Episode 3 Stuck on Sheep Mountain

'Two ordinary families are about to go on a journey of a lifetime,

'travelling back in time over 120 years to 1890.

'For one month, they'll live like Victorian hill farmers,

'looking after all these animals.'

It's been ten out of ten hard.

'Coming up, it's the weekend, but the work doesn't stop.'

ALL: Moo! Moo! Milk the cow!

'They escape for a Victorian fun day out - without the fun.'

I'm very, very bored!

I'm the butcher.

'And they're so hungry they could eat anything, but even lambs' heads?

'Two families,

'one mountain, one month.

'How will they survive stuck on Sheep Mountain?'

Baaa!

'Snowdonia, Wales, and this hill farm,

'frozen in time, has been home to our families for a week.

'Tommy and Leah Braddock have had no electricity, no central heating and no bathroom.'

I've been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

'There's only an outdoor loo, and it honks!'

It is very different, but we could get used to it.

'Jac and Ela Jones and their family

'live a field away, and their house is even smaller.'

-What have been the highlights?

-Nothing!

'A week in, the food's running out, and so is everyone's patience.'

He's right on me! Touch me again and I'll kill you!

'They're short of cash, and are spending their rent money.

'They could lose their homes.'

We're doomed!

'It's a land of little and a world of worry.'

-COCK CROWS

-'It's 7am on a Saturday morning.'

Say hi.

'In 1890, there was no such thing as a weekend. The work didn't stop.

'The cows, Ruth and Ceridwen, still have to be milked.

'And the two pigs, two geese and 12 chickens still have to be fed.'

There's just so much stuff to do with the chickens.

If I didn't have to feed them, then I could get up later.

'Children had to pull their weight, but someone's sleeping on the job.'

Jac! Are you up?

Jac?

Some things don't change. No sign of Jac. It's quarter past seven.

'Jac's Grandma is coming to visit.

'With no modern cleaning products, Mum needs all the help she can get

'because Grandma will be here soon.'

I don't want her to arrive to chaos and think, "What's going on here?"

Jac, would you be so kind as to check on Ceridwen for me?

You need to check she's got enough hay. We've got to do this.

'Jac's busy blowing the cream on the milk.'

Pretty please?

'He can't understand what all the fuss is about.

'And he's getting under everyone's feet.'

I don't help here, but I help less at home.

I've helped more, but not a lot.

'Over at Leah and Tommy's, the atmosphere's not good.

'Big brother Jamie is finding it hard to cope.

'There's little food, they're tired and tempers are running high.'

-Respect, you lack it completely.

-I don't do that here every day.

If you give me respect, you'll get it back.

Never once would I have dreamed of saying that to my father.

-You keep digging at me about food.

-You've got no respect, Jamie.

-I've got respect.

-No, you haven't.

-My dad hates me...

-I do not!

It's what it feels like. Dad doesn't like spending time with me.

'Victorian life is making everyone grumpy.'

Jamie keeps eating all the food so Daddy's shouting at him.

Jamie starts calling him names.

I get out the way. I go over Ela and Jac's.

But they sort it out in the end.

'At Jac's, there's still plenty to do before Grandma arrives.

'The washing-up water has to be thrown outside.'

Careful, Jac. Don't spill it.

Jac!

No, no! Don't!

Just leave it, please.

'That's the floor nice and clean, and just in time. Here comes Gran.

'In the 19th century, many grandparents lived with their family in a cottage no larger than this.

'But Ela and Jac haven't seen 21st-century Gran for over a week.

-'It's all too much for Ela.'

-THEY SOB

-Hello, Jac!

-Hello.

-Are you OK?

-Yeah!

-It's so nice to see you.

-Where is the kitchen?

-Well, this is it.

'74-year-old Gran doesn't seem fazed by the tiny kitchen

'or the basic toilet facilities.'

Yes, I know what that is, dear.

'Or even the lively neighbours.

'But Gran's bound to find living here tough because the families are running out of money and food.

'They're craving their 21st-century treats.'

I miss Chinese.

I really miss fast food.

I...I love fast food so much.

Chocolate!

Sweeties!

'Not to worry. Here comes a Victorian butcher with today's special offer.'

How are you? I'm William the butcher.

'He's brought his speciality. They're cheap. They're fresh.

'They're lambs' heads.'

I've got some nice lambs' heads. Delicious. Two pence each.

-'Bargain(!)'

-I can't believe people eat it.

-That's just disgusting.

-You wouldn't be disappointed?

-Are you going to eat it?

-Yes.

