
We've got to mix the sand
and the water
and the clay all together,
and apparently the best way
to do it is with your feet.
Paul: 1, 2, 3.
Go on.
Tom: That does not feel nice.
Karen: Push in the clay.
Paul: Just get in there.
Karen: Just get in there.
It's gonna be really disgusting
with the water.
Paul: That's eventually
what you're look for, isn't it?
Come on. Give us a hug.
Tom: Heh.
Paul: No.
Dick: With everything mixed,
they have to carefully mold
the clay around the sand castle,
which has been covered
in newspaper.
Paul: Is it gonna be
that thick seriously?
Karen: Yeah.
Smooth out the edges
because otherwise,
it won't stand.
Dick: Once all the clay
is in place...
Karen: Right, Tom.
Dick: It'll take at least
a day to dry.
Paul: Slop it on top.
Karen: Slop it on top.
Yay!
I think it's looking great!
Really, really starting
to take shape.
Dick: It looks promising.
At least one of their plans
is coming along nicely.
It's the day of Mariam
and Johnno's 1930s party
and the launch of their chateau
as an events venue.
Johnno: Look at that.
Magnificent.
Dick: And there's still
plenty to do
before their guests arrive.
Mariam: I forgot we had to
collect all the little
petit fours that I've
ordered for dessert
so I didn't have
to make dessert.
It was meant to be collected
between 11:00 and 12:00
on a Sunday,
and it's 12:00,
it's 5 past 12:00 now.
Dick: With Johnno sent out
to pick them up,
Mariam can start getting ready
and is still unsure
who's turning up.
Mariam: I wanted the numbers
to be about 12.
I don't know what they could be,
but I suppose they could be--
let's be positive and say they
could be not more than 20.
I'm not the slightest bit
worried about it,
but Johnno seems to be
very worried.
I don't know why he's worried
because I'm catering,
so it's no problem at all,
and he's so much more social
than me.
He's the nice guy.
Everybody always loves Johnno.
Nobody ever likes me. Ha ha ha!
Makeup? Not yet. Sorry.
OK. Done.
Dick: Johnno is now back
from the baker's.
Mariam: Oh, don't they
look lovely?
Dick: And while Mariam's
confident about the pastries,
she's less so about her look
for the evening.
Mariam: I've not put
curlers in before like this,
so that will be interesting.
Charlie: Would you like to try
a victory roll?
I mean, I've never
done them before,
but like that.
Mariam: Yes. That's exactly
what I was going to do.
Dick: Have fun, Charlie.
Mariam: Ha ha ha!
Get us ready. Ha ha!
Dick: Mariam wants all
the guests to come dressed
in vintage clothes...
[Mariam coughs]
and is eager to look the part.
Mariam: I'm just not used
to this kind of thing.
Charlie:
So it's all trial and error.
Mariam: I think there's
too much spray in. Ha ha ha!
Ah. Ha ha!
I think this is...
Charlie: Do you want--
tell you what.
Mariam: Can I go wash it?
Charlie: Yeah. Go and wash
that side.
Dick: While Mariam goes
for a quick rinse,
Johnno escapes to the garage
as he wants
His pride and join on show
at the front of the chateau.
Johnno: This is an MG TC, which
is actually a post-War car,
but anyway, they made
the same thing before the War,
so there we are.
I think we can safely use it.
[Car starts]
Dick: It looks
in immaculate condition.
They certainly don't make
cars like that anymore.
Back inside, and Charlie is
hoping it's second time lucky.
Charlie: Ha!
Mariam: Oh, that feels
all right.
Ah.
It's very good, I must admit.
Charlie: Thank you.
Mariam: Well, I was going
for the sort of soft, wavy look,
but it's good, isn't it?
Johnno: We know that you're
soft and wavy anyway.
Dick: So it's
mission accomplished.
Here's hoping the guests
put in as much effort.
Over in Normandy...
Jim: All the overgrowth came
to here, didn't it?
Dick: Paul and mate Jim
are surveying the dry lakebed,
which Emma and Sam started
clearing a month ago.
Jim: Because these trees,
everything was covered.
Paul: Couldn't see anything--
we couldn't see
past this little island here.
Jim: No.
Dick: The plan is to get
in experts
to prepare the lakebed
before connecting it
to the one adjacent to it.
Paul: This was originally
the joining part
to the two lakes...
Jim: Right.
Paul: so what the guys
are gonna do, they're
just gonna scrape down,
take all this stuff
out of the way.
Then they'll dig all
the way down, and hopefully--
Jim: How far--how deep
are they gonna go do you think?
Paul: Well, they'll go
till they hit clay.
This lake hasn't been touched
in over 60 years.
Jim: Man, when it's done,
it's gonna be fantastic.
Paul: Yeah. Absolutely.
