The McKinnons - France Treehouse Gimme a Break

Welcome to Gimme A Break,

the show where the kids take control of the family holiday.

The kids have all the say, they decide where they go,

what activities they do and, most importantly,

they are in charge of the holiday rules.

This week's lucky family are not the Royal family,

it's the McKinnon family.

Tennis-mad Mum,

rugby-nut Dad,

swimmer Sam

and animal-crazy Josh.

Why do Josh and Sam need to be given a break?

On a family holiday we usually go camping, yes.

I think our last maybe ten family holidays have been camping.

When we get to the camp site,

it's usually down to me and Mark to do all the work and get the tent up.

They tried to set a world record putting the tent up.

Ooh, I think our all-time record must be about...

Some 60 minutes now, isn't it?

How sad is that.

When we go camping, there is one sound we always hear...

Rain.

-We've had more sunny ones than rainy ones...

-Are you sure?

In a sleeping bag, it feels like you're in a slimy slug. Urgh.

We always go to see a lovely view.

I would go a long way for a good view.

And eat lunch in a lovely picnic site - OK, a car.

And all we can see is the rain and the grey sea.

Nice view of, let's see, rain and even more rain.

Dad always snores when we go on holiday.

I hotly contest that I snore... that loudly.

And he once ate a can of baked beans and he went snore, trump, snore...

I don't eat baked beans, Josh is the baked-bean eater. Talk to him.

SNORES AND BLOWS RASPBERRIES

This is the part of the show that I love.

You've clearly got family problems,

therefore there's only one way to solve them.

That's with the parents' promise. Boys, are you ready?

-Yes!

-Mum and Dad, on your feet,

because the family holiday shall be yours no longer.

Hands on hearts, read out the parents' promise.

We, the parents of Sam and Josh,

hereby hand over control of the next family break.

-What do you think to that?

-That's brilliant.

-Looking forward to taking control?

-Yes.

-Because it's all yours.

Mum and Dad, unlucky.

Boys, let's go and chat.

Come on, you two, we don't want Mum and Dad hearing us, do we?

I'm loving the fact

that there's a picnic rug in the back of your car,

but you know car picnics?

Forget about them, because those are holidays from the past.

I'll find you the perfect break

but I need to know what you're after, so give me ideas.

-Lots of adventure.

-What sort of activities do you fancy?

Like sort of climbing,

-some kind of water sports.

-Assault courses.

How would your mum and dad cope with that?

They'd probably be panting by the end.

OK, what about animals?

Hundred per cent there has to be animals.

Animals definitely. Camping, you're not a fan, you don't want to be

covered in rain and walking three miles to the toilet,

but, most importantly, lots of adventure and a real good laugh.

The boys are one step closer to their dream break,

but I won't make it easy.

First, they've got to guess the holidays

by cracking our comedy clues.

Let the guessing begin. It's break number one.

Angel and a boat. What do angel and a boat put together make?

I think we're going on a cruise or something,

or maybe a barge or a ferry to get to the holiday.

That's a boat... A monkey.

A flag, maybe go-karting, something like that.

Oh, a monkey, he's got a sleeping bag.

Camping.

Got one.

How do you fancy monkeying around on this break?

Climb trees like monkeys.

For mystery break number two,

the boys are heading deep into the wilderness.

They look like moose prints.

Footprints, the moose sign,

it means there's a moose nearby.

There's one here as well.

If you go down to the woods today, you'll Abba lovely holiday.

-Abba are a band. Where are they from again?

-I've forgotten.

Swede.

There's a den on the side.

-Sweden.

-Oh, Sweden!

And for the final break, number three,

the boys are tracking down something smelly.

-"Danger animal savages".

-Cool hat.

That means animal in French. Something to do with the jungle.

LION GROWLS

The next clue. "Mangez moy".

Mangez moy?!

Goats have beards of some sort and this looks like goat's cheese.

I wonder if the holiday is going to smell this bad.

Look here's a sign. It says "Le fin".

"Fin" means finish. This holiday's definitely in France.

OK, the guessing is over, time to reveal the three holidays

and find out if the boys were right.

Are you ready to be told what break number one is?

-Yes.

-OK, now based on the clues, what do think it could be?

We're going to be at an adventure place,

climb up trees, because monkeys climb.

OK, I can tell you it is Tree-top Adventure Living.

Have a look at this.

On this break in France, you'll stay in your very own tree house

and, after monkeying around on the high ropes,

you'll be ready to race on the go-karting track.

Oh, and get friendly with animals at a nearby zoo.

That's great number one, first impressions?

-Awesome.

-Break number two has a lot to live up to.

Break number two is an escape to the wilds of Sweden.

Yeah, OK, let's have a look.

Kayaking along crystal streams

you'll go back to nature, tracking elks and beavers in the wild.