-No.

-Of course you are! Yes!

-No.

'Will Jac's family be less squeamish?

'Er, no. Ela doesn't eat meat. In her opinion, eating sheep's heads is just wrong.'

It's cruel to kill animals.

Cos I can't change their mind,

so, yeah, just as long as I'm not there to see it, I'm fine.

Why don't you stick a knife in it?

'They may not fancy sheeps' heads, but it's a cheap healthy meal.

-'And it's all they can afford.'

-I hope you'll enjoy them.

'Victorian hill farmers were always short of money, but certain things had to be paid for.

'As well as food and rent, all families were expected to chip in

'for the local chapel events.

'Tomorrow, there's a day trip, a steam train ride to a picnic spot.

'They're all excited, but can they really afford it?'

The only thing I'm not too sure about is the cost.

I think it costs an awful lot.

It'll be different than staying in the farm looking after the animals.

It'll be a bit of a treat,

and it'd be nice if we had some treats on the trip, or something.

'A day trip back then cost a whole week's rent,

'so the children have to earn some money, and quick.

'If they made butter, they could sell it in the village shop.

'Come on, Ceridwen, they need your milk!'

ELA AND LEAH: Moo, moo, milk the cow Moo! Moo!

Milk the cow!

'Butter was a luxury so it could be a good earner -

'if they can get it right.

'The cream floats to the top and is skimmed off.

'It's a slow job and Jac can't wait to make the butter.'

Your hands are in the way.

Move your hands and I'll let you carry it, OK?

'Looks like things are turning sour already.'

-There's no cream left!

-There is, Jac!

'The cream goes into the churn for 45 minutes until it's thick.'

It's kind of fat cream now. It smells like cheese!

It's sour, but you can make butter with sour milk.

'The thickened cream needs scraping back into the churn.

'It's slimy stuff!

'Oops! Butter fingers!'

LEAH: You dropped the knife in there!

Tom! You idiot!

It'll go all hard with the knife in it.

Someone needs to get it.

< Tom, you're getting it!

'Jac's going in. I hope he's washed his hands.'

You got it?

Someone take it!

'At this rate, they'll never make any money.'

I'm OK, people of Earth!

-I survived the storm of cream!

-Well done, Jac.

'It's fast approaching supper time.

'If they're going to avoid the dreaded lamb's head stew,

'they need to take drastic action.

'Jac and Tommy are looking for worms.

'Not to eat!

'They're going fishing, all the boys together.'

In this house, we don't get to spend a lot of time with our fathers.

Be nice to spend some time with them.

See how good he is at fishing!

'They've had permission to fish, and it's a short walk to the lake.

'Jac's never been fishing before,

'but it's OK, his dad's clearly an expert(!)'

-Jac?

-Yeah.

-When they bite, let them bite twice.

And on the third bite, give it a good pull.

First two times it's only nibbling.

-How do you know it bites?

-You feel it on the rod.

-So it'll be like, "One, two..."

-And then a good pull.

'Sounds easy, but in 1890, they didn't have proper fishing rods,

'just a wooden stick, a piece of string and a hook.

'Not ideal for landing a whopper.

'Desperate for money, the girls stay to have another bash at the butter.

'The cream has been churned for 45 minutes and has turned into solids.

'It's washed to get rid of the butter milk.

'It should form a beautiful block.'

Putting pressure, paddling it.

Oh! It's not gonna!

'Looks like their plans have come to a sticky end.

'I wonder if the boys have had more luck.

'Nope. This lot couldn't catch a cold.'

We haven't even had a sniff of fish yet.

I might send Jac in to see if he can swim and get one with his hands!

'It's given them time to look on the bright side of being stuck on Sheep Mountain.'

'I don't see Tommy and Leah a lot. I'm really happy to spend time with them,'

doing things like this, fishing, helping Tommy.

'It's really nice.'

We're useless hunters. Can't catch rabbits. Can't catch fish.

'At last, they've caught something! Anyone for frog's legs?

'Only joking. They're put back unharmed.

'Time to go home, and there's only one thing on the menu -

'the dreaded lamb's head stew.'

Don't know if those are bones.

'Cheaper cuts of meat were cooked for hours to make them edible.

'Even with potato and carrots, it's not tasty.'

It could turn you veggie!

I'm so hungry, I could eat a rotting badger!

'Top tip - always remove the bones before serving.'

< Have a word with the chef about that.

'It's gone down. Let's hope it doesn't come back up!

'It's Sunday, 7am. Today, there's a trip to look forward to.