Dick: Yeah, but, matey,
your biggest problem
is your water supply.
Paul: When this lake
is dredged out,
the guys that are doing
the dredging,
they have a huge water supply,
and they will come and put
hundreds of thousands
of gallons in the lake
to get an initial fill.
You're talking about, what,
an acre of lake.
I mean, in total, I mean,
it's huge, absolutely huge.
Dick: Water features can be
a great asset,
but I just can't see how
Emma and Paul can get
enough water delivered.
We're fortunate enough to have
a pretty epic one,
an 8,000-square-meter moat
fed by a nearby stream.
I must have a problem over here,
and look at the level
of that moat.
But it's not always
plain sailing.
The water level is high.
The water level should be
at the level of those stones,
but we're blocked up.
The moat's not emptying.
Overflow pipes ensure the moat
can't flood the chateau
as long as they're free
of leaves and debris.
Hear the difference
in the noise? Listen.
[Water flowing]
That difference in the noise
is everything escaping,
and with a bit of luck,
the water level will be down
within a day or so.
Paul doesn't have to worry
about water levels just yet,
but once his lakes are joined
and filled,
he's hoping his well can
keep the water topped up.
Paul: Right. So what you're
gonna have to do, Jim,
is screw the pump
to the end of that bit there.
Dick: The 12-volt pump
Paul is experimenting with
is a tad feeble,
and sadly, there just won't be
enough water in the well
to keep the lake topped up.
Paul: Nice and tight. Right.
Now the aim is
to chuck that in the well,
and then there should be
a bendy bit up the top.
Sam: Bendy bit.
Paul: Yeah.
And then connectez vous.
Jim: That on there.
Paul: Right. OK.
So if we've got a powerful
enough pump,
it should push the water up
into the lake,
but we don't know that yet.
- Heh heh.
- Ha ha!
Dick: It'll push some
but just not enough.
The pump needs attaching
to a battery,
and Paul wants to experiment
charging it using green energy.
Jim: Seeing as this is a test,
I'm just gonna wind
them together.
Dick: As well as using
solar panels,
he wants to harness the wind.
Paul: Right. We've got
a 600-watt generator
and these things.
Jim: Wings. Vanes.
Paul: Vanes. Whatever.
- One of those.
- That one?
Dick: Paul's bought
a wind turbine for £150,
and with the help
of Emma's son Jude,
they're assembling it.
Jim: So trying not to lose
the nuts and bolts.
Dick: Putting it together
is one thing,
but wind power in a wooded area
is a flawed concept.
Jim: Can I fix it to
the fencepost just temporarily?
See that fencepost there,
that tall one?
Emma: You know all these
little talks that you guys
go off on to, like, decide
where it's going?
Where is it going?
Paul: It's gonna be going--
it's going
around the corner eventually,
but at this moment in time,
we need to see
whether the thing is
gonna turn, right,
with the wind that we've got.
Emma: But we promise that we're
not going to leave it there?
Paul: We promise that we're not
gonna leave it in your view.
Emma: That's why you said
to have a lie-in
and brought me breakfast in bed.
Jim: But you can check in
in a year's time, all right?
Paul: I've been told by Emma
that it shouldn't be in view
from the house.
That's what I've been told,
and it won't be in view
of the house eventually.
Dick: We'll take your word
for it, Paul.
In the Loire Valley,
Paul and Karen are converting
the coach house and stable block
into a wedding venue.
Tom: That's not the most
accurate way
of measuring something.
Karen: Uh...
Dick: But after a new roof
put them thousands
of pounds overbudget,
Karen is having to be creative
transforming the inside.
Karen: So my design is going
to be a little compromised,
but, um...
it is what it is.
Dick: She's taken it
upon herself
to design and construct
a giant 3-meter high
sliding door.
Karen: The concept of the door
will allow us
to close the gap which
we've opened
between the coach house
and the stable room.
Dick: Having the flexibility
to have two separate spaces
sounds a good idea.
With Paul working back
in the UK,
Karen's getting help
from 15-year-old son Tom.
Tom: There you go.
Karen: I'm really pleased,
really pleased.
Tom: It's good.
Dick: After taking two days
to put it together...
Man: 1, 2, 3.
Karen: Oh, no! Oh, my God!
That looked like
it was gonna break.
Dick: they're finally ready
to hoist it up.
Karen: So what are we doing?
Man: So we are going to...
Dick: To help
with the heavy lifting,
they've drafted in mate Quinton.
Quinton: And we're gonna sort
of pivot on that bottom end.
Now come toward me.
Put your side down now, Karen.
Tom: Oh. I can't move.
Quinton: Karen, I've got it.
Karen: You need to go that way.
Yeah.
Quinton: OK. We're up.
Karen: Can I just say
that door looks gorgeous.