You'll be sleeping in the forest but you won't get cold,

you'll have your very own outdoor sauna.

-What do you think?

-Cool.

-Marks out of ten for number two?

I'd say ten.

OK, break number three, based on the clues, what do you think it is?

French in France, with goats.

Something French in France. What made you think about goats?

-Because of the goat's cheese.

-OK, this is safari-lodge living in France.

Yes, it's true, boys, a safari park in France.

You'll wake up with wallabies wandering in your garden

and you'll learn to teach an old rhino new tricks.

There's quad biking for adrenaline lovers

and the chance to get cheesy down on the farm.

Three brilliant breaks, which are you most excited about?

What's really got you excited?

-First one.

-I like the Sweden, and I like the first one,

and I like the...

Boys, you have got to make decision. Have a chat.

With Sam set on the tree house and Josh mad for the animals,

picking this break is tough.

OK, you want to go and stay in the tree-top houses, you'd like to go

-on the safari in France and you want me to flip the coin to decide?

-Yeah.

-OK, cool. So, tails.

-Three.

Break number three and heads is break number one. OK.

It's going to be three, I bet you.

-It's definitely one.

-OK, lift it up, lift it up.

It is break number one.

Congratulations, you are going to go and live among the tree tops.

Are you going to have a great time?

-Yes.

-You've got more big decisions to make on the holiday,

because at the very end of the break, OK,

I am going to give you the chance to play for one last amazing treat.

You've got to get the questions I set you right.

If you get them wrong,

your mum and dad win the treat.

You'll find out more at the end of the holiday.

Gentleman, it's been great picking a break with you.

-You take care, have a good time. Bye.

-Bye.

So, the McKinnon family are off to a tree house in sunny France.

How will Mum cope with the high-rope adventures?

How will Dad get on without his tent?

And who will succeed to win the dream treat?

They leave tomorrow, but for the boys the fun begins now.

They're in charge of Mum and Dad's packing.

These are going to be important for Dad.

They could put in something

unsuitable like a ball gown or something,

which I wouldn't normally take on holiday.

Do you think this suits me?

I'm not sure about the polka dots.

These are 11 to 12 years. I think my dad's fatter than that.

Stuff that polar bear in.

Mission accomplished.

The holiday starts here and so we catch all the special moments,

we've given the boys a Gimme a Break famcam.

This is Mum and Dad just putting the bags in the car.

Dad is being our loader and Mum is the carrier.

And these are the white cliffs of Dover.

We're coming into the ferryport.

Remember, Mum and Dad still know nothing about the holiday.

Bye-bye, white cliffs.

Bye, the white cliffs of Dover.

I think its time for Sam to reveal a little clue.

The moment you've all been waiting for. Have you guessed yet?

Sort of.

-Some ideas, we left from Dover.

-And we're on a ferry and here's Calais.

We're going to France.

BOTH: Yay!

So, they know its France and, let's be honest,

all dads are know-alls, so, Dad, what do you think you'll be doing?

Camping!

They haven't a clue where we're going. They still think it's a tent.

This is so much better than a tent.

Are you ready to see where we're going to stay?

-Up one.

-Where?

-Be careful because there's a bit of a gap.

Steps, I can feel, spiral staircase.

Keep going, Mummy, you're almost there.

You've done it!

Nice.

Toilet!

-OK, people, do you want to find out where we're staying?

-Yes.

Please!

OK, ready?

Get ready!

Oh, a tree house.

Now, I never would have guessed that.

Does the teddy bear mean that's the children and do the hearts mean it's a love nest?

-Come and look at your room, people.

-Is this where we're going to be?

-It's like Swiss Family Robinson, isn't it?

-It is.

We didn't expect anything like this.

When we got here, we were convinced we were in a tent.

Dad, look, our loo's a bit more posh that your loo,

it's got more space than yours.

For bigger smells.

This will be really exciting, different.

BOTH: Awesome.

So, the boys and Mum and Dad like their tree house,

but will they like what's in their bags?

Oh, very helpful.

Oh, look, I've got a polar bear wearing a tie.

There are items of underwear that are very questionable.

A pair of Sam's undies, very nice.

Got my nice pink spotty dressing gown.

They might have been led by what they've seen me wearing

around the house, thinking they are my favourite clothes

instead of thinking what I might wear outside.

Oh, a T-shirt I usually wear around the house to do the cleaning in.

I think I've forgot my dad's shorts, whoops.

This is it, Joshie, this what I've got to wear?

That's all it is?

I'm going to say eight out of ten and two points off,

because he's forgot shorts.

Overall, I'm going to give you eight out of ten.

Yay!

I think packing went pretty well.

Time to lay down some ground rules.

-Hi there, McKinnons.

-Hi.

OK, time for the holiday rules.

Here's rule number one.