'But first there's chapel, and no-one's bouncing out of bed.

'Leah and Tommy's mum is trying to get the fire going with bellows.'

Tommy?

Tom?

-Yeah.

-Are you getting up?

Jordan? We've got to be in chapel in a couple of hours.

Long-winded minister in chapel.

Yeah, sounds great(!)

'Back then, most people went to church or chapel on Sunday morning. Ministers were strict.

'If they're late, he may not let them go on the trip.'

Right, still no action here.

Fifth or sixth time of asking.

GIGGLING Right...

No! No! Up!

No. Up!

Right, you're up now. Ela, come on! ELA LAUGHS

Up! Up you get!

Eh! Out of there!

'Ela and Jac's mum has been up hours preparing a Victorian picnic.'

Lunch is going to be very well-done jacket potatoes

with some cheese and some chutney.

And jam sandwiches.

And a bit of Madeira cake.

'It may not look too exciting, but in 1890 this was a feast.

'Leah and Tommy's mum made vegetable pasties, which go in the oven for an hour.

'The family are so excited, they've forgotten it'll cost them a week's rent.'

LEAH: I am very excited.

It's a time that we can get out and have some fun

at the picnic and everything.

And we're going on a train. >

I was bored to tears when I was a child on the mountain railway,

but I'm looking forward to this.

'Everyone wants today to be perfect.

'Like all special occasions, they're dressing in their only set of posh togs.

'Victorians called them their Sunday best.'

My bonnet keeps falling off.

You'll be grateful of it in the rain.

Sunday best shirt, Jac. Put it on.

'Sunday best was the 19th-century equivalent of designer party gear.

'But Ela's not exactly made up.'

My shoes are horrific. I'd like to wear a pair of jeans.

I've been in skirts for ages.

'It's the first time they've got dressed up in 1890s Sunday best. Jac's got off on the wrong foot.'

Where are my socks?

What colour were they?

'His socks have walked off on their own.'

-Are they on the bed?

-Nooooo!

'He'd better find them soon, otherwise there'll be no trip.'

Can't find them!

-I know, but I can't find them!

-Well, look, Jac.

-I have looked, Dad.

Are they under the clothes? What's on the floor here?

-They've got to be on the bed, Jac.

-They're not in there!

'This is a job for Dad, the sock detective.'

Right, I bet they are, when you look.

-Oh, these are the socks that aren't there, Jac(!)

-They're not mine!

-They're yours. Mummy gave them to you.

-These are Ela's!

-WHINES:

-They're not mi-i-ine.

'No Sunday best was complete without a hat.

'Bed head just wouldn't do, but Dad knows how to deal with it.

'Chapel was an escape from the hard work and loneliness of the farm.

'It was the centre of this Welsh-speaking community, somewhere to pray and a place to meet friends.

'All decent types were expected to attend.

'For the children, there was Sunday school.'

Welcome to Sunday school. My name's Miss Roberts.

I'll be your Sunday school teacher.

Let us recite the Lord's Prayer,

as it's written in the sixth chapter of Saint Matthew.

Our Father...

ALL: ..who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

'The Sunday school preached the Christian faith and taught reading and writing for free.

'But there was a price - a list of rules as long as your skirt!'

Punctuality is important.

We should not act in a lazy or tired manner during worship.

Is God good?

'It's a world away from Ela and Jac's youth club.'

Here, they just read it to make us bored

and just shove it down our throats, which I don't find fair or anything.

Any of you got a girlfriend?

Jordan has a girlfriend.

-Jordan, you have a girlfriend?

-Yes.

-What about you, Ben?

Not at this moment, no.

-What about yourself?

-JAMIE: I'm single.

I noticed you were a "miss"!

Excuse me! I do hope that you remember you're in the house of God.

Boring, weren't it? It was quite boring.

'But it's not over yet. They must join their mums and dads for the minister's sermon.'

..part of this great community...

'Doesn't look like things are improving much.

'But it's making quite an impression on Leah.'

< ..have a responsibility to one another in Christ!

MIMICS THE MINISTER: Hello. I'm the minister!

Good at that, aren't you?

Yeah. You're better than him.

I hoped you enjoyed Sunday school. It was brilliant. I'm glad about that.

'With chapel over, it's time for the long-awaited trip.

'They're heading off with a bunch of chapel-goers to a local beauty spot

'for a home-made picnic by the lake.

'People rarely travelled back then.

'A day trip would have been the highlight of the year.'

We might see if the minister would treat us to an ice-cream.