Quinton: Yeah, it does
look sweet, huh?
Karen: It looks really good.
Dick: Quinton now just needs
to screw in the rest
of the rail for the door
to hang on.
Karen: Right. Should we get
this baby up then?
Quinton: OK. On 3, Tom.
1, 2, 3.
Voila!
Dick: And there it is.
Karen: Yay!
Dick: It still needs some
finishing touches,
but at least it's up.
Karen: It is
a massively satisfying
thing to do,
and to get a door that size
would have cost, I'd reckon,
£1,500.
I'm happy! I'm really happy!
Dick: No wonder she's happy.
Karen spent just over £200
and made it herself...
and that's not the only saving
Karen's made on this trip.
Karen: So first things first.
Tom: Taking the sand out, is it?
Karen: Take the sand out.
Dick: There's also
the clay pizza oven.
Karen: So this is
the very first time
Tom is lighting the fire.
Dick: That's if they get
it working.
Karen: I think maybe I need to
push it a bit further
to the back.
-Are we ready?
- Yep.
One pizza. Ha ha ha!
Is it actually gonna cook?
Should we have a peek?
Katie: Yeah! Lovely.
Dick: Karen has endured
a difficult few months,
having to cut costs
and get wedding bookings in
while Paul has been away
working in the UK,
but there's finally a bit
of light
at the end of the tunnel.
Karen: We had a wedding viewing
last week,
and they're delighted.
I got an e-mail to say that
they completely fell
in love with the chateau
and they'd like to proceed
and move ahead to the next stage
of costings and things,
so that's really exciting.
Dick: It's great news.
Wedding planning is
a long-term process,
so any income will come
after you firm up those details.
Karen: A lot of the queries
tend to be
at least a year in advance,
but to be able to see
somebody get married here,
that's something I've always
wanted for the chateau, always.
Dick: Until Karen gets
bookings confirmed,
she'll have to find ne ways
to bring in more money.
Karen: I got the crunchy sand.
Tom: Heh heh heh.
Karen: Definitely a bit of sand.
We need to work a bit harder
on getting that sand out.
Tom: Not too bad.
Karen: It's a good first try,
isn't it?
Katie: Yeah.
Tom: Mm-hmm.
In Southwestern France,
it's 1930s party time
for Mariam and Johnno...
Mariam: Smile.
Johnno: I am.
Dick: as they launch
their events venue
in the grand salon.
Mariam: Ahh. Here we are.
Johnno: Would madam
like a drink?
Mariam: Could I have
some bubbles, please?
[Pop]
Ooh!
Dick: They're hoping to
impress the locals
to generate more business.
Mariam: Thank you.
Johnno: I don't like
this sort of thing
at all, to be honest.
I always find it
a bit nerve-racking.
Mariam: Really?
I'm never nervous.
Johnno: I know because
you're you.
Mariam: Probably should be,
though, shouldn't I?
Johnno: That's what makes
me nervous.
Mariam: Ha ha ha!
Dick: To calm his nerves,
Johnno's making
a vintage cocktail,
which he hopes will be
a party hit.
Johnno: I've never made
it before,
but there's always a first time
for everything.
Dick: It's called the Jack Rose,
and it's made
of apple brandy, grenadine,
and lemon juice.
Johnno: Certainly got a bit
of a nip to it, I'll say.
Hmm.
Monsieur.
Dick: Within minutes,
the guests begin to arrive.
[Mariam speaks French]
Ha ha ha!
Dick: It already seems
the salon is making
a big impression.
Mariam: It's really nice
to see everyone's
reactions to the salon,
and I love the fact
that everybody's made
an effort because,
to be really honest with you,
it's not very French
to do this sort of thing.
It's not very French at all
to be dressing up
to go out for a cocktail.
Dick: With everyone here,
the party can get started.
[Music playing]
[Mariam speaks French]
Johnno: The cocktails are
actually going down
extremely well.
It's rather popular,
I would say.
Dick: It's all going swimmingly,
and Mariam has a surprise
in store
in a bid to keep
wowing the guests.
Mariam: I've got one
of our neighbors
coming to do a little bit
of magic,
so I'm really looking
forward to that.
Magician: Oh!
[Laughter]
Mariam: To me, this is
quite an important evening
because it's just pushing
ourselves that step further
towards having events
and having people book
the place so that they can
have their own events.
Woman: Ohh!
Dick: It's proved a big success,
and it's hopefully gone
a long way
to putting Mariam
and Johnno's chateau on the map.
Johnno: As usual, Mariam's
carried everything
off very well.
Mariam: Oh, stop it already.
It's fun. It's good fun.
Dick: And it looks as though
he party could be a late one.
Mariam: Is there gonna be
some foxtrotting?
Are you going to foxtrot
with me?
Johnno: Oh, maybe. If I have
a couple more of these,
then I'll be all right.