Mum and Dad, lying in is out, because Sam and Josh

will decide what time everyone gets up on this break.

This could be bad.

-Very bad.

-Well, not really bad, Mum.

Just probably quite early.

OK, ready for rule number two?

Now, Mum, I've heard a lot about your tidying obsession.

You may love a nice clean and tidy house, but the boys don't,

so rule number two, no tidying the tree house.

Do I have servants to do it for me instead?

If you tidy the tree house, there will be a penalty.

Dad, I know you're an adventure guy, you love getting stuck in,

but you don't like cold water.

-Very true.

-So, rule number three is that you,

Dad, must take a cold-water dip at least once during the break.

Hmm, a challenge - a challenge, but I can meet it.

Good luck, Dad, and no wet suits.

-What? That's not fair!

-What do you think those trunks were for?

Enjoy the rules, enjoy the break

and just when you think the fun's all over, I'll be back

at the end to give you the chance to play for one last amazing treat.

Have a fantastic time.

Nice work, boys, no doubt who's in charge now, hey?

As the family bed down for the night, a cunning plan is hatching.

It's our first night in the tree house. I'm really excited.

If you need to go to the loo in the night,

Josh is looking forward to going to the loo in the night.

I'm not.

We've got a secret plan to go up in the morning,

karate chop their bed, wake them up and make them do 50 press-ups.

Good night, famcam.

COCK CROWS

It's time to get up.

Now, I'm out in the fresh air, I'm more awake.

Nice view.

Well, Mum's been dragged out of bed

but Dad is struggling with the rules.

I'm doing your trick, this is how you behave.

And that means a penalty.

Dad has a night in the mini tent.

So, Dad will face his punishment later.

The boys have shopping on their minds.

Why have you brought us here? Are we going to do some nice sensible shopping?

-Are we going to get some fruit? Fruits over here.

-Fruit and veg.

I'm allergic to that corner.

What's this?

Mum keeps trying to take over.

Right, guys, come on, this is...

This is not healthy food.

-We're in charge.

-We're in charge.

That'll be another night in the tent for you people.

Oh, no.

-Best shopping trip ever!

-Done!

Shopping over, it's back to climbing trees, but now they'll be tackling

the high-rope-sensation challenge at six metres above the forest floor.

Who has a head for heights?

Sandy is nervous of heights and this kind of thing, so, yeah,

but she'll come good. She's conquering her demons.

Sam is first up the ladder,

Dad is nice and brave and follows closely behind

and, with Mum watching on nervously, it's onto the tightrope.

Come on, Dad, you're not going to fall.

Josh and Mum follow more nervously behind.

Come on, Mum, you can do it.

-That's a big gap there, isn't it?

-You can make it.

Sam and Dad scale the plank bridge.

Wobbly boards.

While Mum and Josh get to grips with the tightrope.

-You're doing really well.

-I'm scared of heights.

The tree house hasn't cured you of heights.

Hopefully, after this, it will.

I'm never going to fall off.

Very confident, Sam.

Good stuff, well done.

Right, well, that was much easier.

Time for number three.

The logs are proving tricky. Even for Dad.

Strewth!

My body wasn't made for that one.

Josh's turn on the swinging logs.

He's got his own very unique style.

I'm going to stay like this for ever.

For ever? What about school?

No, I don't like this one at all.

Next up, the big zip wire.

-Argh!

-Ooh! Are you all right, Sam?

I've broken my back.

As long as that's all you've broken.

The McKinnons have each got their own unique braking technique.

Very nice, Dad.

Not quite so good.

That was rubbish.

I tried your braking system, Sam, but it didn't work.

Sam, I thought, was confident from the beginning.

Josh grew and grew as the activity went on, that was fantastic.

Absolutely awesome.

I just enjoyed swinging through the trees.

It's the Tarzan in you!

And what better way to get back to base than a last, long zip wire.

Why can't I do this every day!

This is awesome!

I think Sam's quite enjoying it.

We did it.

We're having an awesome time.

This is the best.

Back at the tree house, it's bedtime.

That'll be a tent for you then, Dad.

I've got to spend the night in a tent.

Probably going to freeze as well.

Tonight I shall be on my blanket with no padding. Yes, on penalty.

You should have stuck to the rules, shouldn't you?

Up in the tree house, the boys get ready.

It's midnight feast time.

Mm. Bonbons!

Feeling sorry for Dad, the boys send down a few scraps.

It's going over.

-Dad.

-What?

-Get ready for your midnight feast.

Oh, cool. Oh, yeah.

Got it, Dad?

-Thanks, guys. Any more?

-Night, dad, sorry.

Rules are rules, Dad. Rules are rules.

Next morning, the boys are in the driving seat

and karting is their plan.

And here's the driver line-up. Driver Sam, he's the reckless one.

Josh is pretty steady behind the wheel.