'No-one wants to sit by the minister in case he gives another sermon.'

He's got a carriage all to himself, like a golden carriage!

-Yeah, he has, actually.

-I think he's actually driving it!

WHISTLE BLOWS

'They're off. The beauty spot's 40 miles away.

-'It will take an hour to get there.'

-CHEERING

'In 1890, the first cars were only just being invented.

'There were no motorways.

'If you wanted to be beside the seaside or go wild in the country,

'you hopped on a steam train.

'Forget petrol. These guys relied on burning coal to get them around.

'As for the on-board entertainment, there wasn't any.'

# Bla bla bla... #

'Ela's swapped her laptop for a pair of knitting needles.

'A computer's no match for a woolly scarf in keeping the cold out.'

ALL SING: # ..and ever more! #

'After an hour, they reach the beauty spot, but it's started to rain.

'Back then they had few treats. They couldn't let weather get them down.

'But today's picnic's over before it's begun.'

BOOMING VOICE: Even though I'm a minister of the faith, I cannot always control the weather.

We might be better going back towards the station to find shelter.

I think we'd better go back up to the train. Thank you, my friends.

'But they'll have to wait, and it's damp and cold.

'There'll be no picnic until they're on the train.'

-Are you hungry, Jac?

-Ye-e-eah!

-We'll have some food on the train.

It wasn't very nice in that field. It was a bit wet.

-I want to go home!

-Didn't have time to look for stones!

'At last, they can stop their tummies rumbling.

'Surely a feast of vegetable pasties, jacket potatoes and cake

'can raise their dampened spirits.'

Have Jac's fingers been in this?

'Maybe not.'

I feel sorry for the people in 1890. I want to go back to my own life.

My feet are cold. My hands are cold.

We're going back to a cold house. It's a rubbish day all round.

Pointless, for what it's worth.

'Worse still, the trip was expensive.

'It cost a week's rent and, in 1890,

'you couldn't afford to let your money go up in smoke.'

The trip today...

I won't say it, but it was absolute rubbish.

It was the worst trip I've ever been on. It was...

'By late afternoon, they're on the farm where it's been raining all day.

'It's taking time to heat up, and they're regretting wasting money on the trip.'

This takes two or three hours to get warm enough to cook on.

We've been in 20 minutes and we can't boil a kettle.

Pointless exercise.

Yesterday, I was actually saying not to go.

I just feel I chucked the money down the drain.

'If the landlord turns up, they won't be able to pay and they could lose their homes.

'In 1890, this was a constant worry for many families.

'Like farmers of the past, they must rely on animals for food and income.

'They can't afford to lose any to illness, and in this weather

'that's a real challenge.'

The sheep are going through a really...tough time lambing

and looking after their lambs.

So...we feel for them.

'Tommy and Jordan need to keep them fed and watered.

'In the next field, Ela and Jac's dad

'is fearing that they may lose one of the new-borns.'

I'm worried about this sheep and lamb.

Just a bit concerned that she's not feeding.

I don't know if the mother's lost interest.

The mother's not running over to me

and saying, "That's my lamb!"

The mother doesn't seem interested. Here's his mum.

Just leave her for a minute. See if Mum comes.

BLEATS

MOTHER BLEATS

See what happens now.

Just not suckling, see?

The mum's wandering off. It's a bit desperate. The lamb's very weak.

I don't think, you know, it's going to last much longer.

'This is an emergency. They need to get milk into the lamb immediately.

'The lamb and its mum are taken to the barn.'

Trying to get it to suckle.

'Ben's trying to get the lamb to feed, but it's so weak

'it can't hold its head up.'

She may not have lambed before.

That's why she's not taking to it.

'The next few hours will be critical to the lamb's survival.'

In 1890, if you had a smallholding and a few sheep,

you lose one lamb, that's a lot of income you've lost.

'The thought of losing the lamb is too much for the families.

'Life on Sheep Mountain is getting tougher by the day.'

1890 is too hard for me.

I'm looking forward to going back home.

Baaa!

'Next time, there's snow in Snowdonia, and the families are battling for survival.'

I'm worried if this lasts three or four days, what we're going to do.

We're effectively marooned up here.

'The rent collector's not impressed with Mum's cleaning!'

There's dust on here.

'Things are so bad, nine-year-old Jac has to work in the quarry.'

I feel like...like a man.

'But is he up to the job?

'There has been something to celebrate.

'The lamb made a full recovery.'

It's a fighter, I think, a little fighter.

'A sigh of relief,

'but in 1890, there was always a problem just around the corner.'

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