Ahem.
Dick: In Northern France,
Paul, Jim, and Emma's son Jude
are still assembling
a wind turbine.
Paul: Right. Other way round.
Other way round.
Paul: That's it.
Jim: That way?
Paul: Yes. Because otherwise,
the turbine
will turn backwards.
Number one.
Dick: They hope it will
provide power
so a pump can top up
the water once
the new lake is formed
and filled.
Paul: The plan is
for the moment just,
like, prop it against one
of those posts over there
and see what's gonna happen.
Jim: You said it was light.
Dick:
With the turbine assembled,
it's time to test it out.
Paul: Go on, Jimbo.
Jim: Where is it?
Paul: Just about there.
All right. Well, it's not
turning, Jim.
Jim: Hold your horses.
Paul: It's not doing anything.
Jim: Yeah. I know.
We need some wind, dude.
Just stare at it for a while.
It will. It will turn.
Paul: Well, I'm not too sure.
All right. So. OK. So...
Jim: It's turning.
Paul: Yes, but not--
Jim: You're gonna get loads
of power out of that.
Look at it.
Paul: Ha!
Jim: Ha ha!
Dick: they also have
solar panels,
which they decide to
cable up instead.
Paul: Strip those two out
and just connect
positive and negative
and be done with it
and see what happens.
Dick: Woodland's not
a great place for the panels,
but there is enough energy
in the battery
to test the pump.
Paul: On at 12.5. OK.
Jim: Paul.
Paul: Yeah?
Jim: I can hear it.
I think there's probably
water in there now.
Paul: Yeah. There's water
flowing out at this end.
Jim: Yeah.
Paul: OK. We got water.
Jim: Fantastic.
So how long do you think
it would take
to fill the lake with that?
Paul: I don't think it will
ever fill the lake with that,
but this is just to keep
the water flowing into the lake,
so all we need is get
another couple of solar panels
hooked up,
it'll go a lot quicker,
and it's free.
This is what I really like
about it.
You're getting something
for nothing.
Jim: Yeah.
Paul: Effectively.
Jim: Yeah.
Dick: Sadly, more solar panels
won't make the difference.
You need to go back to
the drawing board on this one.
Another part of the lake
redevelopment
is the old vine house, which
they cleared out last month.
Today, Emma wants to finish
dressing it up.
Emma: I have been dreaming
about getting to this point,
where the vine house
is nearly finished.
I've got some candles
and chandeliers
and bits and bobs,
so this is the fun bit
after the hard work.
Dick: To bring a bit
of the outside in,
Emma's filling glass globes
with plants from the forest.
Emma: And then I'm gonna
hang them,
and so they will catch
the light,
and I'm gonna put candles
in some and plants in others.
Oh, that's kind of cute!
I like that.
It's a forest in a ball.
Dick: A month ago,
this old outbuilding
was tired and overgrown.
Now it's a stylish rustic space
perfect for having events
and hosting dinner parties.
Emma: I love this moment,
don't you?
Paul: Ahh. It's lovely.
Dick: With an impressive view
overlooking
the yet-to-be-filled lake.
Paul: Fantastic. Well done, you.
Emma: From what it was before...
Paul: Oh, yeah.
Emma: It's just
transformed itself.
Paul: I mean, a big thank you
to Jim and Sam, as well.
- Yeah.
- Because it wouldn't have
got done without them.
Emma: I know.
Paul: It's fantastic.
Emma: I'm looking forward
to out first dinner here.
Paul: Yeah.
Emma: Well done.
Paul: Cheers!
Dick: One part of their
garden restoration project
is complete,
but the newly uncovered lake
still needs more work
and to be linked up
to the one adjacent to it,
which is going to be
an epic job.
Emma: We're ready to sort of
reconnect it to the first lake
and just restore it
to that round boating lake
that we heard it used to be.
It's gonna look amazing.
I can really see, you know,
the whole picture now,
and it's exactly what
we were thinking, wasn't it?
Paul: Yeah.
Emma: It's great.
Dick: Next time...
[Thud]
Karen: Whoa!
Guess that's in half then.
Dick: Paul and Karen prepare
for a party...
Karen: I feel like I'm having
a hot flash.
Dick: Johnno finds himself
in a hole...
Johnno:
How's your claustrophobia?
Can you get
through the door there?
Man: There aren't too many
fossilized mice,
so it's not that bad.
Dick: we go bargain hunting...
Angel: I mean, the color's
quite nice.
Dick: The color's quite nice!
It's called rust.
Dick, voice-over: and as they
start to work
on their west wing...
Emma: If it doesn't add to it,
you take it away.
Honestly, I'm fine with that.
Dick: things get political
for Emma and Paul.
Emma: So what's your thoughts?
Paul: I'm not keen.