Also racing today, competitive Dad and the secret speed-demon, Mum.

Sandy's very competitive when she gets behind the wheel.

Today I'm behind the wheel and anything could happen.

I'll either come first, which I probably won't, or I'll come last.

Of course you want to win, but, yeah, we'll just have some fun.

And it's go, go, go!

And just as the two boys wanted, it's nonstop action on the track.

If this was a race with Jeremy Clarkson, he'd be losing.

I'm doing well bad,

a bit fast.

While Josh is worried about his speed,

-Sam doesn't seem to have any fear.

-I just love it.

Sam's the one you've got to watch, keeps bumping into people.

Suddenly Josh comes in from nowhere and clips Sam...

Oh, Josh.

and takes the lead.

Oh, Josh.

I don't know if he's coming uup behind me,

all I know is I'm on full throttle.

Sam is so busy listening to his engine

he's not watching for his brother

and he slams him into the tyre wall.

I think that's one all.

Meanwhile, Mum just wants to beat Dad.

It's getting a bit edgy now.

It's really sad when you want to beat your husband, isn't it?

And then all too soon it's over and it is Mum

who's first past the chequered flag.

That was awesome.

Sam had a lot of style spinning off in the track,

so Sam gets a ten for style.

All I did was drive round the track at high speeds.

I did hit Josh once when I came round a turn, I didn't mean to, honest,

I just cut the corner a bit.

And after all that action, what better way to unwind

than a serene trip round the lake by pedalo.

Come on, pedal.

Now, rule number three is that Dad has to have a cold-water dip.

We're learner drivers. We need to change!

Time for Dad's cold dip.

Don't tell me this is it!

Push him in, that's not a cold-water dip.

Cold dip for Dad.

Unsurprisingly, Dad dried off pretty quickly

and now the McKinnons are off to the zoo.

There's you! It's hairy!

He's on the go.

This is how to do high ropes properly.

There he goes.

This family love their animals.

They've got their pet guinea pigs after all,

but today they'll be meeting something a little bigger.

Elephant!

How cool are they!

Do you want to see them closer?

-Do you want to come in and see them closer?

-Yeah.

OK, the elephants.

You can give them an apple.

-It's like having a Hoover.

-Josh helps out with a pedicure.

It was really fun washing the elephant's feet and feeding.

You actually get to get up close and personal

with things you've never been able to do before. Never.

You see that huge trunk,

but when she actually picks it up she's very delicate.

You hardly feel it.

It just blows warm air and then it sniffs

and just sucks it off your hand, it's really fun.

ELEPHANT TRUMPETS

It's good fun, I like it.

I like the throwing action, it's brilliant.

I gave the high ropes nine and a half,

I gave the go-karts nine and a half,

and this one is 9.9.

This is just amazing. It doesn't get much better than this.

This holiday is not over yet.

White-water rafting is the final treat,

but who will be racing down the rapids?

OK, boys, this is the last part of the trip,

where you get the chance to play for a fantastic treat.

I am about to ask you three questions,

get two right and you win the treat.

Get two wrong, and your parents will

be going down the white-water rapids.

OK, question one.

What did your mum say was the best thing about the high ropes?

Did she say:

I think it was B.

I think it was A.

-I'm sure it was B.

-A.

Come on, boys, make-your-mind-up time.

A or B?

B.

Here's what your mum said.

It wasn't really the activity I would have chosen but

it was great being with the family and having fun with the boys.

Yes.

Question two. What did your mum and dad think they were staying in?

Definitely A.

Are you sure, because they did see some houseboats, didn't they?

They definitely said they were going to stay in a caravan.

OK, boys, get this one wrong and it goes down to the final question.

-Harsh.

-Jake, our answer's A.

OK, you're saying A, a caravan.

Here's what your mum and dad said.

-Once we saw the river...

-Houseboat sort of became a possibility.

-No.

-Oh, boys.

OK, boys, it all comes down to question number three.

On future McKinnon holidays, where did your mum and dad say they'd like to stay?

-Definitely A.

-They're saying no to A because A is correct.

Jake, our answer is A.

OK, boys, it's the moment of truth.

Get the answer wrong and it's your parents who go white-water rafting.

Let's see what your mum and dad said.

Could be a toughy that one, good old traditional tent.

Mind you, the tree house was pretty special, wasn't it?

-It was, it was, the tree house.

-It's got to be the tree house.

Well done, boys, you won the treat, go and enjoy the rapids.

Yes!

Better luck next time, people. Better luck next time.

Sam's going to be in the water in a minute. You can tell.

Don't fall in, Sam!

I am!

My favourite things were high ropes,

go-karts, elephants, and white-water rafting.

-The zoo.

-Being kissed by a sealion. How can you compare with that?

My favourite thing about the holiday was the zoo.

We did stuff that we don't usually do.

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